Lakland LH-3 Preamp Hiss - Normal?

[Mobile Sprout]

So my 55-02 is the first active bass I've owned. In general I like it a lot... but I've noticed there is a little bit of added hiss with this preamp.

I've tested it by using the push/pull passive bypass. With all of the EQ knobs set to center, I switched between active and passive modes, keeping in mind that I would need to lower the volume knob in active mode to keep the final instrument volume constant between the two modes. The battery is fresh.

There is distinctly more hiss in the active mode. It's not very loud - the instant the rest of the band starts playing this hiss would become unnoticeable. But absolutely dead silent the LH3 is not.

So...

Is this just a normal property of active basses (i.e. all preamps add a little hiss?) Or is there something wrong with mine? Any LH-3 users wanna turn up their volumes and do a quick active/passive test?

[jeremyr]

Originally Posted by Mobile Sprout

So my 55-02 is the first active bass I've owned. In general I like it a lot... but I've noticed there is a little bit of added hiss with this preamp.

I've tested it by using the push/pull passive bypass. With all of the EQ knobs set to center, I switched between active and passive modes, keeping in mind that I would need to lower the volume knob in active mode to keep the final instrument volume constant between the two modes. The battery is fresh.

There is distinctly more hiss in the active mode. It's not very loud - the instant the rest of the band starts playing this hiss would become unnoticeable. But absolutely dead silent the LH3 is not.

So...

Is this just a normal property of active basses (i.e. all preamps add a little hiss?) Or is there something wrong with mine? Any LH-3 users wanna turn up their volumes and do a quick active/passive test?

I don't know if it's normal, but my old 55-02 has the same problem. I took it to Carl up at Lakland and I didn't get the sound. He said that it could've been the wiring where I was plugged in at. I couldn't move to another area (church setting), but I can say that when plugged in at the Lakland Factory I got no hiss. Try another outlet or another room and see if it continues.

[Mobile Sprout]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

I don't know if it's normal, but my old 55-02 has the same problem. I took it to Carl up at Lakland and I didn't get the sound. He said that it could've been the wiring where I was plugged in at. I couldn't move to another area (church setting), but I can say that when plugged in at the Lakland Factory I got no hiss. Try another outlet or another room and see if it continues.

I was wondering about that - maybe it's an impedance issue.

If that's the case I should be able to test it with a buffered bypass pedal. ... that takes like 3 minutes. I'll do it right now.

Ok, going through my trusty EBS Multicomp (effect off), the difference between active and passive is much less noticeable. However, further testing reveals that this is mostly because the subtle added hiss from the Multicomp is masking the preamp hiss. Turning the volume knob up and down makes the hiss more apparent, so it's still there.

Incidentally, this is definitely not pickup/grounding hum. This is the same kind of soft hiss you get from plugging into a bunch of pedals.

Maybe this really is just the nature of active basses? Any time the preamp is engaged, your signal is going through another gain stage.. just like another stomp box or something.

[Bass_Thumper]

I don't think that it's the nature of an active bass. I have a 55-01 with the import Bartolini pre-amp and I don't get any hiss. Now in the past I have issues with outlets in certain buildings. I'm betting that is your issue. How old is the electrical work in the place that you play and does it happen everywhere you play it? I've lived in some older homes and got some background noise but for the most part I don't.

[Mobile Sprout]

Originally Posted by Bass_Thumper

I don't think that it's the nature of an active bass. I have a 55-01 with the import Bartolini pre-amp and I don't get any hiss. Now in the past I have issues with outlets in certain buildings. I'm betting that is your issue. How old is the electrical work in the place that you play and does it happen everywhere you play it? I've lived in some older homes and got some background noise but for the most part I don't.

The hiss is dependent on the volume knob setting. (note: NOT the case with the nearly imperceptible residual hiss in passive mode) Doesn't that prove it originates in the bass?

[jeremyr]

Originally Posted by Mobile Sprout

The hiss is dependent on the volume knob setting. (note: NOT the case with the nearly imperceptible residual hiss in passive mode) Doesn't that prove it originates in the bass?

FWIW mine did the same thing. Especially when the treble knob was boosted.

[Mobile Sprout]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

FWIW mine did the same thing. Especially when the treble knob was boosted.

The treble knob isn't hard to explain: if you're boosting highs of course high-end hiss is going to be boosted too. But I think the fact that it's apparently pre-volume-knob for us means something.

[TrooperFarva]

My 4-94 is dead silent unless I max the Treble boost, and even then, it's barely noticeable.

[laklandplayer]

Check the preamp gain setting, it may be set too high causing you to notice the residual noise. My Laklands are dead quiet.

[Mobile Sprout]

Originally Posted by laklandplayer

Check the preamp gain setting, it may be set too high causing you to notice the residual noise. My Laklands are dead quiet.

I have the gain set to approximately 9 o'clock. Would this setting really matter though? Wouldn't the S/N ratio stay the same? I guess it depends on whether the gain adjust sits before or after whatever is causing the noise. I remember adjusting it and hearing the noise level change along with its setting.