- Messages
- 252
I just got my 10/20 head and it rocks! Looks great, too. However, I'm having two issues and I'm hoping somebody out there can help me (I've already spoken to Fredric, and he's offered to do an overhaul if I ship it back to him, but I'd prefer to see if anyone else has some thoughts first).
First, it broadcasts radio stations. Not when I turn it on. Not when I turn up the volume. But as soon as I plug in an instrument cable, voila! I have Tejano coming loud and clear through the speaker. This, of course, is amplified by any sort of gain. When I spoke to Fredric, he said certain locations around the country were prone to this issue -- that the cable was acting as an antenna for certain super high frequencies. He suggested I try different cables. I have. George L's, Whirlwind, old cheap-o curly cue cables. Even a 6" effects patch cable. All result in perfect broadcasts of unwanted radio. Now I have not tried Evidence Audio, yet, which Fredric suggested. That is next on my list. I have also tried lifting the ground plug and changing speaker cables. To no avail. Just for further information, once I start playing, you can't hear the radio. But as soon as I pause, or palm mute, or hold a note just a little too long, back it comes.
Second, it hisses quite a bit. Now I'm no amp guru, and truth be told, this is the first non-ss rectified amp I've owned (I've played plenty, just never bought one until now), but there is a significant difference in hiss between my 10/20 and any of my other amps (Fargen DC, Marshall DSL-401, Fender Blues Junior and even my ZVex Nano Amp). Hiss definitely increases with the 5879 channel and with volume. Again, once I start playing, you cannot hear it, except at low volume clean settings. However, as soon as I pause, palm mute, etc., there it is, loud and clear. Could this be a tube issue? Perhaps break in? The amp is only 1 week old. I have noticed that if you use an attenuator and set it at more than 1/2 way on the attenuation level, both the radio and hiss disappear. I am guessing this is because the attenuator is cutting out the high frequencies?
Any help y'all could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.
John
First, it broadcasts radio stations. Not when I turn it on. Not when I turn up the volume. But as soon as I plug in an instrument cable, voila! I have Tejano coming loud and clear through the speaker. This, of course, is amplified by any sort of gain. When I spoke to Fredric, he said certain locations around the country were prone to this issue -- that the cable was acting as an antenna for certain super high frequencies. He suggested I try different cables. I have. George L's, Whirlwind, old cheap-o curly cue cables. Even a 6" effects patch cable. All result in perfect broadcasts of unwanted radio. Now I have not tried Evidence Audio, yet, which Fredric suggested. That is next on my list. I have also tried lifting the ground plug and changing speaker cables. To no avail. Just for further information, once I start playing, you can't hear the radio. But as soon as I pause, or palm mute, or hold a note just a little too long, back it comes.
Second, it hisses quite a bit. Now I'm no amp guru, and truth be told, this is the first non-ss rectified amp I've owned (I've played plenty, just never bought one until now), but there is a significant difference in hiss between my 10/20 and any of my other amps (Fargen DC, Marshall DSL-401, Fender Blues Junior and even my ZVex Nano Amp). Hiss definitely increases with the 5879 channel and with volume. Again, once I start playing, you cannot hear it, except at low volume clean settings. However, as soon as I pause, palm mute, etc., there it is, loud and clear. Could this be a tube issue? Perhaps break in? The amp is only 1 week old. I have noticed that if you use an attenuator and set it at more than 1/2 way on the attenuation level, both the radio and hiss disappear. I am guessing this is because the attenuator is cutting out the high frequencies?
Any help y'all could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.
John