Fortin Zuul nasty hum issue.

[jc986]

Those of you who run a zuul - have you guys noticed that it slightly boosts your tone when engaged like I do?

It's like a very noticeable miid/high mid frequency bump plus some glass on top..and it also increases the gain a bit? Sounds a bit like stepping on a tube screamer.
there's a big difference between it being disengaged and on. Which is weird, cause' I'm even running a Jhs buffer as my first pedal on the input side of things then through the p split II into zuul key input with the main chain to maxon and my amp.

I run mine in the loop and I haven't noticed any change in tone when engaged vs. disengaged. The only "issue" I've experienced is that when splitting with a tuner, when I turn the tuner on and pluck a string to tune it, there is a hum/buzzing noise when the Zuul opens. I contacted Fortin about this and was advised this is normal because the gate is opening. While that makes sense from a technical standpoint, it seems like maybe it's a bad idea to encourage output from a tuner in the product description. As it is now, I either have to invest in a buffered splitter or turn off my Zuul while tuning.

 

[psychodave]

Those of you who run a zuul - have you guys noticed that it slightly boosts your tone when engaged like I do?

It's like a very noticeable miid/high mid frequency bump plus some glass on top..and it also increases the gain a bit? Sounds a bit like stepping on a tube screamer.
there's a big difference between it being disengaged and on. Which is weird, cause' I'm even running a Jhs buffer as my first pedal on the input side of things then through the p split II into zuul key input with the main chain to maxon and my amp.

Yes, I noticed an increase in the high end as well as some additional noise when using the pedal out front. I wanted to like this pedal based on the hype, but it seems that other pedals on the market are better.

 

[psychodave]

What happens with the buzz if you go:
Guitar -> buffer -> pedals -> amp
Nothing plugged into loop, loop off. No Zuul attached at all.

Zero hum. Just amp hiss. I remove the Zuul in my first video with everything else plugged in @ 1:14.

I think you've pretty much isolated the issue to the Zuul's key input. Have you contacted Fortin about this?

I have not. You might be able to see that I’m not friendly with Fortin’s amateur internet marketing team... who would never be proactive and reach out to me here about my issue. I’d just like my $250 back.

 

[jc986]

What happens with the buzz if you go:
Guitar -> buffer -> pedals -> amp
Nothing plugged into loop, loop off. No Zuul attached at all.

Zero hum. Just amp hiss. I remove the Zuul in my first video with everything else plugged in @ 1:14.

I think you've pretty much isolated the issue to the Zuul's key input. Have you contacted Fortin about this?

I have not. You might be able to see that I’m not friendly with Fortin’s amateur internet marketing team... who would never be proactive and reach out to me here about my issue. I’d just like my $250 back.

I'm not a big fan either, but might be worth an email to their official channel to address product defects and see what happens. I wouldn't expect much of anything to happen from posting here from Fortin.

 

[misterspockyall]

What happens with the buzz if you go:
Guitar -> buffer -> pedals -> amp
Nothing plugged into loop, loop off. No Zuul attached at all.

Zero hum. Just amp hiss. I remove the Zuul in my first video with everything else plugged in @ 1:14.

I think you've pretty much isolated the issue to the Zuul's key input. Have you contacted Fortin about this?

I have not. You might be able to see that I’m not friendly with Fortin’s amateur internet marketing team... who would never be proactive and reach out to me here about my issue. I’d just like my $250 back.

Lol, if I have to run a gate, decimator Pro Rack. It eats volume adjustments like a champ whereas I’m constantly fiddling with pedal versions. Hope you get your money back.

 

[LCW]

Those of you who run a zuul - have you guys noticed that it slightly boosts your tone when engaged like I do?

It's like a very noticeable miid/high mid frequency bump plus some glass on top..and it also increases the gain a bit? Sounds a bit like stepping on a tube screamer.
there's a big difference between it being disengaged and on. Which is weird, cause' I'm even running a Jhs buffer as my first pedal on the input side of things then through the p split II into zuul key input with the main chain to maxon and my amp.

I run mine in the loop and I haven't noticed any change in tone when engaged vs. disengaged. The only "issue" I've experienced is that when splitting with a tuner, when I turn the tuner on and pluck a string to tune it, there is a hum/buzzing noise when the Zuul opens. I contacted Fortin about this and was advised this is normal because the gate is opening. While that makes sense from a technical standpoint, it seems like maybe it's a bad idea to encourage output from a tuner in the product description. As it is now, I either have to invest in a buffered splitter or turn off my Zuul while tuning.

I had this going on too... I read about a "trick"... I swapped the output and bypass out of my TU-3... so run the bypass to my other pedals and front of amp instead, and the output to the ZUUL... when the ZUUL is on and Tuner engaged, it's now dead quiet. Only if I have the Zuul off will the tuner no longer mute. So basically, now the tuner mutes the key input rather than my front of amp signal. Because of that when tuner is engaged, the gate won't open at all keeping thing quiet.

 

[jc986]

Those of you who run a zuul - have you guys noticed that it slightly boosts your tone when engaged like I do?

It's like a very noticeable miid/high mid frequency bump plus some glass on top..and it also increases the gain a bit? Sounds a bit like stepping on a tube screamer.
there's a big difference between it being disengaged and on. Which is weird, cause' I'm even running a Jhs buffer as my first pedal on the input side of things then through the p split II into zuul key input with the main chain to maxon and my amp.

I run mine in the loop and I haven't noticed any change in tone when engaged vs. disengaged. The only "issue" I've experienced is that when splitting with a tuner, when I turn the tuner on and pluck a string to tune it, there is a hum/buzzing noise when the Zuul opens. I contacted Fortin about this and was advised this is normal because the gate is opening. While that makes sense from a technical standpoint, it seems like maybe it's a bad idea to encourage output from a tuner in the product description. As it is now, I either have to invest in a buffered splitter or turn off my Zuul while tuning.

I had this going on too... I read about a "trick"... I swapped the output and bypass out of my TU-3... so run the bypass to my other pedals and front of amp instead, and the output to the ZUUL... when the ZUUL is on and Tuner engaged, it's now dead quiet. Only if I have the Zuul off will the tuner no longer mute. So basically, now the tuner mutes the key input rather than my front of amp signal. Because of that when tuner is engaged, the gate won't open at all keeping thing quiet.

Cool, I will give that a go.

 

[LCW]

Lol, if I have to run a gate, decimator Pro Rack. It eats volume adjustments like a champ whereas I’m constantly fiddling with pedal versions. Hope you get your money back.

 

[vultures]

Give me a couple weeks, $30-40 for parts and I'll build you one

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/muzzle/

 

[moltenmetalburn]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

 

[ericb]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

 

[moltenmetalburn]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

 

[ericb]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

Oh shit.. .. glad you figured that out though.. .. Whenever there's any hum in a setup , if it's not the power supply , I'd try exactly what you did, unless you already own some type of a/b box with a ground lift,etc. I bought an expensive fuzz pedal recently that hummed using my Pedal Powers, or any power supply and I was using the right current, etc, and it turned out the owner's manual had a typo in it as to the current requirement! . The hum went away using the 5/6 inputs of the Pedal Power 2+ that provided more current. Anyway, glad you worked it out

Eric

 

[psychodave]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

I was removed from that page. As I understand it, they kick people off that FB page at the slightest hint there is any discourse with a product.

I’ll try your suggestion. Thx.

 

[scottosan]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

I was removed from that page. As I understand it, they kick people off that FB page at the slightest hint there is any discourse with a product.

I’ll try your suggestion. Thx.

I'm so tired of the the whole Fortin Army. I mean that is beyond low class to completely dismiss and cover up any customer issues. This is why I can't stand Mike and his Chronies. I mean simply compare that to the way Suhr or Dave Friedman handle business. It'd never happen

 

[psychodave]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

I was removed from that page. As I understand it, they kick people off that FB page at the slightest hint there is any discourse with a product.

I’ll try your suggestion. Thx.

I'm so tired of the the whole Fortin Army. I mean that is beyond low class to completely dismiss and cover up any customer issues. This is why I can't stand Mike and his Chronies. I mean simply compare that to the way Suhr or Dave Friedman handle business. It'd never happen

I agree. We all get that shit happens, they try to pretend like they are immune to it. Like I said, amateur internet marketing.

Makes me wonder about the Zuul. Mine is revision 3.17. How many revisions have they made? lol

 

[Deleted member 21113]

The gate is designed to work when it's on, you get the noise when you turn it off, leave the gate on and use the amp channel switcher for clean using the key input. Don't turn off the Zuul and you won't get noise.

 

[jc986]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

I was removed from that page. As I understand it, they kick people off that FB page at the slightest hint there is any discourse with a product.

I’ll try your suggestion. Thx.

I'm so tired of the the whole Fortin Army. I mean that is beyond low class to completely dismiss and cover up any customer issues. This is why I can't stand Mike and his Chronies. I mean simply compare that to the way Suhr or Dave Friedman handle business. It'd never happen

I agree. We all get that shit happens, they try to pretend like they are immune to it. Like I said, amateur internet marketing.

Makes me wonder about the Zuul. Mine is revision 3.17. How many revisions have they made? lol

How do you tell what version?

 

[jc986]

The gate is designed to work when it's on, you get the noise when you turn it off, leave the gate on and use the amp channel switcher for clean using the key input. Don't turn off the Zuul and you won't get noise.

because it’s acceptable for a true bypass pedal to hum like a motherfucker when it’s turned off?

 

[japetus]

In my setup zuuls key input gave me a ground loop, I made a special key cable with the ground wire cut, solved it for me. Try it with a shit patch cable to test. There needs to be a switch to do this on the pcb IMO. At this point I already have a clone being built.

I was going to suggest this exact same thing . . And meanwhile Psychodave, just post about this on the Fortin Army Facebook page or whatever and Mike will give you the answer right away as to what the problem is. .

Eric

They blew me off and said it “had to be my setup” via email when I asked them about it.

I was removed from that page. As I understand it, they kick people off that FB page at the slightest hint there is any discourse with a product.

I’ll try your suggestion. Thx.

I'm so tired of the the whole Fortin Army. I mean that is beyond low class to completely dismiss and cover up any customer issues. This is why I can't stand Mike and his Chronies. I mean simply compare that to the way Suhr or Dave Friedman handle business. It'd never happen

You can say that again.