valve amp feedback

stompie

Hi guys, I'm back after a busy while, merry xmas and happy festive season to everyone.

I can post a NAD but the issue I'm having should be sorted out first. I recently got a blackstar .ht 40 amp. Im really loving the tones i get from her but I've got a question for the experienced guys.

I've used it at home al the time with the only problem being the neighbours, but started jamming with my band and had the opportunity to really open her up, the band room has bad acoustics and the drums are very loud, so i put the volume high. If its on the od channel i get bad feedback which is irritating. Someone told me this is normal with a valve amp but i don't know?

If i use a distortion pedal and play through the clean channel i don't have this issue. Isn't the amp supposed to be able to handle going up all the way? Its very responsive. Hope i gave enough info, this is my first valve amp so i don't know much yet

Thanx in advance guys

costafonix

You may have your gain setting too high on the pedal or the amp, in addition the guitar pickups could also cause feedback if they are microphonic, as could your location to the amp, if the room is too small and you're standing very close to the amp or facing it, that may cause feedback too.

Gearhead

This is actually a cool thing! Don't worry you just need to learn how to work it. The thing is that the sound level and sensitivity of your amp and guitar combined gives feedback depending on, as Costa said, where you are in relation to the room and the amp. Play around with the place of your amp and where you're standing and in return become able to get endless sustain...

psyx

If it's a high pitched feedback, then its microphonic pups. Happens alot with unpotted pups.

If its a lower pitched feedback that gradually grows and goes away when muting your strings with your hand, then its the good type of feedback

guidothepimmp

Yah the fellers have covered it..
As you turn the volume up, it will start breaking up so at high volume you can actually dial the gain back depending how much drive you fancy. That will help with feedback. You can apply the same logic using you guitar volume, set your gain on the volume you want at full tilt, then dial back on the guit for less gain and cleaner sounds, open err up for the solos, broo.tz and djent ? (kidding, for the high gain)

stompie

The guitar i used has passive emg pups, thanx for the info guys, the feedback only goes away when i turn volume off on my guitar, not when i mute strings. The feedback i get from the guitar forum is better ? il try out what u guys said

Gearhead

stompie wrote: the feedback only goes away when i turn volume off on my guitar, not when i mute strings

Eish, my bad, Psyx made a good point because this sounds a lot like too little potting on the pups.