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tdukes
Advanced Member
Username: tdukes

Post Number: 220
Registered: 4-2008
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post

I have an early tribute 01T12706. On the high E string I hear this high pitched pinging sound. I can get rid of it by turning down the filters, but that affects the tone as well. I don't really hear it acoustically, just through the amp. It sounds really metallic. It appears more on some specific notes. I don't really hear it on the open string. I hear it with all three pickups individually. Does that make it less likely it's the electronics?

What should I do to troubleshoot this?

Thanks,
Todd.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 7599
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 11:59 am:   Edit Post

Yeah, it makes it very unlikely it's the electronics.

I would try a different string first, and do check that it's seated well in the saddle. Also check the bow of the neck.

If it's still happening, note which specific frets it happens at, and confirm that it's not happening on the neighboring string.
tdukes
Advanced Member
Username: tdukes

Post Number: 221
Registered: 4-2008
Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post

I took it by Mark Erlewine who is local here. He checked the bow of the neck and some of the frets with a little triangle "fret-rocker." He said the straightness of the neck looked great. Some of the frets did rock a bit, but he looked skeptical that they were the issue. He said if it were the electronics he didn't think he could help.

I didn't think it was the electronics, but I thought it would be good to check.

He said he wouldn't be able to look at it more closely until Feb.

I'll go ahead and try a different set of strings, or maybe even a different string gauge and see if that makes any difference.

Thanks Mica!

Todd.
paulman
Senior Member
Username: paulman

Post Number: 449
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 - 9:38 am:   Edit Post

I had that issue and it turned out to be the string. I ended up taking it to Cremer Guitar Works in Aurora IL and they saw the problem right away. I was freaking, but a string had somehow kinked right at a fret.
tdukes
Advanced Member
Username: tdukes

Post Number: 222
Registered: 4-2008
Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 - 2:00 pm:   Edit Post

I tried changing the strings. No luck. Then I tried without my effects pedal. No luck. Then I tried the non-reverb channel of my deluxe reverb and it was gone. So I also tried both channels of my twin reverb and didn't hear it in either of them.

I have access to another deluxe reverb, so I am going to take it and try with it. Maybe I've got a bad tube or something.

Thanks,
Todd.
dfung60
Senior Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 537
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 10:18 pm:   Edit Post

Todd -

There's a tube in your amp that drives the reverb tank. I think this would normally be a 12AT7. If you are only hearing the noise on the reverb channel, I would suspect that that tube has gone microphonic. It should be pretty cheap to get a replacement tube to test this out.

At the risk of angering the magic smoke gods, you can swipe a 12AT7 out of your other amp to test if this fixes your problem. You can also put a 12AX7 in the same socket - they're the same pin arrangement, but the 12AX7 is a higher gain tube so the reverb might sound a little distorted.

Good luck!

David Fung
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 5056
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post

"magic smoke gods"????

Those dudes NEVER get angry!


Bill, tgo

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