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Author Topic:  distortion
Harold Dye

 

From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2016 12:50 pm    
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I am having somewhat of a problem with what sounds like a slight distortion. I have two guitars and it happens with both. I use a tempered tuning with a strobe VSII and also a Boss TU 12. I have never had a problem before. I really can't tell if I am slightly out of tune or if there is a slight distortion but it is really annoying. This is most noticeable to me at the 3rd and 5th fret pedals down using 10,8,6 strings. I thought it might be the amps but I ran a 6 string guitar thru them with nothing but crisp clean tone. I don't know if my tuners are off slightly or what might be the problem. This is only been happening for the last few weeks, before that no problem. I have tried to tune straight up at 440 but no help. I have both a pot pedal and a light pedal and I use George L cables. Anyone had this problem before and if so what did you find was the cause.
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 27 Mar 2016 5:32 pm    
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It may be your amp.
I had that problem with a super twin.
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Harold Dye

 

From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2016 4:44 am    
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Thanks Ken. That was my first impression and I plan to have the tube amps checked out. Problem is I also hear it when I use the NV 400. After I plugged in the 6 string guitar and did not hear it I am really frustrated now. The sound is so slight it is difficult to tell if it is really distortion or tuning or what.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2016 7:37 am    
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I had that problem when I pick too hard, regardless of amp. I lowered the pickup and it went away
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
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Les Cargill

 

From:
Oklahoma City, Ok, USA
Post  Posted 28 Mar 2016 6:06 pm    
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What sort of amp is it? I was easily able to overdrive the input 12AX7 on a Twin reissue with an MSA 12 with a humbucking SuperSustain pickup.

Do you have like a DoD or Boss buffered pedal, one that's not true bypass? You might be able to patch that in to see if it'll help you to "fix" the problem, at least temporarily.
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Harold Dye

 

From:
Cullman, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2016 7:49 am    
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Les I use a MM head and/or a Nash 400. Get the sound with both. I have changed strings on both guitars and I get the same problem. I use a tempered tuning using a VSII strobe tuner or a Boss TU 12 with Newman numbers. I have never had the problem or at least I didn't hear it until now. After I tune with the tuner I always check it by ear to see how it sounds. At this point I am inclined to believe it is tuning. The sound is so subtle it is really annoying. On the bandstand it is difficult to adjust by ear due to the other musicians banging around. So far I have found a mixture of tempered and straight up 440 tuning as well as a tweek here and there seems to be helping. I still plan to have the amps checked out.
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Les Cargill

 

From:
Oklahoma City, Ok, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2016 3:32 pm    
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Thanks for the details, Harold. The Nashville 400 should not have distortion on the input.
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