Victoria 45410 Bassman ringing question

[Pickalittle]

I love my Bassman and the tone is the ultimate, to me. I've noticed though that when I'm playing the amp seems to amplify strings that I'm not playing. If I dampen them while playing other strings at the same time it goes away.
It is a little like ringing or harmonic amping.

Is this a problem with my Tele pickups being too close to the strings (which I highly doubt as my Music Man 112 Sixty Five doesn't do it) or would those tube rings help with this?

I've never experienced this with any tube amp before. At higher distorted volumes it is not even worth mentioning, but when I play at more mellow volumes (Jazz or clean fills) it is as least noticeable to me, if no one else.

If it is tube ringing, where can I buy those tube rings and what are they called? Thanks...

[Scott S]

Sounds like microphonic tubes to me. Try tapping each one lightly with a pencil, and see if you hear that ringing through the speakers. Chances are, it's the first or second preamp tube.

- Scott

[JamonHamon]

I don't have that problem with my 45410

[Pickalittle]

Scott...thanks, I'll try that.

Jamon...I just started noticing it recently after playing that amp for 3 months.

[JohnnyCrash]

+1 on a possible microphonic tube.

Tube retainers help sometimes with tubes that are on the edge of microphony. Otherwise, replace the problem tube and always have backup tubes.

[Bob Arbogast]

Originally Posted by Pickalittle

I love my Bassman and the tone is the ultimate, to me. I've noticed though that when I'm playing the amp seems to amplify strings that I'm not playing. If I dampen them while playing other strings at the same time it goes away. It is a little like ringing or harmonic amping.

As in another Bassman noise thread, I ask: Why do people think the amp is the issue? Why microphonic tubes? If the extraneous noise goes away when you touch and dampen your preamp tubes, then the problem may be with the tubes. But if the problem goes away when you dampen unplayed strings . . . Doesn't that suggest that the "problem" is one of playing technique? I have the same problem with my acoustic guitar. If I don't mute the strings that I don't want to sound, they will ring to some degree! Perhaps you hear the problem with the Bassman and not other amps because the Bassman is louder or has more presence.

Bob Arbogast

[Pickalittle]

Bob,
I'll test for microphonics but I think you may have nailed it. I used to play my Musicman (blackface) and though it is a great amp, I didn't seem to hear it. I've only recently heard this in my Victoria. These tweeds are my new drool, but they reveal things my blackface just didn't reveal. I think that they are so organic and raw is one reason they reveal subtle things maybe not heard in other amps.
It could be some playing technique. I perform fairly regularly, but I've been playing for so long (since the '50's), I think I may need to focus on some right hand technique!
Never too late to learn and relearn!
Do you have any specifics? I notice it amplifies 3,4 and 5 strings even if I know I'm just picking 1 and 2 in a double stop or slide. Any specific ideas?

[Wally]

Pickalittel, I agree that Bob has put you on the correct track here.
I might add that I find that my left(fretting) hand is at least if not more important in damping than my right(picking) hand. The left hand can be so much more selective in what is damp and when it is damped than the right hand can. This, among other reasons, is why I stress to students and customers that there is usually very little to no reason for having the fingers of the fretting hand very far from the strings.