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662 Views 20 Replies Latest reply: Jul 16, 2012 3:35 PM by meambobbo RSS
mushaf Just Startin'
mushaf
12 posts since
Nov 20, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Jul 11, 2012 11:58 PM

Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

Hey folks,

I recently bought a Pod HD300 , updated it to latest firmware 1.31 . I have discovered that the JCM800 model is pretty glitchy.

There is a very prominent boomy buzzy trailing background noise if the bass knob is more than 0% !!!!! At lower volumes it is

slightly alright but the noise is ever present. I like to use JCM800 model ( I have used various amp modelling before) completely dry ,

maybe a little bit of reverb or delay but nothing else. Don't really want no boosts or any such pedals in front of the amp. This problem

can be countered to an almost tolerable level by putting a distortion pedal in fx1 , but I wish the Marshall could be fine on it's own

after all it's the one amp I really like .

Anyone else facing the same problem ?

 

I do not have any such problem with any of the other amp models. At first I had thought the problem was with the jcm800 4x12 CAB model

because I discovered this problem when I increased my CAB  'Master Volume'. At CAB master volume at over 50% , this buzzing noise is intolerable

totally take over your tone !!! I'm posting a sample .mp3 here , please don't mind the bad playing , I ain't very good :-) I made the clip only to demonstrate

the 'buzz' which kills !!!!!

 

What do you make of this fellow Line 6ers :-) ?

Attachments:
Tags: pod, hd300
  • jimsreynolds Power User
    jimsreynolds
    2,227 posts since
    Jun 27, 43450
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 12, 2012 2:45 AM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    Something definitely aint right.  It sounds to me like something is clipping.  How did you record this clip?  Via USB?

     

    Can I suggest that you try going into the Line 6 drivers on your PC and try turning down the levels (try the checkbox first).  Info on the thread here -->http://line6.com/support/thread/78626

     

    In genera:  the JCM800 is considered a difficult amp to work with but there are good sounds in there.  Checkout what Meambobbo has to say on the subject.  You will not be able to use all the EQ tricks that he uses on his HD500 but there is some stuff that you can do.  Details here: http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/amps#jcm

  • Crusty_Old_Rocker Expert Line 6 User
    Crusty_Old_Rocker
    3,096 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 12, 2012 3:40 AM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    Just in case something went wrong in the firmware, do a reinstall of the firmware and see if that helps.

     

    Cheers,

     

    Crusty

  • bclarke675 Just Startin'
    bclarke675
    153 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 12, 2012 7:27 AM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    Also try maxing the Master Volume under the deep edit controls for the amp model and backing off the Drive.  See if that helps.

  • mushaf Just Startin'
    mushaf
    12 posts since
    Nov 20, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 12, 2012 7:24 PM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    Hallo again folks,

    @ jimsreynolds : I did record the clip through USB , but it sounds the same even when I am not connected through USB too , I play through my practice amp which is very transparent . I tried different input and output options , this noise prevails through all the options .... it's always there ...at a low level when master volume is at 50% and increases to unbearable levels at higher settings. Rolling the bass to 0% removes the problem however.

     

    I want to know why the bass knob is causing a problem. Does this happen to anyone else or is it just my pod acting up ?

    @Crusty_Old_Rocker : I reloaded firmware , it seems just slightly better. 67% master volume is the threshold for the

    buzzing  to kill tone . At lower levels it is still present at an attenuated stage

     

    @bcclarke675 : It helps better when I lower the gain on the amp.

     

     

     

     

    I want to know why this amp model is erratic. Have you guys experienced anything similar ? I mean when you simulate my setting ?

     

    gate:-75 db    -    FX1:none    -   amp: Jcm800 - Reverb : plate

     

     

    Gain , Bass , Mid , treble, channel volume knobs at 12 o clock , Master volume on cab = 100% ( worst case)

     

    , bias xcursion , bias , sag, hum at 50%

    • jimsreynolds Power User
      jimsreynolds
      2,227 posts since
      Jun 27, 43450
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jul 13, 2012 12:55 AM (in response to mushaf)
      Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

      Only other things I can think of:

       

      Have you tried changing the output mode ?   Not sure if yours is a guitar or full-range amp but is the output on the right setting?  If a guitar amp then try  'Live'

       

      Finally, you could try a full reset ... but backup your patches first using HD Edit cause they will get overwritten!   On the HD300 the procedure is power ON while holding down A Footswitch.

      • mushaf Just Startin'
        mushaf
        12 posts since
        Nov 20, 2010
        Currently Being Moderated
        Jul 13, 2012 1:32 AM (in response to jimsreynolds)
        Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

        I cycled through all i/p and output options , the Marshall remains stubborn through out....... Only way the problem fixes is when I roll  the Bass back to 0% ,  the sound becomes tighter and the buzz goes away considerably.....I did a factory  restore yesterday  too .....I'm trying to figure out if other hd300 users face the same problem when they use the Marshall on it's own.........Guess everyone who likes a JCM puts a Tube screamer on it :-(

        • MadYarpen Just Startin'
          MadYarpen
          40 posts since
          May 26, 2012
          Currently Being Moderated
          Jul 13, 2012 2:18 AM (in response to mushaf)
          Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

          I think I have similar problems, and it appears also on Mesa amp. Engl is OK, but Uber also is not setting world on fire so to say. I use mostly Engl and Marshal (from ac/dc to carpathian forest), but I'd like to know if I'm doing something wrong. I will compose new topic probably tommorow, with sound samples recorded and all - so we will be able to compare... Now I will only say, that marshall requires tube screamer to work at all, especially with neck pickup which is more bassy. And generally I noticed that bass is causing a lot of problems on POD, I need to cut out most of it, otherwise it doesn't sound like electric guitar. Or put screamer in front, with exception of Engl. I play on phones so no amp here.

           

          Initially I thought that it is the way it should be, but now I start to think it is some clipping or whatever.

           

          Also stupid question - what is cab master volume? I have volume knob on the back of the POD, and in HD300 Edit - channel volume and master when using full amp simulation. Anything else?

          • mushaf Just Startin'
            mushaf
            12 posts since
            Nov 20, 2010
            Currently Being Moderated
            Jul 13, 2012 2:29 AM (in response to MadYarpen)
            Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

            The 'master volume' is what I've been referring to as the 'cab' volume ............the power amp volume is what I mean.

             

            The problem is however exagerrated on the Marshall , the Engl and the Rectifier have the same bassy boomy trailin noise but it's at a very negligible level , I'll post my samples ASAP.

             

            I really don't have trouble with any of the other amps .... but my Uberschall  has become slightly creamy after the factory reset . I don't really use any gain/distortions unless I really need them. Rectifier , Engl and Uber deliver :-) It's only my Marshall that craps out !!! The most sought after and common amp on a modeller !!!!

            • MadYarpen Just Startin'
              MadYarpen
              40 posts since
              May 26, 2012
              Currently Being Moderated
              Jul 13, 2012 2:48 AM (in response to mushaf)
              Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

              Well, so maybe I have even bigger problem. Cause Rectifier is not usable without TS. And most of amps don't like neck pickup.

               

              Another quick question - does factory reset restore firmware to 1.1 or whatever it was before? Or is it just reseting device to defaluts?

              • mushaf Just Startin'
                mushaf
                12 posts since
                Nov 20, 2010
                Currently Being Moderated
                Jul 13, 2012 3:17 AM (in response to MadYarpen)
                Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

                Factory restore just resets the defaults ! It doesn't revert , you can rollback to 1.10 with the Line 6 monkey .

                However the marshall and the engl were kinda bad on 1.10 , you should revert to 1.2 or something.

                 

                 

                You prefer using the neck pickup ?  Neck pickup I would only use for clean and some  'clean leads' .Does your

                bridge pickup behave alright with the amps ( High gain) ? I think my Pod is alright but there  is a very trace amount of

                buzz when I use the neck pickup. Gives me a creamy lead with the Mesa , I don't crank the gain much...

                 

                You're Mesa is usable on it's own with your bridge pickup ?

                • MadYarpen Just Startin'
                  MadYarpen
                  40 posts since
                  May 26, 2012
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Jul 13, 2012 3:23 AM (in response to mushaf)
                  Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

                  I like to use neck pickup for ac/dc kind of crunch or zz top music, since my bridge p-up is a real beast (Merlin Hellfire, maybe not known where you live, but the fact that Vader uses them is quite a recomendation). As for Mesa with bridge... As far as I remember, it is better, but not good really. I'm at work doing some serious stuff haha, so I'll check when I get back (simply I didn't use mesa cause I didn't like the sound).

                   

                  It all sucks, because POD is really, really great device for my needs, and I'm furious I can't use all I want within it's obvious (FX groups) limitations.

  • meambobbo Iknowathingortwo
    meambobbo
    1,702 posts since
    Dec 13, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 14, 2012 4:49 AM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    I think the issue isn't super mysterious. With master dep at or above 50% you're getting a fair amount of power amp distortion. So if you have bass turned up relative to other frequencies the bass will distort and distorted bass sounds like fuzz. Now reducing bass to 0% sounds extreme but maybe you have bass heavy pickups or a dark guitar tone. What guitar/pickups are you using?

     

    Instead of using a screamer which is going to alter the tone try a mid focus eq. Set lp freq to 100% and q to 57% so you don't lose any highs. Set hp freq to around 25% and q to 0-20%. That'll roll off the lows getting you a nice bright Marshall crunch with better flexibility in where you set amp bass.

     

    This also works with the uber which is way too fuzzy on its own. The treadplate is a bit of an oddball. It's not fuzzy but boomy. I like to put a parametric eq behind it, freq 15% gain35% to tame the low end.

  • meambobbo Iknowathingortwo
    meambobbo
    1,702 posts since
    Dec 13, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 15, 2012 2:39 PM (in response to mushaf)
    Re: Pod HD300 - Troublesome Marshall JCM800 model

    I had a goth explorer and I remember I had to change the pickups they were so dark.

     

    Not sure ab a real jcm but take note of the exact model they modeled in the advanced model guide. Looks like a one channel version. Also don't mistake the 800 with the 900 which has way more gain I think

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