Mesa M9 Carbine gain sensitivity & Fender Jazz Active Pickup loud Buzz

[solarfly]

I just got off the phone with Mesa. I have a brand new Carbine M9. I plugged my newish Fender Jazz Elite (the "noise cancelling pickups" edition) to it, flipped the switch to Active, and even with the gain set to 12 o'clock with the bass switch in Active position, the hum (around 5Khz) is really, really loud. It doesn't go away if I just touch the strings, but quiets right down when I flip the bass into passive.

I grabbed my Ibanez ATK, which doesn't have the same hum in active. I also tested both guitars with my old Trace Elliot VType. I hear a slight sound too from the active, but nowhere near as loud or as harsh as what I get from the mesa.

About 3 weeks ago, I noticed a real aggressive frequency from the Fender when in active through my Eden WTX264, so I changed the batteries and the hum went away. But there's no way I should be due for a battery change again after 3 weeks! I play about 2 hrs per day, even if that was consistent that's a max of 62 hours. I unplug it religiously.

Could it be the bass or could it still be the new amp? The Mesa guys said that the Carbine's gain is really sensitive and going past 1 o'clock isn't something you would do because of how sensitive it is. At 1 o'clock, where I'd want a little warm tube distortion, the Fender Jazz buzz/hum is so frickin loud I can't even concentrate. But I don't have the same experience with the old Trace Elliot or my Eden.

Thoughts?

 

[Chef]

I'd say you have a problem with that bass.

 

[solarfly]

I'd say you have a problem with that bass.

That's what I'm afraid of. It's a new bass, within 45 days from guitar center, but I love that damn thing. I think I'll call Fender's support and see what they recommend. I hope it's not a massive design flaw with the new Jazz Elites.

 

[Al Kraft]

I know this one is obvious, but did you try a different cable? I've had intermittent contacts/shorts in cables and connectors that caused some strange noises much like what you experienced with your Eden . If it's not the cable, my guess would be the bass. The good news is that the problem is likely a relatively easy one to get fixed.

 

[solarfly]

Yep, I used my Mogami Platinum cable, some off-brand cable and a Fender cable, and the results were the same all three times. I called Fender and then called Guitar Center. The Fender guy suggested it could be either a bad PCB or the wiring, referred me back to the good guys at GC in Concord where I bought it. They were pretty helpful on the phone with me today. I'm scheduled to pop in Thursday morning, where I'll bring my amp as well, hook it to a cabinet there, and run some A/B comparison tests with other Jazz Elites in stock vs. mine, and see what's up. He said no problem, they can replace the bass within the 45 day window -- but I'm sort of attached to it, you know, got my D'Addario Pro Steels all strung up and the intonation dialed in and such

 

[Al Kraft]

Sounds like you've got it narrowed down. Good luck at GC Thursday and hopefully it will be a simple repair kind of deal as opposed to a complete replacement.

 

[jza57]

I remember a run of a batch of Fender Marcus Miller 4's back 10-15yrs. that had a wiring snafu that was causing the circuit to discharge the battery. Just me thinking out loud .

 

[Dave W]

Yep, I used my Mogami Platinum cable, some off-brand cable and a Fender cable, and the results were the same all three times. I called Fender and then called Guitar Center. The Fender guy suggested it could be either a bad PCB or the wiring, referred me back to the good guys at GC in Concord where I bought it. They were pretty helpful on the phone with me today. I'm scheduled to pop in Thursday morning, where I'll bring my amp as well, hook it to a cabinet there, and run some A/B comparison tests with other Jazz Elites in stock vs. mine, and see what's up. He said no problem, they can replace the bass within the 45 day window -- but I'm sort of attached to it, you know, got my D'Addario Pro Steels all strung up and the intonation dialed in and such

So have them fix it instead of replace it. If it's a bad PCB, that's just replacing the preamp. There's only so many things it could be in the bass, so even if it's not a bad preamp it should be super easy for a competent tech to fix.

 

[solarfly]

So have them fix it instead of replace it. If it's a bad PCB, that's just replacing the preamp. There's only so many things it could be in the bass, so even if it's not a bad preamp it should be super easy for a competent tech to fix.

That's my first preference too, but the complicated part is... GC's tech is on vacation and comes back just after my 45 day replacement window expires! So it was the store manager that suggested bringing it in, seeing what's what, doing some comparisons, and he said they would even figure out how to honor extending the window if they had to, and we could have the tech look at it. Actually really great customer service IMO. I'll let you guys know what they find out after Thursday. I'm hoping its not like taking your car to the mechanic where suddenly it just stops showing its problem while at the shop

 

[Dave W]

I don't see what GC's tech being on vacation has to do with them honoring your warranty.
Fender's warranty is 1 year. You should be able to bring it to any authorized Fender repair shop within that time and get it fixed.

 

[solarfly]

I don't see what GC's tech being on vacation has to do with them honoring your warranty.
Fender's warranty is 1 year. You should be able to bring it to any authorized Fender repair shop within that time and get it fixed.

That's true and Fender will warranty it for sure. But GC specifically has a 45 day full replacement/refund no questions asked policy, so it's like a bonus option/safety net where the bass can just be fully replaced instead of inspected for repair. But I agree with first having it looked at. Replacing it might just replace it with another one with the same problem. I'd rather have it figured out, and also keep the one I bought since I've already put some sweat into playing it.

 

[Dave W]

Right, which is why I don't see replacing it through GC as a good option for you.

 

[Ewo]

So, if I'm reading the threadstarter post correctly, the noise is something that _developed_ after you'd had the bass for a few weeks, yeah? IANA tech, but I'd guess a cold solder joint on the PC board. The board will be easy to replace, and you get to keep the bass!

(Look, Ma--I busted a rhyme!)

 

[Latitude94941]

My hunch is that it's related to the Mesa. I remember reading other complaints like this when I read through the very long M6 thread.

When I recently got my M6 (brand new) I had the same issue with my (passive) Precision. I then plugged into a high pass filter (an Fdeck) and then into the M6 and the problem vanished.

So I suspect--at least in my case--that there is some kind of impedance mismatch going on.

I love my M6 but highly recommend an HPF with the Carbines due to their subterranean low end extension, so you should give that a try. If not, have you tried using any active pedal or buffer between your bass and the Mesa yet?

 

[solarfly]

My hunch is that it's related to the Mesa. I remember reading other complaints like this when I read through the very long M6 thread.

When I recently got my M6 (brand new) I had the same issue with my (passive) Precision. I then plugged into a high pass filter (an Fdeck) and then into the M6 and the problem vanished.

So I suspect--at least in my case--that there is some kind of impedance mismatch going on.

I love my M6 but highly recommend an HPF with the Carbines due to their subterranean low end extension, so you should give that a try. If not, have you tried using any active pedal or buffer between your bass and the Mesa yet?

This has been on my mind. The effect of plugging the Fender Jazz into my old Trace Elliot head definitely wasn't as pronounced. I actually have a pedal board with a TC Buffer on it. I'll try this when I get home tonight and run some more experiments. I could try a couple of pedals, like my Boss TU-3 (which I don't have on my pedal board anymore). All my tests with the bass and amp so far were directly plugged into it. I'll try this at home and report back.

 

[solarfly]

So, if I'm reading the threadstarter post correctly, the noise is something that _developed_ after you'd had the bass for a few weeks, yeah? IANA tech, but I'd guess a cold solder joint on the PC board. The board will be easy to replace, and you get to keep the bass!

(Look, Ma--I busted a rhyme!)

Yes, I started noticing a lot of noise from the active pickups about 2 or 3 weeks after purchase, through my Eden WTX264. I figured, maybe the factory batteries were old, so when I changed them the noise went away. I got the Mesa about 2 weeks ago and noticed the noise right away, but (at least from what I remember) it seems even worse now, and I started thinking, "batteries again?" Need more data!

 

[solarfly]

Another data point too, with my Ibanez ATK in active, I actually cranked the gain on the Mesa Carbine up to about 4 o'clock and turned the master volume down low. I got really nice sound, nice distortion, but no harsh loud active buzzing around 5khz like the Fender. I also have a Fender PBass and an Accoustic with piezo pickups, I could try those as well. Driving me nuts!

 

[Latitude94941]

This has been on my mind. The effect of plugging the Fender Jazz into my old Trace Elliot head definitely wasn't as pronounced. I actually have a pedal board with a TC Buffer on it. I'll try this when I get home tonight and run some more experiments. I could try a couple of pedals, like my Boss TU-3 (which I don't have on my pedal board anymore). All my tests with the bass and amp so far were directly plugged into it. I'll try this at home and report back.

Definitely try the buffer and let us know what happens.

 

[agedhorse]

My hunch is that it's related to the Mesa. I remember reading other complaints like this when I read through the very long M6 thread.

When I recently got my M6 (brand new) I had the same issue with my (passive) Precision. I then plugged into a high pass filter (an Fdeck) and then into the M6 and the problem vanished.

So I suspect--at least in my case--that there is some kind of impedance mismatch going on.

I love my M6 but highly recommend an HPF with the Carbines due to their subterranean low end extension, so you should give that a try. If not, have you tried using any active pedal or buffer between your bass and the Mesa yet?

I think this is entirely unrelated to the OP's situation. This has occurred with his other amps and was in some way related to (or improved by) changing the battery. It's further reinforced by switching the bass to passive mode and the noise went away, therefore almost certainly not the amp. The amp is just amplifying whatever noise might be present within the bass in active mode. It's quite possible that it's something as simple as a small wire getting damaged or disconnected during assembly.

So definitely have the bass checked out. Fender has a great warranty and there's nothing that would lead to any other conclusion that Fender (service) will get to the bottom of this and get you taken care of. They have a great service network for their instruments.

 

[Latitude94941]

I think this is entirely unrelated to the OP's situation. This has occurred with his other amps and was in some way related to (or improved by) changing the battery. It's further reinforced by switching the bass to passive mode and the noise went away, therefore almost certainly not the amp. The amp is just amplifying whatever noise might be present within the bass in active mode. It's quite possible that it's something as simple as a small wire getting damaged or disconnected during assembly.

So definitely have the bass checked out. Fender has a great warranty and there's nothing that would lead to any other conclusion that Fender (service) will get to the bottom of this and get you taken care of. They have a great service network for their instruments.

Well, as long you're here, Andy (and have already read my post) do you have any thoughts on the situation with my M6?

I was concerned by the noise level when I first got it, but as I said running the high pass filter (active, powered by a 9 volt battery) in front of the amp's input totally solves the problem. I have not been in a hurry to call Mesa CS since I have another 4 years and 10 months left on the factory warranty.

To give you a point of reference, there are no such noise issues (with or without the high pass filter in use) with my D800, Walkabout (or any other amp I use). M6 settings are typically with the Voice control at neutral and Bass and Treble always below 12:00.