5150 III having Feed Back Issue?

Contra Studio

Member
Jul 13, 2011
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Hell Paso
I got this head about a month ago and I find it feed backs way to much when I just have the Gtr standing there. And the volume is sitting at an easy 9 o'clock , so it's not loud..... Any one having this issues? I'm using different guitars most with emg 81. The amp is at my house too, never been out.
 
put an ISP Technologies Decimator Pedal in the fx loop to control the feedback and the little hum.
at least it works for me.
i got the 50 watt version.

cheers!
 
Unless you've got some sort of internal instability (sorry - your amp - not you!) it's fair to say (for practical purposes) that amps don't feed back - guitars feed back (OK, it's not really true, but it's close enough).

How much gain are you using, what channels, speakers, how far away from the speakers are the guitars etc. All it needs is for some air moved by a speaker to excite a string or pickup winding (probably not with EMGs) and off you go - doesn't take very much volume. The amps' job is to take a signal and make it bigger - sounds like it's doing just that.

A.
 
Yes the 5153 is a bitch concerning feedback, I played one gig without a noisegate and it was hell, I got feedback even while playing not just when I didn't touch the strings. Reducing gain didn't help, EMG 81s were used. I use a ISP Decimator G-String which kills all feedback issues and also removes the general hi-gain hiss (which isn't really that important but nice anyway) because it uses the 4 cable method (before the amp and in the FX loop).
 
Google suggests that microphonic feedback issues are not uncommon with 81s; it surprises me, but if you're getting feedback with the strings damped then it sounds as thought that's what you have. Does it happen if you take the strings off?
 
Yeah I still get feed back when I'm holding the strings down, I end up killing the volume pot and its gone. I have a Boss NS2, ill try it and see how it sounds.
 
If the 81 does happen to be microphonic, contact EMG. They're actually pretty good about replacing them for you. They replaced a faulty JH-N that I sent them at no charge. A friend of mine had a broken leg on his EMG 85, and they sent him a new one. The company is solid, so if it's anything related to the pickup, they should be able to help you out.
 
Try another guitar through the amp. If it still does it, it's the amp not the guitar.

Check the preamp tubes for anything out of the ordinary, make sure theyre seated and they don't glow differently than the others.