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981 Views 16 Replies Latest reply: Nov 7, 2011 9:15 AM by Line6Tony RSS
BucF16 Just Startin'
BucF16
30 posts since
May 12, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 30, 2011 10:15 AM

Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

My Vx700 developed a high pitch whine in the back ground that was starting to drive me crazy.  Additionally the relative volumes between strings was out of whack and when I boosted the effected strings the whine got worse. It was well beyond warranty so I had the piezo elements replaced with Graphtech Ghost saddles. Whine is still present but much reduced.

 

Thought it was otherwise OK BUT just discovered that in the Alt tunings, the fundemental (i.e. not altered) tone is still coming through along with the altered tone.

 

Tried reloading the latest firmware to no avail.

 

At one time this was my main gigging axe and I'd love to get it back into playing shape

 

Help?

Tags: alternate, 700, piezo
  • JellyWheat Gear Head
    JellyWheat
    1,220 posts since
    Aug 18, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 30, 2011 11:35 AM (in response to BucF16)
    Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

    [(8>*}... I was gonna post:

     

    Ya gotta stop yer whining!

     

    ... but I restrained myself!]

     

    J/W

  • JellyWheat Gear Head
    JellyWheat
    1,220 posts since
    Aug 18, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 30, 2011 11:41 AM (in response to BucF16)
    Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine
    • Is there any possibility that RF interference or a strong electromagnetic field may be the cause of the problem?
    • How about your cables: have you tried different ones?
    • What interface are you using to the amp... TRS cable, or are you running through another device?

     

    J/W

    • BucF16 Just Startin'
      BucF16
      30 posts since
      May 12, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Oct 30, 2011 4:33 PM (in response to JellyWheat)
      Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

      I've been exclusively using the VDI. I haven't tried a different one but that shouldn't be too hard to check.

       

      I doubt it's RF as it's happened at different locations.

      • JellyWheat Gear Head
        JellyWheat
        1,220 posts since
        Aug 18, 2008
        Currently Being Moderated
        Oct 30, 2011 5:24 PM (in response to BucF16)
        Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

        Take a look at the VDI connector on the Variax and make sure none of the contacts are bent down or off to one side. If they are, fashion a little J-hook from the wire in a twist tie and pull them gently back into position.

         

        While you're at it, clean all contacts, pots, switches and snap-in connectors with a good unlubricated contact cleaner. Then reflash all you devices and see if the problem persists.

         

        Please let us know how you make out!

        Regards,

        J/W

        • BucF16 Just Startin'
          BucF16
          30 posts since
          May 12, 2008
          Currently Being Moderated
          Oct 31, 2011 1:25 AM (in response to JellyWheat)
          Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

          I can't see anything wrong with the VDI connector.

           

          For an interface I'm using my HD500 now but I used an XTL before.

           

          Tried the Vx through a 1/4 cord and couldn't really hear much of the whine but none of the alt tunings are working, you still hear the primary note through the output, like an out of tune pitch shifter.

           

          With the VDI the whine is still present but is much reduced than before I got the saddles replaced. The new saddles have much more output.  The whine is really only present on higher output bridge pickup models.  Not there for acoustics or neck p/u's.

           

          Reflashed the firmware which seemed to take excessively long. Same problem afterwards.

           

          Like I was saying, it's well out of warranty but it was an expensive guitar. I would like to have it in usable condition to continue to gig with as I found it very useful for alt tunings and acoustic stuff that I don't really get with my main gigging axes.

           

          Thanks for your help

          • JellyWheat Gear Head
            JellyWheat
            1,220 posts since
            Aug 18, 2008
            Currently Being Moderated
            Oct 31, 2011 5:01 AM (in response to BucF16)
            Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

            Think nothing of it... I just wish I could be more helpful.

             

            Perhaps the Great, All-Knowing One will descend from his mountaintop and deign to respond benevolently to your plight!

             

            Say "Uhnnng-GAH!" many times, out loud, at work, and sacrifice two chikkins on your lunch break, and his Eminence may appear later on!

             

            J/W

            • BucF16 Just Startin'
              BucF16
              30 posts since
              May 12, 2008
              Currently Being Moderated
              Nov 1, 2011 11:03 AM (in response to JellyWheat)
              Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

              Two dead chickens and still no response.

               

              Maybe I'm saying it wrong? Is it Unnngh-Gha or Uhnnng-Gah?

              • TheRealZap Expert Line 6 User
                TheRealZap
                11,829 posts since
                Dec 22, 2006
                Currently Being Moderated
                Nov 1, 2011 11:23 AM (in response to BucF16)
                Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                you initially posted on a sunday... they dont work sunday... they'll get to you

                • JellyWheat Gear Head
                  JellyWheat
                  1,220 posts since
                  Aug 18, 2008
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Nov 1, 2011 11:51 AM (in response to TheRealZap)
                  Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                  I beg your, PARDON, Zap, but The Great, All-Knowing One, Keeper of the Pearls of Many Colors, Chief Knought of the Principal Point of the Trapazoidal Table, and Supreme Shepherd of the Sheep of the Soldering Seer works DAY and NIGHT, 25/8.

                   

                  He slumbers not, neither does he sleep!

                   

                  Sunday... INDEED!

                  J/W

                   

                   

                  [FYI: The correct Intonation of the Imprecatorial Incantation for the Invocation of the Inspired and Infallible Intellect (amx05462) is: Uhhnnnnngh-GAAAAAH!]

                  • BucF16 Just Startin'
                    BucF16
                    30 posts since
                    May 12, 2008
                    Currently Being Moderated
                    Nov 1, 2011 3:43 PM (in response to JellyWheat)
                    Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                    Is he also the Stig?

                    • JellyWheat Gear Head
                      JellyWheat
                      1,220 posts since
                      Aug 18, 2008
                      Currently Being Moderated
                      Nov 2, 2011 5:13 PM (in response to BucF16)
                      Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                      (8>*}... Who, or what is "the Stig"?

                       

                      I found this snippet while dong some research on electronic whine:

                       

                      "motherboards and video cards are the other main sources of electronic whine. The whine is often associated with power components, usually capacitors and coils. Poor circuit design is probably at fault; electronic resonances in circuits can cause the components to vibrate or ring, and the whining we hear is directly related to that ringing."

                       

                      Now, I am certainly not going to say that the Variax 700 circuits are pooly designed: I don't know enough to be able to do so, and besides, I LOVED my 700 when I owned it. BUT, might it be possible that the values of some critical components have "drifted" over time, and are now contributing to the "whine" you are hearing?

                       

                      If I were you, I would be sending this to an authorized Line 6 service center, where they have access to the schematics and can vet the guitar out for you properly. If you do this, you may be able to stop yer whining!

                       

                      (x>D}... hnyuk-hnyuk-hnyuk!!!

                       

                      J/W

                       

                      [I Googled the Stig! Silly me not to have known that! The Great All-Knowing One does not confide such Loricated Secrecies to the churlish tender of the Divinatorial Chikkins!]


                • BucF16 Just Startin'
                  BucF16
                  30 posts since
                  May 12, 2008
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Nov 1, 2011 3:33 PM (in response to TheRealZap)
                  Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                  Thank you, I understand completely. It's just that I was very fond of the chickens and they didn't go quietly.

              • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best
                Nick_Mattocks
                9,065 posts since
                Mar 26, 2007
                Currently Being Moderated
                Nov 1, 2011 11:38 AM (in response to BucF16)
                Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                BucF16 wrote:

                 

                Two dead chickens and still no response.

                 

                Maybe I'm saying it wrong? Is it Unnngh-Gha or Uhnnng-Gah?

                I got the chickens in the mail today thanks - Delicious

                 

                I've had this before with my X3 Live and all of my older Variaxes.   In my case I traced it to not using the balanced outputs from the X3 Live.  Basically it was ground loop related even though there was no ground loop hum.  Isolating the X3 Live's 1/4" outs properly from the PA inputs by using a couple of DI boxes resolved it for me.  Alternatively using properly ground isolated XLR cables gets rid of the issue for me as well.

                 

                Nick

                • BucF16 Just Startin'
                  BucF16
                  30 posts since
                  May 12, 2008
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Nov 1, 2011 3:41 PM (in response to Nick_Mattocks)
                  Re: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

                  Thanks Nick. I have to say though that the whine is really not the major issue here but was the precursor to real problem.

                   

                  In order of occurence

                  1. Whine and very uneven string volumes caused me to change saddles to graphtech ghost.

                  2. Now whine is greatly diminished but alt tunings are clash of death

                  3. Also getting bleed over from string to string, i.e. If using a simple drop-tune D, when playing the A string open I get both the A and the Vx attempting to "drop-D" the A string to a G. I'm not avante-garde enough to make music out of what that sounds like.

                   

                  Also, I've had this whine through my Vetta (now departed...like the chickens), XTL and now through the HD500 and through various cable and output combinations. I feel reasonably sure that I've isolated it to the Vx as the character of it changed so drastically when I changed piezo saddles.

  • Line6Hugo Line 6
    Line6Hugo
    6,580 posts since
    Apr 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 3, 2011 11:59 AM (in response to BucF16)
    RE: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

    This seems like a hardware problem lingering on the guitar.  If re-installing the flash memory on the guitar does not fix the problem, then taking it to an authorized service center is the next step to verify the problem and repair:

       

      http://line6.com/service_centers/

       

      Regards,

       

      Line6Hugo

    • Line6Tony Line 6 Support
      Line6Tony
      1,917 posts since
      Jan 16, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 7, 2011 9:15 AM (in response to Line6Hugo)
      Re: RE: Vx Alt Tuning Issue and Whine

      Hello. It has been at least 72 hours since we've heard from you. We're going to assume your question has been answered and close this thread. If you feel your question(s) have not been answered, or, if you have further questions, please feel free to re-open a support thread within our support community and we will answer your questions accordingly. Thanks!


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