Weird Problem with my Amp - Help?

Southpaw52 · June 11th, 2008, 09:09 PM

I have a Rivera 25w Clubster amplifier. The amp is only about 1 year old
and has not been played very hard.
Problem: When I hit certain notes (D espeically) you can hear a very
weird background noise, Low rumbling overtone, almost like it is barffing!!
I have tried different guitars and it is still there. Different settings -still there.
Has anyone else had a problem like this and what is the fix??

Thanks

teleamp · June 11th, 2008, 09:50 PM

Sounds like "tube rattle", a mechanical noise. Sometimes silicone orings will help.

JohnnyCrash · June 11th, 2008, 09:57 PM

Try to narrow down where it's coming from, I'm with teleamp and think it's a mechanical, vibrational noise (tube rattle, cab buzz, etc).

Lance · June 12th, 2008, 10:01 AM

I suggest the chopstick test. Use something like a chopstick to lightly tap each tube and see if you hear anything weird. If a tube reacts differently than the others, try swapping that one out.

teleamp · June 12th, 2008, 10:07 AM

More than likely it is the power tubes rattling, common problem.

Southpaw52 · June 12th, 2008, 09:24 PM

Thanks for the help. I checked all tubes and none are loose. What I did
notice is the it is worse when the midrange and gain are increase and less if
you back off the mid and play clean. I think that I am going to test the tubes
and see if the trouble is there.

Southpaw

Tim Swartz · June 12th, 2008, 09:41 PM

I suspect a crapped out power tube. The only way you can really test the tubes in a case like this is to swap in different ones and see if the problem goes away.

Brandon Roy · June 12th, 2008, 09:55 PM

I heard the same thing in my amp today. It was happening with the A note. I played the note kinda loud and put my hand on a tube in the back to see if it stopped and yes..it stopped the noise. Yours sounds like the same thing - tube rattle.

Southpaw52 · June 14th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Update
Thanks everyone. I replaced the power tubes and it cured the problem.
One tube "looks" burnt on the bottom. I would like to check them both on
a tube tester.

Southpaw52

June 11th, 2008, 09:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Southpaw52 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Glarus, WI Posts: 16	Weird Problem with my Amp - Help? I have a Rivera 25w Clubster amplifier. The amp is only about 1 year old and has not been played very hard. Problem: When I hit certain notes (D espeically) you can hear a very weird background noise, Low rumbling overtone, almost like it is barffing!! I have tried different guitars and it is still there. Different settings -still there. Has anyone else had a problem like this and what is the fix?? Thanks

June 12th, 2008, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,157	I suggest the chopstick test. Use something like a chopstick to lightly tap each tube and see if you hear anything weird. If a tube reacts differently than the others, try swapping that one out. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

June 12th, 2008, 09:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,775	I suspect a crapped out power tube. The only way you can really test the tubes in a case like this is to swap in different ones and see if the problem goes away. __________________

June 12th, 2008, 09:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brandon Roy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisiana Age: 21 Posts: 84	I heard the same thing in my amp today. It was happening with the A note. I played the note kinda loud and put my hand on a tube in the back to see if it stopped and yes..it stopped the noise. Yours sounds like the same thing - tube rattle. __________________ Guitar \| Guitar Chord Chart \| Stratocaster Forum

June 11th, 2008, 09:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
teleamp Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central TX Age: 49 Posts: 558	Sounds like "tube rattle", a mechanical noise. Sometimes silicone orings will help.

June 11th, 2008, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	Try to narrow down where it's coming from, I'm with teleamp and think it's a mechanical, vibrational noise (tube rattle, cab buzz, etc).

June 12th, 2008, 10:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
teleamp Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central TX Age: 49 Posts: 558	More than likely it is the power tubes rattling, common problem.

June 12th, 2008, 09:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Southpaw52 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Glarus, WI Posts: 16	Thanks for the help. I checked all tubes and none are loose. What I did notice is the it is worse when the midrange and gain are increase and less if you back off the mid and play clean. I think that I am going to test the tubes and see if the trouble is there. Southpaw

June 14th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
Southpaw52 TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Glarus, WI Posts: 16	Update Thanks everyone. I replaced the power tubes and it cured the problem. One tube "looks" burnt on the bottom. I would like to check them both on a tube tester. Southpaw52