ISP Decimator

[Casper]

Anybody use one of these? My soundman is complaining about noise between songs (VA5 pickups) and having to ride my fader. I have, what I thought to be a pretty quiet rig..boutique pedals on a board powered by a T-Rex Fuel Tank..good cabling..into a pretty quiet MB Blue Angel on 6V6 mode.

I suppose I could learn to cut the volume knob down, but I admit..when any of my ODs kicks in, I do notice the noise. Of course it varies venue to venue.
The ISP seems to be the 'go-to' for this type situation. The reviews are mostly glowing, but the tone 'purists' are thumbs-down. I don't want something to clamp my notes or suck the tone.
Just looking for opinions...any VA players deal with this?

Shaun

[kevin h]

Check out Ilitch Electronics. They make a noise canceling system for single coil pickups and it works like a charm.

[RVA]

Yes, I use the isp g-string decimator in fx loop. The g-string version is similar to their rack-mount system and works excellent. Pricey but worth it IMHO.

[markus]

I'm using the Pro Rack G to tame the noise of my Triaxis & 2:90 rig and I really like it a lot. Probably the best noise gate I've owned so far.

[paleolith54]

Yes, I use the isp g-string decimator in fx loop. The g-string version is similar to their rack-mount system and works excellent. Pricey but worth it IMHO.
Same here, it is great.

[bruce]

There will be some degree of clamping of the notes.. more so if you play with dynamics. The Decimator works well as does the MXR/Dunlop Smart Gate which has a bit more tune-ability for certain types of noise as often it's more than just 60Hz buzz.

On a side note... If you turn the guitar's volume knob all the way down (taking the guitar out of the equation), and you still have unwanted noise then it's more than just the guitars's fault and you should look into what is creating that noise situation first. But regardless I would suggest learning the volume knob trick.

[bruce]

Also,

If you have the Fuel Tank Classic, the 9V outputs are NOT isolated. Depending on how you are powering your effects, you could be creating a hum loop right there.

[Casper]

Good information Bruce, I'm sure it IS the Fuel tank Classic..I will look into this tonight. Thanks for the opinions everyone. If I can make a difference with a power source change, I would rather do this than add another pedal..I'm out of real estate anyway. If this isn't the problem, I think I'll just learn the volume knob trick. I'm sure my wireless isn't helping matters either, so there are probably more sources to look at as well. Been playing Andys for over 25 years now..noise has never been an issue as I've always used the SD/SA/SC and various hums. Just a process, I'm sure..
Thanks for the tip Bruce!

Shaun

[dannopelli]

Good information Bruce, I'm sure it IS the Fuel tank Classic..I will look into this tonight. Thanks for the opinions everyone. If I can make a difference with a power source change, I would rather do this than add another pedal..I'm out of real estate anyway. If this isn't the problem, I think I'll just learn the volume knob trick. I'm sure my wireless isn't helping matters either, so there are probably more sources to look at as well. Been playing Andys for over 25 years now..noise has never been an issue as I've always used the SD/SA/SC and various hums. Just a process, I'm sure..
Thanks for the tip Bruce!

Shaun
Sean,

Our old girlfriend, (gone now from me too), had VA's in it. In fact I changed them to the hotter VA2 VA2 VA3. Sure I had noise when I had a dirt pedal on, heck that happens with humbuckers, but otherwise none. Quiet as a mouse when they were off.
You may want to switch to a Voodoo Labs power supply or something else isolated.

[Casper]

Thanks anyway everyone! I went ahead and bought a used one just have on nights when we don't have earth grounds or particularly noisy situations. I like that its true-bypass and I can cut it on and off. Will let y'all know..:D

[bruce]

Thanks anyway everyone! I went ahead and bought a used one just have on nights when we don't have earth grounds or particularly noisy situations. I like that its true-bypass and I can cut it on and off. Will let y'all know..:D

On nights when you don't have earth grounds?? There's a major problem right there!

+1 on the Voodoo-Labs Pedal Power ll

[Casper]

Bruce, you said in an earlier post that the T-rex Fueltank Classic wasn't isolated..according to their website, it says it is? Were you referring to a specific type of isolation? Anyway, yeah..we do alot of different venues with all types of situations/generators, etc. You wouldn't believe what our soundman has to do to electrical panels sometimes for us to get 220. Hes got 4 or 5 different tie-ins, several types of range plugs, 300 ft of extra 220 cable. Not having an earth ground has been a common complaint..
I'll try the ISP on a few gigs..nothing ventured..?

[bruce]

Bruce, you said in an earlier post that the T-rex Fueltank Classic wasn't isolated..according to their website, it says it is? Were you referring to a specific type of isolation? Anyway, yeah..we do alot of different venues with all types of situations/generators, etc. You wouldn't believe what our soundman has to do to electrical panels sometimes for us to get 220. Hes got 4 or 5 different tie-ins, several types of range plugs, 300 ft of extra 220 cable. Not having an earth ground has been a common complaint..
I'll try the ISP on a few gigs..nothing ventured..?

The Fuel Tank Classic doesn't offer ground isolation between each of the 9V outs... only isolation between the 12V and 9V output. If you want iso from each of the 9V you need to daisy-chain the 9V effects... maybe that's ok for bedroom players.

[Casper]

I get it...Thanks Bruce! :D