Vox Static

[warren0728]

I am having problems with my ad30vt....i've noticed i get a static sound when playing low notes but don't seem to hear it when playing higher notes. It definately sounds like static and not a vibration, but only on the lower notes (low e and a strings)

I haven't taken it apart yet....it seems like if it was electrical it would happen all the time and not only on the low notes....thoughts anyone?

Happens with different guitars and amp settings....

ww

[Cranium]

Does this happen at very low volumes too?

[warren0728]

i would say yes....volume and master at about 12 o'clock....not sure about volumes lower than that...the attenuater on the back is all the way up....

ww

[duhvoodooman***]

Sounds like the bottom end is "falling apart", as they say. I noticed this to some extent with my AD30VT also, until I upgraded the stock speaker. A tube upgrade may help some, too. And it could still very well be a vibration, even if it only does it on low notes. The source vibration frequency definitely makes a difference!

A couple of other things to try, to see if they help any:

• Do a factory reset on the amp, per instructions on pg. 15 of the manual.
• Take off the back panel and make sure everything is tightened down well, esp. the 4 speaker mounting screws.

[Tim]

Warren,

I had the same problem last month. Try changing the cable between the guitar and the amp. When I changed the cable the problem went away. I think in my case the ground wire may be defective. It is a Planet Wave cable with a life time guarantee. It will be returned on my next visit to Jacksonville. I hope this solves your problem also.

[warren0728]

Warren,

I had the same problem last month. Try changing the cable between the guitar and the amp. When I changed the cable the problem went away. I think in my case the ground wire may be defective. It is a Planet Wave cable with a life time guarantee. It will be returned on my next visit to Jacksonville. I hope this solves your problem also.

your static only occured on the low bass frequencies? I would have thought a bad cable would be staticky (is that a word) no matter what.

I'm gonna try everyone's suggestions....thanks!

ww

[warren0728]

well i reset the amp and i still have the problem....really strange...it is intermittent....i am going to take it apart either tonight or tomorow and see if everything is tight. It does not sound like a rattle...definately like static. I wonder if the bass notes are making some wiring vibrate and that is causing it....

ww

[Tone2TheBone]

You might have to reset the amp to factory settings? Maybe it's a glich in the circuitry or something?

[warren0728]

You might have to reset the amp to factory settings? Maybe it's a glich in the circuitry or something?

that's what i did....no luck....gonna have to take it apart....

ww

[Tone2TheBone]

Ummm...trade it for a Peavey Classic 20! Oh wait....you have one already. +1!

[warren0728]

i have been thinking about trading it...but today when i was testing it out after resetting i was actually liking it (until the static started again).....

ww

[el_goodo_maximo]

It sounds like the speaker is going if it's intermitten. I had a similar problem (except the sound from the amp would stop) and my speaker died...

[warren0728]

It sounds like the speaker is going if it's intermitten. I had a similar problem (except the sound from the amp would stop) and my speaker died...

i hope not...it's probably got less than 100 hours on it(probably ALOT less)...is there anyway to check it?

ww

[Cranium]

Sometimes rattling can sound like static, you should definatley take it appart, also you might want to change the speaker, it might solve your problem and will probably improve the sound.

[TS808]

i hope not...it's probably got less than 100 hours on it(probably ALOT less)...is there anyway to check it?

ww

Before taking the amp apart and checking the speaker, if you have an extra 12ax7 lying around, change that first. Sometimes (this happened on my old Fender HR Deville) if a tube starts to go, you can get static, odd harmonics, it can go microphonic, whatever. The tube could be reacting to the lower frequencies perhaps and may be on its way out. I'm thinking with the output signal of your guitar passing through the power amp first, I would check that. I'd hate to see you take a whole amp apart only to find out that a tube went bad. Pull one from your Classic 20 and try it in your Valvetronix. If you're still getting the static, then I would go with taking a look at the speaker.

[warren0728]

thanks TS....now that i think about it, it seems to start happening after the amp is on for a little while....i will definately check the tube!

ww

[el_goodo_maximo]

Try A-Bing it with a cabinet somewhere... Only real way to tell.

[warren0728]

well i took the back off this morning (the hell with client work) and made sure everything was tight (it was)....one strange thing happened....after i took off the back and then set the amp back upright to play i found a pick i did not bring into the living room (where i took the amp apart).

Anyway i played for quite awhile with the back off...definately sounded different than with the back on. I could not get it to make the noise i have been hearing (and played long enough for the tube to get nice and hot...tried several amp mosels and volumes and even switched my cord a couple of times....hmmmm

I put the back back on and played for quite awhile longer and still no static.

I wonder if the pick was in the cabinet and somehow vibrating around to make the sound i was hearing. I don't think it could be possible because the sound i was hearing definately sounded like static...like a connection wasn't good.

Still a mystery...i am going to just keep playing it and see if the problem crops up again....if so i will try to record it for you guys to listen too.

still confused

ww

[Tone2TheBone]

Warren....sounds like Occam's Razor is in play here. I'd bet it was the pick.....