What's up with the 'Gain' on the SL2? Help requested!

[rlord1974]

I've got the gain on the EG 5 on channel A set to 3 and no squealy

Channel A isn't the problem. It only happens on Channel B, with the Gain run higher than 12 o'clock and a guitar with humbuckers.....

 

[Mailman1971]

I've got the gain on the EG 5 on channel A set to 3 and no squealy

Channel A isn't the problem. It only happens on Channel B, with the Gain run higher than 12 o'clock and a guitar with humbuckers.....

yup......it was the same here.

 

[jmgman69]

I've got the gain on the EG 5 on channel A set to 3 and no squealy

Channel A isn't the problem. It only happens on Channel B, with the Gain run higher than 12 o'clock and a guitar with humbuckers.....

Only when I run a gold cover JB bridge pickup do I get uncontrollable feedback or turn the amp up super loud and turn into it at close distance will I get crazy feed back but the JB sucks

 

[rlord1974]

but the JB sucks

Umm, it's a little early in the day to be drinking, isn't it??

 

[rlord1974]

Channel A isn't the problem. It only happens on Channel B, with the Gain run higher than 12 o'clock and a guitar with humbuckers.....

yup......it was the same here.

Argh! There HAS to be w way around this!!! The tone honestly gets SO much thicker once you get up around 1 or 2 o'clock, and I can't use these settings!!!!

 

[jlbaxe]

but the JB sucks

Umm, it's a little early in the day to be drinking, isn't it??

Its after 5 somewhere. If ya work 3rd shift morning is your afternoon/night.

I dont believe I had this problem with mine. Used Strats, PRS and LPs through it.

 

[Val]

So I have a stock SL2 module for my M4, and I love the tone - let's get these facts out of the way first off.

However, I have some real "squealing" feedback issues with Channel B whenever I play a guitar with humbuckers through it. Doesn't matter which guitar either - I've tried it with numerous Les Paul's (some with stock Gibson pickups, some with modern Duncan JB's, etc.), a custom Tele (Duncan JB bridge and Jazz neck) and some shredders (i.e., Charvel). Also, it happens irregardless of the volume I'm playing at, be it noodling in my house or blasting it out live. If I run the gain on Channel B above 12 noon on the dial, I get squealing. It doesn't happen when the guitar volume is off, but as I increase the volume on the guitar, the squealing starts and gets progressively louder. It's not background noise either - it's loud and in your face annoying. It is really limiting the usefulness of Channel B for me. I should note as well that the same guitars do not "squeal" when I play them through my Marshalls, my Mesa Tremoverb, or my Bogners (the latter 2 of which arguably have more gain than the SL2!). It's only on the SL2.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anyway to remedy it? I would like to be able to access a little more of the gain the module has on tap, but I just can't get the Gain knob past noon!

Your help is appreciated!

Hi, I had this problem a while ago. I run a 4 cable wet/dry setup where dry goes to my Mod-50 (drive pedals...etc) direct box to wet through a power amp that drives an Egnater 1-12" cab (Effects). I had to use the ground lift on the Direct Box to isolate the power. Once I did that it works like a charm. In your case it may just be isolating a power source somewhere on your chain. Good luck.

 

[3 Mile Stone]

A little confused by the "power isolation" and "noise" suggestions. I appreciate the help, but it is a squeal, not noise or hum. It's a michrophonic type issue and it could be as simple as a preamp tube or as complex as the combination of everything including what type of speakers you use. I have been having a bit of trouble with it lately and it really is clearly only with humbuckers. I have slowly kept buying lower gain PAF style buckers to see if that would help. It does but not a complete fix.

So just trying to clarify for all the good folks with the kind help exactly what I'm hearing.

 

[Val]

A little confused by the "power isolation" and "noise" suggestions. I appreciate the help, but it is a squeal, not noise or hum. It's a michrophonic type issue and it could be as simple as a preamp tube or as complex as the combination of everything including what type of speakers you use. I have been having a bit of trouble with it lately and it really is clearly only with humbuckers. I have slowly kept buying lower gain PAF style buckers to see if that would help. It does but not a complete fix.

So just trying to clarify for all the good folks with the kind help exactly what I'm hearing.

Sorry, I meant a ground lift. Look at the attached drawing. I don't know how your setup but this is my setup. It was a squeal that I was getting until I used the Ground Lift on the Direct Box or Junction Box which eliminated my squeal. This may not be your problem...just trying to throw different ideas out.

 

[rlord1974]

Sorry, I meant a ground lift. Look at the attached drawing. I don't know how your setup but this is my setup. It was a squeal that I was getting until I used the Ground Lift on the Direct Box or Junction Box which eliminated my squeal. This may not be your problem...just trying to throw different ideas out.

Oh, that looks like a very different issue altogether....

'3 Mile Stone' and I are basically hearing what sounds like microphonic feedback/squealing, but you can get rid of it by turning the volume on your guitar down to zero. 99.9% of the time, microphonic feedback from a bad preamp tube would be present regardless of where you have your guitar volume set at (even if dialed all the way to off) - hence, our confusion as to what the real issue is here.

Also, we both are only experiencing the problem with humbuckers. Single coils work fine.....

 

[jmgman69]

Just got an SL2 in the mail today and no squealie on either channel,gain at 3 oclock, except the gold covered JB,think maybe your module is not working properly

 

[3 Mile Stone]

Could this be a michrophonic preamp tube in the input section of the amp? Then it just reaches enough gain to send it over the top as it gets hit by the higher output of the humbuckers coupled with the higher gain in the B channel modules???

 

[rlord1974]

Could this be a michrophonic preamp tube in the input section of the amp? Then it just reaches enough gain to send it over the top as it gets hit by the higher output of the humbuckers coupled with the higher gain in the B channel modules???

Good thought. Anyone?

The same issue happens with my MHG on Channel B as well. I didn't realize it until last night when I started toying around with my rack gear. The MHG is not typically loaded in my M4. I have no similar isses with any of my Twin, BMAN or SL - just with the SL2 and MHG......It has to be a problem that can be fixed, as there's no way my SL2 and MHG just happen to have the same 'defect'......

 

[RockStarNick]

Were the modules modded in any way?

When I was experimenting with cap swapping, if you used a cap that was physically too large in the spots right next to the bass and mid pots, it would cause major oscillation squeal. (Other cap spots were fine though, oddly enough).

Didn't happen with the stock xicon or similar caps.

There shouldn't be any of these modules floating around, at least not done by ME. The only person I did that mod for was Aeroic, and we promptly swapped them back.

 

[rlord1974]

Were the modules modded in any way?

When I was experimenting with cap swapping, if you used a cap that was physically too large in the spots right next to the bass and mid pots, it would cause major oscillation squeal. (Other cap spots were fine though, oddly enough).

Didn't happen with the stock xicon or similar caps.

Hey Nick:

Not that I am aware of. And, given who I purchased these mods from, I find it highly unlikely any mods were done.

Thanks for the input though!

 

[Doubleneck]

Have you contacted the bruce, really curious to see what he has to say

 

[rlord1974]

Have you contacted the bruce, really curious to see what he has to say

He replied above earlier, and wants '3 Mile Stone' or I to post a clip of the problem. Unfortunately, I don't have any recording gear, so I can't do it.....

 

[bbaug14]

I just wanted to say I have the same exact problem as well. Channel A on both my EG5/SL2 are fine, but switching to channel B I get a loud uncontrollable feedback sound. It only happens with humbuckers. If I'm on my PRS (5 selector switch) and I switch to either the 2 or 4 position, it goes away, which makes sense with what everyone is saying about their Strats. Very strange. I've changed the power tubes in the MOD50 and swapped out the stock tubes in both the EG5/SL2. No luck.

I'll record a clip next week if I remember and send it to Bruce. I'm on crutches right now, or otherwise I could just bring the amp and modules to Bruce to show him in person.

BTW - this happens both with the MOD50 and the M4.

 

[rlord1974]

Wow, it seems this problem is more widespread than originally thought. Did you try changing the input tube in your head to see if that would fix the problem? Just wondering, as I have not had time yet this week to try that on my M4. I have tried swapping out all of the tubes in the SL2 module itself, and that has not solved the problem.

Anyways, I hope we can find a solution. You can see from the above comments that some guys can run their Channel B gain over 12 noon without encountering this issue - even with humbuckers!!!

 

[rlord1974]

Unfortunately, I don't have any recording gear, so I can't do it.....

Jeez, now I'm quoting myself!

I just had a thought - maybe I can take a short clip using the movie mode on my Canon Digital Elph camera. Does anyone know if I could post such a clip for free on Photobucket, or does Photobucket only allow you to upload still pictures?