Home Tubes Asylum

Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

Re: crackle!!

Tarbaby, hi. If your amps employee a large mother board on to which are soldered tube sockets, the solder points being the only means by which the sockets are attached to the board, I would start there. Is the crackle sound audible in both amps simultaneously? That would be a clue as to origin - if not the amps. I would carefully resolder/reflow all tube sockets. If your amps used lead containing solder (probably a 100% chance) I would remove the lead bearing solder and rework with a tin/silver activated rosin core type - say 96.5% tin 3.5% silver. Lead bearing solders can crystalize and do other funky things after 10 years of thermal cycling. Next - make sure all ground paths are not intermittent. Take the time to clean and retension all tube sockets. If the sockets are merely solder attached hold the socket with one hand when inserting or removing tubes. Pulling on a board mounted tube socket subjects the solder joints to damaging stress. How is audio sent to the mother board? If by simple wires soldered to the board reflow those joints. All the best in finding the problem which may come down to the grid 1 pin of the input tube and some crud in the socket. I would also obtain some DeOxit or equivalent and with pipe cleaners and swabs clean every socket carefully. Clean the input jacks too.


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Amplified Parts  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups


You can not post to an archived thread.