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Post subject: Frontman 25R problem
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:07 am
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Hi,
I just bought a Frontman 25R, and I fall in love inmediatly with the tone on the clean channel, however, I get distortion while playing the low E string even when the volume knob is set on 4, as I go higher I get more distortion on the E string and spreads across any tone at any string.

I use a ESP LT EX260 with stock pickups connected to a Digitech RP250, I redeuced the master volume frm the RP250 from 80 to 30, but I still get distortion on the Frontmat after setting the volume knob anywhere after 5.

Could it be that I received a deffective unit?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:47 pm
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is this a recent model, or the older FM series?

i got a 212 R, but is the older FM style. cant say i've ever had this issue.

perhaps your speaker is to blame? try playing through the FX Loop. hook a cable from the PRE OUT into something like a soundcard or mixing board on a PA. see if it still happens.


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:38 pm
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It is a recent model, 25R. It does not has a effects loop just a footswitch and a headphones out. :?


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:08 pm
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you can use the headphones out in the same way. in fact i forgot the amp had this.

just plug in a pair of headphones, and you will know if there is a problem with your amp circuit. this will take the speaker out of the equation.


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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:51 pm
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Ok, I tested as you did, and when I used a headphones, I was able to turn the knob just above 7 before starting to get distortion.
I believe that we can conclude with this simple test that I have either a deffective/low quality speaker or that I´m trying to use it above its limits.

What do you think?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:40 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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i should have asked this first...in your first post at the top of this page, how much distortion do you get when you set the volume at 4? is it a lot of distortion, or is it just slightly crackly?

anyway, the fact that you were able to turn the volume higher on headphones without distortion would suggest the speaker is causing the problem. although, i'm still not sure that it is completely normal for you to have heard this through the headphones...

reading your first post, i see i forgot to address the other factors. the pickups in your ESP, would you say they are high output, or close to that?
if yes, its possible they are overpowering the solid state circuit. does your amp have a 2nd input? you should use that if so, it uses lower sensitivity.
the other thing you can do is just not max your guitar volume to 10. if you keep the guitar volume lower, it will send out less signal, and not overload the amp. you can compensate by setting the amp volume higher. (not the effects unit, this will have same effect as your guitar volume).
also, maybe the batteries in your effects unit are dying. some effects will create unwanted distortion when the battery is low.


do this...(if you havent already), plug the guitar into amp, do not use any effects unless otherwise stated below. just guitar into amp.

1. first try playing normal through speaker. (if you dont have a problem, check the battery in your effects. you might want to change the battery and then try playing with it into the amp.)

2. if you get crackle/distortion (without effects), try lowering the guitar volume, then raise the amp volume as necessary. try playing again.

3. if you still get distortion, it could be the speaker, but check to see if the amp has the problem. try with headphones. remember, only guitar into amp, no effects. if you dont have the problem now, then it may be the speaker.

4. if you do get distortion, lower the guitar volume and try again. if the distortion goes away now, then perhaps your pickups are just too hot for the circuit. in that case, all you'd have to do whenever you play is to not put your guitar volume all the way up.



sorry if that seems confusing the way i wrote it. let me know if something doesnt make sense.

you might also want to consider lower the pickup height. how close are they to the strings?

sometimes cables go bad. try another guitar cable, and repeat testing above.

again, you need to tell me how much distortion you are experiencing. is it alot, or just a small crackle?


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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:14 pm
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Thanks for the suggestions,
you are right, my pickups are just too hot for the amp:
I lowered the guitar volume and connected directly to the amp, the distortion was still present, so I reduced all the volume in my guitar, and then I set the amp to maximum, then I started to increase the guitar volume little by little until the distortion began, sounding very much like overdriving/clipping.
So in this way the amp was at maximum but my guitar volume was just about a quarter of a turn, instead of a full turn.


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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:51 am
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yea, just experiment with that for awhile. see what you come up with.

like i said, if you have an Input 2, use it.

you can lower your pickup height. that way they will be putting out less signal since they'd be farther from the strings.

another thing that could help is using an eq pedal. the bulk of the guitar signal lives in the midrange. if you scoop some of your mids with an eq pedal, that helps to lower the output. (because you're thinning out the full body of the signal). the downside is it can take away from your tone a bit depending on how much you have to cut.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:17 pm
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yes, actually I started to experiment with the 16-band EQ from my PA until I found nice setting that sounds good with my effects.

Thanks again for your help.


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