EHX Bassballs question...

bassyeah · #1 06-11-2009, 03:52 PM

I just picked up a new EHX Bassballs... opened it up, plugged it in and it seemed to work fine... except when the pedal was engaged and I was not playing it made a high pitched noise

???? As I said it was a high pitched noise, only happened when it was on and I wasn't playing??? When I played it worked fine, sounded great and no high pitched noise. When it was off (disengaged) it was fine.

I have tried the following:
1) I checked inside the pedal and everything looked fine (as if I knew what to look for). 2) changed the battery 3) Changed cords.

The only thing I can think of is that it is deffective and I can/will return it for a replacement. Before I did I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts as to what this might be???

Thanks for reading this long post and thanks in advance for your input-

Wasted Bassist · #2 06-11-2009, 03:59 PM

Sounds defective. How loud is the "high-pitched noise"? If it's quiet it could be your power supply. If not I have no further advice.

bassyeah · #3 06-11-2009, 04:19 PM

The noise is pretty loud... not as loud as the bass but it is loud... again it only does it when the bass is not being played (whether or not my hand is on the strings).
The power supply is battery, I have tried two different batteries.

Thanks for your input!

Wasted Bassist · #4 06-11-2009, 04:25 PM

Hmm... I'll let those more informed than myself take a pass at this one.

mikeboth · #5 06-11-2009, 04:58 PM

Mark the position of the two trimpots inside, then try turning them and see if that makes any difference. Note that this also changes the tuning frequency of each of the two filters in the pedal - the high-pitched sound *might* be some kind of oscillation in one of the circuits. If you mark the position (with a sharpie or something) before twiddling then you can get it back to 'factory' spec. after seeing if it makes a difference.

bassyeah · #6 06-11-2009, 05:01 PM

I thought there was a trim pot inside but couldn't find anything obvious.... what am I looking for???

mikeboth · #7 06-11-2009, 06:54 PM

I was assuming the BB still has these, and that they are accessible. I can't find a PCB image via google ... but trimpots look small and plastic, and have a slot for a screwdriver in the top of them.

Maybe if you had a picture of the inside of your pedal it would help?

newbold · #8 06-11-2009, 07:10 PM

turn the knob counterclockwise to about 9 o'clock.

the thing works best subtley.

there will be a high pitched sweep after an attack. it's part of the effect.

try it on the clean channel first...

go easy then work up.

lowbass68 · #9 06-11-2009, 07:21 PM

I have 2 BassBalls (nano and an old sheet metal version) and never encountered this. If it is new and defective, I would not bother messing with the trim pots. Exchange it.

kevteop · #10 06-11-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

I have 2 BassBalls (nano and an old sheet metal version)

Same here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

and never encountered this.

Same here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

If it is new and defective, I would not bother messing with the trim pots. Exchange it.

+1

Lynwood James · #11 06-11-2009, 09:43 PM

If it's brand new, than there's definitely something wrong and you should take it right on back and get a new one.

bassyeah · #12 06-12-2009, 07:01 PM

thanks for the input everyoine... I have sent it back (byw Amazon was really good/easy about this). I should have the new one tomorrow or Monday

I will look again for a trim pot.

Wasted Bassist · #13 06-12-2009, 07:07 PM

Good choice.

bassyeah · #14 06-14-2009, 08:43 AM

so I got the replacement and I notice a kind of hiss (very quiet) it happens where the high pitch noise was previously... I'm guessing this very quiet hiss I hear while engaged but not playing is normal???

Wasted Bassist · #15 06-14-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassyeah

so I got the replacement and I notice a kind of hiss (very quiet) it happens where the high pitch noise was previously... I'm guessing this very quiet hiss I hear while engaged but not playing is normal???

That noise is normal when you turn the knob up above about 12 o'clock or so. Does it sound kind of whooshy?

Aussiephoenix · #16 06-15-2009, 07:09 AM

Hey, so this thread hasnt been under that long, so I though I'd bring it to life again.

I have recently bought a EHX nano Bassballs, and I've been messing around with the trimpots, and though I've found a decent sound, Im wondering what settings you guys use.

Basically, im not into the bassballs distortion, so, Im just looking for that Quacky Funky Sound.
My settings at the moment are (% left to right):

200Hz (15%)
800Hz (75%)

mikeboth · #17 06-15-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussiephoenix

My settings at the moment are (% left to right):

200Hz (15%)
800Hz (75%)

There could be good, some or no correspondence between the same rotational settings of the trimpots and the 'same' sound and different pedals, depending on component variation.

bassyeah · #18 06-15-2009, 08:52 AM

since this is hickjacked... I didnt see anything in my bassballs paperwork about the trim pots... can you explain what they affect? Also... I only saw one thing that might be a trim pot but the slots were very shallow... it didnt appear to be a trimpot???

Aussiephoenix · #19 06-15-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassyeah

since this is hickjacked... I didnt see anything in my bassballs paperwork about the trim pots... can you explain what they affect? Also... I only saw one thing that might be a trim pot but the slots were very shallow... it didnt appear to be a trimpot???

I dont know if they exist in the older models. mine is a Nano.

it has 2 trimpots on the circuitboard, to control de sensitivity at the 200 and 800mhz range, just like on an EBS Multicomp for example.

I assume that the more you turn it clockwise the more sensitive it becomes to that frequency.

bassyeah · #20 06-15-2009, 01:17 PM

I did just get the nano... I will look again