Holy Crap, unreal feedback.

[tonymustang302]

I'm just got the Ultra module and this flippin thing emmit's sooo much noise i can't believe it. I have to switch to the 1086 module when im not playing because it's soooooo noisy.

I'm having a problem with a high pitch squeel on the ultra module when not playing (e.g. breakdown palm muting, or drummer takes over). I have to turn the guitar volume all the way down. It suck's because i do alot of off-rythem palm muting that i need no feedback after chugging.

I have a Boss NS-2, and invested in the ICP decimator because i heard it's the best on the market for pedal Noise reducer's.

Is it too much gain, presence, what? I can't face the amp cause it just squeels like crazy.

I am boosting the module with a tubescreamer but i have drive at 0, volume low and then just tone wherever. I am using EMG 81's also. Any suggestions would help.

 

[axecellent]

"Too much gain"? What is this too much gain of which you speak?

But seriously, you might actually have the module gain turned up too high. You said you are running a screamer pedal in front of the amp. Keep in mind that the Ultra is called the Ultra for a reason. It has 'ultra' amounts of gain. I can totally understand wanting the TS pedal to help color your tone, but the Ultra does not need any boosting in front of it.

As for what to do, try taking the TS pedal out of the siganl chain and just run you guitar straight into the Ultra. Leave the Ultra settings where they are normally and play as normal. Then ask yourself if the amount of gain achievable with the Ultra is enough, or do you *really* need more. Set the Ultra's gain control to where you think the amount of gain sounds right. Can you duplicate the squeals?

When you hook the TS pedal (with same settings as before) up again, you should probably just start by turning the gain on the Ultra down to like 10 o'clock. Then play some stuff and gradually turn up the Ultra's gain until you get the same squealing back. Next, turn down the Ultra's gain a bit until the squeals go away, or are at least managable.

Long and rambling yes, but I hope that helps you out.

Thomas

 

[kc2eeb]

Yes, too much gain. If, as you change your guitar's position in front of the amp, the feedback changes or stops, something on the guitar is resonating to the frequency of the feedback. You could try making it feedback on purpose, then try touching each pickup, guitar hardware, etc. and notice if it makes any difference. Your pickups are active to begin with, which increases the gain. Also, the room acoustics could have something to do with it.

 

[tonymustang302]

ok, i hear what you guys are saying. I really dont like the module for low tuning's (on guitar is tuned to A). The 1086 put's a smile on my face for that low of tuning. The ultra is amazing with my other guitar that's tuned to drop C. I messed with it today more at practice and i absolutly love this module. You're right about not needing a TS in front of it. I seriously think, this is more of a mesa sound.

Thanks guys

 

[maximus1]

put the tube screamer in the loop of the ns-2. the isp works differently on noise. when i used it i thought it killed the noise but where i had to set it to kill the noise killed the tone as well.

 

[RD/Steve]

it's possible you may have a microphonic pre as well.

 

[Soulinsane]

Thats what I was about to say. Switch out the tubes on the module and see if the feedback goes away.

 

[tonymustang302]

Thats what I was about to say. Switch out the tubes on the module and see if the feedback goes away.

c'mon, that kind of irk's me. I buy something brand new, and expect it to work. I'll swap the tube from the XTC and see what happens.

I'm getting rid of the ICP decimator, not my thing. Also.... what about the noise when just switching to that channel with the Ultra and no volume from the guitar. It's stupid loud all that hissing in the backround.

 

[maximus1]

that is called gain my friend, if you've ever owned a 5150 you know what i mean :twisted: yeah i don't get the isp either definetly not my thing. i use the ultra and ultra xl alot and since i'm on this maxon 808 kick i find that setting my gain around noon 1,0 clock and the getting the rest of my gain from the 808 is less noisy and sound better to my ears. but make sure you put the boost in the loop of the ns-2, much quiter that way.also in my ultras(both xl and reg) i use od 0.0033 in c3. it really thickens up the tone. i'm sure most will call that crazy but i got tired of lightning coming out of my speakers and i don't really jack my density( about 9-10 o clock max for mine). sounds very mesaish to me but still its own :twisted: might help for your lower tunings

 

[Soulinsane]

Thats what I was about to say. Switch out the tubes on the module and see if the feedback goes away.

c'mon, that kind of irk's me. I buy something brand new, and expect it to work. I'll swap the tube from the XTC and see what happens.

I'm getting rid of the ICP decimator, not my thing. Also.... what about the noise when just switching to that channel with the Ultra and no volume from the guitar. It's stupid loud all that hissing in the backround.

That's one of the curses of tubes. Loving them means having to deal with their unreliability. Even new they can become microphonic or fail for any number of reasons. On the other hand a single tube might last decades. Only the Tube Gods know the reasons why some are taken at such a young age.

 

[tonymustang302]

that is called gain my friend, if you've ever owned a 5150 you know what i mean :twisted: yeah i don't get the isp either definetly not my thing. i use the ultra and ultra xl alot and since i'm on this maxon 808 kick i find that setting my gain around noon 1,0 clock and the getting the rest of my gain from the 808 is less noisy and sound better to my ears. but make sure you put the boost in the loop of the ns-2, much quiter that way.also in my ultras(both xl and reg) i use od 0.0033 in c3. it really thickens up the tone. i'm sure most will call that crazy but i got tired of lightning coming out of my speakers and i don't really jack my density( about 9-10 o clock max for mine). sounds very mesaish to me but still its own :twisted: might help for your lower tunings

interesting, i will try that. I have limited time with my rig since it's at the basist's house, so i can't try everything right away. I will see how thing's work out when i get my custom OD pedal to me finally.

And the NS is the last in my chain before going to the imput of the head.

 

[RD/Steve]

while i love the sound jj's tubes...i have noticed on my own that i have been having some reliability issues. (i like to trun a mix of eh and jj's...get the best of "both" worlds)

i have been going with some tube companies that test and guarantee the tubes and i'm finally starting to get some consistancy out of them.

 

[tonymustang302]

while i love the sound jj's tubes...i have noticed on my own that i have been having some reliability issues. (i like to trun a mix of eh and jj's...get the best of "both" worlds)

i have been going with some tube companies that test and guarantee the tubes and i'm finally starting to get some consistancy out of them.

LIKEEEEEEEE? What brands?

 

[Soulinsane]

while i love the sound jj's tubes...i have noticed on my own that i have been having some reliability issues. (i like to trun a mix of eh and jj's...get the best of "both" worlds)

i have been going with some tube companies that test and guarantee the tubes and i'm finally starting to get some consistancy out of them.

LIKEEEEEEEE? What brands?

You mean company's? I have had good results with http://thetubestore.com/ but there are others that also test and filter tubes as well. Groove Tubes are good to but they charge way to much imo and you never know just what brand you are getting from them. GT relabels their tubes. You might be getting a $5 Chinese tube but pay GT $25.

 

[kc2eeb]

Try Doug's tubes.com

 

[KillTone]

I second Soulinsane's suggestion. Thetubestore.com is a great resource. Lot's of tubes to choose from and they review a lot of them too so you have an idea of what you are getting.

 

[muzapstar]

same thing happens to me. today i noticed that it squeals when you have it turned up and gainey. tap the face of the module or the screws and you'll hear a ping. pain in the arse

 

[jimosity]

Yep.
Sounds like a bad tube.

My Brahma arrived with bad tubes...replacing them solved it.
Yeah; you expect a brand new item to perform 100%, but tubes come with that amount of uncertainty -- it's not IF they'll die, it's WHEN.

 

[muzapstar]

nope, it's not a bad tube because i have a ton of them and tried swapping to tung sols, the same brand but different tubes, and it always starts squealing. it's only when the gain is up real high or up pretty high and the amp is decently loud. it's like the combo is vibrating the tubes and causing it to squeal.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Is it a high whistle that's constantly in the background? I had that with my Marshall DSL & TSL and it was the transformer causing the tubes to squeal