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OK, I'm convinced...I need a real power supply

JimmyM

JimmyM

Apr 11, 2005
127,256
125,178
Plymouth NC
Disclosures
Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
#1
Busted out my Heritage SVT-CL and 810e today thinking I might have had a tube that was making a slight bit of hum on Thursday's gig, and long story short, it's the 1-Spot. Pulled off my X2 wireless and used it by itself, first with a battery, then the 1-Spot. With the battery, dead quiet. With the 1-Spot, hum. It's quite slight and I never really noticed it on a gig before or through headphones going direct to my computer through the REDDI, but now that I've finally noticed it, the 1-Spots are emergency only.

So it looks like I need a real power supply. My board is a PT Jr, so it would have to be something that fits under it because I'm out of room on the top. Was looking at that new MXR Iso-Brick...the price is certainly right...but I don't think it'll fit. Anyone know for sure? Pretty sure I want isolated outputs just to keep the ghosts in the machine at bay, right? Or is it enough just to get something better than the 1-Spot?

So maybe you folks can help out a brutha' and tell me which ones fit under the PT Jr. and which ones are good and not crap. Thanks!

PS: If anyone tells me to do a search, I will kidney punch your voodoo doll.
 
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#2
Have you looked at the Ebtech Hum X? Aside from pedals that obviously need it, I've never really felt compelled to isolate everything on my board. I use the GigRig power supply and everything is dead quiet at home and almost everywhere else I've tried. Those places that did generate some hum/noise were remedied by the Hum X, which lead me to think that dirty power is often the culprit for noise rather than non-isolated pedal power.
 
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#6
image.jpg image.jpg I use the PT Jr with the Voodoo Labs Iso 5 underneath. It's been rock solid for my purposes.
 

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#7
LSMFT6 said:
Have you looked at the Ebtech Hum X? Aside from pedals that obviously need it, I've never really felt compelled to isolate everything on my board. I use the GigRig power supply and everything is dead quiet at home and almost everywhere else I've tried. Those places that did generate some hum/noise were remedied by the Hum X, which lead me to think that dirty power is often the culprit for noise rather than non-isolated pedal power.
Click to expand...

Did you have any static-noise rather than hum that it took care of? More buzz than hmm?
 
#11
MK1 said:
The Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus is a great supply. It has 8 isolated outputs. 4 of them are switchable between 9v and 12v. Two of them are high current (250 mA each), and it has two outputs with voltage sag. You can also use voltage doubler cables to get 18 or 24v. I currently have one mounted under my PT Jr.
Click to expand...

Winner winner chicken dinner. :thumbsup:
 
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#12
LSMFT6 said:
Have you looked at the Ebtech Hum X? Aside from pedals that obviously need it, I've never really felt compelled to isolate everything on my board. I use the GigRig power supply and everything is dead quiet at home and almost everywhere else I've tried. Those places that did generate some hum/noise were remedied by the Hum X, which lead me to think that dirty power is often the culprit for noise rather than non-isolated pedal power.
Click to expand...

The Hum X only helps with three pronged power connections. I bought one many years ago, analyzed it and wrote a review of it here:

Invalid Link Removed

-Frank
 
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#13
Not a PT-JR owner but a never ending search for a power brick with a 12v600ma isolated output for my MB Compressore led me to buying the super expensive cioks ciokolate. While this wouldn't fit under a PT-Nano.. and they are pricey.. Cioks makes a quality product, supplies like 3-4 different types of cable like 16-20 total? I'd have to look it up. (It came with a plug that powers my MF Ring Mod.. I think the term is center positive?)

But honestly.. the only thing that kept me ftom going for something from voodoo labs or something with a lower cost was that stupid 12v600ma power requirement for the Compressore.

You'll probably go a more cost effective route..

But my only experience with Cioks thus far has been very impressive. CIOKS Big John Link Power Supply with 9 adapter cables! FREE Priority 2-3 Day Shipping in the U.S.! | Reverb

or maybe the dc5? I didn't look up specs..
 
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#14
I settled on Cioks power supplies. Got a used one here and a new one from http://www.guitareffectspedals.com/CIOKS-c26/
I really like the versatility of the Schizophrenic. There's a link in the product description to pedalboard mounting info and it says it fits your board.
Definitely worth checking out IMO. Cheers

Nothing to do with GuitarEffectsPedals by the way, other than a happy, return customer.

And let us know what you end up with!
 
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#15
JimmyM said:
...and long story short, it's the 1-Spot...With the battery, dead quiet. With the 1-Spot, hum...
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Those 1-Spot critters are horrible little things. I bought one when I was putting together a small board... I got so frustrated with the amount of hum and buzz that I just scrapped the whole thing, and took everything that I could, back to the store. I'd never touch another one of those things with a ten foot pole.
 
#18
I eventually want to move to a power supply but cant justify the cost yet, I keep choosing pedals over it. While I seldom use more than 2-3 at once and the 2 Mu-Fx have their own 12vAC supplies, all these run off 2 OneSpots with ZERO noise. Plus a backup is super cheap compared to a power supply. Maybe if I had digital pedals it would be worse, idk.
 

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#20
76jazzbass said:
I eventually want to move to a power supply but cant justify the cost yet, I keep choosing pedals over it. While I seldom use more than 2-3 at once and the 2 Mu-Fx have their own 12vAC supplies, all these run off 2 OneSpots with ZERO noise. Plus a backup is super cheap compared to a power supply. Maybe if I had digital pedals it would be worse, idk.
Click to expand...

I was running 2 one spots, and my Compressore and my Mooger Fooger each had their own individual powersupplies before I finally said "screw it" and hunted down my power brick. It's actually kind of surprising how much time 4 separate power supplies can eat up... tangles and all. (Idc how carefully I rolled those cords up.. they still found a way to tangle.) That being said don't break your bank on my word. If you're fine with your setup you're fine with it.
 

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