Clean power?

[Len Grantham]

I have always heard a crackling sound in my amps (65 Twin Reissue & Peavey Classic 50 hd w/410cab) and just thought it was the amps. Last Saturday I purchased a Carr Rambler 1x12 (which is very nice by the way) and it does the same thing. The crackling sound is there even if a guitar is not plugged in. Would it help if I had some kind of power conditioner like the one below? Or if you could recommend something in the same price range or cheaper that would help.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PFPro/

Thanks,
Len

[joeydego]

this happens with known issue free amps? do the same amps not do that elsewhere? dirty power this day and age isnt common, but it cant really be ruled out either. The odds of all 3 amps being screwy are astronomical. Sweetwater has a good return policy, Id probably try it.

[guitardom]

first i would take them to a buddy's house or somewhere or at least one of them to try it out, that is quite odd. i do have a slightly different opinion than joey, diry electric is quite common especially in summer months. also maybe find the first outlet on a circuit to see if maybe something before it could be causing that problem, or lighting. halogens or ceiling fans or something like that. maybe throw a groundlift on there for a second to try it, though obviously not recomended as a permant fix. just some thoughts. have heard good things about the carr. just bought a dr.z maz 18 and in lOOOVE:D (figured i might as well get a new strat for it as well!!!!)

[Len Grantham]

Thanks for the replies. I will say with the carr I had it really cranked to about 3 o'clock position (really loud) to get the natural distortion of the tubes. I did take it to a friends band practice last night and did not notice it. But then he had the volume only about one third of what I had it on. I haven't thought about the ceiling fans. Not to mention all the other stuff I have on in my small one room studio.

guitardom,
I had the choice between the Carr and a Dr Z Prescription ES head with 1x12 cab for roughly the same price. I felt the 40 watt Dr Z was just a little too much for what I needed. I did have to get a new Lindy Fralin pickup for my 52 tele to go with the amp.

Thanks again,
Len

[guitardom]

the prescription i have not tried, have heard good things though. the z 1x12 convertible cab is really cool. you can pull and add panels to the back for a closed, 1/2 open, open, howerver you want it. part of the reason i went with the maz jr was the same reason. the maz senior rocks but 38 watts (typically run low 40's though) is just to much. to get that nice tube od it just has to be to loud, though the maz 18 is pretty darn loud with the 1x12.

check out the fulltone full drive 2 mosfet. killer pedal, lets you drive the amp harder with clean gain to push it or can make it pretty darn nasty if need be. have a barber ltd sr which does the same, just not as much control and does not give a lot of dirt, though sounds very good, and is very clean.

[sunburst79]

A certain amount of circuit noise is common in tube amps, this is especially true of amps that use carbon composition resisters and very common in old fenders, Its most noticeable as the amp warms up-the resisters get warm and as they physically expand ever so slightly they crackle. Of course the amp amplifies the crackle 1000 time or so:-)

I agree with Guitardom about bad power especially in summer. Most of what you will see is voltage swings, spikes and drop outs. None of these are likely to cause crackling but you never know. Its worth trying a power conditioner just to see.

It may sound stupid but have you tried a new cord? A crackle like that could be a cord or a dirty pot anywhere in your signal chain in front of the amp. Cleaning the pot on the amps might help but since it seems to effect all three amps its likely the problem lies elsewhere.