Any cases of compressor pedals destroying pre amps?

gmasca92 · #1 12-04-2012, 04:44 PM

I think this happened to me. I was using a keeley compressor (4 knobs) with a bass that had an obp-1 (aguilar) and the pre amp was destroyed.

Is this normal or just coincidence?

**smperry** · #2 12-04-2012, 04:47 PM

Moved.

and...no, your compressor did not destroy your preamp. The only way it could is if you opened up the control cavity of your bass and hit your pre with your pedal.

kreider204 · #3 12-04-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

Moved.

and...no, your compressor did not destroy your preamp. The only way it could is if you opened up the control cavity of your bass and hit your pre with your pedal.

Oh, THAT'S what I've been doing wrong ...

Oracle · #4 12-04-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

Moved.

and...no, your compressor did not destroy your preamp. The only way it could is if you opened up the control cavity of your bass and hit your pre with your pedal.

LOL

petrus61 · #5 12-04-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmasca92

I think this happened to me. I was using a keeley compressor (4 knobs) with a bass that had an obp-1 (aguilar) and the pre amp was destroyed.

Is this normal or just coincidence?

Could you be a little more vague next time?

**mjac28** · #6 12-04-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrus61

Could you be a little more vague next time?

LOL

Got2SadowskyNYC · #7 12-06-2012, 09:47 PM

It's possible to burn up a amp input with a pedal, but you're going to need some massive gain to do it. A single pedal won't do it. You'd have to have multiple gain stage pedals (any pedal with an output volume control on it) turned wide open. And then it would have to be long term. The feedback would be insane.

If you have a tube preamp did you check the tube?

boomertech · #8 12-06-2012, 11:40 PM

The preamp will only see the output voltage of the last pedal connected to it, regardless of how many are on your board.

Most pedals operate on 9Vdc. The worst case scenario would be if the pedal seriously failed and sent all of its power supply to the input of the preamp. Even in this scenario, the preamp usually has over voltage protection circuits at the input and it will survive just fine.

EDIT: OK… I just reread the OP’s question and he is asking about the pre on his bass. The only way I can see the preamp remotely being damaged is if he connected the bass to the output of the compressor. Even then the circuits should be protected for this.

-Frank

bongomania · #9 12-07-2012, 02:32 AM

I suppose if there was a major power spike in the neighborhood, and if coincidentally there was a bad ground in the chain, and no ground at the wall, it would be possible for the power surge to travel back up the guitar cable. The path of least resistance would head toward the player (as "ground"), via the strings, bridge, preamp ground, burning up the preamp along the way.

Of course this is incredibly unlikely, and has nothing to do with compressors per se.