NOISY SADOWSKY PREAMP / external

bassplayer60 · #1 07-29-2007, 10:50 AM

Hi all Bassplayers!

I have a Sadowsky Preamp DI that I got from Sadowsky and I really like it, but have recently encountered a bunch of noise when going through it. I'm not sure if it's the regular 60 cycle hum. It seems that it could be affected by Neon and Fluorescent lights that type of thing.

Sometimes it can be quiet, and other times it's gets irritatingly noisy. Recently it's never been nice and quiet.

It's like all I hear...the noise is deafening. I hate it.

Does anyone have an idea what may be causing it and a possible fix?
I sure would appreciate it.

I do plan to get with Sadowsky as well, but I know we have a lot of gurus here on this forum and maybe that might help as well.

Could it be the battery going bad? Needing cleaning maybe inside? Pots need cleaning, or just the 1/4 terminals?

any help appreciated.

Thanks so much

Vern

luknfur · #2 07-29-2007, 11:27 AM

FWIW:

the only issue I've heard is either with the by-pass or mute switch, can't remember which - and nobody said anything about noise. The toggle just wasn't toggling appropriately.

You just have to look at the situations you've played in with/without the noise. If it's making noise in a number of enviroments it didn't before (or in virtually any environmnet now) that indicates an issue with the Sad.

That's assuming you haven't changed anything in the signal chain or something else in the signal chain hasn't gone south.

What's it do when you play it through totally different gear in the same settings? Even using a bandmates guitar rig should give the answer.

bassplayer60 · #3 07-29-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luknfur

FWIW:

the only issue I've heard is either with the by-pass or mute switch, can't remember which - and nobody said anything about noise. The toggle just wasn't toggling appropriately.

You just have to look at the situations you've played in with/without the noise. If it's making noise in a number of enviroments it didn't before (or in virtually any environmnet now) that indicates an issue with the Sad.

That's assuming you haven't changed anything in the signal chain or something else in the signal chain hasn't gone south.

What's it do when you play it through totally different gear in the same settings? Even using a bandmates guitar rig should give the answer.

Yeah it could be an issue with the SAD..I'm waiting for Roger to reply. It doesn't matter what Axe I use it always have that high pitched almost like a hiss now.

I have different axes, and different amps...and all the same.

Maybe I should change my cords, or at least check them too I guess.

Thanks for the reply..

Vern

pickles · #4 07-30-2007, 08:22 AM

Mine is silent, so its either defective or you've got a bad cable, or maybe you've got a ground loop.

Have you tried both batteries and power supply?

bassplayer60 · #5 07-30-2007, 03:08 PM

No I have not tried it with the power supply, I just use batteries...

Why so?

Hmmm

How do you test cables?

Vern

bassplayer60 · #6 07-30-2007, 03:11 PM

OH one more thing...I called Sadowsky and talked to a tech, and they have no idea. They said that since Fisher assemble all their units that I would have to send it to them.

Hmmm..I'll try a local repair place if this keeps up....before sending it.

I hate to be without it for any gig...am spoiled.

Thanks

pickles · #7 07-30-2007, 04:17 PM

If you're using batteries then there is not chance of ground loop.

I'd send it back and get a fresh one, they're great little boxes.

figuredbass · #8 07-30-2007, 08:58 PM

While it's possible you may have a defective unit, I feel it's unlikely. The noise you describe as possibly correlating to neon or fluorescent lights sounds suspiciously like RF (radio frequency) noise, which is definitely emitted by these types of lights. Even if the Sadowsky were defective I doubt that it would pick up this type of RF noise (if that's what it actually is) because the unit itself is completely shielded. But a guitar cable that has lost its ground/shield connection or is unshielded (as in the case of a speaker cable) will. With the information you have provided my best guess would be that at least one of the guitar cables may have lost its ground/shield connection, or may not be a shielded cable at all. First check the cables, and also make absolutely sure you haven't accidently used an unshielded cable or a speaker cable. If the problem is not due to bad or wrong type of cables, the preamp may indeed be defective.