Frying bacon sound from PA

[Happy Jack]

I have a lovely Fishman SA220 Performer, used it for years and love it to bits.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fishman-SA220-Solo-Performance-System/dp/B001E96UMS

At rehearsal last night it started making a fairly constant hissing/crackling sound, loud enough to be bloody irritating when not playing but inaudible when in use.

The sound was completely unaffected by whether or not an instrument or mic or both was plugged in, and none of the controls (gain, EQ, etc.) made any difference to the sound.

I realise that this is damned near an impossible question to answer without hearing it, but does this sound like a capacitor or similar?

My problem is that, in perfect condition, this unit is currently worth perhaps £400, maybe a bit less. If I send it off to be serviced and repaired, it's hard to believe that the bill will be a great deal less than that ...

[gary mac]

Like you say Jack, it is going to be a difficult question to answer.
I was recently repairing a customers guitar amp, different thing entirely, I know but it was making the frying bacon type sound. Anyway, the problem was a loose/dry solder joint on the board.

[roman_sub]

If gain / eq made no difference to the noise level, I guess this would help to isolate the problem to somewhere in the latter stages of the circuit at least - would otherwise expect these controls to affect the noise level (/frequency content).

I would also suspect dry solder joint somewhere...

If you're in London, try Guitar Aid in Putney, they know their stuff and have very reasonable charges.

[Happy Jack]

Thanks guys.

[Ghost_Bass]

HJ, you have my vote for the "Best Thread Title Of The Year" awards!

[keeponehandloose]

If Noel sees this thread he may try it next time hes on Jools Holland.