Squeak squeal creak

Lobsterdeth · #1 07-09-2009, 09:27 PM

Hi guys, I recently got a cab and a head, and I've noticed that it creates a lot of hum, and that's very bad for me since I use a lot of distortion pedals.

Should I get a Hum Debugger/Noise Reducer?

Also, a lot of my distortions squeal when turned on. Anyone know what might be the problem? The current chain I have is

amp <- Bass Big Muff <- Fuzz Factory <- DS-1 <- Dano Daddy O. Overdrive <- Bass

bongomania · #2 07-09-2009, 09:34 PM

High-gain pedals often introduce feedback, especially if you have more than one switched on at the same time, or in a small room. Solutions: use lower gain settings, engage only one pedal at a time, experiment with speaker placement/positioning, and put sound-dampening materials on your walls. Last resort, use a noise gate or feedback killer. but try the other suggestions, especially about speaker position and reflection damping, before buying a gate or feedback controller.

jdieh1 · #3 07-09-2009, 10:17 PM

Don't turn the volume on the pedals up so high, use the volume on the amp instead. I found that lowers feedback as well

Lobsterdeth · #4 07-10-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

High-gain pedals often introduce feedback, especially if you have more than one switched on at the same time, or in a small room. Solutions: use lower gain settings, engage only one pedal at a time, experiment with speaker placement/positioning, and put sound-dampening materials on your walls. Last resort, use a noise gate or feedback killer. but try the other suggestions, especially about speaker position and reflection damping, before buying a gate or feedback controller.

Even if I engage the Fuzz Factory or DS-1 alone a massive amount of feedback or a really loud squeal happens.

And I play music with heavy distortion needs, so I need high gain settings.

I don't really know what could create hum in the current position where I have my cab, could you elaborate?

Thanks for the tips, too.

bongomania · #5 07-10-2009, 12:40 AM

The cab positioning is about fixing the squealing, not the hum. The hum is probably a grounding issue. Read here for solutions: http://www.rane.com/note110.html

MAMMOTHvolume · #6 07-10-2009, 10:15 AM

turn down or move further away from your cab or turn off your distortion when your not playing ;>

JanusZarate · #7 07-10-2009, 10:25 AM

What amp and cab do you have? What are your settings? Do you use a tweeter?

Any fluorescent lighting in your room? A TV set? Anything which might be generating a lot of RF interference that's turned on when you play?

How about your bass? What is it and what kinds of pickups does it have? Any idea on whether its cavities have been properly shielded?

A noise gate or suppressor really is just covering up the problem, IF the problem is indeed hum. The only pedal I know of which combats hum directly is the EHX Hum Debugger, but it uses an unusual power supply which can make it difficult to incorporate into a fairly simple pedalboard.

I'm a proponent of minimizing the problem by addressing the sources, as opposed to simply covering them up with bandages.

RickenBoogie · #8 07-10-2009, 11:00 AM

The Fuzz factory, in particular, can be an extremely squeelie pedal. It has a noise gate built in, too. I've found very few settings on that pedal that don't squeel. But, when set properly, it sure is gnarly.

Lobsterdeth · #9 07-10-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

What amp and cab do you have? What are your settings? Do you use a tweeter?

Any fluorescent lighting in your room? A TV set? Anything which might be generating a lot of RF interference that's turned on when you play?

How about your bass? What is it and what kinds of pickups does it have? Any idea on whether its cavities have been properly shielded?

I have a 70's 270 Acoustic head, for guitar, and a new Acoustic 410 cab, it has a horn, I don't really know what a tweeter is. :x Treble 11 o clock, mids 3 o clock, bass 2 o clock.

Only a regular lightbulb and my pc, which is on the other side of the room.

Uh, Fender Squeir VM Fretless, I haven't tried it with my P-bass cause it's on loan. I don't know if those are shielded or not.

AleemRadunzel · #10 07-11-2009, 06:31 AM

What are you powering your pedals from.. cos i use a 1spot and i cannot by anymeans put a ds1 in it otherwise its cutting.. =( and anything by ehx so i have to battery em.. but meh =)

**DosiYanarchy** · #11 07-11-2009, 07:34 AM

Its probably partly something to do with the power in the room. I have a similar problem when at band practice, but not at home. I need a power supply with a higher MA rating.

you're probably also getting normal single-coil hum from the bass, which is being amplified by the pedals. Also, do you find you have to boost the volumes on the Fuzz Factory and DS1 to match the low end (as they're technically guitar pedals that may not be that low-end friendly)? this's obviously increase the chance of getting feedback.

try walking round the room with the fx on. see if the hum or feedback lessens anywhere

shinobi · #12 07-11-2009, 11:02 AM

it could be any combination of 1) dirty power source 2) noise coming from pedals 3) noise from your environment which is merely being picked up by your bass and amplified 4) shielding

ideally you would try to eliminate them all, but that would be easier said than done

Lobsterdeth · #13 07-12-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DosiYanarchy

Its probably partly something to do with the power in the room. I have a similar problem when at band practice, but not at home. I need a power supply with a higher MA rating.

you're probably also getting normal single-coil hum from the bass, which is being amplified by the pedals. Also, do you find you have to boost the volumes on the Fuzz Factory and DS1 to match the low end (as they're technically guitar pedals that may not be that low-end friendly)? this's obviously increase the chance of getting feedback.

try walking round the room with the fx on. see if the hum or feedback lessens anywhere

Uh, I'm powering my amp straight from the wall jack, and all my pedals are running from batteries, except my PS-5 and Headrush E2 which are running from their original power supplies.

I set the volume at 11 o clock most of the time on my distortion pedals.

bongomania · #14 07-12-2009, 12:40 AM

With the powering, it's the wiring to the wall jack (and also to the lights or other appliances nearby) inside the walls, that is often the problem.

With the "11 o clock", note that that doesn't mean anything really. "11:00" could be all kinds of different levels if you're looking at different pedals or amps. Look instead at what Dosi actually asked: are you boosting the levels (as in higher than the normal level of your signal when you switch the effect "off")? If so, are you doing that to get more lows?

Lobsterdeth · #15 07-12-2009, 02:13 AM

If we're talking about the pedals, I'm lowering the volume.

Mark Olson · #16 07-12-2009, 02:58 AM

There's a decent chance the "squeel" is being caused by microphonic pickups. Dipping your pickups in wax and/or getting new pickups could solve the "squeel" aspect of your problems.

Mark Olson · #17 07-12-2009, 03:02 AM

Also some of my friends have had problems with ridiculous amounts of hum with Fender MIM Fender guitars and cheap amps. I'd look at the amp first.