Sansamp BDDI problem?

[TorturedSaints]

I don't use the BDDI very often, I bought it to have it in my bag if needed. Recently I was asked to do some recording and suggested to the engineer that using the BDDI plus a dry signal would be the way ahead and then he could blend as required in the mix. When I hooked up the BDDI to the mixer via the XLR at either line or instrument level, there was a noisy mains hum, so in the end we didn't use it, just a miked up cabinet.

When I got home, I tried it again, with a different J bass and accoustic with piezo pickup, different leads, the hum was still there. There are no fluorescent lights, I was using battery rather than phantom power, the ground lift button makes no difference. If you set the knobs on the BDDI to the suggested positions from the manual, then there's way too much hum.

Any suggestions? Have I got a bad one? Does it need a new battery or a service? If so, who services them in the UK.

Thanks for any help.

Ralph

[cm261]

Hmmmmmm, odd. Change the battery? Grounding problem?

Whatever it is, it's definately your one, not BDDIs in general. Mine's on all the time, and doesn't hum, you get a little hiss if you crank the treble or gain all the way up, but that's it.

[redzombie]

[quote name='cm261' post='728316' date='Jan 29 2010, 12:55 AM']Hmmmmmm, odd. Change the battery? Grounding problem?

Whatever it is, it's definately your one, not BDDIs in general. Mine's on all the time, and doesn't hum, you get a little hiss if you crank the treble or gain all the way up, but that's it.[/quote]

+1

Never had any such problems when I had mine.

[TorturedSaints]

[quote name='redzombie' post='728671' date='Jan 29 2010, 01:23 PM']+1

Never had any such problems when I had mine.[/quote]


Thanks guys, I will try a new battery first and let you know how it goes.

[TorturedSaints]

[quote name='RalphDWilson' post='728676' date='Jan 29 2010, 01:26 PM']Thanks guys, I will try a new battery first and let you know how it goes.[/quote]

New battery didn't sort it. Just been quoted £60 plus vat and carriage for the UK distributor to look at it. Any parts required will be on top of that. That's an expensive brick, in fact it'll be more than I paid for it secondhand if it needs any parts. I'll be opening it up to look for poor shielding/disconnected wires before I throw it in the bin and buy something else. Grr.

Unless someone can recommend a repairer with SENSIBLE rates?

[LukeFRC]

open it up and have a look, it'll be something obvious i guess.
probe it with a multimeter if you need


also reread your initial post. it did used to work?

[TorturedSaints]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='763491' date='Mar 3 2010, 11:16 PM']also reread your initial post. it did used to work?[/quote]


Yes!

[ezbass]

Sounds like an earthing fault. A quick run round the PCB checking the solders and connectors would be the way forward I reckon. Check out any local amp repairers and give them a call, they might be willing to have a look.

[TorturedSaints]

[quote name='ezbass' post='764793' date='Mar 5 2010, 09:43 AM']Sounds like an earthing fault. A quick run round the PCB checking the solders and connectors would be the way forward I reckon. Check out any local amp repairers and give them a call, they might be willing to have a look.[/quote]


Yep, I'll do this. It could well be this as I kept it in my gig bag. I'm asking around locally for any recommended repairers too. As I've just emailed the distributor (paraphrase) "If I need a DI box in the future, I'll get a Behringer - I can get 2 of those for your minimum repair charge and I don't mind throwing them in the bin."

Thanks for all your help guys,

cheers

Ralph

<back to lurk mode>

[ezbass]

[quote name='RalphDWilson' post='764831' date='Mar 5 2010, 10:10 AM']Yep, I'll do this. It could well be this as I kept it in my gig bag. I'm asking around locally for any recommended repairers too. As I've just emailed the distributor (paraphrase) "If I need a DI box in the future, I'll get a Behringer - I can get 2 of those for your minimum repair charge and I don't mind throwing them in the bin."

Thanks for all your help guys,

cheers

Ralph

<back to lurk mode>[/quote]


An email to Tech21 themselves might not go amiss, I have found them super helpful in the past. Good point about the Behringer, although whether the tone would be as good is another matter.