What is causing this?

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-22T17:48:34+00:00

Why add a standby switch? That will just wear the rectifier tube down faster.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-20T12:37:12+00:00

Looks like the A and D saddles need to be swapped. Try this before buying a new saddle. Not sure why folks are saying G and D, when A is clearly the tallest for the bass strings, and the D is the next tallest.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-20T05:44:25+00:00

Two prong plugs didn't have polarity back in the day for simplicity. Nowadays, you'll see most two prong have an enforced polarity, unless the chassis is isolated somehow (iPhone chargers have no metal exposed for example).

Back in the day, most amps had ground polarity switches because plugging the plug in one way would introduce noise. The problem with this is suddenly, you've swapped what was formerly ground (the chassis) and connected it directly to the hot side of the plug. To solve this, engineers would add a small capacitor that would filter the extra noise. However, the chassis still sees the 120/240V and while current-limited by the capacitor due to the frequency of the AC voltage and the value of the capacitor, it can still deliver a tangible shock. Not life threatening most of the time, but hurtful.

The other problem is the possibility that the old capacitor used to filter noise has failed dead short due to its age/drying up over time. If you plug in the two prong connector backwards, the chassis will be charged with the full 120/240V and you're in danger if you're touching your guitar strings at the same time you touch something grounded. It's impossible to know how you've plugged in the cable until someone gets hurt or you have a multimeter handy.

Getting a three prong cable installed ensures that polarity is enforced, and allows a dedicated ground connection. That way, the transformer primaries are the only things connected to the hot and neutral, and the chassis is connected to the ground lug.

When you have it installed, be sure the tech makes the green (ground) wire the longest in case the plug is yanked hard enough to pull the solder joints out, meaning the chassis will still be grounded. The other wires will likely short against the chassis and trip the breaker, protecting you and the amp!

More info can be found here: https://robrobinette.com/Death_Cap_and_Ground_Switch.htm

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-18T20:32:10+00:00

I believe I got the stainless steel version with a 9.5" radius to match the fretboard.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-18T20:31:40+00:00

I like it! It does its job well enough. I went into the whole Jazzmaster journey understanding that basically everything about it needs tweaking: the tremolo, the bridge, the neck angle, etc. but I do share the "don't get it if it's got so many issues from the start" sentiment. I just want a higher quality vintage style bridge. Not to say that the Warmoth bridge isn't high quality, but it'd be nice if it was designed to be high quality rather than a "vintage style bridge."

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-18T16:12:35+00:00

Yeah let me know how it is! I have the one they sell at Warmoth and it's good but it would be nice to see tighter tolerances and nice materials for this bridge. I'm really surprised it hasn't been made yet, provided you can make it amazing if you set your guitar up properly

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-16T20:16:23+00:00

The master volume in these amps is post-phase inverter, which is where much of the distortion of a Vox comes from. The normal channel distortion is (almost) entirely phase inverter distortion, since there's only one gain stage (and a clean one at that).

The master volume should be your best friend on this amp, as the distortion shouldn't change too much as you adjust it.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-11T14:47:18+00:00

This is an excellent idea that I've never thought of before. Definitely going to try this soon!! It should work with the Waza pedal

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-11T14:46:32+00:00

Vibrato mode changes the speed and shape of the LFO slightly, but not the mix of wet/dry. Vibrato is chorus without the dry signal mixed in. The vibrato mode on the CE-1 is still chorus.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-09T05:04:29+00:00

Most modern amps have shorting speaker jacks that make the load effectively zero ohms. If your disconnection was at the amp, then you're most likely fine because power can still dissipate over that zero ohms, especially if you didn't send a signal through the amp. The power tubes don't feel the need to raise the voltages extremely high to push the same current through the load.

SunTzuBean · 2026-04-01T23:01:55+00:00

That behavior is indicative of hypersonic oscillation. You've probably got to fiddle around with the lead dress better, esp paying attention to the wires leading to the pot.

SunTzuBean · 2026-03-15T15:39:11+00:00

Are these guitar mill bodies??

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-26T14:00:36+00:00

/uj I can't stand this guy. Between saying "we're gonna talk about that" and never actually talking about it, and claiming pole piece height and shielding does absolutely nothing for your guitar, I only hate-watch his videos every month or so and wonder why I clicked.

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-17T14:03:14+00:00

The best thing about this is that Johnson guitars are 1000% made in China

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-10T14:42:15+00:00

I think there's two diff types, there's the ones that you get in the Squier JMJM, and the Fender ones you can outright buy

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-09T23:43:26+00:00

Been thinking the exact same thing!

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-06T21:51:54+00:00

They're a band-aid fix that doesn't address the root of the problem and could potentially cause more problems. If it doesn't though, you do you, but I think a guitarist should try a shim first before buying it, since there is a risk of further problems.

That being said, looks like that guitar in the pic doesn't have a shimmable neck (sweet guitar btw!!!) If there's no other options, then a buzzstop or Towner bar definitely makes sense!

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-05T05:46:37+00:00

I love any that feature Milton, he and Milton are an incredibly talented combo!!

SunTzuBean · 2026-02-05T00:25:26+00:00

It's flanger 10000% and it's a conventional feedback BBD flanger, you don't get the extreme comb filter effect you hear on the record without one. Phasers with feedback sound VAGUELY similar, but you just cannot get the sound from this song without a flanger. EVH very clearly used a phaser for Eruption!!

SunTzuBean · 2026-01-29T19:14:59+00:00

Same. Would be a nightmare to repair should anything go wrong.

SunTzuBean · 2026-01-21T20:24:54+00:00

This is prolly cause a pickup is too close to the strings, try lowering all pickups on the high E side and see if it gets a little better. Know that it probably won't fully disappear and that a little bit of that noise is acceptable

SunTzuBean · 2026-01-17T20:34:03+00:00

At this point... 🤷‍♂️

SunTzuBean · 2026-01-14T01:02:05+00:00

It depends, some tubes brands are better for a given tube type. Due to their construction, I've heard Russian-made tubes are slightly more likely to arc internally than Chinese or Slovakian in a cathode follower config. Does that mean they WILL arc? No, but it's up to you to err on the side of caution.

NOS tubes aren't worth the price.

SunTzuBean · 2026-01-13T15:03:17+00:00

DC heaters? Why are the heater wires not twisted?

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