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Post subject: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:05 am
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I've recently bought a Mustang 2 (used) and I'm really impressed with it. But I have one problem, which is really undermining my enjoyment of it and my ability to use it for rehearsals and gigs. This is the problem: when I am playing fairly hard (even with the master volume on 3 or 4) and hit the low E or A string then quite often at the same time as the loud note there is a really loud crack or pop noise (or perhaps a short crackle). It isn't a "fizz" and it certainly isn't a natural overdrive distortion. It seems to be worse when I use a humbucking guitar and have the input level high.

I wondered whether it was some kind of A/D clipping but I'm not driving it that hard and if it was so easy to clip then there would be hundreds of posts on the forums complaining about it.

It's not a static pop either, I don't think. Only seems to happen on the low strings.

Any idea what might be wrong? It's an eBay purchase so taking it back to the shop is not an option. It sounds great except when it does the loud pop/crack thing. I could change out the speaker, I suppose, but that would also change the EQ. I am reasonably handy with a soldering iron if anyone thinks I should check some wiring.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:36 am
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The first thing to try is putting in a different 8 ohm speaker and see if it still happens. It could be the speaker is damaged.

Another clue to it being speaker-related is if it happens through headphones or not.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:57 pm
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I have a spare 16 ohm speaker. I guess that should be fine. I will try the headphone idea first.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:19 pm
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None of the symptoms are noticeable through the headphones, so I will try changing the speaker. I have a Celestion Rocket 50 (12inch, 16 ohms version) that I can swap into the unit.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:35 pm
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Guys, I would not recommend anything but an 8 ohm speaker in these amps as I don't think their power amps and power supplies are that sturdy. At these price points I think their impedance tolerances will be fairly narrow - you could damage the amp.

The other thing is that a loud popping noise is not indicative of a blown speaker. It sounds more like your pickups may be too hot for the MII's input and its A/D converter is being driven to digital distortion (a terrible sound) and it will pop and crackle.

O.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:06 am
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I tried a speaker swap with a Celestion Rocket 50 but it sounded terrible. Hissy and painful treble. The problem is that the power amp on the Mustang is EQd specifically to match the speaker supplied by Fender.

So I swapped back to the original. Ocatraz, I think you may be right about it not being a speaker problem but I need to do some more checking. It certainly doesn't sound like a speaker noise and it sounds fine most of the time. When it goes wrong it's more like a static sound. But if it's just AD clipping then I can't understand why most people don't get it because I'm not hitting it that hard. It does it even without an OD pedal in the circuit and the guitars has relatively low output pickups: SD Alnico 2 and SD Pearly Gates. But I'm not sure what else it could be.

What a pain.... I really like the amp but I can't use it in public if it might go pop or crackle at any moment!!


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:19 am
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I see. Well then the only other thing I can think of is that there might be something wrong with its power amp. And on that track, does it do the same thing when you use headphones? I'm trying to get the power amp out of the equation to see if it's the input module itself. Either way, if it's a new amp, return it for a different one.

O.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:31 pm
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Do you notice the clipping when you connect a source to the aux input?

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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:12 am
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Loren Howard - Fender wrote:
Do you notice the clipping when you connect a source to the aux input?


Yes. It's very obvious like that. Even with my iPod on 80% volume. I don't think it's input clipping, as it seems to be worse when the master volume is high. I think there is something wrong with the power amp stage, sadly.

Any more test ideas?


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:34 pm
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Feeling a bit abandoned here. One problem with these PCB amps is that they are hard to fix and the answer to a fault can simply be to throw it away and replace it with another one, which is a bit sad, frankly...


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:07 pm
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If you feel that there is a hardware problem with the amp you should take it to a service center. The issue you're experiencing doesn't sound like one that I've seen/heard. Sometimes getting it serviced is the only answer. The amp has a 5 year warranty for that purpose.

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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 4:18 pm
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Loren Howard - Fender wrote:
If you feel that there is a hardware problem with the amp you should take it to a service center. The issue you're experiencing doesn't sound like one that I've seen/heard. Sometimes getting it serviced is the only answer. The amp has a 5 year warranty for that purpose.


I don't know whether there are any service centers in England. None on the website! But I have emailed Fender UK and I wait for their response. Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:09 pm
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Fret buzz? When I first started using DSP modelers, I noticed that low action and fret buzz will produce all sorts of nasty noises metallic noises and artifacts. Is there any fret buzz involved here???


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:57 am
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RCB-CA-USA wrote:
Fret buzz? When I first started using DSP modelers, I noticed that low action and fret buzz will produce all sorts of nasty noises metallic noises and artifacts. Is there any fret buzz involved here???


I don't think there can be because it also happens on the aux input and my iPod doesn't have any frets to buzz :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Loud pop/crackle noise on low notes
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:08 pm
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Bossarb wrote:
RCB-CA-USA wrote:
Fret buzz? When I first started using DSP modelers, I noticed that low action and fret buzz will produce all sorts of nasty noises metallic noises and artifacts. Is there any fret buzz involved here???


I don't think there can be because it also happens on the aux input and my iPod doesn't have any frets to buzz :wink:


That's what happens when you don't really read the original post - like me. :wink:
I'm pretty much convinced that it's the power amp section that went kablooey.
Sorry dude, but the guy/gal who sold it to you may have played it too loud one too many times.

O.


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