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F-1X noise...help?

rok51

rok51

Supporting Member
Sep 2, 2002
2,053
1,133
74
Crawfordville, FL
#1
F-1X-ers and electronics gurus: I have a noise in my preamp...it sounds like being at an outdoor event with the wind blowing through the microphones. I have tried plugging/unplugging all 1/4 inch jacks multiple times just to see if there was any oxidation there (I haven't used the unit in about two years...but it was making the noise, then, too (duh!). It is not affected by any signal from any of my basses. I can unplug the instrument completely and the noise is still there. It changes in response to the F-1Xs volume and the 'character' changes in response to the tone stack. The pots are not scratchy and have no 'dead' spots. Neither the bright nor the deep switch change anything. I have an GT12AX7M "Mullard" in it right now.

Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks,

Kim
PS...the preamp sounds just fine playing through it...this noise is only noticeable when it is 'idling'
 
#2
Nevermind. I fixed it. It was the GT tube. Put back the Chinese tube that came with it. Ah, quiet-sorta anyway! Just the mild background hiss with no 'wind in the microphone'. Tried a standard Sovtek 12AX7WA while I was messing around. It sounded more sterile with less low end extension. The Sovtek had short plates, the Chinese tube had long black plates. Anyway, all is well in the armpit of Florida.

Kim
 
#3
Shortplates aren't necessarily any worse than longplates, it just depends on the tubes you're comparing. My F-2B came with RFT tubes (which have some of the shortest plates I've ever seen), and they sound great.
 
#4
I wasn't commenting on the sound being attributable to the plate length, just a description of the tube itself. The GT either didn't like the preamp or was bad out of the box, but I didn't notice right away...and I hadn't had the head out in about two years. All of my other 12AX7s didn't have the problem that I had with the GT. Certainly not a condemnation of the 12AX7M tube, itself.

Bottom line, a quiet sweet-sounding tube beats the tar out of a noisy, sweet-sounding tube! :bassist:

Kim
 

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