need help with diagnosing noise/hiss

[predz23]

ok i got zakks les paul with EMG-HZ, connected via ibanez cable (around $30 pretty good cable) to zakk wah, then connected via kabletek 30cm guitar to zakk overdrive and connected to boss ch-1 super chorus via a cheap $2 dollar cable from ebenex to roland cube 15x.

when i turn on my overdrive it becomes noisy but not too bad, then when i turn my chorus on it becomes noisier. when i touch the metal parts of the pedals (like the toggle switch on the overdrive or the metal part of the input jack on the chorus) theres less noise.

Could you guys help me figure out what is the problem so i can fix it?

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

Cud be grounding issue. Since you mentioned bout touching the metal part and less noise, it cud be coz you became part of the ground path instead

Any way, isolate eveything one by one and start finding out what is causing the problem

Start from

1)pluggin the geetar straight to amp, check for any noise/hiss

2) connect individual pedals between geetar and amp, check for noise/hiss level, before and also after the effect is engage

3) Connect all the pedals together between geetar and amp, power everything, but dont engage the effet yet, Listen to hiss/noise level. Engage obne by one and hear the hiss noise level

Your distortion/overdrive is gain pedal, it will pump up your clean geetar signal into that "rock like mofo" sound and at the same time, also pushing up the noise level thats already present, to audible level. So watch the gain and volume setting.

Other than that, the idea above is to compare the noise/hiss level between

1) Guitar and amp
2) Individual pedal with guitar and amp
3) All pedals with guitar and amp

once you can isolate and determine which one is the one giving problem, you might be able to have a better idea of how to solve the issue.

 

[predz23]

ok, pretty reasonable. But will having better quality cables make a difference?

 

[predz23]

well i thought it was gonna be the overdrive but it wasnt. on its own its VERY quiet with the output and gain knob on maximum. then i plugged it into the chorus, still very quiet, just more feedback which is ok. THEN I PLUGGED THEM ALL into my wah THEN came the noise!! ok so the wah on its own is already causing SLIGHTLY more noise then the rest on their own. When all are plugged in theres the problematic noise im complaining about

*update* overdrive with chorus: overdrive on max output and chorus causes a lot of noise, but once you touch a string its dead quiet, when you let go not only is there feedback but also noise. when touching the string with the wah, overdrive and chorus on the noise is still there....sigh

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

are all the pedals sharing one power supply?

Anyway, better cables make a difference, but it will never ever eliminate the noise if its really case of loud hiss/noise in the first place. If you wanna, you can try changing all the cables as well

if the wah is a source for the hiss/noise, having it going into the gain pedal, will multiply the hiss from it.

theres lotsa trial and error involved, just try whatever you can think of or read about.
Hehe, worst come to worst, just get a noise supressor and have it "masked" all the noise(yes, "masked" not getting rid)...

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

turn your overdrive output down instead and turn up the volume on the amp if you wanna rock.

Max setting on any gain pedal will have lotsa noise. And if its going into other pedals or any other pedals going into it, everything will add up.

 

[predz23]

ah ok, btw i am sharing one power supply, the godlyke power adapter i bought from ebenex

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

get some 9v batt and try powering the pedals with those, if its still noisy, then the power supply issue is eliminated and the problem most likely be with the setting on the pedals or some other area

 

[predz23]

ok i managed to reduce the noise, but its still there, everytime i touch something metal either on the pedals or guitar the noise stops. is it because of my daisy chain? its can power like 5 things but obviously i dont have 5 pedals, only three so there are like two completely free, just lying there and they're all connected with each other

btw the reason i bought a power adapter is to stop using those batteries because they run out pretty quick

 

[predz23]

ok noise stops everytime i touch metal part of rig/guitar what does that mean?

 

[kerplunk182]

ok noise stops everytime i touch metal part of rig/guitar what does that mean?

Cud be grounding issue. Since you mentioned bout touching the metal part and less noise, it cud be coz you became part of the ground path instead

Your answer. Tadah.

 

[fgl]

Your answer. Tadah.

So doctor Kerplunk ... your diagnosis is tadahritis?:mrgreen:

 

[predz23]

great, how do i fix it?

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

check either the geetar or the amp first. Seldom there be grounding problem for those pedals

for the amp, check out this thread first
http://soft.com.sg/forum/gear-guitar/7982-changing-2-pin-plug-3-pin-plug-grounding.html

for guitar grounding and shielding, check here
GuitarNuts.com - The Internet Home for Wayward Pickers

 

[predz23]

hehe that looks like fun, thx!!