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Gitty Psycho Knob Static

I just put together a Gitty Psycho Knob. When I turn it on using my Peavey amp it adds a ton of background static. The 5th Heavy Metal setting is especially loud. It sounds like a very bad case of the static you get from a single coil pickup that is not grounded, you can even hear radio stations in the background.

If I plug it into the Gitty 2.5W amp the noise is at best manageable but still very annoying. I made sure that the black leads for the input and output jacks were on the inner ring and unlike a pickup that is not grounded, the noise does no abate when you touch the jack.

Should I expect this kind of background static with this psycho knob or is there some step that I am missing?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on January 9, 2021 at 12:50pm

Sounds like there could be a bad component on the psycho knob's circuit boad, or the wiring you attached could be in a coiled position and creating a antenna. So check your wires first that there's no coil positioning, no solder blobs that could be touching where they shouldn't and make sure the cord you're using is good(try another cord).

If all that check out, get in touch with Ben Gitty.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 9, 2021 at 7:50pm

Are you sure you don't have the input or output wired backwards? Did you use shielded wire?

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Permalink Reply by Jim Saraceno on January 10, 2021 at 3:28am

The unit comes pre-wired. It doesn't have shielded wire but a twisted pair. The only soldering I had to do was to solder the jacks on. The input and output are labeled and I checked to make sure they were labeled properly. I don't have it in a box yet, just loose so right now there is no coils in the wire

I'll probably reach out to Gitty Monday to see if they have any suggestions.

Thanks for the info!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Saraceno on January 10, 2021 at 11:28am

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Permalink Reply by Jim Saraceno on February 12, 2021 at 6:36am

BTW... I ended up replacing the twisted pair cable to the jacks with shielded cables and cut them short (only long enough to reach where they were going). That pretty much took care of the problem.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Saraceno on January 10, 2021 at 11:29am

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 13, 2021 at 9:38am

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 13, 2021 at 9:38am

I've been wiring everything with coaxial wire lately. I buy those 3 wire DVD hook up cables and cut off the RCA plug ends. Then I have enough wire for 3 or more guitars.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Saraceno on February 13, 2021 at 4:46pm

Good idea, thanks!

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on February 13, 2021 at 10:14am

That’s exactly why pedal manufacturers use shielded wire & metal enclosures on high gain circuits, they turn into the worst antenna for outside interference.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 13, 2021 at 11:11am

I just put Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound PBass pickups in my Avatar CBG and I'm having to rewire it because of noise issues. It had twisted wires in most places, but it just wasn't enough. Going back with coaxial wiring.