EA Doubler II "fart" sound when playing

[skyline_01]

Hey all,

I recently found an EA Doubler II and Wizzy M Line 12 at Sam Ash and had to make them mine. They both sounded fine in the store, but when I got it home I discovered the head had an issue. I decided to keep it rather than returning it bc EA is no longer and these things are hard to come by.

There is a choked "fart" sound when I play a note, but it happens mostly in the low range (especially anything on the B string). It comes and goes and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. And it's definitely not the input gain being set too high.

I have an email in with a reputable area amp tech but I thought I'd pick some brains around here first. Many thanks.

EDIT: I tried the amp through another cab and the result was the same

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Looks like the Whizzy is rated at 200 Watts power handling, and the EM's rated output at 4 Ohms is 600 Watts.
As the frequency gets lower, so does the cabs ability to handle power.
About all you can do is to keep the amp turned down to below "fart level", assuming the speaker hasn't already been damaged.

 

[skyline_01]

Looks like the Whizzy is rated at 200 Watts power handling, and the EM's rated output at 4 Ohms is 600 Watts.
As the frequency gets lower, so does the cabs ability to handle power.
About all you can do is to keep the amp turned down to below "fart level", assuming the speaker hasn't already been damaged.

Noted, but the volume was never turned up very high to begin with. And I tried the head through another (large) cab and the result was the same.

Thanks for weighing in!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Noted, but the volume was never turned up very high to begin with. And I tried the head through another (large) cab and the result was the same.

Thanks for weighing in!

Try backing off on the bass EQ.

As slim as the possibility is, it is not zero that both cabs have a problem.

The only way to know for sure if it's cabs or amp is to try another amp with your cab.
Only then will you know which piece needs money spent on it at the tech.

I also assume you are using proper speaker cables?

If the amp has send return jacks, insert an instrument cable between the two.

Are any of the pots on the amp sounding scratchy?

 

[skyline_01]

Try backing off on the bass EQ.

As slim as the possibility is, it is not zero that both cabs have a problem.

The only way to know for sure if it's cabs or amp is to try another amp with your cab.
Only then will you know which piece needs money spent on it at the tech.

I also assume you are using proper speaker cables?

If the amp has send return jacks, insert an instrument cable between the two.

Are any of the pots on the amp sounding scratchy?

All good points. I haven't done the send/return thing yet so I may try that.

Speakon cable should be good bc I've recently used it with another amp/cab. I've also used another head with both the EA cab and my Tecamp M212, and everything was good there. No scratchy pots - the head is basically in mint condition aside from this fart anomaly.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

All good points. I haven't done the send/return thing yet so I may try that.

Speakon cable should be good bc I've recently used it with another amp/cab. I've also used another head with both the EA cab and my Tecamp M212, and everything was good there. No scratchy pots - the head is basically in mint condition aside from this fart anomaly.

OK.
You head into two different cabs and the problem occurs with both cabs.
Another head with the cabs and there is no problem.

Sounds like things point to the amp, though I'm having a hard time imagining what it could be.
The Send/Return thing is a long shot, but is free and easy to try. If it solves the problem you can just leave the cable in.

 

[skyline_01]

OK.
You head into two different cabs and the problem occurs with both cabs.
Another head with the cabs and there is no problem.

Sounds like things point to the amp, though I'm having a hard time imagining what it could be.
The Send/Return thing is a long shot, but is free and easy to try. If it solves the problem you can just leave the cable in.

Yep, I will likely give that a try and see what happens. I'm probably still going to send it to a tech either way - it's a bit of a rare bird anymore, and I'd like to have it at 100%.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Yep, I will likely give that a try and see what happens. I'm probably still going to send it to a tech either way - it's a bit of a rare bird anymore, and I'd like to have it at 100%.

If the Send/Return thing does happen to work, tell your tech about it.
He can clean the jacks then while he has it on the bench, or replace a jack if needed. But cleaning should normally take care of it.

 

[Bass Boy]

You can still email EA regarding amp issues.

 

[skyline_01]

You can still email EA regarding amp issues.

Good to know - thanks

 

[skyline_01]

You can still email EA regarding amp issues.

I wasn't entirely sure how to do this, seeing as their site has been defunct for some time now. Any steerage in the right direction is appreciated, if your "in the know".

 

[skyline_01]

I also just read in an older EA thread that someone had a distortion/pop in their Doubler and it was fixed by changing to a new/better AC cable. It's a long shot but I'm going to try it when I get a chance.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Try a patch cable between the send and return jacks. If it fixes it, the jacks are dirty.

 

[skyline_01]

Try a patch cable between the send and return jacks. If it fixes it, the jacks are dirty.

Yep, we discussed that a little earlier - great tip!

 

[Thumpin6string]

Yep, we discussed that a little earlier - great tip!

That is the first thing I check when there is distortion, low output, or if it is cutting out. Seems to be one of the most common issues with modern amps. Also, if it has a headphone jack, they can cause similar issues when dirty. Hope you figure it out.

 

[skyline_01]

That is the first thing I check when there is distortion, low output, or if it is cutting out. Seems to be one of the most common issues with modern amps. Also, if it has a headphone jack, they can cause similar issues when dirty. Hope you figure it out.

Many thanks again!

 

[logdrum]

I have a Whizzy 12 M-Line and those are rated at 250 watts at least that's what both of mine say. I also have the Doubler Gen I. To contact them...you may have to go to Golihur and see if they can give you contact info and if they can also give you the manual. You see there are dip switches and jumper pins to enable and disable some features. Turn everything back to normal.

Have you tried the XLR input. Turn off 48v

I wasn't entirely sure how to do this, seeing as their site has been defunct for some time now. Any steerage in the right direction is appreciated, if your "in the know".

 

[skyline_01]

I have a Whizzy 12 M-Line and those are rated at 250 watts at least that's what both of mine say. I also have the Doubler Gen I. To contact them...you may have to go to Golihur and see if they can give you contact info and if they can also give you the manual. You see there are dip switches and jumper pins to enable and disable some features. Turn everything back to normal.

Have you tried the XLR input. Turn off 48v




View attachment 4925360

I have not tried the XLR yet, but I did look at the dip switches when I first got the head. IIRC, they reflected the following:

- phantom off
- no boost for either channel
- post EQ DI
- can't remember about the footswitch orientation but I can't imagine it's relevant

Thanks for the info!

 

[logdrum]

I have not tried the XLR yet, but I did look at the dip switches when I first got the head. IIRC, they reflected the following:

- phantom off
- no boost for either channel
- post EQ DI
- can't remember about the footswitch orientation but I can't imagine it's relevant

Thanks for the info!

Okay that's all factory settings. Do you have a preamp or maybe a lineout from another amp and see how it behaves with bypassing the Doubler's preamp by going to FX Loop return and see if you can replicate the behavior. And the button between the 2 inputs, does it happen whether you press it in or out and have you switched inputs as well.

Good luck. The EA guys were good people and hopefully they can help you out.

 

[skyline_01]

Okay that's all factory settings. Do you have a preamp or maybe a lineout from another amp and see how it behaves with bypassing the Doubler's preamp by going to FX Loop return and see if you can replicate the behavior. And the button between the 2 inputs, does it happen whether you press it in or out and have you switched inputs as well.

Good luck. The EA guys were good people and hopefully they can help you out.

Yeah, I had planned to bypass the preamp at some point and see what happens. I have already switched between the two inputs using the button and the result is the same.

And I know it may be pointless, but I'm also going to switch out the AC plug with the one I use for my other amp. As I mentioned above, someone in another thread had a pop/distortion issue and switching out the plug had solved it.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll update as things play out.