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2 annoyances

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by theagnesjar, Dec 14, 2004.

  1. Dec 14, 2004 #1
    theagnesjar

    theagnesjar

    Oct 11, 2004
    I'm not suggesting these are difficult things to solve, they are just really annoying and I don't know how to fix them.

    First of all, I'm noticing a loud screeching sound coming from my 6x10 ampeg cabinet, primarily when I play open strings. It happens rather randomly, and doesn't seem to be affected by how hard I am playing. The sounds is hard to describe, but lets just say its enough to make me worry. What could that be?

    Secondly, I am getting shocked whenever I am playing bass and I put my mouth to a microphone. It happens only when I am touching the strings though. Does that mean the problem is my bass, and how do i fix it?

    Thanks
     
  2. Dec 14, 2004 #2
    IvanMike

    IvanMike TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free. Supporting Member

    Nov 10, 2002
    Middletown CT, USA
    problem #2 is SERIOUS. you proably have the pa and your amp plugged into 2 different outlets and there is soem kind of grounding problem. It's not your bass. I'd really look into having your house wiring checked as people have been electrocuted when this problem gets really bad. At the very least, I've gotten soem pretty nasty burns on my lips as a result of this kind of problem, and another time a guitar players uncut strings projecting from his headstock touched my face and gave me one heck of a nice shock and a burn on my cheek. :eek:
     
  3. Dec 14, 2004 #3
    Jerrold Tiers

    Jerrold Tiers

    Nov 14, 2003
    St Louis
    First, that second problem is a "first" problem. Either the amp or the PA has some "leakage" of current, and it needs to be found.

    What amp is it?

    Does the cord still have the 3rd ground pin?

    Is there a "grounding adapter" in use?

    Is the outlet grounded correctly?

    Same list for the PA.

    ANY SHOCK IS A PROBLEM. You should NOT get one from any properly grounded equipment, that is the point of the extra pins on the power cord.

    The amp might be right, and the PA messed up, or the reverse. Both might be fine and the power outlets messed up.

    Check all the grounds and get it fixed. Get one of those outlet checkers and plug it into any outlet you want to use, to see if it checks grounded.

    Bars have a habit of having bad power, loose or non-existent grounds. Then you have the choice of using what they provide, or causing a stink. Of course they always say that everyone else uses those outlets and "what's your problem, anyway?".........

    First things second....
    Speakers just reproduce what goes in, so the noise is coming from the amp first. Might be feedback, some kind of rattle, etc, etc.

    I presume it is a 610HLF. That has a tweeter, and if you were clipping the amp, you could get a sudden non-musical squawk from the tweeter. Clipping is full of harmonics, and harmonics are of course higher frequencies.

    The reason it is intermittent could be because the bass waveform is very odd and typically unsymmetrical. If you are close to clipping, but actually only clip when the peaks add up right (wrong?), that could be it. Same reason string buzz can come and go as you hold a note. Open strings tend to be the worst for that.

    BTW:
    IvanMike........the heck with shocks, who wants a guitar string to spear their eye......get some wire cutters before that guy blinds you.....
     
  4. Dec 14, 2004 #4
    IvanMike

    IvanMike TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free. Supporting Member

    Nov 10, 2002
    Middletown CT, USA
    LOL - that was a long time ago. and belive me, that was the 1st and last time i played with him :scowl: