The Electra Forums

Hi again,
I seem to have a problem with my LP Electra 2245. When I turn the volume down at the guitar I have a lot of background hiss/hash/static in the amp. It doesn't seem to mater what the amp volume is set at and it is there with the selector switch in Rhythm, Middle or Treble position. The lower I turn the volume control, the more noise I get.
Also, I have a ground problem I believe. When you make contact with the strings or other metal there is a difference in the noise.
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

There are others here that know more than I do but I have a few questions and simple things to try. Does the amp make noise without the guitar? Have you tried a different cord? Are you sure the noise is only present when the volume is turned down? If the noise is only present with the guitar volume turned down, I would suspect you have either a bad pot or more likely a bad ground to the volume pot.

It is also possible that you have radio frequency (RF) interference. Once again if you have it with the volume turned down it could be a bad cord. Do you have florescent lights or other RF sources where you play? If it is an RF problem with the guitar, the answer is to shield the guitar. Instructions can be found here:

http://www.guitarnuts.com/index.php

One other possibility is that if you use pedals is that your pedals are electrically out of phase with you amplifier. That of course raises the possibility that the noise is pedal related. If you have a polarity switch on your amp, try changing the polarity and see what happens.

Good luck.

Thanks for the reply.
The amp is a Gretsch (Valco 6161 schematic covers it) the is no noise without the guitar plugged in. My other guitar is OK plugged in same cord.
Yes, the noise goes away with the vol. up at 80% to full on the guitar.
No florescent lights or Rf around.
No pedal, guitar plugged into straight into amp.
No polarity switch.
All 4 inputs are the same noise wise.

Hope this helps.

Gary