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Post subject: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 10:36 pm
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hello i just bought my very first acoustic amp. I'm a bit disappointed, or too demanding or ignorant you tell me. the amp is making white noise. a constant white noise. amplified if I turn up the treble knob and decreased when I turn it down. the white noise is audible even without any wire or instrument connected. the volume of the noise is increasing with the volume knob. becoming really annoying at about 1/4 of the knob (nothing plugged in). the white noise is even slightly Audible with the volume knob at 0. no instrument or wire connected... is it normal or should I return it? it's driving me crazy I still ear it when playing like a constant background noise. please help.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 9:01 pm
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I'm not surprised you can hear hiss from the amp.
Its probably normal. When you describe the hiss getting worse when you turn up the treble, that is consistent with a high gain amp.
Its a normal consequence of amplification. Along with high gain, noise of the individual components becomes apparent when the volume goes up.
The best thing is to run the master high and the preamp gain low.
But, being a digital system with multiple speakers, that also exacerbates the problem. Each speaker adds a little hiss.
Now, being a 80 watt X 2 combo, this big boy is designed to be played on stage in a tavern or large church. The noise figure in those venues would not be a problem as the hiss gets lost in the music. If, however, you are trying to use it in a bedroom, yea its annoying.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 10:49 am
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Hello, thank you for your reply.

Yeah i figured that this looks normal. It was my first amp, so, it's all new to me.
I went to the music store and tested all the fender acoustic pro series amps. All the same.
The problem, is that on this product family, there is no gain and volume pots separated. There is only a volume Knob. I believe the gain for preamp and master volume are bound together to only 1 knob.
I was trying the amp with my vintage guitar that is a magnetic pu equipped. Since this pu is passive, i have to turn a lot of the volume knob to have good levels. Impedance matching problem... so a lot of hiss...
It's impossible to play with that guitar. I even have to horrible hiss in earphones.
With my piezzo equipped guitar, it's ok. i don't have to crank to volume more than 1/4 to have good level.
But, i feel like i can't get that hiss sound out of my head now... even at low volumes... lol
I don't understand why is that family not having preamp stage gain knob and a higher input impedance ?! For a product of that price range, it's upsetting. I might refurb and take a fishman loudbox instead. i'm a bit disappointed...


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 3:30 pm
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Take it back. That's unacceptable. Whether it's supposed to hiss is not the point. A good amp is not supposed to hiss or have unwanted noise. I have an 85 watt Twin Reverb tube amp that's quiet as a mouse. That would drive me bonkers, especially for acoustic music.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 11:43 pm
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What's bothering me is that i'm not finding any complaint online about that amp only wonderfull reviews with 5 stars rating... so i'm feeling a bit lonely and weird as too picky... What the hell ?!


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:47 am
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tdalleau wrote:
What's bothering me is that i'm not finding any complaint online about that amp only wonderfull reviews with 5 stars rating... so i'm feeling a bit lonely and weird as too picky... What the hell ?!
I would feel really lonely and weird if I was stuck with an expensive amp I didn't like and can't get rid of it. Seriously, you do not need to put up with annoying hissy amps. This is for acoustic music. How can this be good in any setting?


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 8:46 am
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You're right. Hiss is a killjoy. You are in the same position as many pickers making the transition from acoustic to electric.
You have a perfect mechanical amplifier in the soundbox of an acoustic. Its going to be a step down in perceived quality to go electric.
An acoustic has six inputs, one per string. Any electric has to mix into a single signal, causing cancellations. The benefits of electric is adding power for more dramatic levels than acoustics can provide and for special effects. Your amp was designed to do both in spades. To understand what it is capable of, take it to a place you can turn it up to gigging level. You can't idle your Ferrarri down Main Street and make performance judgements.
In the living room, I recommend a direct box hooked into your home stereo for acoustic levels.


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 9:37 am
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Thank you for your reply.

A very wise reply.

I went to 2 music stores this afternoon, and tested like 15 different acoustic amplifiers. I noticed that there were all noisy past a certain volume level.
So i believe this is completely "logical" and "normal" after all.
Only one amp was very silent, a Marshall AS100D but not completely though.

I just have to buy a preamp for my magnetic pickup i guess since i also tested the loudbox series and there were very noisy too since i had to turn the gain at about 12 to have a nice volume and tone with my guitar. Tone is completely sucking with the Acoustic SFX though... Maybe i'll have to change pickup in the vintage guitar, or buy another one ! Man music is costly... Just bought an 800€ amp and i still need to buy more things to have a good setup...


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Post subject: Re: Acoustic SFX - Constant White Noise
Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 4:44 pm
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tdalleau wrote:
Thank you for your reply.

A very wise reply.

I went to 2 music stores this afternoon, and tested like 15 different acoustic amplifiers. I noticed that there were all noisy past a certain volume level.
So i believe this is completely "logical" and "normal" after all.
Only one amp was very silent, a Marshall AS100D but not completely though.

I just have to buy a preamp for my magnetic pickup i guess since i also tested the loudbox series and there were very noisy too since i had to turn the gain at about 12 to have a nice volume and tone with my guitar. Tone is completely sucking with the Acoustic SFX though... Maybe i'll have to change pickup in the vintage guitar, or buy another one ! Man music is costly... Just bought an 800€ amp and i still need to buy more things to have a good setup...
It's a delimma and I don't have good advice except to get my money back and try something else. I've always preferred using microphones for acoustics, but I'm no professional.


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