Mr. Foxen

The pink WIMA box on the right in the top pic is the replaced one that sorted the dc on the volume. I suspect it should be a good deal less nosiy than a stock one, with old components, but there'll still be some noise, because there is tones of unshielded wires running back and forth in there. Umph is also working on one, he is a bit more experienced with amp tinkering than me. His should be even quieter, considering how much he rags on other amp's lead dress.

Make the handles accessible, and it will get treated a bunch better because it is easy to move.

Current state of play: Ordered bunches of caps, but are from hong kong, will be sorted for the next one, but I picked some up in maplins, and others from the spares box, to replace some on the pre board, along with replacing various resistors (carbon comps can apparently get noisy whilst still measuring fine, so putting all new ones in a few at a time between firing it up to check other stuff, if it cures all the noise, I'll stop, but looking like they'll all go). The only caps of the right value and high enough voltage Maplins had were Polypropylene box ones, so had to get a bit creative, some axials are on order. The pink one on the end of the board fixed the DC on the volume pot issue, no more horrible noise from turning it. Still have oscillation though.

Those two are analogue, worse tracking, but a nicer sound. Good tracking comes with digital, and digital comes with bad keyboard tones.

POG probably, but its output goes below what your amp can likely handle, so will turn to distortion eventually.

But more expensive than a whole one.

Should be able to revalve for about £120, and won't need it often. Since it is coming from Umph, it will have been checked over and stuff.

[quote name='longtimefred' post='1308993' date='Jul 19 2011, 12:19 PM']Argh!! stop putting thoughts in my head!!! Specially ones that seem to be the way forward! Lol[/quote] Sansamp > Mesa Strategy 400 in for sale = TRVE

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1308796' date='Jul 19 2011, 09:07 AM']Mostly in the context of removing different types of paints and varnishes when renovating old houses, but I don't see why a guitar should be particularly different.[/quote] Not much in home decor is done using catalysed poly finish. Think it is more related to cars, and car tips may give you problems due to cars not being made of wood.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boss-OC-3-Super-Octave-Pedal-/160622870687?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2565de809f"]Here[/url] I don't like them, but someone will.

[quote name='Slipperydick' post='1307986' date='Jul 18 2011, 03:41 PM'][size=2]If its distorted, it dont sound alright - it sounds distorted.[/quote] I think you might need to listen to some more records.

I'm eying the non mustard next to the replaced one here: Mustards are supposed to be wicked reliable. Not sure what value it is though, not reading the markings.

Swapped in a new volume pot, seems to be a lot more volume, a little abrupt, but I think it is just lots more headroom, rather than the glitchy jump, there is still crackle, as the new pot turns, so I think that is an issue, dc on the pots or something. Also, if you look at the right angle, through the little slots in the plate, there is a blue glow inside that pulses along with the oscillation. Might be normal, not had that much of my face up against the inside of an amp before. Counting from the left with the amp facing you, including the one on its own, it is the third in, I worked back from the phase splitter, pulling each at a time (much wincing at horrible noise, as it was live when I did it), I pulled two valves previous, phase splitter and the next one in, and the oscillation stopped each time.

Opened it up, replaced some more resistors in the preamp bit because they had arrived, sprayed the volume pot with the crackle some more, the spray came out brown, so must be doing something, and stirred the wires round the phase splitter some. Fired it up again, no more moving cones, played a little, still fine, then I turned some knobs and post a crackly bit, it started again. It changed speed whilst I was fiddling with the mid knob, but I can't replicate that. The really loud crackle from the volume pot I know is duff really set it off. Have pulled pre valves till I find which one doesn't stop the oscillation, and it is the middle one.

The grey metal part that is the bulk of the insides of an EL34 shouldn't glow, there should be a glowy bit inside that which shines out the top some. Really hot valves do sound good, doesn't mean it isn't about to explode though. Distorting valve amps sound great, often, they aren't supposed to be distorting.

The 5150 switch might do it, is it a DIN sort of plug? I happen to know someone with one spare.