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Post by bymbie on Oct 12, 2024 11:16:30 GMT -7
Hello,
This is my first post, although I've been lurking without an account for year. I started playing guitar during Covid and had a few gigs with a cover band recently (blues and heavier rocks sounds). To reward myself and have enough headroom to play with our drummer, I started looking for a new amp.
I recently became the proud owner of the 35th Anniversary CG. It looks incredible and sounds amazing with one issue.
After installing the tubes, which arrived separately, I noticed a strange noise/hiss after playing certain E/F notes across a few octaves. This happens with both of my guitars (single coils) with the same notes. Since I’m new to tube amps (I played through a Blackstar Ht5 mkII hybrid tube amp before), I’m guessing this might be related to a tube issue. I’ve checked the tubes and they seem to be installed correctly. Tried tapping them to see if any of them are microphonic. To be honest, I don't know what I'm doing, but they sounded good to me. To help diagnose the issue, I filmed a quick video of the noise: Could someone from the community provide any recommendations on troubleshooting this? What tubes should I order if it is tube related (pre-amp, power, all?) Dr. Z. mentions in an AMA that 6n14n should last a lifetime. I’m assuming the rectifier tube isn’t the issue, but I’m not confident enough to say for sure.
I emailed Dr Z. as well.
Thank you for your help in advance!
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Post by bymbie on Oct 12, 2024 12:09:49 GMT -7
Update: I think it's tube rattle/retainer noise coming from the 6n14n tubes, most prominently from V4. If I steady the tube with a chopstick it goes away.
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Post by Don A on Oct 12, 2024 12:40:58 GMT -7
Am I correct to assume that this amp was purchased used?
That definitely sounds like tube noise. Do the power tubes have tube dampeners on them (thick orange o-rings)? I don't know if the Carmen Ghia comes with them or if they fit with the retainers that are used, but they can help to reduce that type of noise.
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Post by bymbie on Oct 12, 2024 12:52:49 GMT -7
Hi Don,
Yes, the amp is used. I have a tube retainer with springs and an orange dampener attached to it, but nothing on the tubes themselves. I increased the tension of the springs and that didn't make a huge difference. The noise is only noticeable when I play in isolation. I cannot hear it with a backing track. Dr. Z. has an explanation of the tube rattle in a video ("How to make your AMP'S TUBES last LONGER! Dr. Z AMA!"), will try to install dampeners on the tubes and between the tube socket and chassis. Should be a $2 dollar fix.
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wally
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by wally on Oct 12, 2024 13:38:38 GMT -7
I would suggest playing in a normal fashion…pick the notes with a pick or fingers….whatever is normal for you.
As you present the examples here, I don’t like anything I hear with those notes. I hear a warble as the note dies down.
How close to the pickup poles are the two E strings when you fret at the last fret?
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 12, 2024 14:07:19 GMT -7
drzamps.com/info/faq-troubleshoot/sounds like you've narrowed it down to a tube issue, but here's a link to use for any other issues that might occur. Welcome to the forum!!
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Post by bymbie on Oct 12, 2024 15:10:32 GMT -7
I would suggest playing in a normal fashion…pick the notes with a pick or fingers….whatever is normal for you. As you present the examples here, I don’t like anything I hear with those notes. I hear a warble as the note dies down. How close to the pickup poles are the two E strings when you fret at the last fret? It is present when I play chords with the pick as well, I just did a quick video and only had one hand available :-)
drzamps.com/info/faq-troubleshoot/sounds like you've narrowed it down to a tube issue, but here's a link to use for any other issues that might occur. Welcome to the forum!! Thank you! I will post and update here once I solved the issue. |
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Post by adam on Oct 12, 2024 17:50:42 GMT -7
I would pick up a pair of new power tubes, put those in, make sure it is ok (if not, then on to the preamp tubes). Assuming the new power tubes fix it, you could then swap the old ones in one at a time to find the bad one, then chuck it and you have one spare tube. Sorry for your trouble!
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Post by DocMartin on Oct 12, 2024 21:38:07 GMT -7
It sounds like power tube rattle. It’s a little prominent for my liking and would probably replace them with new ones. El84 tend to get this more than others.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Oct 13, 2024 4:13:54 GMT -7
I agree with Adam and DocM. It sounds to me like tube rattle. You should have a backup set of power tubes on hand any way. This is your excuse to get your backup set..
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Post by bymbie on Oct 13, 2024 8:07:37 GMT -7
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Post by scottyc13 on Oct 13, 2024 8:09:21 GMT -7
One of the members here goes by Rogue 8 on Reverb and sells the NOS Russian 6n14n. I’ve bought from him twice.
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Post by meanslide on Oct 13, 2024 9:30:28 GMT -7
In a small combo like that, it's the speaker vibrations that makes the tubes rattle. Your tubes may be fine. Get some tube damper rings. Eurotubes has some good ones. Tube DampersAlso, if you do replace the power tubes, 6N14N is the same a 6P14P. Something about the Russian alphabet between N's and P's. Same tube, much cheaper. |
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Post by Don A on Oct 13, 2024 19:56:54 GMT -7
I just recalled that I had a 6P14P rattle pretty loudly in my Z Wreck Jr. I bought a new pair from Perry and kept the noisy ones as spares.
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Post by Don A on Oct 13, 2024 20:01:53 GMT -7
Also, if you do replace the power tubes, 6N14N is the same a 6P14P. Something about the Russian alphabet between N's and P's. Same tube, much cheaper. The Cyrillic character for P is the Greek Pi symbol and it looks kind of like a lower case n. It's written like this- 6П14П.
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Post by meanslide on Oct 14, 2024 8:08:00 GMT -7
Also, if you do replace the power tubes, 6N14N is the same a 6P14P. Something about the Russian alphabet between N's and P's. Same tube, much cheaper. The Cyrillic character for P is the Greek Pi symbol and it looks kind of like a lower case n. It's written like this- 6П14П.
Good to know. The "6P14P" tubes I bought were $35 per pair vs the 6N14N @ $80! |
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Post by Don A on Oct 14, 2024 15:24:48 GMT -7
The Cyrillic character for P is the Greek Pi symbol and it looks kind of like a lower case n. It's written like this- 6П14П.
Good to know. The "6P14P" tubes I bought were $35 per pair vs the 6N14N @ $80! That's great, as long as you bought from a reliable seller with good matching. |
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Oct 14, 2024 15:44:50 GMT -7
One of the members here goes by Rogue 8 on Reverb and sells the NOS Russian 6n14n. I’ve bought from him twice. He is PerryR on the Forum here. |
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Post by bymbie on Oct 15, 2024 10:04:54 GMT -7
One of the members here goes by Rogue 8 on Reverb and sells the NOS Russian 6n14n. I’ve bought from him twice. He is PerryR on the Forum here. The new tubes from Perry are already in the mail for me! Thank you. |
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Post by bymbie on Oct 31, 2024 11:35:17 GMT -7
Quick update: Installed the new tubes, and that totally resolved my issues! The amp sounds incredible—I'm barely touching my pedals anymore, aside from the tuner. 😄
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