ranger_duex
02-24-2007, 03:30 PM
Well, I own a Mesa 400+, have had it for a while now...Love it.
Anywho, I noticed lately while playing at high volumes, or distorted tones, I get a LOT of crackling/popping. Now, this only happens at higher volumes, or when I turn up around, say 4-5 on both the master and input levels....More present in channel 2 when at lower volumes...But Im sure that is because it is a higher gain channel. But at equal output levels, or when played hard enough, it starts having problems.
Thought it might be the amp, so I tried it in another cab (one without a tweeter, an 18'') and cranked it. Sounded fine.
I thought that I may be on the verge of frying my tweeter, so I bought a new one.
Installed it, and it made no difference.
So I checked all the wiring out...Seems solid.
Which leads me back to square one...The amp...I know that bad tubes can cause excessive crackling noises....So Im really starting to think that it may be the amp...Even though it didnt display the same problems with another cab.
I did have some a problem one time where, due to either a surge or some other circumstances, one of my power tubes got really hot and sparked, blowing the fuse. I know that this is the sign of deteriorating components within the tube, however it has never had such a problem again, nor any signs of doing it again..Replaced the fuse and it has played fine ever since....
So, In short, if its the cab, I cant figure out what the problem could possibly be. Which leads me to believe it may be bad tubes....Especially given what has happened in the past.
I took my top off the other night and pulled a few tubes to examine them.
Im definitely going to just go head and retube it.
Apart from probably being the source of the problem, I need to replace a tube socket anyways, and a couple tubes look like they could go as well.
So Im just gonna drop the money now, retube, and keep the best tubes for backups.
Any thoughts, I am pretty sure that the tubes are the source of the problem, but maybe someone is more knowledgeable in this area than me...
Anywho, I noticed lately while playing at high volumes, or distorted tones, I get a LOT of crackling/popping. Now, this only happens at higher volumes, or when I turn up around, say 4-5 on both the master and input levels....More present in channel 2 when at lower volumes...But Im sure that is because it is a higher gain channel. But at equal output levels, or when played hard enough, it starts having problems.
Thought it might be the amp, so I tried it in another cab (one without a tweeter, an 18'') and cranked it. Sounded fine.
I thought that I may be on the verge of frying my tweeter, so I bought a new one.
Installed it, and it made no difference.
So I checked all the wiring out...Seems solid.
Which leads me back to square one...The amp...I know that bad tubes can cause excessive crackling noises....So Im really starting to think that it may be the amp...Even though it didnt display the same problems with another cab.
I did have some a problem one time where, due to either a surge or some other circumstances, one of my power tubes got really hot and sparked, blowing the fuse. I know that this is the sign of deteriorating components within the tube, however it has never had such a problem again, nor any signs of doing it again..Replaced the fuse and it has played fine ever since....
So, In short, if its the cab, I cant figure out what the problem could possibly be. Which leads me to believe it may be bad tubes....Especially given what has happened in the past.
I took my top off the other night and pulled a few tubes to examine them.
Im definitely going to just go head and retube it.
Apart from probably being the source of the problem, I need to replace a tube socket anyways, and a couple tubes look like they could go as well.
So Im just gonna drop the money now, retube, and keep the best tubes for backups.
Any thoughts, I am pretty sure that the tubes are the source of the problem, but maybe someone is more knowledgeable in this area than me...