| Author |
 Topic  |
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
 Posted - 09/25/2009 : 18:04:38
|
I have an old vintage Kustom amp. It's an old solid state amp from 1969. When I plug my guitar directly into the amp ( guitar -> amp ), with the guitar's volume pot tuned up I can get the amp to go totally silent, when I turn the volume down on the amp itself.
However, if I put my Boss MT2 distortion pedal (or even my Tube Screamer) in between my guitar and my amp, the amp won't go totally silent. I still get output.
Why is that? Is this normal??
|
Edited by - RickBlacker on 09/25/2009 18:08:17 |
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 18:33:50
|
| you might be getting noise from the pedals. it is pretty normal with most guitar pedals espcially one that have some sort of gain to them |
 |
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 18:57:50
|
That makes since that it would be the gain from the pedal. I don't hear noise and what not, what I'm actually hearing is, the output from the guitar. So, if I play a chord, I hear that chord.
Can I stick an attentuater between the pedals and the amp when I'm wanting to play at very low volumes? |
Edited by - RickBlacker on 09/25/2009 18:58:56 |
|
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 20:26:22
|
| what kind of guitar and pickups are you using? |
|
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 22:12:13
|
quote:
Originally posted by zerksies
what kind of guitar and pickups are you using?
Just tried it with two different guitars.
Jackson DXMG with non stock pups.
Dimarzio "Air Norton" neck, "Norton" bridge.
Kramer Striker with non stock bridge pup
Seymour Duncan George Lynch Screamn' Deamon.
My goal here is the have the full affects of my pedals and guitars volume control. I'm thinking that adding a master volume between the amp's output and the drivers would be the cure???
|
|
|
|
Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 23:56:47
|
| NS-2? Might be worth trying out, the send > return feature is very effective for all of my gain |
|
|
|
natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 03:13:43
|
I agree with Ollie...
Try an NS-2, they work wonders with high gain pedals. I use one with my MT-2 and it cleans up the noise beautifully. Use the send/return loop, it seems to work better.
An NF-1 would probably work if you only needed to gate the noise when you aren't playing. It's a pretty horrible pedal though and the NS-2 is a fair bit more versatile.
|
|
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 03:39:48
|
I'm not really worried about noise. That's not the issue, the problem is, when I turn the amp all the way down, and I strum a chord, or play a note, It comes through the amp loud, as if the amp was turned up to 3 or so...
However, without the pedals, if I turn the amp down all the way, strum a chord, or play a note, I get no sound as expected and desired... |
Edited by - RickBlacker on 09/26/2009 03:40:28 |
|
|
|
Right Foot Boss
Gold Member
USA
881 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 06:25:20
|
| I play on an old Kustom as well. Mine is a Lead II from the seventies, basically a solid state Fender Twin. Do you know what model yours is? Is it a tuck n roll? |
|
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 07:25:36
|
Yep, it's the old Kustom K100C-8
 |
|
|
|
PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 09:19:21
|
Distortion pedals generally introduce gain, this is usually to force the signal to break up, or an amp to be overdriven.
In basic terms if you crank up the gain on a distortion pedal the signal gets louder, to compensate you need to reduce any level control on the pedal.
If you turn up the gain, you've increased the noise floor and you'll pick up any noise from the guitar (even if you tap the body).This can be a major advantage when playing some stuff.
The disadvantage (as you found) is your amp is no longer capable of going "silent".
Hope that makes sense.
The solution is to put a noise gate after the distortion box.
Popular gates are the MXR Smart Gate, or the Boss NS2.
If you use the MXR, just put ot after the noisy stuff.
If you use the Boss NS2, the noisy stuff (distortion pedals etc.) work better placed in the NS2's loop.
I use an NS2 with my distortion and flanger in the loop. |
|
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 16:23:27
|
First, i wanted to thank you all very much for your help. Greatly appreciated it. I now understand why this is happening.
Does the noise gate have any negative affects on the tone?
I think for now, I'm going to try a cheaper route. I've been emailing back and forth with an amp tech who is actually working on someone elses exact same amp as mine. I gave him the schematics, so he offered to help me with any tech needs.
What we are doing, is putting a master volume between the pre amp and power amp stages.
If this does not prove to be a valid option, then i will undo those changes and go the noise gate route. Just dont want to spend that kind of money right now. |
Edited by - RickBlacker on 09/26/2009 16:24:41 |
|
|
|
zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 17:40:14
|
| you shouldn't be getting noise with active pickups at all it definitively the pedals. maybe the ns-2 |
|
|
|
mjp
Copper Member
27 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2009 : 12:50:36
|
quote:
Originally posted by RickBlackerWhat we are doing, is putting a master volume between the pre amp and power amp stages.
I would never modify vintage equipment (even a Kustom amp ;)), but that's just me. |
Edited by - mjp on 09/27/2009 12:50:53 |
|
|
|
PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2009 : 20:13:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by RickBlacker
What we are doing, is putting a master volume between the pre amp and power amp stages.
The MT2 will still overload the amp when it's cranked up.
I wouldn't have thought a master volume would solve that issue... a cheap 2nd hand NS2 would though. |
|
|
|
RickBlacker
Bronze Member
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2009 : 21:08:48
|
Hey all... So, i did the mod to the amp on Saturday. Works perfectly. I can now have my tones at very low volumes.
I know it may make vintage collectors cringe, but... I'm not worried about keeping this thing stock. I'm interested in making it mine. I can't get rid of it. It was passed down to me from my grandfather, so, I might as well make it what I want it to be.
Now, I'm looking into replacing the speakers. It's been suggested that for the tones I'm wanting I should get the Warehouse ET-65's |
Edited by - RickBlacker on 09/28/2009 21:09:43 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Can someone explain this to me?
