Effects Loop Buzz

[vonFrenchie]

Hey y'all

So I bought an old (80s hopefully) bass amp off ebay a few months ago. It was being sold as is and the seller notified me that there was a loud buzz that he didn't know how to fix. 40 bucks later I had a new bass amp.

I had one major problem with it. It didn't buzz.... at all. Even cranked this thing was quiet (it is solid state but considering the guy said it was unusable I'd expect it to have a little noise). It was a pretty good problem to have.

The other day I found the source of the problem. I went to stick my delay pedal in the effects loop and the amp started acting up. The buzz was louder than my guitar (drowned it out mostly but I could hear it in the background). I tried to put a jumper in the effects loop only, same buzz. I put my noise suppressor in the effects loop, same buzz.

I think, I'm not that smart so it doesn't count for much, that there is a ground loop problem. What do you guys think and more importantly, how do I fix this?

P.S. Its a Gallien Krueger DRB200.

[ashcatlt]

Don't think it's a ground loop. The jumper between the two jacks should be about exactly the same as with nothing plugged in at all. It sounds to me like some kind of problem with the sleeve of the jack. Either it's somehow not contacting the sleeve of the plug when it's inserted, or its solder connection has come loose inside there or something.

Got a meter? Stick a cable in the input and another in the return jack and measure resistance between the two sleeves. It should be very close to 0, but I'm betting it'll be closer to infinite.

[vonFrenchie]

Too bad you didn't put any money down on that. My meter read 1 (so infinite). Since they're switching jacks I'm going to have to buy some from Mouser. The switching jacks in my Vox's effects loop are also bad so it will be one weekend full of amp repair.

My Marshall never has a problem. My solid state amps, problems left and right, tube amp.... none.

[sumgai]

vF,

Mar 9, 2013 14:12:08 GMT -5 vonFrenchie said:

My Marshall never has a problem. My solid state amps, problems left and right, tube amp.... none.

Luck of the draw, that's all there is to it. My casebook 'reveals' that there's no one technology that's any more durable than the next item on the list - no matter who's making up that list.

BTW, howthehellareya, it's been a long time since your last visit. Make sure that doesn't happen again, ya hear? ;D



sumgai

[vonFrenchie]

I'm doing great. Prepping to graduate in December. Luckily I'll be part time in the fall so I'll have more time for y'all.