Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post - Is your JD-10 noisy?

fivenote · March 27th, 2008, 06:55 AM

I made the mod to the JD-10 and the RFI is gone!!! I found some info on how to add capacitors to amps and guitars to block RFI, such as http://www.muzique.com/lab/hum.htm. As I posted earlier, I found the RFI was not coming from the input or output jacks. Touching a cap across those spots didn't make a difference. Then I tried the footswitch and it's lead wires. Bingo!

I first figured out a little about the switch. The top poles of the DPDT switch (toward back of unit) are running about 5v. The bottom poles (toward front) go to ground. The middle pair of tabs are the common ones. Putting the cap there bleeds the RFI whether the switch is on or off. I soldered a 220pf cap from the 5v side to the ground side. I was able to place it across the surface of the switch and solder it in without having to resolder the wire leads.

It was an easy mod. Once done the JD-10 was very quiet - except for my guitar signal of course. I'm on the 24th floor of a NY city high-rise. With a few more dental fillings, I could probably get radio in my teeth here :-). But my JD-10 is quiet. Even the rock channel is free of RFI and has just the normal high-gain hiss that my noise gate handles without problem. I love the JD-10's tone and am glad it's now RFI-free!

If you're up to a little risk, try the mod. If mine decides to crap out after a while because of the mod I'll be sure to post to save others from the same fate. But I jammed on it all evening, trying all settings, and it's working great. As far as I can tell, the mod didn't affect the tone or output levels.

I hope this helps others having the same problem.

March 27th, 2008, 06:55 AM	#17 (permalink)
fivenote Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 146 4 Photos	Woo Hoo! No more radio noise! I made the mod to the JD-10 and the RFI is gone!!! I found some info on how to add capacitors to amps and guitars to block RFI, such as http://www.muzique.com/lab/hum.htm. As I posted earlier, I found the RFI was not coming from the input or output jacks. Touching a cap across those spots didn't make a difference. Then I tried the footswitch and it's lead wires. Bingo! I first figured out a little about the switch. The top poles of the DPDT switch (toward back of unit) are running about 5v. The bottom poles (toward front) go to ground. The middle pair of tabs are the common ones. Putting the cap there bleeds the RFI whether the switch is on or off. I soldered a 220pf cap from the 5v side to the ground side. I was able to place it across the surface of the switch and solder it in without having to resolder the wire leads. It was an easy mod. Once done the JD-10 was very quiet - except for my guitar signal of course. I'm on the 24th floor of a NY city high-rise. With a few more dental fillings, I could probably get radio in my teeth here :-). But my JD-10 is quiet. Even the rock channel is free of RFI and has just the normal high-gain hiss that my noise gate handles without problem. I love the JD-10's tone and am glad it's now RFI-free! If you're up to a little risk, try the mod. If mine decides to crap out after a while because of the mod I'll be sure to post to save others from the same fate. But I jammed on it all evening, trying all settings, and it's working great. As far as I can tell, the mod didn't affect the tone or output levels. I hope this helps others having the same problem. __________________ ~~~~~ fivenote ~~~~~ One day I'll finally have the perfect guitar for me. That's also the day I'll get arthritis. It was a fun ride. Last edited by fivenote : March 27th, 2008 at 12:05 PM.