Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

[Sideways8]

Hey all,

I've just been getting back into my guitar playing the last couple of years, and have upgraded from a small all-digital Yamaha modelling amp to a Bassbreaker 15 Combo that I got a pretty good deal on as it was a floor-model.

I just got the amp yesterday and could use some advice. When I got the amp home I heard something then that I actually chalked up to the amp having a cooling fan or some such novelty and went about my playing. But today, I came home from work, turned the amp on to warm-up and took a closer listen because a) it was audible sitting next to the amp, and b) the amp was in "mute" mode which is sort of a fake "standby" mode but as I understand it cuts the signal to the speaker.

What I was hearing sounded like faint static, and occasional thuds mixed in...like a finger lightly thumping a table. As I say the amp was obviously on, but in "mute" mode. Also, I hadn't plugged anything in yet, so no cable in the jack, nothing in the effects loop either. I played with the master volume (while in mute) and it neither reduced or increased the noise. I dropped reverb to nil, I changed gain stages...it remained constant. Actually the light thudding was erratic, and at one point while I wasn't even touching the amp it got quite prominent.
I even tried changing rooms/outlets/circuits and it was the same. I've had tube amps before, and I know that a wee bit of hiss/white noise is a part of the nature of the beast, but in mute? With the volume fully cut? That just seems off. I should also say that the amp does give, via the speaker, a little tick/pop noise when you flick the power on and the mute engaged....nothing unusual but maybe the mute just cuts the input and not the speaker itself?

Any suggestions anyone? Pre-amp tubes seem to be a popular source of unwanted noise...or maybe some bad shielding somewhere?
I'm under full warranty and the shop I bought it at should be able to service it, it'd just be nice to have something in my pocket to tell them when/if I take it back in.

Or does this all sound normal?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

If you are in mute mode and you're hearing it, it's mechanical in nature. Something is buzzing inside perhaps. It's not unusual to hear a pop when turning an amp off standby. Easy fix. But this doesn't sound like your issue.

If you were not in mute and the master control adjustment was not affecting it, I'd venture to say look in the preamp.

Mute means the amp is still fully running. So any sound is not coming out of the speaker so it has to be mechanical. Perhaps something is arcing inside? That's not good.


Take the amp chassis out is the cab and run it in a dark room. Look for any electrical arcs.

A tube could be just falling apart inside. Damn near anything. But running it with the chassis out might help you barrow it down.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

How are these amps, anyway (beside the noise)? I saw the ads, but know nothing about them.

 

[Sideways8]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

I like it quite a bit. It was between the Bassbreaker and a Vox AC15. I was kind of worried the Vox would be a two-trick-pony... Clean Vox and crunchy Vox. In a number of respects the Vox is probably a better amp. But for me the Bassbreaker covers a lot more sonic ground... Classic Fender, Vox, and Marshall tones and seems to do it well. The digital reverb is nice and organic sounding, a Hall type i'd say. It's more compact than the AC15 as well.... It fits in one of the back seat passenger foot-wells in my car. It was also a floor model that I got for about 20% off.. That made the decision much easier.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Sideways8]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

For closures sake, the tech at the store said it was a preamp tube acting up and changed it for me. That had seemed to fix the crackling and huffing sounds. The thrumming sound remained but I realized it was drumming in time to the mute jewel-light going on/off and it stops when I turn mute off... So no worries there. Just a bit of a face-palm moment.

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[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

It's always a good idea to retube your amps with top notch pre and power tubes.....something like Tungsol pre's and JJ EL-84's. Then, keep the stock tubes as backups. The amp will likely sound better, and you'll be covered if something acts up.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

It's always a good idea to retube your amps with top notch pre and power tubes.....something like Tungsol pre's and JJ EL-84's. Then, keep the stock tubes as backups. The amp will likely sound better, and you'll be covered if something acts up.

This is very sound advice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

I am happy it was a simple fix and nothing more. Do you like the amp otherwise?

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

I was gonna buy one of these but I heard how noisy they are and that is a common complaint with them..
That's why I passed on one, too bad.. They are a wonderful little design.. Fender usually has some refinements thru the run when they bring things out.
I am sure they will get better with time..

 

[Sideways8]

Re: Bassbreaker 15 noise/hiss

I do like it, but the problem actually doesn't seem to be fixed. Although I'm sort of "getting over it" as it seems the faint crackling and thrumming (caused by blinking mute light) only occur when in mute. I haven't had the back of the amp off to look at the preamp tubes and see if the tech actually changed one or if he was just placating me with a "fix".

It's been a long while since I've had a tube amp and it's a bit sobering how variable they can be due to any number of factors.