Snackbar Posted August 20, 2022 Share Posted August 20, 2022 'm having trouble with my old Variax 700. There's a grumbling, crackle, squeal type noise underneath the output of the guitar sound. This is severely exacerbated when it's put through a heavily soaked distortion. Any ideas on what this might be? All help gratefully received! :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psarkissian Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Intermittent ground point allowing digital data or clock to ride on the audio. Gunk getting between the piezo and saddle, resulting in intermittent signal ground, as the saddle serves as the signal ground for the piezos. Tuning and/or intonation needs to be more spot on. Have it checked out by a Line 6 authorized service center. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snackbar Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Many many thanks for your attention on this psarkissian, it's truly appreciated. Now I can point the service engineer in the right direction when I send it to Line 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundog Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Makes sense. Good luck with your repair... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snackbar Posted August 24, 2022 Author Share Posted August 24, 2022 Hi Soundog, I've nailed it down to the A/B foot switch (XPS A/B) as the guitar works perfectly well on batteries. I don't know why I didn't try that at first (doh!) I have a back up PSU and the noise occurs with both of them, so it's definitely the foot switch. I Googled for a replacement, and crikey, they're as rare as rocking horse lollipop, no current viable hits at all. Ah well, at least I can play the old girl on battery power, it's a relief she's OK. My regular guitar fixer is looking for a replacement board for the foot switch, I'm not holding my breath, but you never know. Many thanks to you and psarkissian for your help, it's great to know you're out there in cyberworld with words of advice and wisdom. :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundog Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 Damn, I don't know why we didn't think to try that! I've had lots of problems with the XPS A/B and Mini A/B. Usually its a bad MOSFET. Another time I had one with a bad capacitor. At least its a cheap and easy fix ($1 part), but I think Line 6 did a bad job designing those power supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snackbar Posted August 25, 2022 Author Share Posted August 25, 2022 Hey no probs soundog and psarkissian, you probably subconsciously assumed I'd already tried it. I'll pass the info on to my local guitar guy and see what he says. As ever, many thanks. PS Wow, I didn't realise how censorious this forum was! :0) The replaced sh*t with lollipop LOL! Maybe it's my tainted old mind, but 'rocking horse lollipop' does NOT sound good, in fact to me, it sounds worse. Never mind, I'll keep it uber-clean in future, for all those minors with James Tylers, Helixes and old Varaxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psarkissian Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Something I prepped for the Admin for the Knowledge Base for cleaning pots, switches and piezos,... Use cotton swabs, don't spray, just gunks things up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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