amp hiss

[elvhfan]

what up guys?
i'm sorta new to tube amps in a way...i've been playing line 6 amps for the past 4 years or so (flextone II and vetta)...anyway, my new tube amp seems to generate some amp hiss....now it's NOT really annoying...just when i play on the gain channel (obviously) but you guys are all experts in this field...is there a device that will eliminate the hiss? i'm just used to the line 6 stuff where there's no amp hiss whatsoever...

 

[Hellion]

Re: amp hiss

Running a noise gate in front of the amp will remove a majority of that hiss, provided it's set correctly. Those Line 6 amps kick butt, though, don't they?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: amp hiss

Tube amps hiss more than solid state amps.

We tube enthusiasts just accept it, cuz tubes sound so much better to us than solid state.

In an old Fender amp, the hiss can sometimes be minimized by replacing the old carbon comp resistors on the plates of the tubes.

I guess oxygen gets stored in those old resistors and makes them hiss and crackle and pop a little...at least according to Ken Fischer.

Lew

 

[elvhfan]

Re: amp hiss

Running a noise gate in front of the amp will remove a majority of that hiss, provided it's set correctly. Those Line 6 amps kick butt, though, don't they?

yeah the line 6 stuff is cool...i actually am running a pod xt live infront of it for effects...i have a boss ns-2 connected to it which takes care of any "screechy feedback" but the amp hiss is still there...looking for something to take care of that...

thanks...jimmy

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: amp hiss

yeah the line 6 stuff is cool...i actually am running a pod xt live infront of it for effects...i have a boss ns-2 connected to it which takes care of any "screechy feedback" but the amp hiss is still there...looking for something to take care of that...

thanks...jimmy

Don't bother...you'll only hear it in your bedroom. You'll never ever hear it with a band. Lew

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: amp hiss

As Lew pointed out, as long as the SIGNAL (guitar) is louder than the NOISE (hiss), you'll never hear it live. Sound has a way of getting sucked up into a black hole when you hit the stage -- amp hiss is the least of my worries when playing live.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: amp hiss

Don't bother...you'll only hear it in your bedroom. You'll never ever hear it with a band. Lew

That is absolutely true! I used to play through a Fender Twin Reverb and it when it was set-up to gig volumes, it had a nice hiss. Just the ambient noise (crowd chatting) you couldn't hear the hiss. Once you start playing, its not there, because the potential energy is being used to amplify the sound from you instrument! Even with a noise gate, you will get some hiss, as the amp is still trying to amplify input signals, in this case nothing. In between sets, I would roll the volume off the guitar and my volume pedal, and the amp still hissed. If it really irritates you, put it on standby whilest you get those beers lined up for the next set!!!

 

[Davey]

Re: amp hiss

turn on the POD's noise gate. you shouldnt have any problems with it. what should be left is a low background gain fizz, which really isnt noticeable

 

[elvhfan]

Re: amp hiss

turn on the POD's noise gate. you shouldnt have any problems with it. what should be left is a low background gain fizz, which really isnt noticeable

wow...you guys were VERY helpful...the hiss i'm talking about is the low background gain fizz...and when i switch to the clean channel it goes away so i could just use that as a "bypass" of sorts when i'm not playing...plus, you guys are right...i'll never hear it when the whole band is playing...

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: amp hiss

Don't bother...you'll only hear it in your bedroom. You'll never ever hear it with a band. Lew

+1

Anyway, if you play much in a loud I mean LOUD band, you will develop in your head a permanent high-cut filter - that's why most active axemen won't complain about hi-gain amp hiss

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: amp hiss

Maybe it's just MY experience, but I think SS highgain is much hissier than tube highgain. Anytime you drive a signal to the point of super highgain, it adds hiss.
That stuff doesn't bother me nearly as much as bad electricity that gives me that 60 cycle hum from the wall....no matter how my stuff is connected. I HATE THAT !!

If you play primarily highgain, it's not a bad idea to own a Rocktron Hush IIC or something similar, which shuts off the signal anytime your fingers aren't touching anything on the guitar. Most guys who play with metal tones often have 1 in their rack. That's one answer. The other would be to use a 31 band EQ and pull the hiss frequency down. Both of those ways will work.