trinityamps.com

Hi Guys,

I officially need some advice. Back in January I completed my 5e3 build. It fired up first time and has been awesome for about 9 months. A few weeks ago, I started hearing loud crackling and popping when I turned the amp up above about 4 on either channel. With any string transient (hitting hard), I got a loud pop. If I did this long enough, the volume would reduce to a whisper but would return after I turned the amp off. This occurs in all 4 input positions and regardless of volume or tone positions. I tried all the combinations.

I went in for voltage measurements (below) and chopsticked my way around poking and prodding everywhere and could not replicate the sound. However, I turned the lights down and when I cause the transient and get the pop, I also see an arc in V3. I powered down, swapped V3 and V4 and then saw the arc in V4. So I concluded I had a bad power tube and order two new 6V6 tubes. They arrived today, I put them in and STILL have the problem. It's not as bad (higher volume for the problem to occur) but still present. I haven't noticed the arc in either power tube this time.

Any ideas? Voltages below:

V5
————
2- 0V
4- 355.2V
6- 356.1V
8- 0V

V4
————
2- 3.32V
3- 365V
4- 332V
7- 3.27V
8- 21.4V

V3
————
2- 3.32V
3- 364V
4- 332V
7- 3.27V
8- 21.4V

V2
————
1- 167.5V
3- 1.24V
4/5- 3.3V
6- 200.4V
7- 17.4V
8- 45.6V

V1
———
1- 126V
3- 1.92V
4/5 - 3.3V
6- 121.9V
8- 1.92V

After continuing to poke around, the sound that is made is very much like turning the amp on with the volume up loud and plugging in the guitar cable. A big crack as if a connection was lost and remade. IE - it sure seems like a loose solder joint somewhere, I just can’t find it. Since it only occurs at loud volumes, I’m assuming its a vibration issue reacting with a loose solder joint. Unless there is something involved with higher input voltages I’m missing.