How to address hissing.

[Zarathustra3]

Hi, I am playing a warwick wa 600 amp out of a ampeg svt 410.

I play off a passive single coil in the bridge position and crank the hi's and mids on the amp.

It sounds great but there is alot of noise coming out of the cab.

What can I do about this, besides eqing differentl?

 

[WayneP]

It’s not unusual for bass amps to be noisy. I notice that Warwick doesn’t even advertise a signal-to-noise spec (probably because it’s an embarrassing figure). Add a high-efficiency speaker to the mix (which most bass cabs are) and you have a recipe for noise. Boosting the highs and mids only aggravates the problem.

Your options are:

* Reduce the level of the tweeter.
* Tone down the high EQ.
* Get new electronics with a S/N ratio (often called “hum and noise”) of at least 95 dBu (unweighted) or better.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


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[Zarathustra3]

What about an isp noise decimator pedal? Just a gimmick?

 

[WayneP]

You might give it a try in the effects loop. Hang on to the receipt though...

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


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[Zarathustra3]

Thanks for the replies. Forgive the noob question, what do you mean by effects loop? I've been playing for many years but never messed with anything more complicated than my bass, the amp, and the cab lol

 

[WayneP]

The Send/Return jacks on the back panel. They’re for connecting an external processor. “Send” is the output, “Return” is the input. You might also try an expander/gate like the Aphex 612 as well.

Keep in mind these devices are mainly effective with no signal present. If your noise is so loud that it comes through while you’re playing, there’s no remedy for that other than what I suggested in my first post.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


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[Zarathustra3]

Thanks I'll try. It's fine while playing. I want it for basically, talking while at band practice.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

What about an isp noise decimator pedal? Just a gimmick?

Those are the best gates on the market but I think the OP's issue is with the normal amp noise, which an ISP would not address.

 

[Zarathustra3]

What is better, the ISP decimator or Boss N2?

 

[Silas Stingy]

If the cab is a 410 he then my personal preference would be to disconnect the tweeter. Other options are noise gate in loop if loop is post eq and 100% mix or eq pedal to mid and treble boost followed by noise gate, this way you can run amp eq flatter.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

What is better, the ISP decimator or Boss N2?

The BOSS NS2 is a tone sucking piece of crap. I would not recommend one to an enemy. Seriously, that pedal is the epitome of tone sucking pedals.

 

[Zarathustra3]

What about this
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[elgecko]

 

[jamro217]

Like Ed Norton with the golf ball:" Helllooooooo, ball." If that doesn't work, a slight bit of compression with a noise gate should help.

 

[bebass]

It’s not unusual for bass amps to be noisy. ...
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Good amps should not be noisy. My Traynor SB200H and SB500H have no hiss and are quiet until a note comes through. Then they speak. Amps should speak only when spoken to, I say.
OP: I would disconnect the tweeter (or turn it all the way down).

 

[neuman]

I had issues live and at my practice space; took a chance on a used EbTech Hum-X. No more hiss. Might work for you too.

 

[walldaja]

Look them in the eye, pause for a moment, then grab them by the throat. Important, do not telegraph your movement.

 

[monsterthompson]

Single coil? How much is amp hiss (guitar on-board volume at zero) vs. 60 cycle hum from the pickup?

 

[Sixgunn]

Hmmm. I've been playing for decades with many different basses and rigs (racks, SVT, GK, etc.) and have never had noise/hiss issues.

 

[DavC]

it's bass ... leave all that high end hissy crap to the guitars/keys ... !!

in 40+ yrs of bass playing , ... I've never cranked the mids/highs ... ??!?

if the highs are cranked and the tweeter is wide open ... noise gates won't help .. ! unless , of course , if it goes away when the cable/bass is unplugged ... you need to troubleshoot things to figure out where the hiss is coming from ... !! amp or bass .. ? if it's coming from the bass , then yes , a noise gate would work fine ... BUT , ... I'd being checking the internal bass wiring and also adding lots of shielding .. !! to get the bass as quiet as possible first .. !

I also agree with others regarding turning the tweeter down or off ... a lot of us old guys played for decades thru 15" speakers and No tweeters ... !! I don't think most basses put out that super high frequency range that only dogs can hear ... !!