hissing coming from head (solid state)

Knixx · #1 02-21-2010, 01:37 AM

Hello, I have a Yorkville BM400. Great amp but it gets rather hissy like an angry cat at higher volumes. I'm aware that because it's a SS it will do this but is there anyway to limit it a bit? I'm not too experienced with effects but would a noise gate going though through the effect loop (the noise gate being the only pedal as well) lower the hiss while preserving my tone?

cheapbasslovin · #2 02-21-2010, 08:08 AM

Your amp being solid state has little to do with how noisy it is. I'm guessing that the noise is being introduced at your bass (poor shielding, improperly grounded) and amplified by your head. There are noise gates, but you'd be better off seeing where the noise is coming from instead of trying to cover it up.

I've heard good things about the ISP Decimator as a noise gate. Eliminate the noise and you wont need a gate.

Here's a thread on shielding your bass, if you haven't seen it already.

Zooberwerx · #3 02-21-2010, 08:15 AM

Does it hiss like crazy even when no instrument is connected?

Riis

NKUSigEp · #4 02-21-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knixx

...I'm aware that because it's a SS it will do this but...

WRONG. SS amps are typically cleaner and quieter than valve amps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knixx

...I'm not too experienced with effects but would a noise gate going though through the effect loop (the noise gate being the only pedal as well) lower the hiss while preserving my tone?

Does your amp hiss while you're actually playing or just one you're at rest? Because if it's doing it while you're actually playing, a noise gate won't help anything. And it definitely won't help preserve your tone.

bassman1185 · #5 02-21-2010, 08:22 AM

What kind of cab are you using? Tweeters can produce a lot of noise depending on how high your treble set on your amp.

Knixx · #6 02-21-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

Does it hiss like crazy even when no instrument is connected?

Riis

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

WRONG. SS amps are typically cleaner and quieter than valve amps.

Does your amp hiss while you're actually playing or just one you're at rest? Because if it's doing it while you're actually playing, a noise gate won't help anything. And it definitely won't help preserve your tone.

Yeah, there's still hiss

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassman1185

What kind of cab are you using? Tweeters can produce a lot of noise depending on how high your treble set on your amp.

http://www.yorkville.com/products.as...1&cat=33&id=77

rratajski · #7 02-21-2010, 05:51 PM

Get to the choppa...or an amp dr...

A noise gate won't help from what this sounds like.

Knixx · #8 02-21-2010, 08:19 PM

http://www.zshare.net/video/728629140a9eb047/

There's a video of what it's doing without an instrument plugged in. The first knob is hard to see but my gain is on 6 or so and the 2nd knob is volume and it goes from 0 to 10.

Yes, it still does that with lower gain levels as well

NKUSigEp · #9 02-22-2010, 10:38 AM

Noise gate won't help anything. Between your bass, your amp, and the speaker, something is F'ed up. Take it to a tech.

Knixx · #10 02-23-2010, 03:56 PM

I suppose, out of money though =/

Any other opinions?

bassman1185 · #11 02-23-2010, 03:59 PM

You don't have any options that will be cheaper than taking it to a tech.

dmusic148 · #12 02-23-2010, 04:05 PM

If its always done it, there's probably nothing 'wrong' with it. Some amps just hiss more than others.

Jazz Ad · #13 02-23-2010, 07:37 PM

The BM400 is a very silent head. Hiss typically comes from the tweeter when it starts aging.

On a related note, I think this amp is the best design Yorkville ever released. It sounded much better to me than their current hybrid line and was dead simple, straight to the point with humongous clean power.