Amp Troubles

[D3rP]

So, I've got a Silverface Deluxe Reverb and it is making these pretty loud hisses and washes and crackles.

Here's a clip, it is much louder than it sounds there, volumes at 3 on it. There's no input in the amp either.

[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/wolfhorse/ampsamp1[/soundcloud]

Things it isn't: reverb, microphonic tube, speaker.


What could it be?

[Holy Schnikes]

Power tubes maybe? I just had a 6V6 go out in my amp and it crackled like that, getting gradually louder until a fuse blew, cutting off the power section. Replaced all power tubes and rectifier and biased, good as new.

[D3rP]

That may be it. I guess I'll order some t00bz. Thanks for the help.

And I am now wondering if prices went up. Shit.

I paid that much for the amp.

[tim]

It could be the transformer. I couldn't listen to the clip (I'm on my phone) but the description sounds similar to a problem I had with a BF reissue Twin.

[D.o.S.]

Sell it to a would-be Merzbow.

At any rate, the only thing you can do is bring it to a tech. Don't be stupid.

[D3rP]

I think I'll try the tube replacement first. I don't want to pay $60 for someone to tell me that the tubes are bad. Probably should though.

[Holy Schnikes]

Most amps will blow a fuse when tubes are going bad. Not sure about the DR but fuse issues should point directly to the problem.

If you have a spare set of tubes around, wouldn't hurt to switch 'em out, troubleshoot away. I hate paying techs to diagnose simple issues too. If it's a transformer, you're headed to a tech regardless, may as well do what you can to narrow down the cause before spending any $$.

[J.Miller]

unless the amp is cathode biased i would advice against just replacing the tubes yourself without have a tech properly bias it. i'm not 100% sure, but i think fenders are NOT cathode biased.

[Holy Schnikes]

Yes, biasing will be required, not very difficult though.

[J.Miller]

also, to me that clip sounds like you should have the power supply caps checked out, i mean the amp is like 30+ years old. has the amp ever been re-capped?

[D3rP]

^Not to my knowledge.


Ahh, that's right. I've only ever replaced them on a cathode bias. Off to the tech then.

Thanks, completely forgot.

[tim]

Just listened to the clip. That sounds exactly the same as my Twin did. If I were a betting man, I'd put all my money on the problem being the transistor. Hopefully not, because those are a pain to replace on older amps. Even if its not that, I'd have a tech look at it.

[D.o.S.]

I'd rather pay a tech to figure out the problem than go fucking around with a treasured piece of gear.

Especially when I don't know what's wrong with it.

Because that means I don't know how to fix it.

Which means I'm taking it to the tech.

Who will tell me what's wrong with it.

And then fix it for a nominal fee.

Which is considerably less than
"Oh fuck,
I'm retarded
and have done
irreparable damage
to this treasured piece
of musical amplification."







I like line breaks.