Should the BSIAB2 be noisy with higher gain?

[powerplayj]

Mine gets noisy when I dime the gain but, touching any metal between guitar and amp (jack, switch, pedal, etc) seems to eliminate the problem.  At lower gain it is very quiet.  I have eliminated other factors such as bad cable or guitar grounding issues.

I used all 2N5457's instead of 2 J201's

Here are my voltages:

JFET (G,S,D)                
Q1                                                    
Q2                                                  
Q3                                                  
Q4                                                    
Q5                                                    

Theoretical
0.0, 1.0, 4.5
3.8, 4.5, 8.0
0.3, 0.8, 4.3
3.8, 4.3, 8.0
0.5, 0.9, 3.4

Actual
0.0, 0.5, 4.9
4.2, 4.9, 8.8
0.0, 0.2, 4.6
4.2, 4.6, 8.8
1.5, 0.8, 3.6

[Ed G.]

It's a grounding issue. Double-check your guitar's wiring, if it gets quieter when touching metal on the guitar it's definitely a grounding issue.

[ninoman123]

It could also be a grounding issue in the amp, but this is doubtful if you are using a fairly new commercially made amp. However, its not unlikely.

[powerplayj]

It's a grounding issue. Double-check your guitar's wiring, if it gets quieter when touching metal on the guitar it's definitely a grounding issue.

It happens using different guitars and the hum stops when I touch anything metal in the guitar -> effects -> amp chain whether it be an effect 3DPDT switch, guitar input, cable connector, etc.

The only thing that is really diffrerent about my build is that I didn't use a battery snap so the ring on the stereo input has no connection.  I also put a 1k resistor in series with drive pot (between lug and ground on board) so that I get sound when the pot is turned to 0.

Keep'em coming boys!

Thanks

[vanhansen]

Ok, let's do this.  Take the BSIAB II out of the chain altogether, turn the gain on your amp up a little higher than you normally do.  Now, with the guitar plugged in an volume up on it, listen for the hum.  This will tell you if it's definitely the BSIAB or not.

[powerplayj]

Ok, let's do this.  Take the BSIAB II out of the chain altogether, turn the gain on your amp up a little higher than you normally do.  Now, with the guitar plugged in an volume up on it, listen for the hum.  This will tell you if it's definitely the BSIAB or not.

This seemed like an afterthought but, I did it any way.  Come to find out it wasn't the BSIAB2 at all.  Either I'm not used to the noise associated with playing at higher gain or my amp has an input problem.  Thanks for the advice.

[vanhansen]

Ok, let's do this.  Take the BSIAB II out of the chain altogether, turn the gain on your amp up a little higher than you normally do.  Now, with the guitar plugged in an volume up on it, listen for the hum.  This will tell you if it's definitely the BSIAB or not.

This seemed like an afterthought but, I did it any way.  Come to find out it wasn't the BSIAB2 at all.  Either I'm not used to the noise associated with playing at higher gain or my amp has an input problem.  Thanks for the advice.

No problem.  Now, with that figured out.  Try a different guitar, or a different amp with the same guitar.  Your guitar may have a ground issue.  

A sure way to tell is to turn the gain up on your amp (that you've been using) so you can hear it, not too loud though with this test.  Plug the guitar in, turn the volume up.  You'll hear the hum like you stated.  Now, unplug the guitar leaving the amp on.  If you don't hear the hum, your guitar is the culprit.  If you do hear it, then it could be the amp or the house wiring.  Eliminate each piece in your chain one by one until you have nothing but the guitar straight to the amp.

[Connoisseur of Distortion]

your theory has a flaw, vanhansen.

what do i do if i keep my gain dimed?  

[vanhansen]

your theory has a flaw, vanhansen.

what do i do if i keep my gain dimed?  

How so?

You'll hear a difference between a ground hum and a "gain dimed" hiss.  There's a huge difference.  Besides, even with the gain on the amp dimed, if the amp was designed right, it should still be quiet.