Crackling amplifier

How to fix a crackling amplifier or amp. In this video we will look at the symptoms this amp has including a crackling coming from the speaker cabinet. We find the cause and show you how to fix it.
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#amprepair #cracklingamp #tube

[@Sergio2239]

Thank you so much for this video!! I had the same issue, and now it's solved!

[@leandershah1617]

I had the same crackle on my Marshall Origin50h. Changed 2 of the 3 preamp tubes, the amp did not crackle for the next 20-25hrs of use. The crackle just came back an hour ago. Now will try changing both the power amp tubes in hopes for it to go away. P.S : once the amp had warmed up, it worked as per normal but it sounded very inconsistent with the volume as well as overall tone being dull. Hope this helps someone in the same situation

[@gammakeraulophon]

Great vid btw... I had been looking for exactly this irregular crackle noise by way indicator as to what problem ... now I know I just need to renew the OP tube. Cheers!

[@bradenharwood]

I'm inclined to believe that Peavey VK series amps are automatically subject to this problem. I own a vkii and have been searching for years to fix this issue. For some reason your video hasn't popped up for me until today. Thx. I have sent it to peavey twice with no fix. I will update if power tubes fixes my issue.

[@Jones_707]

third day of owning a bass and i can’t even practice 🤦

[@dexterj5615]

I played bass for first 3 years without an amp

[@stijnxd]

The halogen bulb thing about the oils from your hands has to do with the fragility of the glass (leaving residue on them will cause them to heat unevenly because the glass is so thin which can result in shortening the lifespan of even the glass breaking), vacuum tubes are much more robust and touching them with bare hands should not be a problem, though it doesn't hurt te be careful.

[@dexterj5615]

Very helpful thank you

[@ubellubo]

My Vox AC4C1 has started doing this, even with no guitar plugged in, and with the volume and gain set to zero.

[@user-ls4pg7mt2g]

I have the same amp doing same thing I'm ordering power tubes now

[@TheChristafershawn]

My modded Deluxe Reverb running 6L6's started crackling after pushing the tubes with a power soak. I think I may have diagnosed my issue. Thanks.

[@chloexoxo]

Awesome video

[@GeorgeFN]

Damn, I have two of the same amp doing this. One of them is only a few months old. I can't believe I've gotta retube them already 😢

[@seekingyu8642]

Very nice, informative video, most of these I like how you explain with very relaxed and composed way. Thanks. I have a similar problem I haven't check it out so far the reason. One of my speaker starts giving crackling sound.Only checked by switching speakers wires, its in the amp. But it isn't a Vacuum tube amp, a transistor one. My first suspect is the potentiometer (volume control) if not then i will go to capacitors. Am I right?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Hi there, yes that’s right, if it’s not a tube amp, go for volume pots first. Sometimes if you wiggle the knob you can get them to play up. Otherwise transistors or capacitors yes, but it’s best at that point to have it looked at professionally, due to the voltage that capacitors can retain.

[@skabetty97]

Very helpful

[@serdar.saglam]

I have an Orange Tiny Terror Combo. 15 watt Full Tube amp. I bought it used two weeks ago. Sometimes that crackling noise come when i am playing. But most of time it is quiet. 🤷‍♂️

[@leandershah1617]

Contact the seller if it is still under warranty. The tiny terror is monetarily, a cheap amp and tubes will cost half of that amp itself. Better get it replaced for free than pay more just so it works as it should!

[@gogopowerrangers-gogo]

I got a JCM900 that does the same thing but a lot quieter, I changed all the power tubes and it still does it. Will change the pre amp tubes next, hope that solves it.

[@Swanlord05]

Did u solve

[@gogopowerrangers-gogo]

@@Swanlord05 Eventually, It wasn't the tubes, I was plugging my amp into a power board instead of straight to the wall. Grounding I guess

[@lucasvarela9632]

@@gogopowerrangers-gogo do you know what kind of power plug I need? I lost the original and have had troubles since I got a new random cable

[@gogopowerrangers-gogo]

@@lucasvarela9632For me I only need a standard kettle plug, make sure the part that goes into the wall socket fits where you live.

[@lucasvarela9632]

@@gogopowerrangers-gogo ok yea. Thanks!

[@johnstrange6799]

I have an old Knight Stereo (Hi Fi) amp full of Mullards exhibiting the same issues. Hopefully it's just the power tubes. Thanks.

[@tomfoolery2082]

Sounds like mine alright . Then the terrible smell as it went silent . I can get tubes any idea what fried as it quit making sound . I took the head out of the casing but cant see anything like it burnt or discolored . Thks for any help .

[@brandontrevor2306]

I hate this because i have this exact same sound. I changed the tubes and same same. The PCB doesn't have any burned components. Everything looks good. My tech cant figure it out either. My carvin legacy 3 in the shop for 2 months but no progress.

[@gammakeraulophon]

Likely some of those tubes you removed may be ok... people with single ended amps may appreciate them.

[@pugforce8315]

Found out my phone sitting on top of the amp was causing my crackling, figured this may help someone.

[@kadeemward]

I have a soli state with this SAME issue!! Any help please?

[@c.f.pedraza4057]

This just happened to me on my amp while I was playing. The amp was working just fine until I started playing with the intensity knob on my DC30, now my amp flutters like yours. Is it possible I sent too much power through the tubes doing that?

[@Brettkev]

I’ve got a tube emulator that makes the exact same sound. I cannot seem to figure out why.

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Does it have a real tube in it? Otherwise try wiggling some of the controls and see if any of them aggravate it

[@rockman49er]

Mine makes the same noise but only when I plug in my keyboard works great for music I'm thinking it's my keyboard but it sounds great not plugged into the amp what could it be dirty keyboard inside what's your opinion thanks brother

[@rikyhendrawan492]

Hallo, thank you for your video, i have same problem. Hopefully will be solve with replace the tube.

[@rv3789]

It's time to replace my just starting to do the crackling 😅noise

[@djkalan8977]

The same issue on my amp

[@omaett]

I have the same problem but my amp doesn't have tubes, also I've used Deoxit D5 to clean like 2 times already, and it's still there.

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Does it still make the noise without anything plugged into the input?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Just had a talk with my amp tech. He says to try wiggling the volume control. If that makes it worse it but dust in the the volume control. Otherwise would be transistors.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

Thank you. my amp is only crackling after playing notes [Blackheart Handsome Devil combo] after someone put in on the floor aggressively. Any advice other than never let that person near my amp again?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Ok I haven’t come across that before. Is that a tube amp? I’m just wondering if it could be the pre amp tubes rather than the power tubes. But it might pay to check with an amp tech.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

@@GroundbreakCreative It's a 15 watt tube amp by Blackheart (company made by Crate). I thought maybe it's a bad connection in one of the tubes

[@GroundbreakCreative]

@@SeemoreDunkan could be, but if it’s been harshly moved while the tubes are hot it had likely damaged the tubes themselves. You could try removing the tubes then putting them back in, that would help if there was a dirty connection. The fact it only happens after you play a note makes me wonder if the issue is not in the power section, but the pre amp section. Some amps will have a solid state pre amp section though, you’d have to have a look and see if you have some smaller tubes as well as the large ones.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

@@GroundbreakCreative You are an angel for replying in such detail. I opened it and fixed it. it's fully tube btw :) thanks

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Awesome, glad that it’s sorted 👍

[@tommyvvirs1731]

Any other suggestions my little 1987 fender champ 12 has the exact same crackle, I put new tubes in an after about an hour of being on the crackle starts up again?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

I think sometimes that faulty capacitors can affect the the tubes as well. You’d really need to take it in to an amp tech to check that out though.

[@danjack-son4871]

My amp at only over a year old started cracking and popping about three different times over the course of three weeks then the third time the fuse blew. Shouldn't tubes last a lot longer than a year? Especially when it's played only at home at low volumes.

[@leandershah1617]

Tube life also depends on the amount of usage you get out of them. They say poweramp tubes go faster than preamp ones but my amp (just over 1 year and 1 month) started crackling. Changed 2 of the 3 preamp tubes, no crackle for a good 20-25 hours. Crackle came back. Now will replace the poweramp tubes and hope it resolves. Tube life also depends on how the amp is biased. If it is biased too hot, then tubes wear faster. Tube life also depends on how your amp is set. Mine is set such that the master volume is low while the gain is set to a slight breakup. This will make my preamp tubes to go way faster than the power amp tubes. If the master and gain are set similar, then you’re going to wear them out more evenly but the power amp tubes will need replacing sooner than the preamp in most cases

[@ivansindicic5960]

I have power tubes that are 15 and 7 years old, mixed, i play super lead on 7 8 ,, never failed, ive changed preamp phase inverter once.

[@Flash-fw9mq]

Same issue with my 6505+ but new tubes hardly changed anything except make it a bit quieter. Service is stupid expensive for this head.

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Does it change if you wiggle any of the control knobs? Particularly the volume or gain? Can sometimes get a dirty pot that will sound similar.

[@Flash-fw9mq]

@@GroundbreakCreative I have cleaned the pots already. I'm starting to think it could be a ground issue or possibly a capacitor.

[@viduratheekshana6549]

Same issue with my yamaha keyboard....😖😖💔

[@sfmag1]

Maybe something made the tubes go bad. Etc .

[@crsddabc5568]

It’s humming because it don’t know the words…

[@adamsonlinearrayspeakersha87]

KEVLAR.

[@brianmcdermott281]

Nice video, I have a amp (under a year old) and it’s starting to do this. Could it just be one faulty tube ?

[@leandershah1617]

Hey Brian, if it is one tube or not, is hard to say. Just try the old pencil method to check for microphonic tube/s. That worked for me. Note that many times the microphonics won’t come through the speaker but you got to hear the difference (the bad tube ringing at a higher pitch than the rest). Also, preamp tubes can be replaced individually, however, the power amp tubes should always be switched in matched pairs to be the safest. Hope this helps

[@krystalvortex]

I have the exact same problem on a solid state amp. Any other ideas?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Could be a transistor or capacitor, I haven’t come across that myself. Probably worth taking to an amp tech, those components may be running high voltages.

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Just had a chat with my amp tech. He says to try wiggling the volume control. If that makes it worse it will be dust in the volume pot. Otherwise it will be transistors.

[@56davidwright]

My amp was crackling so I unplugged it... problem fixed... but then when I plugged back in the crackling came back. Suggestions?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

@@56davidwright When you say you unplugged “it”, is that the guitar lead you mean?

[@56davidwright]

Even with the lead out and all knobs turned to zero the crackling comes back. It's intermittent, some times it goes away for an hour or so but it comes back.

[@amongotherthings5696]

how about a non-tube amp ?

[@GroundbreakCreative]

So to start with, make sure it’s noisy with no lead or guitar plugged in. That will rule out everything that’s not the amp and also the input jack. Next thing to do is to go through and wiggle each of the control knobs, if the crackle changes while doing this, it could just be a dirty pot. If that’s not the case, you may need to take it to an amp tech as it is likely a capacitor or transistor in the amp. These work with high voltages so best to take it to a professional to be tested safely.

[@amongotherthings5696]

@@GroundbreakCreative I know my amp as soon as I turn the volume knob crackles without guitar and thanks narrows my concern down

[@GroundbreakCreative]

@@amongotherthings5696 So it sounds like the volume pot is just dirty, you can probably take it out and clean it yourself.

[@amongotherthings5696]

@@GroundbreakCreative I will definitely do thay

[@melwin.x]

Sick of these KZbin ads

[@GroundbreakCreative]

Video creators have no real control over that now. If we don't put them on, KZbin puts them on anyway but just doesn't pay us. I always try and select only having them at the start, so the video doesn't get interrupted halfway through.

[@simbotist]

It’s ok to touch the tubes, no need to wear gloves.

[@subsoniczero3233]

My issue with crackling is when I touch the master volume it's crackling

[@gettingitdone1]

It will be that volume control then, need to get it cleaned.

[@subsoniczero3233]

@@gettingitdone1 I just got done cleaning up the pots, everything is working great

[@GroundbreakCreative]

@@subsoniczero3233 awesome, well done. Sorry I accidentally replied from my other channel, but the answers the same 😆.

[@DaliborBlabolil-ci2tc]

First measuring ALL OF T.V. is unfortunately important. .....

[@gammakeraulophon]

No point buying matched sets for guitar amplifiers. Hi-fi YES.. very important in order to get balanced fidelity over stereo. Guitar amps .. NO .. fact is a guitar amp can throw out more interesting harmonic tones running on mismatched power tubes. Sooner guitar players wake up to this.. the better.

[@danmatthews5782]

Everyone is goin thru Amazon n makin him too wealthy

[@GroundbreakCreative]

😆 you've got to be kidding. Trust me I make very little from Amazon. I'll probably make more from you watching this video, and that's not much either.

[@Kyle-pj2vc]

He's probably not but even if he was, bro you're watching free content and aren't obligated to listen or to watch. If this video was helpful, why would you be against helping him out financially anyway just trying to offer a tutorial for people to fix their amps. It's at no cost to you, lmao. Entitled people these days.