Ibanez WT80 - Loud buzz

[blackcat]

Hi everyone,

My Ibanez Wholetone produces a loud buzz ( not rattle) only noticeable when playing the F,F#and G notes on the first three frets of the 6th, low E string. Needless to say, it is more noticeable with a humbucker signal than a mini-humbucker. I have carefully dismantled the grill, speaker and secured all screws after placing a thin felt pad under each and have also checked all external screws on handle, protective corners and control and rear panels. The speaker cone is 100% intact.

Any ideas would be most gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Blackcat

[bborzell]

Originally Posted by blackcat

Hi everyone,

My Ibanez Wholetone produces a loud buzz ( not rattle) only noticeable when playing the F,F#and G notes on the first three frets of the 6th, low E string. Needless to say, it is more noticeable with a humbucker signal than a mini-humbucker. I have carefully dismantled the grill, speaker and secured all screws after placing a thin felt pad under each and have also checked all external screws on handle, protective corners and control and rear panels. The speaker cone is 100% intact.

Any ideas would be most gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Blackcat

Sorry if this sounds like a statement of the obvious, but have you tried sticking your ear down over the offending frets while unplugged to rule out very low level fret buzz that could be exacerbated while amplified?

[blackcat]

bborzell - Good thinking and will check that out tout de suite but it does do it to a greater or lesser degree with both the Peerless Monarch and Renaissance. Will report back. Could of course be true of both guitars. On verra!

[blackcat]

bborzell - 'tis me again and just back from checking/confirming that frets on both guitars are perfectly level at the point of the low E string. The action is low, but the effect does not occur when I use either guitar with my Cube 60. Tried my Tele just now on the WT80 and the effect hardly occurs at all when played in neck pick up position at similar volumes. Needless to say, the action on the Tele is slightly higher. Listening closely to the amp the buzz does seem to come from the speaker zone so maybe there is a problem there. Mystified.

Still thinking.

Blackcat

[jorgemg1984]

You might need to take the amp to a tech.

[jorgemg1984]

You might need to take the amp to a tech.

[Pat Clare]

The speaker may be blown. A few years back my mini brute iv was making periodic crackle sound, but not loud. I had a tech check it out and the speakers was blown. At the time the amp was only about 3 months old. Polytone replaced the speaker, they were very cool about it.

[jorgemg1984]

Man, you are a lucky guy, good service from Polytone?!

[Pat Clare]

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Man, you are a lucky guy, good service from Polytone?!

It took a bunch of phone calls and confirmation from the Tech Shop (Triple S) that it was not caused by me.

[jmstritt]

Might be as simple as a recone for the speaker.

[bborzell]

I was thinking about a cone separation. But these things have not been on the market long enough for the cone to deteriorate. My Polytone had a paper cone that lasted nearly 40 years before I had it reconed (it came apart at the seam).

Is it still within warranty? In either case, sounds like a trip to a technician is in order.

[blackcat]

Now had a close listen to the baffle cone central area itself and the buzz
( albeit only at higher volume settings ) definitely comes from within the domed section. I am 100% certain that there is no visible tear,crack or detachment anywher on the surface of the speaker. Help!!

Blackcat

[cjm]

Originally Posted by blackcat

Now had a close listen to the baffle cone central area itself and the buzz
( albeit only at higher volume settings ) definitely comes from within the domed section. I am 100% certain that there is no visible tear,crack or detachment anywher on the surface of the speaker. Help!!

Blackcat

A visual inspection only reveals visible defects. There could be windings vibrating in the coil and you wouldn't see it.

Take it back and tell them to fix the amp under warranty or refund your money.

[mambosun]

Originally Posted by blackcat

Now had a close listen to the baffle cone central area itself and the buzz
( albeit only at higher volume settings ) definitely comes from within the domed section. I am 100% certain that there is no visible tear,crack or detachment anywher on the surface of the speaker. Help!!

Blackcat

It might be a faulty off centre voice coil rubbing along the pole piece; this could be easily "tracked" by carefully pushing back the speaker cone with your hand in a even way "piston like" if you will, in order to check any mechanical rattling/buzzing.
Of course amp should be off to run this test.
In your case, if you already tightened all the screws, I would rather think about a moving little piece somewhere in your amp.
For your info, I have the same problem with my Superchamp XD, at exactly the same notes on the heaviest string. I tightened all screws and it seems to be gone.
You could also check the following: when playing, try to withdraw your amp from back wall, put the amp on an elevated support to see if the buzz is still there. This worked for me too.

[blackcat]

Thanks to last two posters. In fact, I will return it but first will try the suggestions from Mambosun. Thanks to all. Reflecting that at this price point QA is probably only 1/100,000!

Blackcat

[LarrySJacobson]

I also have the Ibanez WT and have never experienced this symptom. However, I have experienced the loud buzz that, at the time, seemed to be associated with certain strings on my Yamaha AEX1500.

At first I thought it was the Blues Jr. but isolated it to the guitar by trying a different guitar with the amp. It turns out that the Yamaha uses a small 9v battery and the battery box wires were shorting out. Once corrected the problem was eliminated.

This is probably a long shot but thought I might share my experience.

Good luck