Got some strange crackle sounds today

DrummerChas · May 16, 2010

I powered up the V this afternoon leaving it in the standby mode as usual while it warmed up and I started getting some loud crackle sounds from the tubes. I turned it back off and waited a minute and turned the amp back on and it started to crackle for a few seconds and then faded to quiet. I thought maybe since the amp is still very new that it might be breaking the tubes in a bit. Is it normal for that to happen occasionally or should I be concerned?

SteveO · May 16, 2010

It's usually a tube thing. Mine crackled a bit when I first got it, but it hasn't happened since (over seven months).

dmcguitar · May 16, 2010

mine's new, i dont notice much crackling at standby, but once i heard a noise similar to crackling. it was the relays giong nuts, i pull the footswitch cord and it stopped and put it back in and it was fine.

jb's 52 · May 17, 2010

I got the a subtle "frying bacon" sound a couple weeks ago...but no affect to the amp nor have I heard it
since.

nyeguy · May 17, 2010

Mine does it too! Its only lasts for awhile when I first turn it on at gigs but in my basement its terrible! Pulled all the pre amp tubes and replaced em and it still happens! Dunno what it is unless its output tubes. Seems like a common problem with these amps.

dmcguitar · May 17, 2010

i think its the footswitch, it seems sometimes when i put flip the standby switch to on (so i can play) if all three channel lights on the footswitch are lit, then i hear a crackling noise. seems to be the relay's going crazy. again as soon as i hit a channel it stops, or if you reseat the footswtich cable that works.

jjboogie · May 17, 2010

Crackling is NOT good! I'd call Mesa......I would not tolerate something like that from a hand made amp of this caliber.

golfnguitarz · May 17, 2010

It's the footcable. Check the connection at both ends.

nyeguy · May 18, 2010

Mine does it without the cable plugged in.

DrummerChas · May 18, 2010

In my case it is definetly not the footswitch or its cable. Outside of the low volume occasional crackles I get during power up, it was the only time that the crackling was considerably louder than normal, and loud enough for me to turn the amp off and on again. I called Mesa and they said it might be that one of the power tubes is acting up and that I should just watch to see if it happens again. They also said they would send replacement tubes if the problem continued. So far it hasn't so hopefully it was just an oddity.

blazer986 · May 28, 2010

I was having a similar issue. I was getting a crackling sound through the speakers when I turned the amp on. It would go away eventually. The crackling kept getting worse and lasting longer, so I swapped out all the power tubes. Crackling is gone. The SED 6L6's I put in sound better overall to me as well.