Fuzz Face Noise

ElectricXII

I've recently started using a Fuzz Face Mini 2 (the germanium one), and encountered an odd phenomenon at a recent gig. I'm fairly new to Fuzz Faces, but I know they can be temperamental, particularly germanium ones.

The FF is first in chain after a Polytune 2 set to true bypass. Everything was normal and quiet when the fuzz was engaged and the tuner was in bypass, however when I engaged the tuner to mute my rig and to tune, with the fuzz still on I got lots of unwanted noise.

I'm guessing that some sort of signal from the tuner was being amplified by the Fuzz Face, however I don't remember it happening at the next night's gig.

It's a pain because I now sometimes need to turn off the Fuzz Face when I want to mute my rig or tune up. I love the FFM2 and wouldn't want to replace it. Is this just something I have to live with? 

springhead

Love the Polytunes but they, like some other digital pedals, dump crud out onto the power supply.  I use these, kills the noise. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JOYO-Guitar-Blocker-Support-Isolation/dp/B0871R7BJQ/ref=asc_df_B0871R7BJQ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=676274408061&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=217303123593844096&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007031&hvtargid=pla-1601169640490&psc=1&mcid=e7ddb7ff652732688fe35cb202ed26e0&gad_source=1

soma1975

I don't know how true the true bypass on the polytune is, but if I have a tuner in the chain it is at the other end after all dirt to mute everything and stay far away from my fuzz face. 

springhead

soma1975 said:

I don't know how true the true bypass on the polytune is, but if I have a tuner in the chain it is at the other end after all dirt to mute everything and stay far away from my fuzz face. 

Which is fine until mid gig between songs you're struggling to tune and then realise your chorus/flanger/phase/vibe pedal is on and bending the pitch up and down!

ElectricXII

springhead said:

Love the Polytunes but they, like some other digital pedals, dump crud out onto the power supply.  I use these, kills the noise. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JOYO-Guitar-Blocker-Support-Isolation/dp/B0871R7BJQ/ref=asc_df_B0871R7BJQ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=676274408061&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=217303123593844096&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007031&hvtargid=pla-1601169640490&psc=1&mcid=e7ddb7ff652732688fe35cb202ed26e0&gad_source=1

Thanks @springhead. At £14 it's worth a try, but I'm sceptical that it'll solve the problem. My tuner is on a separate isolated output and the Fuzz Face shares another isolated output with another drive which is never on when I'm running the FF.

springhead

Depends on your PSU.  Outlets can be "isolated", each off it's own 9V regulator but all from a single transformer winding with a shared earth.  The Polytune/noisy pedal dumps crud back up the earth.  My "isolated" PSU does just that.  The little Joyo inline module cleared it completely.

ElectricXII

@springhead OK, thanks. I'll give it a try!

Keefy

I’ve encountered the same problem with the Polytune and I think the noise actually appears at its output. I no longer use it on my 'board.

springhead

I've had noise from two Polytunes on different boards with different power supplies. Both boards now have those little Joyo modules on and are nice and quiet. It was definitely via the ground not the output. 

Keefy

springhead said:

I've had noise from two Polytunes on different boards with different power supplies. Both boards now have those little Joyo modules on and are nice and quiet. It was definitely via the ground not the output. 

I expect you're right, it's been 10 years since I grappled with that little problem!

ElectricXII

I've used Polytunes, both mini and full size, for years, and this is the first time I've had noise problems. I've got a TU-3 as a backup, but I don't like them as much as Polytunes.

ElectricXII

Cheers @springhead. The JOYO thingy worked. I found that the noise was coming from the DC Out of the Polytune which I use to power a compressor further along the chain. For some reason the Fuzz Face didn't like this.

springhead

They’re great little things aren’t they? Glad that worked for you.