Whats this symptom?

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bluesguitar
Posts: 98
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 2:17 am

Whats this symptom?

Post by bluesguitar »

After about 30 minutes of playing my amp starts cutting out with a lot of static sounds. I have new rectifier and power tubes. No indications of redplating. Recently cleaned all connections. Been reading everything I can. A bad capacitor is usually a hum. This is static and cutting out. Definitely worse with increase in volume and bass. Anyone had similar symptoms, and found the trouble?
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Super_Reverb
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Super_Reverb »

I corrected a similar problem with a newer Marshall amp with an effects loop: one of the jacks was bad and would intermittently cause the amp to cut out because the unused effects loop was opening up. I verified it by running a patch cord from effects loop out to effects loop in.

rob
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Reeltarded
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Reeltarded »

Sounds like a cold joint that gets worse with expansion. Volume and bass just means it's shaking it more, right?

Could be anything. Get a chopstick and (oh, bamboo or wood.. no plastic) and poke around on the board when it it making the noises til you make the noises.
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
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Milkmansound
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Milkmansound »

are you using the new Rohs complaint Switchcraft jacks?
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cbass
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by cbass »

Reeltarded wrote:Sounds like a cold joint that gets worse with expansion. Volume and bass just means it's shaking it more, right?

Could be anything. Get a chopstick and (oh, bamboo or wood.. no plastic) and poke around on the board when it it making the noises til you make the noises.
Old tooth brush.Preferably One thats ground down to a sharp point on a cement floor.
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martin manning
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by martin manning »

What amp?
bluesguitar
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by bluesguitar »

martin manning wrote:What amp?
'72 Deluxe Reverb
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Reeltarded
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Reeltarded »

Ok, get a pencil..

The board. Tap the board all around when the amp is cold. (with the shank you made on the jailhouse floor from post 6 from cbass) Be methodical and try to narrow down the exact place if you find a problem.

Did you find anything? If not..

Tube sockets.. hangy upsidedown amps cook parts above the tubes. Do you see anything brown? Tap it with the jailhouse shank..

Did you find anything?

This list gets long and could even be the board itself..
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
ampdoc1
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by ampdoc1 »

Get one of those "duster" spray cans used to clean computer keyboards.
Turn it upside down (you'll be spraying the propellant, which is very cold) and try spraying each component with a small blast.
This will help find loose connections and/or failing components,

I recommend this a lot because it works about 90% of the time on intermittent noise problems.
Firestorm
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Firestorm »

Also check the integrity of the grounds along the bottom of the brass plate. I've seen some where the leads actually pulled out of the solder as the boards warped over time.
boots
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by boots »

+1 on the shank and freeze spray.

But be careful with that freeze spray around the hot glass tubes!!!
Don't you boys know any NICE songs?
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Structo
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Structo »

No offense to Miles but a pencil is a poor choice for probing an amp.

The lead is conductive and bad things can happen if it does come in contact with high voltage.

Use a wooden dowel, chop stick, toothbrush shank, etc.

Non conducting materials.
Tom

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Reeltarded
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Reeltarded »

Not to probe with! To make a list a mile long..
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
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M Fowler
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by M Fowler »

Pencil do not use lead and I don't ever have. :)
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Reeltarded
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Re: Whats this symptom?

Post by Reeltarded »

No wonder that last amp you built had a 47000uF bass cap.

Periods in math too.
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
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