Ampeg Subblaster problem

[HipCity]

Hi

I have an Ampeg subblaster octave pedal. It has the same problem that another member mentioned a few years ago. I qoute from his description


"The problem is that when I'm not playing (but the pedal is turned on) there's a weird noise. Even when the volume on the instrument is turned off.

It's a pulsating, irregular sound. A little like an old motorcycle. If I roll off the octave the noise dissapears, so that's where it's coming from."

I have fresh battery and no other problems in the signal chain
Anyone got any ideas how to solve this?
/Magnus

[rratajski]

Place it in a true bypass looper?

[HipCity]

Thanks for the suggestion. Might look into that. Just wondering if theres any way of repairing/fix the pedal in itself by changing any component.
/Magnus

[rratajski]

It sounds like a power issue along with the bypass. It might be a crappy buffer. If it's true bypass, it might be a fault in the switch.
Does it do this when it's the only pedal in the chain (bass, pedal, amp) and the only pedal connected to power (battery or alone on a power supply)?

[HipCity]

Yes the pedal produces the noise even when its the only pedal in the signal chain.
Just noticed that the noise diminishes as I turn down the volume on my bass but still have the cable connected to the pedal ( and amp.) It is completely gone when the volume on the bass is totally down.
It seems like its way too sensitive to input and reacts to very small amounts of incoming signal. Any ideas?

[rratajski]

Active bass?

[HipCity]

The problem is there both with active and passive basses