• 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.

Weird distortion when wah in engaged on svt 3pro

T

Travis_Bass

Jul 8, 2010
90
0
#1
Okay heres my chain from bass to amp.

Ibanez SRA500 (EMG HZ pu)-->VT Bass Pedal-->Dunlop 105q wah--> 05' SVT3 pro amp-->07' svt410hlf

Heres the problem. When I just activate the wah pedal alone, and ride on the lower wah sound, I get an ugly distortion through my speakers. Like nothing that would sound good. I noticed that using my bass's EQ makes it worse, so I run everything flat on the bass. The distortion is worser the harder I dig into the strings, and goes away once I rock the pedal more forth.

What could be the problem here? Im not playing loud. My amp is from 05' and the tubes havent been changed, but they dont sound broken, so I dont think thats the problem. I think it is my bass, because somedays I will get crackling from the bass, weird 'ticking' sounds and ugly distortion sounds, even without any effects in the chain.

Thanks for any help!!
 
#6
is it possibly coming from the speakers being overextended? When you play, watch the speakers and see if they go from a good recoil to a kinda floppy "phlllbbttt!" when the distortion sound happens. Some wahs put out a overpowering lowmid Q that can overextend a speaker...
 
#8
derridiandrift said:
Try backing off the volume on the wah pedal a bit, or turning down the gain on your amp. I could be wrong, but I think the dunlop pedal does gain boost. If so, you're making the signal hotter when you kick it in.
Click to expand...

The 105Q can deliver plenty of gain! this is also shown by the fact that you don't get this problem by running your wah before the VT bass ,which compresses the sound quite a bit.
 
#9
Here's what you should do and the order you should do it in: (of course check batteries first in pedals and/or bass)

1) Unplug everything and go bass-->cable-->amp. Try it out on all settings and see if you get the same problem. If you DO....try another cable.

2) Add in bass-->wah-->amp. Now see if the problem persists.

3) Add in another pedal and each time check both the pedal AND cable. You will eventually troubleshoot where the problem is happening.
 
#10
I tried all of this. I am playing with Gain at 5:30 and volume at 10:00 (so not loud at all). Ive tried messing with gain levels and tube gain, running effects in different orders, using effect loop, nothing seems to work. It might be my bass, or my cabinet, or my amp... but none of these pieces are old or broken. The cab was a practise cab and rarely used, my bass isnt even a year old, the only thing I can think of is the amp's tubes, since they're 5 years old.

Note: The clipping sound only happens when I boost on my bass, or use my wah pedal. Anything bassy causes the AMP to clip, because the cabinet isnt even close to being pushed, and I still get yuck for sound.
 
#11
i check my own bass wah pedal, and it seems to me that the same problem occured.

When i have the Q very high a distortion noise appears on the E sting (low) but i usually have the Q between low-medium.

probobly not your gear, i manage to set it up the way i like it and without the distortion noise (if it is the same noise :P) you could try diffrent settings on the wah.

please keep update and let me know how that goes.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back