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Post subject: DRRI hiss - is this normal?
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:37 am
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Hi all - just bought a 65 DRRI, and am delighted with it from a tone point of view, but it has what seems to me a rather loud hiss.

I'm a tube amp virgin - although I've been playing 25 years, I've always used high quality solid state amps rather than tube amps as I've had to trash amps around in the boot of my car and never wanted to risk a delicate tube amp.

So I'm not sure if hiss is simply inherent in tube amps, or whether this is an issue with my particular amp.

The hiss is noticible - I can hear it across the room - and gets louder as I turn up the volume. It gets louder still when I use my Boss compressor. It seems unacceptably loud to me.

Its also on both channels, if that helps. Any ideas?


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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:31 am
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Hi: one quick question. At what volume level does it become noticeable? Also, I recently bought a 65 DRRI as well and I noticed it sounding way too bassy, so I pushed in the tubes with my finger-- you know, lightly pushed them in-- and this solved the problem. It seems that one or more tubes was a slight bit loose. Maybe this is the problem? Good luck, and I would like to know how this comes out for you.


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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:49 am
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Are you using single coils? If so, they tend to be noisy. Nothing you can do about it except try different guitars: if the noise disappears when you use 'buckers, you've solved your problem. Also, try turning it up with nothing plugged in. This will eliminate single-coil hum as the root of your problem.

Have you tried your amp in different rooms and different electrical sockets? Plenty of common household items can cause tube amps to make noise: fluorescent lighting, computer monitors, televisions. Try moving your amp around and see what happens.

If none of this helps, try a new set of tubes. Valves are inexplicable in that sometimes they crap out for what seems like no reason at all. Even a brand-new valve can be "bad" and make your life a living hell.


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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:06 am
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Take it back. Hiss is normal in a tube amp, but you shouldn't hear it from across a room. Could just be a bad preamp tube. Don't tolerate any problem with a new amp.


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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:08 pm
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+1 what Vulkan said.Before you take it back, makes sure the source of hiss isnt something like a light,Your pedals plugged into the same outlet,Plugged into an ungrounded outlet, etc , or even your guitar.Once you have eliminated those then i agree , take it back.


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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:09 pm
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Cheers for the replies - it hisses even when there is no guitar plugged in, and the volume pot is scratchy when I turn it. Guess I got a dodgy one, I'll send it back


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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:00 pm
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Yeah something doesn't sound right. If there is any hiss, it shouldn't be all that noticeable. The noise common to single-coil guitars is hum not hiss.


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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:05 pm
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gadabout wrote:
Yeah something doesn't sound right. If there is any hiss, it shouldn't be all that noticeable. The noise common to single-coil guitars is hum not hiss.


Shouldn't there be some "white noise" at high volumes, say starting at volume 6 going up to 10? My DRRI makes a noticeable hiss at previously stated levels, but the hiss is completely inaudible due to the volume. I mean this as a question as much as statement, I just bought the amp.

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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:52 am
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For what it's worth, my DRRI is brand new also. If I turn the volume way up and put my ear next to the speaker I'll hear some noise. But at normal listening distance it's quiet as a mouse.


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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:58 am
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gadabout wrote:
For what it's worth, my DRRI is brand new also. If I turn the volume way up and put my ear next to the speaker I'll hear some noise. But at normal listening distance it's quiet as a mouse.


My amp is the same. Up through volume level 5+ no problem. After 6 and a mild/slight but audible hiss. I had the same with my Twin Amp years ago, so I would presume this is standard.

By the way, how do you like your DRRI?

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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:00 am
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It's terrific. Everybody should have one.


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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:02 am
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gadabout wrote:
It's terrific. Everybody should have one.


I totally agree. I love this amp to death.

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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:21 pm
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Mine's quiet too. Great amp.

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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:36 pm
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Turned out it was getting some interference - possibly from a lamp plugged into the same socket. Took it out for it's first rehearsal and it was fine.

Mighty relieved, as this is a very, very sweet sounding amp - the band were hugely impressed by the tone.

Also knocked out by the punch of this little beauty - played with channel two never above 5, and most of the time had my MusicMan Sillhoutte's volume down to 4-5, and was still cutting through easily against guitar, bass, huge drum kit and hammond organ - was even asked to turn down at one point!

Clean it's beautiful, and with the TS-9 I've got the overdrive I always dreamed of.


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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:28 pm
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jakehadlee wrote:
Turned out it was getting some interference - possibly from a lamp plugged into the same socket. Took it out for it's first rehearsal and it was fine.


I always find it strange how a relatively noisy amp -- or, perhaps, an amp that you perceive to be noisy -- sounds horrific at bedroom levels, but appears to be dead quiet at gigs and rehearsals. My Pro Junior is like that. The little bugger hisses quite a bit at home, but sounds great through a PA system. Being in a loud atmosphere seems to take the edge off even very noisy amps!


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