Hot Rod Deluxe Issue

[Geetar_Will]

If anyone can identify what this is, I would appreciate it.

Before it gets asked, yes, I did plug straight into the amp... The problem is something to do with input 1.

Symptoms - Started with small bit of crackling (very quiet) after power and standby are both on. It actually went away after it warmed up a bit. Could be tubes? Now in the past few days when it warms up a bit and and I play a bit harder I get scary loud crackling noise (as if something didn't like being vibrated inside) that eventually turns into non-stop blaring not-goodness. Also, when hitting the standby switch I get a loud thwack.. Which is not ordinary. This is all in input 1. Input 2 is just fine in the time being (thankfully).

Any idea what that is?

Thanks

[Jschoi]

i had the exact same problem. There are a lot of possible issues that could exist with that problem.

You may need to bias the amp and make sure all the electrical flow is running smoothly, or yes, it could be the tubes.

In any case, i've been told that biasing an amp could be deadly if not done properly so i just sent it to a repair guy.

Cost me about 100$ for the repair, but had no problems with it after that. It actually boosted the sound quality of my amp by a lot.

[Fuchsaudio]

PC board mounted jacks going bad. Most common failure in those amps. Have them replaced with "real" chassis mounted jacks.

[Spudman]

Pre amp tubes.
Switch them around or replace them and see what happens.

[mageerc]

I'm with Mr. Fuchs on this one... PCB jacks are very fragile

[Geetar_Will]

Thanks guys

[Jwoo]

It might be a cold solder joint. I had a similar problem on mine. Take a pen and tap sections of the amp's internals with the amp on. You should hear the noise get worse if indeed there is a cold solder joint, and you hit it.

[David Myka]

Depending on the year it was made it might be the ceramic resistors. There was a batch of faulty resistors with hairline cracks where electrical charges would build up and arc across them. I could not detect the cracks visually but when I replaced them the problem was gone. I bought mine new in 1997.

I think I found out about this issue on this website:
http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/

It is down sometimes but it usually comes back online shortly.

~David

[storm319]

Do you have any problems with volume dropping in and out? Sounds like a problem with the ceramic resistors that are by the phase inverter tube. It has happened to me before and is a common problem with Hot Rods. If it is a bad solder joint, just resolder. If the resistor is cracked or open, replace it.

+1 on that website. Just read the common problems and repairs section and you should figure it out and likely be able to easily fix yourself.

[Geetar_Will]

Do you have any problems with volume dropping in and out? Sounds like a problem with the ceramic resistors that are by the phase inverter tube. It has happened to me before and is a common problem with Hot Rods. If it is a bad solder joint, just resolder. If the resistor is cracked or open, replace it.

+1 on that website. Just read the common problems and repairs section and you should figure it out and likely be able to easily fix yourself.


No volume drop outs. The problem is caused by vibration I'm thinking.