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Thread: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

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    Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    I've just joined The Fender Forum and this is my first post.

    I purchased a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb amplifier. I love the amp! However, when I turn on the amp, I hear a continuous pulsating static sound. This occurs with all knobs of the amplifier turned off. It also occurs continuously whether I have my guitar cord plugged into the amp or not.

    Is there a remedy for this issue?

    Thanks for any suggestions that may be helpful.

    Marty Canaday

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Welcome to the forum, Marty!

    The "amp specialist" guys will weigh in here shortly, but until then, my guess is that you have some unshielded circuitry in your home (or wherever you have your amp). You might want to look into some form of power conditioner, or at the very least, see if moving the amp to another room and/or circuit makes any difference.
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    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    It sounds like the tremolo (vibrato, in the language of Fender) is turned on with the intensity setting turned all the way down rather than being turned off with the footswitch. See if the footswitch and speed and intensity controls affect the sound.

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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by OldStrummer View Post
    Welcome to the forum, Marty!

    The "amp specialist" guys will weigh in here shortly, but until then, my guess is that you have some unshielded circuitry in your home (or wherever you have your amp). You might want to look into some form of power conditioner, or at the very least, see if moving the amp to another room and/or circuit makes any difference.
    What is a power conditioner?

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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by Don View Post
    It sounds like the tremolo (vibrato, in the language of Fender) is turned on with the intensity setting turned all the way down rather than being turned off with the footswitch. See if the footswitch and speed and intensity controls affect the sound.
    The static occurs even with all of the knobs on the amp--normal channel and vibrato channel off! It occurs when I turn the amp on.

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by martycanaday View Post
    What is a power conditioner?
    Sometimes also referred to as a "line conditioner." You can see several examples on Amazon.

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    Forum Member Offshore Angler's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Uh, I'm not an amp guru but sounds like she might be "motorboating" a little. Having the knobs all down and still hearing it, right?

    Chuck
    "No harmonic knowledge, no sense of time, a ghastly tone, unskilled vibrato, and so on. Chuck is one of the worst guitar players I know" -Gravity Jim

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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by Offshore Angler View Post
    Uh, I'm not an amp guru but sounds like she might be "motorboating" a little. Having the knobs all down and still hearing it, right?

    Chuck
    Yes, all of the knobs are turned off. What do you mean by “motor boating?”

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by martycanaday View Post
    Yes, all of the knobs are turned off. What do you mean by “motor boating?”

    OA is probably referring to the low-level frequency oscillations as described on Wikipedia. On the other hand, perhaps he's pulling your leg.

    Wikipedia <- link

    The
    other definition <- link
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    Forum Member Offshore Angler's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    OS, Not sure why you think I'm pulling someone's leg.

    This is a common problem with older tube amps. It's usually a sign that the power supply filter caps are failing. That or something is going on with the filament heaters. Unless the house you plug into has major issues, a power conditioner isn't needed for an amp. They basically have one built in.

    There are others here that can add more than me, but that's where I'd start.

    Chuck
    "No harmonic knowledge, no sense of time, a ghastly tone, unskilled vibrato, and so on. Chuck is one of the worst guitar players I know" -Gravity Jim

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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by Offshore Angler View Post
    OS, Not sure why you think I'm pulling someone's leg.

    This is a common problem with older tube amps. It's usually a sign that the power supply filter caps are failing. That or something is going on with the filament heaters. Unless the house you plug into has major issues, a power conditioner isn't needed for an amp. They basically have one built in.

    There are others here that can add more than me, but that's where I'd start.

    Chuck
    Sorry, Chuck. I'm pulling YOUR leg (and by extension, Marty's). The term "motorboating" has several connotations, one of which is probably NSFW.
    Striving to be ordinary

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    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by Offshore Angler View Post
    Uh, I'm not an amp guru but sounds like she might be "motorboating" a little. Having the knobs all down and still hearing it, right?

    Chuck
    This sounds about right.

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    Forum Member Don's Avatar
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    Re: Continuous Pulsating Static When I Cut on My Amp

    Quote Originally Posted by martycanaday View Post
    I've just joined The Fender Forum and this is my first post.

    I purchased a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb amplifier. I love the amp! However, when I turn on the amp, I hear a continuous pulsating static sound. This occurs with all knobs of the amplifier turned off. It also occurs continuously whether I have my guitar cord plugged into the amp or not.

    Is there a remedy for this issue?

    Thanks for any suggestions that may be helpful.

    Marty Canaday
    Is this a brand new amp? Am I correct to assume it's a reissue?

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