kodou
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by kodou on Dec 4, 2013 15:22:56 GMT -7
Hi guys,
I bought myself a second hand Z28 a few months ago and promptly fell in love with it. Running it through a Dr Z 4x10 is just tonal bliss.
I am however having a slight issue. Lately when I am playing clean and strumming bar chords I find that, if I strum hard, the amp makes a crackling/peaking(clipping) kind of noise. Kind of like a farty crackle if that makes sense.
Now I am not sure if it is an issue with my guitars pickups (though it doesn't happen with my Hiwatt DR103), a preamp tube, the rectifier or a power tube.
Would anybody be able to shed some light on what it could be?
If it is a preamp then I can replace that easily enough. Anything else I guess would be my tech.
Thanks,
Matt
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Dec 4, 2013 15:39:18 GMT -7
Have you tried changing everything in your signal chain before it hits the amp? Different guitars? Different guitar cable? Straight in to the amp? You should also use Deoxit on the jack socket. An oxidised connection can cause all sorts of nonsense and is so easy to fix If none of that fixes it, then it is probably a valve, sorry, tube. If you're happy to engage a tech, then this would be the time to get the tubes checked out
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kodou
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by kodou on Dec 4, 2013 15:41:29 GMT -7
I only have one guitar at the moment so I will borrow the other guitarists to test it next gig.
I have tested it just running the guitar in using two different leads so it isn't a lead thing as far as I can tell.
I'll definitely check out the input as you suggested.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Post by bluzman on Dec 4, 2013 16:28:19 GMT -7
Yeah... Like what Pete sez. My guess it's a pre-amp tube because you said "clipping type noise" and crackle, BUT...
...before you switch that amp back on: Basic Maintenance Tips that have helped me over the years and I have found small problems with maintenance and nipped them in the bud. Gently tilt the head and listen for anything loose bumping around in there.. then I'd check EVERY mechanical connection on the head AND the Speaker Cab. The handles have screws under the side covers with easily pop up with a putty knife or wide thin butter knife. Check those screws... the handle covers themselves, the 4 chassis screws, the knobs, input jack nut, output jack nut. Same thing with the speaker cab. I have had back panels vibrate after a few years of use. Check that the speaker wires in the cab aren't hitting a speaker or that some debris got stuck between a speaker and grill cloth. Also make sure the stacon connections are secure. I have had a Fender speaker in a vintage cabinet actually vibrate the mounting loose. The maintenance tips only take a few minutes.
I had one problem that was the speaker jack on the jack mounting cup vibrating... that took a while to find as I put that cabinet aside for a few weeks due to frustration and after a few minutes with a screwdriver and socket had it fixed in seconds.
Tubes have given me similar symptoms of electrical clipping and crackle along with dirty jacks.
While investigating with it powered on use a good cable and guitar straight in! Another good tip I've heard here is to troubleshoot with the head NOT sitting on the speaker cabinet. Hopefully you find the source quickly.
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