Tube rattle?

[Andrew Sa]

Hey all, I am playing through a Laney Vc50 2x12 tube amp (which I have setup with 6 12ax7`s and 2 el34`s). I just bought a Boss Me50 multi effects unit, and every now and then, when playing on one of the Boss` distortion features, there is a weird feed back from my amp, that sounds almost like a reverb of sorts...I thought it was originally a problem of frequency, but after adjusting my tone (the problem went away) but soon returned...Any clues as to what is causing my grief.

[Guitar-Sam]

Sounds like your overdriveing the frontend a little too hard with the distortion.Being as your boosting an already overdriven tube head sounds like the leval on the distortion is too hot.
If you think its your tubes you could try taking the covers off the 12ax7s and lightly tap them ith a pencil to see if they make noise but this can also blow the tube if you do it too hard.

[Andrew Sa]

I messed around with my Me-50 some more and the problem seems to stem from the compressor on the Boss. When I turn off the compressor, the problem seems to dissappear.
This is ok, but sometimes I like to use a compressor...I am sure I will work summin out, I might try that pencil tap thing, but I am scared to do so...
Andrew

[puffinboy]

Hey man, I've got that ME-50 too (great set), and I know what you're talking about with the compressor. When I would use it, I would almost always have to balance that, the noise suppressor, and the distortion somehow to keep it from getting sloppy. Finally, I just cut off the compressor and the suppressor... Now I'm determined to use as few affects as necessary. That's what I'm doing, anyway...

[Darin]

cool