Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Valve Amp Random Crackles and Pops...


binky_bass
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all, 

For the first time in about 5 months, I've fired up my Mesa Boogie Strategy Eight:88 just really to blow off any cobwebs and make sure it's still alive and well!

I've noticed that every maybe 10-20 seconds there's a pop or a crackle coming from the amp...

The symptoms are as below:

Popping occurs every 10-20 seconds when the amp is turned on.

When the standby switch is engaged, there is no popping.

It's not the bass or the leads (tested the full run).

The sound of the pop reacts to effects, so for example when reverb and delay are engaged the popping has a little reverb and delay to it.

With no effects engaged, the popping still exists, just obviously without the effects of the effects... 

I have had the amp in my lounge for the last 5-6 months and I (perhaps foolishly?) didn't have the cover on it as it looks better without it! Could dust have gotten in there and is now causing an issue with the valves? 

The whole rig has had very light use as I got it maybe 3 months before COVID and used it once a week for 4 hours or so at band practice and never really pushed it anywhere near the max. 

I don't think its the valves themselves, as I say its had light use since purchase so if the valves (or one valve) was dodgy already I'd not be best pleased! 

Any thoughts or fixes to such an issue? Is it easy and safe enough to remove all the valves and give everything a good clean before re-seating the valves? Could it really be dust thats caused the pops?

Any advice would be welcome! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Be cautious fiddling with valve amps, especially when switched on (even when they're not, the power supply caps can hold a potentially lethal charge). The internal supply rail is dc and usually high voltage. If you don't know what you're doing, take it to someone who does.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...