Intermittent static in TWO EP-3 PRE style pedals.(just a discussion, not troubleshooting!)(now it’s a troubleshooting thread!😅)

[Drayve85]

DISCLAIMER: this is not a troubleshooting thread, I’m just trying to get a discussion on this subject, because I can’t find too much on what could be the cause of issues like this. Any help helps!!!

EDIT: now this is a troubleshooting thread, since moving it.lol (8/4/25)

Alright, just a general question, hypothetically, if you had two EP-3 preamp style pedals on vero board, namely the Chase Tone Secret Pre, and the Catalinbread Epoch Bias, and they’ve run great for quite a while with daily play with no problems at all. Then all of a sudden the Secret Pre develops an intermittent static noise, then a few days later the Epoch Bias catches the SAME disease! What would be your thoughts on WHY?????!!!! and WHAT?! Would cause this? Any help at all, please??!?! On the Secret Pre, I’ve replaced all caps, the charge pump, the pot, the switch, took out the trim pot and soldered in a resistor, and even soldered in the tranny. Idk wtf is going on. They even do it with a battery, so it’s not the power source. It’s not the power jack, I swapped that out too. Also, the jacks and the stomp switch! I know there’s no pics or anything, but I’m just asking for the first thing that comes to your minds.

 

[Robert]

I’m just asking for the first thing that comes to your minds.

Something external, not the circuit itself.

 

[GAStan]

Something external, not the circuit itself.

Guitar, guitar cable(s), patch cable(s), other pedal(s), amp...

On method of troubleshooting would be to plug guitar straight into amp see if you can replicate problem. If not add one thing at a time back and test again. Be sure to give each step plenty of time for issue to manifest.

I realize this isn't a troubleshooting thread but the discussion should include troubleshooting methods to insure completeness.

 

[Drayve85]

Thank you for the replies!! I’ve come to the conclusion that it has to be in the pedal. Tried straight guitar into amp, and nothing. Guitar into pedal, it works for a minute or so, then straight crackle. Even tried using battery, and a one-spot, same crackle. So it HAS to be in the pedal! I’ve had this issue mainly in pedals with JFETs. @Robert , do you want me to move this thread to troubleshooting, or start a new thread in troubleshooting?

P.S. does anyone know pedals like this have a certain effect on the front end of a tube amp? I’m using a Silverface Champ. The tubes should be good, I changed the filter caps a couple years or so ago. It’s just these pedals that it happens with. Would the different impedance of these EP-3 pedals be the culprit? I just don’t know why it worked for at the least, a year or so, then all of a sudden, it starts.

 

[Drayve85]

Thank you to whoever move my thread!! I’m assuming @Robert

 

[GAStan]

You didn't mention it so I'll ask: have you tested the cable between the pedal and amp? Are you using only the single pedal? Do you have pedals the don't have this static?

 

[GAStan]

More questions...

Does it make the noise in bypass?

When does the noise occur-is it constant or only when you are playing?

Does it make the noise without the guitar cable plugged in?

Have you checked the jacks-are they loose?

If the noise is present with nothing plugged into the input, then which, if any, controls affect the noise? (The answer to this can help narrow down where in the circuit the noise is originating.)

Any other details are helpful.

 

[MichaelW]

I'm running 2x Clandestine Preamps in my chain. One in front of the amp and one as the last pedal in the efx loop.
The one front of the amp is one of 3 other boost pedals that are the last pedals before the amp. (After overdrives and compression).
I cycle between the other boosts depending on what guitar I'm using but for all my Strats and Tele's it's the Clandestine.
I don't have anything like what you're describing.

Just a swag but have check the bias on the jfets on both the Secret and Epoch?

My problem with noise is trying to find a way to run a Dyna Comp without pulsing motor boating...not sure its possible in my rig.

 

[Drayve85]

Yes, I have a pedalboard with ten or so pedals on it, most of them I’ve built and a couple name brand pedals, they all work fine.

It doesn’t make the noise in bypass. As soon as I turn the pedal off it either stops, or slowly fades out, that made me think it was a capacitor issue, but I swapped all caps and there was no change.

The noise is a constant, playing or no playing. Sometimes it will be slight, then get worse, but idk if that’s from me moving things when I was trying to narrow down the culprit.

The jacks were tight, for sure.

The controls on the Secret Pre had no effect on the noise, I don’t believe. There were a couple times that I thought the toggle switch affected it, but I swapped that out and it still did it. I even changed the volume pot. The Epoch seemed to be the same way. The volume on that MAY have affected it, but I’m not sure. I’m waiting on an order to arrive so I can rebuild them, so maybe they won’t do it again. But, I still wanna get to the bottom of it, in case it does it again.

@MichaelW Yes, I’ve checked the bias on both, and they were all good. All the voltages seemed to be good, except sometimes the readings would fluctuate rapidly +- 3 or 4 tenths of a volt. I haven’t been able to narrow that down. Would that possibly cause a noise like that?!

Thank you for the help @GAStan & @MichaelW!

 

[MichaelW]

Ok, so starting with some super basic troubleshooting, backing up a bit, you said you ran the the guitar direct to amp and it's fine, then guitar -> pedal -> amp you get the intermittent crackling on both the Secret and the Epoch?

Silly question but did you use the same set of cables when you did this?