The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a NV400 which is unmodded, chrome corner version. I'm going from guitar to "Jerry-Rig", then Hilton pedal, then Boss reverb, then NV400. The pickup is an Alumitone in a GFI U12. I'll try to describe this as best I can, but my terminolgy may be a bit lacking.

I have used this same set up for a while and never noticed this before. Tonight I noticed that my volume would seem to fade slightly, then boost and seem a bit too hot, without me making volume pedal movements that would justify the volume changes. I also noticed that with the volume pedal not pressed too far, the volume was a bit "hot", and I would have to back way off. I didn't notice any "scratchiness".

Just as a quick shot in the dark, I tried working all the knobs, thinking one of the pots might be dirty.

Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions???

Thanks,
-Chuck

The Hilton is an optical pedal? Try cleaning the surface of the CdS cell with alcohol/q-tip.

Bypass everything and go directly from the guitar to the amp and see if the volume changes. If it does then the problem is in the amp. If it doesn't the problem is with one of the devices you have in the string, insert one at a time and see what happens. A flakey guitar cord or jack is also a possibility.

The Hilton is the last thing I would suspect, there is very few problems with them and what there is, mostly is the power supply.

I got an email that also mentioned cleaning the "send" and "return" jacks on the rear of the amp. As a starting point, that was the simplest thing to try. So, I took some Deoxit to the gig with me, and shot a little into each of those rear jacks, plugged/unplugged a cable into each one a few times, and that seems to have solved the problem.

David, thanks for suggesting that!!

-Chuck

Yup, same amp as mine. Same advice. Same result!
Send/ receives get dirty. Now and then I have to repeat clean with a cable
but I know the "problem" so it's NOT a problem!
Ken

Chuck...You are most welcome, glad to be of help.

I've been having that same problem and planning a major clean up on both mine.