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Shuttle 6.0 Question/Concern

D

dDub

Feb 14, 2009
13
0
#1
Hello,

I am considering picking up a Shuttle 6.0 head. I borrowed one from my local music shop and tried it out at a show last night. First off a have to say I love the sound & size of this head. During our last song I started to notice a funny smell coming from the amp (like plastic burning). I did have the gains up pretty high (between 1 & 3 O'Clock) and was running quite a bit of fuzz/overdrive through the effects loop. My set up was as follows:

Gibson Thunderbird > Shuttle 6.0 > (fx loop) Boss Limiter/Enhancer, Fulltone BassDrive, Bass Big Muff > Yorkville 8 ohm 410 cab

At the time I noticed the smell I did have the boss, the muff and both gain stages on the fulltone engaged providing 12-16 dB of boost on my signal. The funny thing was that the Shuttle 6.0 wasn't even warm to the touch at the end of the song. (I guess it is possible the smell originated somewhere else from the stage -- but I don't think so)

I guess my question is what could cause the smell and is it safe to run the Shuttle 6.0 in the manner I did. I have to compete with 2 guitarist running cranked DeVille's, so I got to play loud.

Thanks,
Dan the n00b
 
#2
Well first off. those fender guitar amps are EVIL to bass players..loud little buggers... that is your problem.:) only kidding...

mmmmm. I have cranked my Shuttle 6 and it doesn't seem to ever get warm.. I play passive basses mostly and I run my gain real hot to get some tube compression 2-3 o'clock.. but no red light on the input... and i have lit the LIMIT light at times and kept it there.. The amp never gets warm... i have no idea how they do that... But it can get loud through the proper cabinets..

You said that you were using some fuzz and or OD.. do you think it may be a tweeter in your cab getting slammed? OD can tax a tweeter to death... literally. even if you are not at max input to the cabinet..

If you notice the smell again, try sniffing the exit port on the left side of the amp.. The opposite side of the fan to see if there is a stronger smell.that way you will know if its the amp for sure...... if so, just be glad it doesnt smell like fish.. thats a story from the olden days that maybe only agedhorse and me (the old timer) will understand..:) has to do with those old capacitors which are not in this amp...
 
#3
Thanks for the tips! I believe the tweeter on my cab is long dead, but perhaps it was the cause of the stank.

Just out of curiousity, is there a general rule as to how much of a dB boost you can put on an amp safely, both through an effects loop and before the input stage? Or is it just your speakers you have to worry about? I know the Shuttle 6.0 has a limiter and auto shut off so I figured I was safe to push it hard. And after we finished the show I examined it and it seemed fine/didn't smell funny.

Great little head by the way. I'd recommend one to anyone on my experience so far. I rehearsed with it through a Ampeg 810 cab earlier this week and it sounded great. Had no issues at all and was plenty loud.
 
#4
mmmm tweeter is dead...

you know.. i have seen crossover units that are inside the cabinet...which both the tweeter and the speakers are connected to.. i have heard of that smell you described coming from that part.. you may want to open the back of the cabinet where the crossover/ input jacks are and do a visual inspection..( only do this if you feel comfy in mechanical handiwork)
if you do open it post a pic here of the crossover and also post one over at AMP GUTS thread for the fun of it ..


dDub said:
Thanks for the tips! I believe the tweeter on my cab is long dead, but perhaps it was the cause of the stank.

Just out of curiousity, is there a general rule as to how much of a dB boost you can put on an amp safely, both through an effects loop and before the input stage? Or is it just your speakers you have to worry about? I know the Shuttle 6.0 has a limiter and auto shut off so I figured I was safe to push it hard. And after we finished the show I examined it and it seemed fine/didn't smell funny.

Great little head by the way. I'd recommend one to anyone on my experience so far. I rehearsed with it through a Ampeg 810 cab earlier this week and it sounded great. Had no issues at all and was plenty loud.
Click to expand...
 
#5
That is a question for agedhorse from Genz Benz.. He or Roger - hasbeen may stop in here once they get a minute to answer that question.... i could speculate but they could give you a definite answer..


dDub said:
Just out of curiousity, is there a general rule as to how much of a dB boost you can put on an amp safely, both through an effects loop and before the input stage?
Click to expand...
 
#6
I'll pull my cab apart and take a look. May be a couple of days before I get the time for that, though. I believe the only access to the wiring is through the speaker holes, so it may be tricky...

Thanks again for the input/advice!
 
#9
I think you're smelling the cab...not the amp.

Did the Shuttle feel hot? ....I wouldn't think so but, I have to ask.
 
#11
If the amp isn't heating up is it operating safely? I know that may seem like a silly question, but the technology in these mini amps seems different from what I've used in the past.

Thanks,
 
#12
I'll bet you are smelling something else, maybe some club stank or something?

Boost in the effects loop is like adding another preamp between the preamp and the power amp, not something that carries much useable benefit I think. As far as the input, if that's the sound that makes you happy, there's no problem but I would limit the output level of the boost preamp to no more than +20dBu.
 
#15
yeah my GF bought me a real nice espresso machine as a gift...
I was spending waaaay too much per week at the snooty coffee places.. 2 per day x 2 Extra shots x 7 days = $$
I can only do coffee on my days off now, since it affects my groove...:eek:

So now i brew at home, and i still dont have the mixture under control.:eek::eek::hyper::hyper::hyper::rollno:






jokerjkny said:
haha,

nah, but again, you said pretty much everything i would have.

and holy crap, 8 shots?!
Click to expand...
 
#19
agedhorse said:
I'll bet you are smelling something else, maybe some club stank or something?

Boost in the effects loop is like adding another preamp between the preamp and the power amp, not something that carries much useable benefit I think. As far as the input, if that's the sound that makes you happy, there's no problem but I would limit the output level of the boost preamp to no more than +20dBu.
Click to expand...

Sigged LOLOL.
 

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