Egnater M4 first thoughts....

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nater9

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What's up yall, I'm new to the forum here, first post. I just recently acquired an M4 that I'm pairing with a VHT 2502 and some other rack stuff... This is my first Egnater amp and anything modular. First impression is WOW!! Really love the versatility of the dual modules and combined with my pedals and guitars I'm getting all sorts of tones... I've got the T/D, VX, SL2, and EG5.

My only real concern so far is my rig seems to be fairly noisy... The T/D and the VX channel aren't bad, but the SL2 and the EG5 are quite noisy. I've got a Decimator Pro Rack G for noise gates etc. which can kill the noise, but then you're always dealing with the threshold of the gate and stuff like that.. Anyways, I'm looking for some tips or pointers and how people are managing their hiss/hum levels. I don't believe I'm experiencing any ground loop hum etc, but rather just the noise from the higher gain channels. Are there any mods to reduce the noise, or is there a "preferred" way to set the channel and master levels to minimze the noise??

Any other pointers or tips for maximizing the tonal qualities of the M4? I believe all of my modules are stock so I'm aware of some of the mods availalbe but haven't ventured down that road yet. I'm trying to get the most of out of the stock versions for now...

My signal is guitar > Effect gizmo (loops with boost/OD pedals) > Decimator ch. 1 > M4 > Decimater ch. 2 > Effect gizmo (loops with Eventide pedals/Lexcon reverb through Mark L line mixer) > VHT 2502 > (2) 1x12 cabs.
 
I've got a similar setup (T/T, VX, SL2X, EG5). Key to lower noise (for me, anyway) has been to keep the gain below 1 o'clock on Channel B of the SL2X and both channels of the EG5. I usually run Channel A of the SL2X no higher than 3 o'clock.
 
Hmm, have you tried disconnecting all the extra processing and just run guitar -> M4 -> poweramp -> cab? Whenever I have issues with excess noise or hum, I try to take everything possible out of the signal path and see if it's still a problem. If there's no issues when running everything straight thru, then you know your problem is somewhere else in the chain.

FWIW, I don't think the SL2 is excessively noisy for a high-gain module. I typically keep gain on Ch B of the SL2 between 2-3 o'clock and while there's some hiss, I think it's actually less than running similar gain settings on Ch 4 of both my Egnater MICA 100 amp and IE-4 preamp. So, I actually think the M4 has slightly less noise/hiss than my TOL stuff. I usually run the master output of the M4 right at 12 noon, then adjust the channel masters to taste. I never run a noise gate because I can't stand the way any of them try to cut off the decay...I'd rather just channel-switch to a clean channel or bypass everything if I need silence.

So, I think there is obviously going to be a certain amount of noise/hiss that comes with the territory of any high-gain module or amp. But the trick is not to make it any worse when you start plugging other things into the signal chain. And there I think you just have to go one connection at a time until you find the culprit.
 
Good Point, I probably need to go back and disconnect everything and start from there. Before I got the M4, I had a Boogie Studio in there and didn't have too many problems. I swapped the Boogie for the M4 and I also added a Mark L line mixer. I didn't think either of those would cause more noise, perhaps it's the mixer.. I'm going to start from the beginning and go from there. I just thought I'd post on here and see if anyone else had a similar issue with their M4. If yours is quieter than those other amps you mentioned, than I think I have a different problem....
 
Your rig is broken. You should send it to me imediately so you don't have to suffer with that noise. :D

Seriously though, try checking the tubes at the back of the M4. If they are both 12AX7s this may be a contributor. It's OK to have 2 12AX7, but you may get quieter performance with an 12AT7. I seem to remember that making a difference in my rig.
 
Welcome to the fold! :thumbsup: I've been a very happy Egnater modular user for several years now. Hope you enjoy your stay.

FWIW, you should check out the Bman. It plays really well with the SL2 and EG5.
 
stevekroeker":6m28b1p1 said:
Seriously though, try checking the tubes at the back of the M4. If they are both 12AX7s this may be a contributor. It's OK to have 2 12AX7, but you may get quieter performance with an 12AT7. I seem to remember that making a difference in my rig.
Click to expand...

+1 on the tubes in the back of the M4...swapping those out made a big difference for me. Also, the ground/lift switch in the back has been helpful with solving ground-loop hum a couple times.
 
That is more noise than normal. No fault to Egnater at all on that issue, you have something else going on in there my friend.
 
stevekroeker":2pxpuwbx said:
Seriously though, try checking the tubes at the back of the M4. If they are both 12AX7s this may be a contributor. It's OK to have 2 12AX7, but you may get quieter performance with an 12AT7.
Click to expand...

Mine only has '12AX7' beside one of the tubes - I read somewhere that they quit labeling them after a while.

Bruce chimed in at one point and said what each of the two positions DOES, but which one (top or bottom) was originally designated for a 12AT7?
 
I don't have any issues with noise on mine. I remember a tip that Jeff Hilligan posted a while back. He said to keep the highest gain modules in the two right slots, away from the input jack. He said it can help keep things quieter.
 
I don't have any undue noise problems with my M4's higher-gain modules (SL2X, COD) unless I'm really close to the rig with a single-coil-equipped guitar.
 
Great points all. Haven't had a chance to disconnect everything and one by one start adding pieces back into my signal. However, I did just plug straight into the premp/power amp speakers. It was definitely a bit quieter, but not overwhelming. high gain channels on the right - check, single coils adding more noise - check, 12ax7's in the back - yep both are 12ax7, so I will be experimenting with a 12at7 in the top slot.

One thing I noticed was channel A of my SL2 wasn't too bad, but channel B was much noisier. Could I have a bad preamp tube in the module? Does each channel use it's own preamp tube, or do they share parts of each tube? I might pick up a few 12ax7's and a 12at7 and try some tube swaps. I think even my EG5 module is quiter than channel B on the SL2 module.
 
I'm such an idiot! Damn ground lift switch... duh? Thanks Beagle... I knew it was there, but I kept forgetting about it. Last night I was trying some different things, then I remembered the ground lift switch. That was it, all that noise suddenly disappeared. Now I can get back to tweaking my tone and not worrying about noise... My EG5 module is still a bit noisy, but I'm pretty sure that is the nature of that module.. I'm still going to put in an order for some 12AX7's and make sure all my module tubes are good. I'm also going to try the 12AT7 in the back just to see if it makes a difference....
 
nater9":e9odhkdu said:
I'm such an idiot! Damn ground lift switch... duh? Thanks Beagle... I knew it was there, but I kept forgetting about it. Last night I was trying some different things, then I remembered the ground lift switch. That was it, all that noise suddenly disappeared.
Click to expand...

This question might appear "odd", but in fact it is not...

Did the noise disappear when you moved the Ground switch from 'Normal' to 'Lifted', or from 'Lifted' to 'Normal'?...
 
I had to move from "normal" to "lifted". Made a big difference...
 
Update ** Now that I've lifted the ground, I was enjoying my single coil strat through some modules, and now I'm picking up radio signal!!!! Argh!!! So, I have a new problem, anyone have any suggestions/solutions on how to eliminate the radio signals I'm picking up? I'll have to try with my humbuckers to see if I'm still getting it. It's a vintage spec'd strat and I suspect it may have something to do with sheilding the pickups in the pickup cavity of the strat?? Any other ideas???
 
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