Can a rectifier tube make crackling noises??

[surferdeac]

MY mesa rectifier tube 5ugb4 seems to make a slight crackling/ticking sound. The sound doesn't get sent through the speakers, but when i listen to the amp head itself i hear the head making a ticking/crackling sound. The reason i think its coming from the rectifier tube is because if i wrap my hand around the tube before it gets to hot, the ticking crackling sound seems to be reduced. Any thoughts anyone?? Could a output transformer that wasn't properly tightened enough to the chassis cause a rectifier tube to possibly make a rattle/crackle type noise?? If so how do you go about tightening up an output transformer? can you do it without taking the chassis out of the head?
Thanks guys. I have already got a couple good opinions on the matter, but i am just looking for a few more opinions to help me further trouble shoot the issue. Is Is it safe to the amp and is it worth buying another 5ugb4 rectifier tube if it seems to work ok, but just makes weird ticking/crackling noises that doesn't get transmitted through to the speakers.
Thanks

 

[212Mavguy]

If it isn't coming out of the speaker, don't worry so much... :wink:

You can always clean the socket and see if that helps, also, sometimes tubes make a ticking sound as they are warming up, metal parts like plates get hot and expand, that noise goes away after heat/expansion equilibrium is reached some time after starting operation. I have heard lots of ticking noises right after startup and standby is turned to letting the b+ voltage go to power tubes, the rectifier tube can make noise too. Peace.

 

[surferdeac]

Thank you Mavguy. Yeah i sometimes get a little to obsessive over the little things :mrgreen: I am aware of the ticking sound that tubes make when they warm up. this ticking sound actually occurs once the tubes have warmed up a bit and remains a constant throughout my playing sessoins. I guess the best thing to do is not to worry about it so much so long as the sound doesn't get worse or begin to get transmitted through to the speakers.

------------ OCGPD (OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE GUITAR PLAYING DISORDER) ------------

:lol: :lol: :mrgreen:

 

[dodger916]

I'd replace the tube and see if it continues. From what I've read, Mesa rectifier tubes seem prone to failure. IIRC, a blown rectifier can do some damage, but I could be wrong here.

 

[stokes]

A rectifier that continues to make a ticking sound after warming up,is an indication that something is loose inside.It may or may not cause a problem,but I think since a tube isnt supposed to have any "moving parts" that it will shorten the life span.I have never seen this happen in old stock tubes,just new production.They just dont make them like they used to.

 

[surferdeac]

.They just dont make them like they used to.

ya know its pretty SAD with all the leaps and bounds humanity is making from a technological standpoint that planned obsolecence seems to be the norm these days. OH yeah
building better products costs more takes more time and cuts down on "PROFIT MARGINS"

"AND THE ME WHO HOLD HIGH PLACES MUST BE THE ONES WHO START TO MOLD A NEW REALITY CLOSER TO THE HEART" ----------- RUSH!!!

 

[surferdeac]

They Can!!!!!!

I replaced my 5u4gb rectifier tube with a new one from mesa and to my amazement the crackling sound i was hearing STOPPED. It was the tube that was the culprit. All this time in the back of my mind i was a little nervous thinking that my amp my have had some sort of problem. For now that isn't the case. Mesa skhipped my amp out with a noisy cracking rectifier tube . THats all right though because the Amp kicks Ass.