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I've been trying to figure this out since I built my -15. I've always liked my 18w better so I never really got into it, the crackle didnt happen often, it seems random, and a tap on the chassis would shut it up. So I figured bad joint, right? Finally, a year after I built the damn thing I decided to open her up and figure this out.

So with a chopstick, a few spots on the board are microphonic, so I resolder those joints with no change. I then was worrying about the jumpers on the bottom, so I solder jumpers over the top to test. No dice. Crackle still there.

This crackle is more like a popping and it happens whether im playing or not, and it usually goes away when i physically hit the amp a few times. It's amplified at full volume.

So with concentrated tapping I trace it down to the first 12AX7 tube. (v2). I replace v2 and that fixes nothing, so I replace the entire V2 socket. Once again no dice.

So I've got this new EF-86 tube I want to try and I like the ef-86 channel better anyway so I decide to pull out the ax7 and just rock for a while. The crackle is still there.


Can anyone help me out?

Ok, pull the EF-86. Crackle or not?
Pull V1 - Crackle or not?
Continue, V2, V3 until the crackle [hopefully] stops. Then you know where the problematic components./wiring etc. are.

Replace the last tube pulled whne the crackle stops with a new/good one. If no good, then it's components (sockets too)

Could be a bad ground point.

_________________
Stephen
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