• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Problem with the SWR Marcus Miller pre-amp

#21
An awful lot of wall wart power supplies have simply terrible noise problems. These are not restricted to effects pedals but can be found very often with keyboards. All of them are pretty much a simple transformer with a full wave rectifier of some sort into a way too small capacitor. The newer SMP supplies are very much better. I bought a smps designed to run a multitude of effects ( sorry I can't recall the make ATM) but I enjoy zero noise problem when I use my pedal board.

Paul
 
#22
I've noticed the same here. I've got an older Electro Harmonix Doctor Q, which is pretty freaking noisy with the original power supply. A could of my older Boss pedals are the same way. Conversely, my newer EH Big Muff Pi is dead quiet.

I picked up a Rocktron 9V DC OnTap Universal Gtr Pedal Power Supply jammy. Musicians Friend has it as the Stupid Deal of the Day a while back, so I got it for cheap. Works great with all my pedals, and it's made the noisy ones much quieter (within reason of course, need to replace some pots...).
 
#23
I haven't heard of that particular problem, however I have heard that the fuse has a sudden tendancy to go out. When I bought mine from atlanta bass gallery, they strongly suggested to switch out the fuse for a long lasting fuse. However I've had it for a few months now and I haven't had any problems. It is by far the best sounding amp I have ever had.
 
#24
i love my M2 preamp as well except for the fact that the mute light just stopped working after two months, never seen this happen on a new unit before so i don't know if its a bad bulb or bigger problem. any way now i have to take my in house rig apart and start trouble shooting..... a bit of a pisser.

i wish guarantees would cover the cost of additional expenses like time, travel, rental fees for securing replacement equipment and general loss of income expenses....... hmm i wonder if the completed operations clause in their insurance policy would be forced to cover these expenses over and above their warranties......

if we as a community expected more do you think we'd get more ?

not attempting to start a revolution against the R&D or manufacturing folks..(especially the ones that play or love the bass) just thinking out loud........
 
#25
atlboriqua said:
I haven't heard of that particular problem, however I have heard that the fuse has a sudden tendancy to go out. When I bought mine from atlanta bass gallery, they strongly suggested to switch out the fuse for a long lasting fuse. However I've had it for a few months now and I haven't had any problems. It is by far the best sounding amp I have ever had.
Click to expand...

I think I got hit with this last night...AT A LIVE SHOW :bawl:

I'm at at Toads Place in CT, got my gear up on stage, flipped my rack power on, flipped the preamp on...lights on, lights off! I did the *** routine for several minutes, playing with my rack power, the pre, my power amp...no love though. Figured it must be a fuse (I haven't had a chance to diagnose yet).

I was obviously pissed, especially since I've had the unit for only 4 months. Luckily, the house had an old SVT that went down to 2 ohms (I have two 4 ohm cabs), so I used that. Not exactly the tone I was after...fretless piezo only bass in an acoustic rock band, extremely overdriven. A few people said I sounded like Les Claypool, which obviously is a compliment, but not the tone I was after. It was better than no amp at all though! And it made me miss my old SVT3 :p

I think I'm going to start carrying around my little Hartke VXL pedal with me, so if need be I can go straight in to that and then XLR in to my power amp at the right impedance. SWR support is going to get an e-mail from me though...
 
#27
I've been using my M2 for about 9 months or so and haven't had any problems like that much at all other than sometimes picking some EM interference now and again.

I run a GT10B through the fx loop with TRS cables and find it sounds much better through the loop vs straight into the instrument jack.


My only issue ever (and it's not even an amp issue really) is with sound personnel that insist on taking the direct (pre) signal and bitching when I insist on giving the Line signal off of the DI.

Why would I literally spend thousands of dollars on getting the sound I want to be able to have the tremendous opportunity of getting on a stage and have the sound coming from the monitors and the mains be exactly as if I just walked on and jacked straight into the board for what amounts to the poopiest bass sound ever? Especially when guitar players always get their sound...

Lol, rant of the day over. xD
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back