Did a new test at home. Used only batteries and tried a Wilson and an underwood and got some humming sounds. Then I tried a krivo (magnetic mick) and one condenser and it was silent.
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And channel two.
Tried some different pickups directly to the soundcard today (no preamp) and got some hum from my Wilson, underwood and a little less with my Ehrlund.
??
Tried some different pickups directly to the soundcard today (no preamp) and got some hum from my Wilson, underwood and a little less with my Ehrlund.
??
What I'm asking is did you try different cables, both from the pickup to the preamp, and from the preamp to the amp/board. Trying to diagnose over the internet isn't always very intuitive, so I'm trying to help you eliminate possible components one by one.
So if the problem has been isolated to piezo pickups running with or without the Headway, then there aren't many components left that would cause the problem. It would either have to be the pickup, jack, or cables unless I'm missing something.
What is baffling to me is that you have more than one pickup with the same problem occurring, which is why I asked about swapping cables.
This is all assuming that you still don't have a grounding issue at the location.
So if the problem has been isolated to piezo pickups running with or without the Headway, then there aren't many components left that would cause the problem. It would either have to be the pickup, jack, or cables unless I'm missing something.
What is baffling to me is that you have more than one pickup with the same problem occurring, which is why I asked about swapping cables.
This is all assuming that you still don't have a grounding issue at the location.
Yes, it's really strange!
Different venues work differently even if I run the preamp with batteries. I've tried different cables but with the same result.
I guess I'll just let go of piezos and only use my ischell and maybe get a magnetic mic for louder situations...
Different venues work differently even if I run the preamp with batteries. I've tried different cables but with the same result.
I guess I'll just let go of piezos and only use my ischell and maybe get a magnetic mic for louder situations...
If you have another high impedance buffer/preamp like the FDeck HPFpre, try it in front of the Headway with a piezo. If it doesn't hum it might have to do with the low loadability of the piezos. Maybe the ground connection of the Headway input jack is damaged (having a high resistance because of a break) internally. That can possibly explain why it happens with both channels if they share a single ground connection to the circuit.
Usually I would first think it's a damaged cable, but if you didn't use it in your tests, it's highly probable that the Headway is damaged.
I remember the Headway has a input impedance switch. You might wiggle the switch several times to clean the contact area. I doubt this is the reason if it happens to both inputs, but it's worth a try. Maybe do that with any other switches too.
If it gets a bit better, DeOxid spray might help.
Usually I would first think it's a damaged cable, but if you didn't use it in your tests, it's highly probable that the Headway is damaged.
I remember the Headway has a input impedance switch. You might wiggle the switch several times to clean the contact area. I doubt this is the reason if it happens to both inputs, but it's worth a try. Maybe do that with any other switches too.
If it gets a bit better, DeOxid spray might help.
