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Post subject: Vibrolux-noisy with pedals
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:04 am
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Greetings,
I'm hoping somebody here may have some advice about my situation. I have a late 70s silverface Vibrolux Reverb, unmodified (unless you consider non-operational tremolo a mod!). Occasionally I use three or four effects boxes: a Boss digital delay, a tubeworks overdrive, an old Boss chorus (CE2), and I have a newer Boss tuner.
The problem I am having is that when I use the tuner as a power supply for the pedals, using the Boss daisy chain cable to power the delay and chorus (this overdrive has its own AC chord), I get a hum from the amp. Originally I though that, because I wasn't using all of the plugs on the chain chord, that one of the ends may be touching something, creating the hum. So I taped all the unused ends with electrical tape. It didn't help, though, I still get the hum.
If I run the pedals with three individual power supplies, I don't get the hum. I have also tried various power supplies to power the system, and I still always get the hum. It's not coming from an individual pedal either, because I've tried them all independently. For some reason, the Vibrolux doesn't like having a chained effects group in front of it.
The hum might be tolerable in some live situations, but not for recording or smaller/quieter gigs. I usually don't use the effects, but when I do it's often for a paying gig so I want them to sound good!
What is it about the Vibrolux circuit that could be causing this situation? Any ideas?


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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:39 am
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Questions:

Are both the amp, the Tubeworks pedal and the pedal power supply plugged into the same outlet and or circuit? If all your gear isn't plugged into the same outlet, you're setting yourself up for ground hum.

Have you tried plugging into another amp? may not be the vibrolux that's the problem.

How old is the Boss chorus? If it's really an old one, it may take a different power type than the newer pedals. You can tell if the AC in on the back is flush to the base of the pedal or located slightly up.

It may be the tuner has an issue with its power out.

I have a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 that powers 10 pedals on my board with no noise - each power outlet is transformer-isolated to prevent hum from pedals that don't play well. They also now make a mini one that powers 5 pedals. May be worth looking into

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:27 pm
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Thanks for the reply.
The Boss Chorus is an early 80s model. Not sure the power requirements, I'll look into it. Everything is on the same outlet in the room.
I don't know if it happens with just the Vibrolux, you may be onto something with the Boss power out. When I have some time I'll play musical amps and power supplies again and try and nail down the problem.
I'll definitely look at that other power supply, I don't really like the daisy chain that much.
Thanks!


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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:36 pm
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Can you use battery power only? If so, try that and see what happens. I'm assuming that all your effects are true bypass.


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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:31 pm
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Here's the solution - you need to isolate what's making noise and to do that, you need to take everything out of the signal chain and then slowly add pieces back in. This way, you know exactly what piece(s) are the noise culprit(s).

1. Amp on, nothing plugged in. Ensure that this is as clean and noise free as possible.
2. Guitar - cord - amp. Ensure that this is as clean and noise free as possible.
3. Guitar - tuner - amp. Try with tuner first on batteries, then with power supply plugged into tuner.
4. continue to add effects to the chain, first without plugging into power, then adding to see what effect is adding the noise.

I don't know all the effects you're plugging in, but delays and choruses are pretty heavy power users - they may be too much for the tuner's outlet.

The Butler is actually powered with an AC cord. I don't remember, but is the AC cord on your Butler a 3-prong or a 2 prong? If it's a 2 prong, you may want to try flipping it around, if it lets you. If it's a really old one, you may have dried out electrolytic filter caps inside that are buzzing. You'd need to send it back to Mike Butler at www.butleraudio.com but contact him first if this is indeed the problem child.

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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