Help! problem with noise in my axis super sport

[nickfox]

My house has electric wall heaters which are really common here in France. When I plug my super sport into my katana 50 or my laney lionheart, I get this loud electric noise coming through. When I turn the heaters off, the noise goes away. When I plug my standard american strat or les paul copy with classic 57 pickups, there is no noise at all. At least not the electric noise from the heaters.

I'm assuming that it's the high gain pickups of the super sport. I am very emotionally attached to my super sport. I play it 3 or 4 hours a day unplugged when I practice.

What can I do? And no, it's too cold to turn off the heaters.

thanks
Nick

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I would try using a power conditioner (between your amps and the electrical outlet) to reduce electrical noise.

 

[nickfox]

Hi Pete

Thanks for your response. If it were a power conditioning problem, shouldn't this be happening with all 3 guitars? I'm willing to try an Adam Hall power conditioner from Thomanns. They have free returns.

But I think the high gain pickup is acting as an antenna. What do you think?

n

 

[beej]

So with the same amp settings, you don't hear the same level of noise from the other guitars?

 

[Wahoonc]

But I think the high gain pickup is acting as an antenna. What do you think?

n

That would be massive EMF and in theory should also create a response in your other pups. I’m not an electrical engineer, but it sounds to me like the change in electrical current created by the heating units is causing a reaction. If so, the power conditioner should solve the problem. I agree with Pete and would start there.

Do you experience interference when the heaters are not on?

 

[nickfox]

So with the same amp settings, you don't hear the same level of noise from the other guitars?

With my other guitars, I'm not hearing that noise at all. The noise is similar to what you hear when your amp is on a circuit with light dimmers. That's why I'm confused.

Do you experience interference when the heaters are not on?

When I turn the heaters off, the noise goes away.

Ok, for the sake of experimenting, I will buy that power conditioner and get back to you in a few days.


n

 

[Wahoonc]

Definitely let us know if it works.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Is this the axis SS with the humbuckers or single coils?

 

[nickfox]

Is this the axis SS with the humbuckers or single coils?

It's with humbuckers. Everything is original right down to the super slinky strings. (and it's left-handed)

n

 

[beej]

Weird. Do you get the same noise in all pickup positions?

All humbuckers will pick up some noise, to a certain extent. (The Axis pickups in my 25th are a bit noisy, but nothing crazy.) But if they're exceptionally noisy, something is wrong. I would open up the back cavity and make sure everything is wired up correctly, especially if the noise is worse in a particular switch position.

 

[DrKev]

The Axis humbuckers should be almost as quiet as any other humbuckers. Any significant difference suggests a wiring issue. With a clean tone try tapping with a screw driver on the pole pieces. Each coil should be equally loud.

 

[Steve Nukather]

Check for electrical continuity between the strings and output jack ground.

 

[Mick]

Ok first of all, I think it´s the lefthanded thing that always causes trouble...;-)
No, I do not think that a power conditioner will solve that problem, since it only stabilizes and filters high frequency noise through a capacitor ( the furmans f.example), you have a dimmer in the circuit of the heater which regulates the temperature and an unshielded radiator. But give it a try, you never know. Try to run a extension power cord from another power circuit in your house, maybe bathroom and plug in your guitar rig there, just for testing.

 

[Fro]

Does the noise go away if you touch the guitars output jack? If so, your output jack is wired backwards.

 

[Wayniac]

I'd say the jack, or check for a grounding issue (usually a wire to the trem or the bridge if it's a non-trem)

 

[nickfox]

Hey Guys, sorry for the delay, I was away on vacation.

Do you get the same noise in all pickup positions?

yes, I do.

Does the noise go away if you touch the guitars output jack? If so, your output jack is wired backwards.

No, it doesn't.

I made another discovery. If I turn the tone knob down (less treble), the noise goes away. I poked around in the rear control cavity but couldn't see anything visually wrong. It was pretty noisy when I tapped on things like pots etc.

Somehow connected to the tone control. Could it be a bad cap?

n

 

[wesman11483]

I made another discovery. If I turn the tone knob down (less treble), the noise goes away. I poked around in the rear control cavity but couldn't see anything visually wrong. It was pretty noisy when I tapped on things like pots etc.

Somehow connected to the tone control. Could it be a bad cap?

n

I believe my Sport has the circuit that "removes" the tone Control from the signal when at a 10...so it could be something with that component (I haven't opened mine up, but I assume there's a cap there...or possibly part of the quiet circuit)...try swapping out the 9v and check the connections at the tone pot. If all that seems square (and you're capable with a solder iron) I'd say try swapping the tone pot out for another one...or just leave it rolled back slightly.

 

[nickfox]

or possibly part of the quiet circuit)...try swapping out the 9v

I'm not sure what the quiet circuit is. Are you saying you have a 9 volt battery in your sport? My super sport doesn't have one.

I think I will see what happens if I unsolder the tone pot.

 

[wesman11483]

I'm not sure what the quiet circuit is. Are you saying you have a 9 volt battery in your sport? My super sport doesn't have one.

I think I will see what happens if I unsolder the tone pot.

Yes, I have a 9v in my Sport.
Don't burn your fingers and keep us posted!

 

[beej]

The MM90 version of the Axis Sport/Super Sports had a silent circuit. The Super Sports with Humbuckers did not. So it's not that.

At this point you really have two choices- call MM customer service and ask their advice (keep in mind they're probably preparing for NAMM right now so you might get a slow response), or take the guitar to a reputable tech to check out the wiring.

Something is definitely off, but it's pretty hard to diagnose the issue over the Internet.