How much noise is normal?

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DG335

DG335

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So the JJ100 is higher gain than what I'm used to (My previous amp is a Marshall 2204). I'm getting quite a bit of noise/buzz when the amp is running at full gain (anything over 8). Anything less than 8 and the noise is very tolerable. I'm just trying to figure out what is normal for this much gain.

My JJ is run through a Furman P-1800 PF power conditioner, so it's not my power or a ground loop. The noise does not seem to be the type of hum you get from an amp, but more of a buzz. But here's what I've done to troubleshoot:

Amp cranked with no cable plugged in = a little hiss but no noise
Guitar plugged in volume down = no noise
Guitar volume up = lots of buzz
Hands off strings = lots and lots of buzz
Hands on strings = less buzz, but still lots of buzz
Move around the room = less buzz, but still plenty of buzz
Pickup selector on bridge = buzz
Pickup selector on neck = buzz
Pickup selector in middle = a lot less buzz

So I think it's my pickups picking up noise and the higher gain amp, amplifying the noise?

I tried to look for an environmental source.
I killed every single breaker in the house except for my guitar room = still buzz
Plugged into another room and killed every single breaker in the house except that room = still buzz

So I have not been able to isolate an environmental source.

This happens with all my guitars, so it's not specific to any one guitar.
Les Paul Studio with Duncan Antiquities
Les Paul R8 with Custom Buckers
ES-335 with 57 Classics
DG-335with Burstbucker 2&3

I don't have any active pickup guitars, but that would be a good test of environmental noise.

Up until now I used a 2204 with a pedal out front to get the same amount of gain I get from the JJ. That produced less noise, but I did still have some buzz.

Any ideas?

Do you other JJ and BE owners get a lot of noise at max gain.

Just a note, I DO NOT think this is an issue with the JJ. Just looking to get input from other high gain Friedman owners.
 
Yes but that might make no difference. Some times it's the luck of the draw with the area your in. Yes the amp has lots of gain and it amplifies the pickup noise.
 
My JJ hisses with the volume up and not playing which I don't believe is anything abnormal. I have a Rocktron Hush in the loop to kill that.

I'm killing buzz from effects chain and guitar with an MXR smart gate at the end of the chain, in front of the amp. The only time I get buzz now is with the volumes maxed and not playing but that was only experimentation anyway. My G&L has a coil splitter for the bridge pickup and I'll get some buzz there without the Hush/it's gate active, but I really don't ever use it as a single coil.
 
Same thing on my JJ, same with the BE I played. Gain over 8 and the noise floor rises pretty considerably. It really is the only complaint I have with the amp, but honestly not that big of a deal. I only notice it or hear it when not playing. To be honest I was kinda shocked at first because I had heard they were dead quite. Still absolutely love the amp and it would not change my buying decision. Just one of those things you wish could change.
 
It a physical impossibility to have gain with out hiss. Things can also cause it to be worse like certain pedals and such or other rig issues.
 
Even with the JJ at full gain and both masters at 6 (which is loud as all fck) I DO NOT find that it has much hiss at all. Yes, there is some hiss, but nothing I would consider annoying or excessive. Not even enough to make we want a noise gate.

My problem (I think after a ton of troubleshooting) is that the gain is amplifying the noise from my passive pickups (some of which aren't even wax-potted), which is creating a really annoying buzz. I was trying to gauge if this is normal and other users just deal with it.

I would consider the JJ a very quiet amp as far as high gainers go. I get more hiss from my Marshall 2204 than I do from my JJ and the 2204 has less gain... however, I think because the JJ has more gain it amplifies the pickup noise more.

Anyway, thanks for chiming in here Dave. The JJ is a kick arse amp that inspires me to play every day. It is the sound that's been in my head since the 90's when I started down the higher gain Marshall road and I can say I finally found it. Looking forward to the Bill Kelliher model and I actually would like to get a chance the try the Buxom Betty as a lower gain blues option. Thanks for building a great product.
 
DG335":1x2kokgi said:
So the JJ100 is higher gain than what I'm used to (My previous amp is a Marshall 2204). I'm getting quite a bit of noise/buzz when the amp is running at full gain (anything over 8). Anything less than 8 and the noise is very tolerable. I'm just trying to figure out what is normal for this much gain.

My JJ is run through a Furman P-1800 PF power conditioner, so it's not my power or a ground loop. The noise does not seem to be the type of hum you get from an amp, but more of a buzz. But here's what I've done to troubleshoot:

Amp cranked with no cable plugged in = a little hiss but no noise
Guitar plugged in volume down = no noise
Guitar volume up = lots of buzz
Hands off strings = lots and lots of buzz
Hands on strings = less buzz, but still lots of buzz
Move around the room = less buzz, but still plenty of buzz
Pickup selector on bridge = buzz
Pickup selector on neck = buzz
Pickup selector in middle = a lot less buzz

So I think it's my pickups picking up noise and the higher gain amp, amplifying the noise?

I tried to look for an environmental source.
I killed every single breaker in the house except for my guitar room = still buzz
Plugged into another room and killed every single breaker in the house except that room = still buzz

So I have not been able to isolate an environmental source.

This happens with all my guitars, so it's not specific to any one guitar.
Les Paul Studio with Duncan Antiquities
Les Paul R8 with Custom Buckers
ES-335 with 57 Classics
DG-335with Burstbucker 2&3

I don't have any active pickup guitars, but that would be a good test of environmental noise.

Up until now I used a 2204 with a pedal out front to get the same amount of gain I get from the JJ. That produced less noise, but I did still have some buzz.

Any ideas?

Do you other JJ and BE owners get a lot of noise at max gain.

Just a note, I DO NOT think this is an issue with the JJ. Just looking to get input from other high gain Friedman owners.
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Does the same thing happen if you play at another location besides your home? Dirty power and line noise can really cause a lot of tone and noise problems for high gain amps. We moved a few years ago to a home built in the late 80's and my amps buzzed very badly. the only thing that fixed it was having an electrician run an independent line with an outlet and breaker dedicated for my gear. Things can be hit or miss with finding clean power even in new buildings. My amp buzzes badly at our new church building when plugged into an outlet near a lot of the sound gear so I plug into another outlet near the center of the stage to eliminate the buzz. I have shielded my guitars and been though power conditioners, voltage regulators, rack mount/pedal noise suppressors. I have found that power conditioners do little to nothing no matter how much you spend. The only real solution is finding a clean power source.
 
Dirty power is a common problem. Look into a voltage regulator to keep your amps around 120V. You may be surprised how much fluctuation in voltage there is. So many variables here and there is no desire by the power company to control for dirty power. That said, eliminate the variables one by one until you find the source of your problems. Test in different environments, different guitars, etc. Good luck.
 
I had I guess an average (which seems to be a decent amount) of hiss and noise with my BE100 until I got some screened and tested better quality tubes from a tube dealer. The ARS's are great, but aren't the most quiet tubes.
 
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