Guitar Gear Forum

EugeneTheJeep wrote:Can you find a schematic for your amp, preferably with power supply voltages on it?

I'd check that first, to make sure all sections of the amp are getting clean power from the amps power supply. Looks like that amp has lots of digital stuff. Digital stuff goes wild when it doesn't get good clean power. Probably not the house wiring. Also, check and make sure your power cord is good (especially the ground wire).

The amplifier is fine and the power cord is fine. Not only does my second amplifier do it also, the clicking is coming through the speakers on my tv, ONLY while playing Rocksmith. This is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I can play a normal game or just watch tv and everything is fine. But if I try to play my guitar on Rocksmith, the ticking magically appears!

keep your amp plugged in so you can hear the clicking/ticking. Then unplug every single item in your house no matter how insignificant it seems (like a clock) and make sure all lights are off. If the ticking continues, and you are positive the ONLY thing that is connected to electricity is your amp, then I would call the power company and have then check your meter for a problem. Obviously if the ticking stops then turn each item on until the ticking starts to see what is causing it.

If this was already suggested, I apologize for being too lazy to read the whole thread. LOL

Sitedrifter wrote:keep your amp plugged in so you can hear the clicking/ticking. Then unplug every single item in your house no matter how insignificant it seems (like a clock) and make sure all lights are off. If the ticking continues, and you are positive the ONLY thing that is connected to electricity is your amp, then I would call the power company and have then check your meter for a problem. Obviously if the ticking stops then turn each item on until the ticking starts to see what is causing it.

If this was already suggested, I apologize for being too lazy to read the whole thread. LOL

Already done and power company said their end was fine. Thanksfor replying!

Did the ticking go away with everything unplugged except for your amp?

If no, I would suggest shutting off breakers except for the one your amp is on.

If you still get the ticking, time to truly isolate things at the electrical panel but use an electrician to do that.
Basically pull all breakers and disconnect all wiring from your house (grounds) at the grounding bus bar.
Add a simple 2 wire outlet to an unused breaker and try your amp in that. If the ticking is still there, you isolated the whole house from the panel so it MUST be the power company's meter or network.

Sounds like a ground issue with Rocksmith interface.

If the squad of electrical engineers, assigned to your issue by your power company, couldn't find anything on their end, hopefully the power conditioner will work.

Bluelightbandit wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:Can you find a schematic for your amp, preferably with power supply voltages on it?

I'd check that first, to make sure all sections of the amp are getting clean power from the amps power supply. Looks like that amp has lots of digital stuff. Digital stuff goes wild when it doesn't get good clean power. Probably not the house wiring. Also, check and make sure your power cord is good (especially the ground wire).

The amplifier is fine and the power cord is fine. Not only does my second amplifier do it also, the clicking is coming through the speakers on my tv, ONLY while playing Rocksmith. This is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I can play a normal game or just watch tv and everything is fine. But if I try to play my guitar on Rocksmith, the ticking magically appears!

Hmm. This aspect makes no sense at all. Does it to do when you start the game? Plug in the cable? Plug cable into guitar?

I know Rocksmith uses a special cable, but its still got the same basic guitar cable tip on the other end. I know JACK about electricity/wiring/whatever but is there any possible way there is some sort of wiring issue in the house that ONLY effects items plugged into a guitar cable? I would think the rocksmith cable is buffered or something, and I'd think the fact its digital emulation of an amp would prevent this from happening, but maybe not?

That's more a general question for people who know more than me.

I don't know anything about your amps, but are they both modeling amps? Do you have access to a purely analog amp to experiment with? I'm suspicious the digital aspect of the amps has something to do with it without any sort of knowledge to back up my suspicions though.

Do you have a pacemaker?

Is your guitar pickup picking up something from your watch?

Sitedrifter wrote:Did the ticking go away with everything unplugged except for your amp?

If no, I would suggest shutting off breakers except for the one your amp is on.

If you still get the ticking, time to truly isolate things at the electrical panel but use an electrician to do that.
Basically pull all breakers and disconnect all wiring from your house (grounds) at the grounding bus bar.
Add a simple 2 wire outlet to an unused breaker and try your amp in that. If the ticking is still there, you isolated the whole house from the panel so it MUST be the power company's meter or network.

Thats a great idea!

ovid9 wrote:

Bluelightbandit wrote:

EugeneTheJeep wrote:Can you find a schematic for your amp, preferably with power supply voltages on it?

I'd check that first, to make sure all sections of the amp are getting clean power from the amps power supply. Looks like that amp has lots of digital stuff. Digital stuff goes wild when it doesn't get good clean power. Probably not the house wiring. Also, check and make sure your power cord is good (especially the ground wire).

The amplifier is fine and the power cord is fine. Not only does my second amplifier do it also, the clicking is coming through the speakers on my tv, ONLY while playing Rocksmith. This is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I can play a normal game or just watch tv and everything is fine. But if I try to play my guitar on Rocksmith, the ticking magically appears!

Hmm. This aspect makes no sense at all. Does it to do when you start the game? Plug in the cable? Plug cable into guitar?

I know Rocksmith uses a special cable, but its still got the same basic guitar cable tip on the other end. I know JACK about electricity/wiring/whatever but is there any possible way there is some sort of wiring issue in the house that ONLY effects items plugged into a guitar cable? I would think the rocksmith cable is buffered or something, and I'd think the fact its digital emulation of an amp would prevent this from happening, but maybe not?

That's more a general question for people who know more than me.

I don't know anything about your amps, but are they both modeling amps? Do you have access to a purely analog amp to experiment with? I'm suspicious the digital aspect of the amps has something to do with it without any sort of knowledge to back up my suspicions though.

It makes no sense to me either. In reference to the game, it only ticks when the guitar can be played, not any other time. The cable doesn't have to be plugged in but get this...I posted a video on g+ last night to a guitar community I'm part of which showed me holding the jack of the Rocksmith cable in my hand. The other end is plugged in a ps4. When I get close to the jack, it starts ticking and when I move it away from my body, it stops. This only happens on the video game cable. The amp cable doesnt matter, it clicks continuously. No pacemaker and I took my watch off and put it in another room....weird.

Was your phone in your pocket?
This is certainly perplexing - bur this latest info seems to point at you as the source.

Try a new Rocksmith cable?

Ground lifter on the Play Station?

Received the power conditioner just now and it didn't help. Time to call an electrician. Thanks for all the replies!

Bluelightbandit wrote:Received the power conditioner just now and it didn't help. Time to call an electrician. Thanks for all the replies!

Damn, sucks man. Aside from calling an electrician I imagine there are some fist sized holes in the wall that you'll also need to have patched.

Is there any difference in the amp clicking if you don't have a cable plugged in? It could be working as an aerial for whatever the sound is.

nakedzen wrote:Is there any difference in the amp clicking if you don't have a cable plugged in? It could be working as an aerial for whatever the sound is.

Or maybe the amp circuit has a bypass when nothing is plugged in the input jack. I've also wondered about this too.

I can't remember if the OP said he tried other cables too. Probably though, sounds like he's done nearly everything he could possibly do.

nakedzen wrote:Is there any difference in the amp clicking if you don't have a cable plugged in? It could be working as an aerial for whatever the sound is.

I think in the video I pulled the cable out of the amo and it stopped, I would have to go back and watch it again.Every cable does it, I have ruled out any equipment problems. The ariel comment has me thinking though. If you have a moment, please watch the video as it may help give you more clues. Thanks!