darkchanter

I got my first tube amp a couple weeks ago. I retubed the pre and power tubes right off the bat because it was bought used. I also bought a B-52 4x12 cab to go with it. the first day it was fine then the next day I warmed it up and took it off stanby to hear a very annoying crackeling sound. I have tested it without a guitar pluged in and put the old tubes back in it to try and troubleshoot the problem with no luck. but. when I crank the volume up and strum the string hard it clears up and goes away. can anybody point me in the direction I need to be looking for the problem. bad speaker maybe?? o and I also have cleand everything with contact cleaner and OHMS are set correctly

gumbilicious

hmm. i don't have much to go on, and i hate troubleshooting an amp over the forums but it could be your power amp tubes going bad (especially how it improves when you crank the volume). but you said you retubed it and put the original tubes back.

i also had a capacitor go bad once, and it sounded similar to what you describe, but it got worse when i cranked the volume.

either way, you should take it to a tech.

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darkchanter

yeah that's my last resort if at all possibal. after looking at there rates I'm definitely in the wrong bizz. thx for your suggestion tho, any are appreciated.

gumbilicious

cathbard tinkers with amps, he can give you some good troubleshooting. he just went to bed though cuz he lives in aussie land. this thread will prob catch his attention when he wakes up if you give it a bump later.

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"A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem."
-ae

Cathbard

First thing to try is cleaning the sockets and reseating the tubes. Take out a tube, spray contact cleaner liberally on the pins and the insert and remove the tube 3 or 4 times before finally reseating it. Then move on to the next one until they are all done.
While you're at it do all the phono jacks as well but using a phono plug (ie a guitar cable) as the applicator.

Then start twisting the knobs on the amp and see if they make any scratching noises. You can clean those too but replacing them is always the better option.

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darkchanter

I have cleand everything with contact cleaner and the pots don't make any noise whatsoever

darkchanter

bump. any suggestions?

311ZOSOVHJH

what happens if you plug the guitar into the FX return

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darkchanter

I will try as soon as I get home. so I would technically be bypassing the preamp? its worth a shot I guess. so if the problem is still present what does that say about this specific troubleshooting technique?

Robbgnarly

if it persists then the problem is in the power section of your amp not the pre-amp.if it goes away then the problem is in the preamp.

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darkchanter

thanks for the tip. I will post the results asap