Black Winter issue

Recon66

New member
Hi,

Ok, I bought new guitar (https://www.espguitars.com/products/20424-m-bkm) which have Blackened Black Winter pickup. Could it be, that pickup is somehow faulty(?). Guitar is very noisy, when connected to 6505+ amp. With noisy I mean that it whistle... sound is circling (I don't know word for that meaning). If I play same amp with my Ibanez (Dimarzio EVO2), amp's gain could be set to 6-7, but with this new guitar gain is have to set down to 4. I know that BW is very hot pickup, but still it behaves strangely.

In this video https://youtu.be/tSXGPUqZWFI?t=14m player have same pickup, same amp and same cabinet than I have. In video amp's gain is set to 6,5 and post gain to 2. No noise gate... and that setup works perfectly. I have same setup and it does not working at all.

Also tested with EVH 5150 III amp and same problem.

Could be that:
1) Pickup is faulty?
2) Blackened is way different than normal Black Winter?
3) Guitar is faulty?
4) What else?

BR -R
 
Last edited:
Re: Black Winter issue

Congrats on the new guitar!

The noise you are describing possibly could be a ground wire issue. I wouldn't know for sure unless I hear it. One this is certain: it should be "silent".

I'd pop it open and make sure there's no loose connections (and check for a ground wire to bridge as well). If you wanna take pics and post them here, some folks may be able to help out.
 
Re: Black Winter issue

I would guess it is a grounding issue as well. It is unlikely to just be feedback if it is happening the same way with both amps, and since it is a humbucker, it should not be 60 cycle hum like you get from a single coil.
 
Re: Black Winter issue

Welcome to the forum!

I am sorry you are having issues with your new guitar.

The Black Winter isn't super crazy hot (maybe about as hot as a JB), so what is happening is a little strange. It isn't normal behavior for a Black Winter. Does the sound change no matter where you stand? Do you have access to a store with another of the same guitar? A ground problem would hum, but what you are describing sounds like feedback from a pickup that isn't potted correctly. Can you get it to do the same thing on the clean channel?
 
Re: Black Winter issue

Do you hear a significant hum without the guitar plugged into the amp? It could just be the hiss that is associated with high-gain amps.
 
Re: Black Winter issue

A whistling circling sound is indicative of microphonics. Usually associated with a preamp tube, but can also happen to a pickup.
 
Re: Black Winter issue

Thank you all for helping me out. Amp is also new. Got whole gear at the same time. I do hear significant hum when guitar is not plugged. Please see link below to sample what I recorded. Warning! Watch your ears, it is noisy. In sample I have set amp's setting similar way than video I mentioned (gain 6, post gain 2). In sample I switch standby.

Is this amp issue, not pickup? Strange, because same problem was with another amp too.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ju7rteor2t8may0/Sample.wav?dl=0

BR, -R
 
Re: Black Winter issue

Thank you all for helping me out. Amp is also new. Got whole gear at the same time. I do hear significant hum when guitar is not plugged. Please see link below to sample what I recorded. Warning! Watch your ears, it is noisy. In sample I have set amp's setting similar way than video I mentioned (gain 6, post gain 2). In sample I switch standby.

Is this amp issue, not pickup? Strange, because same problem was with another amp too.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ju7rteor2t8may0/Sample.wav?dl=0

BR, -R

Is the power from your wall socket "dirty"? Meaning unstable, spiky, etc? Just a thought but that could cause the amp to produce odd sounds.

CONGRATS ON THAT SLAYER of a guitar! Damn, I'd like that though I have a similar Ibanez RGR08LTD with Duncan Blackout and a fixed bridge so yeah. Still would like that M Black Metal!!
 
Re: Black Winter issue

Thank you all for helping me out. Amp is also new. Got whole gear at the same time. I do hear significant hum when guitar is not plugged. Please see link below to sample what I recorded. Warning! Watch your ears, it is noisy. In sample I have set amp's setting similar way than video I mentioned (gain 6, post gain 2). In sample I switch standby.

Is this amp issue, not pickup? Strange, because same problem was with another amp too.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ju7rteor2t8may0/Sample.wav?dl=0

BR, -R


IMO that just sounds like regular feedback. You probably need a noise gate.
 
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