Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: jcado35 on May 22, 2023, 07:33:59 AM
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(Repost because I was on the wrong board)
I’ve had my bottlehead crack for a while now, and noticed there’s a static sound on the right channel only.
I wiggled the 12au7 tube and it made a noise on the LEFT SIDE so I re-soldered the wires and it’s quiet when I wiggle it now, BUT. The static on the RIGHT SIDE still persists.
I’ve poked every wire with a chopsticks and fixed about 3 that made a noise when moved. But the right channel static still persists.
The right static is a constant volume. Whether the volume is off or max the statics volume does not change. I unplugged the rca cords and the static persists.
I’ve re-soldered other wires but it has gotten worse I think
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any help please? I've cleaned the tubes pins and the static on the right channel still persists
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Can you post some build photos?
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Can you post some build photos?
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The solder joints on terminals 7 and 9 may need a little more solder/heat.
If you rock either tube around while the noise is happening, does it change?
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The solder joints on terminals 7 and 9 may need a little more solder/heat.
If you rock either tube around while the noise is happening, does it change?
I reheated and added more solder to 7 and 9 but the noise still persists.
The static doesn’t change when I wiggle or move the tubes around it’s just a constant static noise on the right channel only
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Sometimes the pins on the tubes themselves can be a bit oxidized, and cleaning them with some emery cloth or a magic eraser can take that off.
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Sometimes the pins on the tubes themselves can be a bit oxidized, and cleaning them with some emery cloth or a magic eraser can take that off.
Yes I bought a magic eraser and cleaned both tubes but the static persists.
BUT
I did notice that the static doesn’t start when I turn on the amp.
The static starts once the amp is heated. I timed it and it was quiet for about 2 minutes after turning the amp on. But once the tubes were hot to touch the static on the right side started.
Could it be a problem with the tubes or parts that get hot? Or a cold joint?
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Considering your mention that you have used the amp for a while it might make sense to try some different tubes to see if the noise goes away. Sometimes tubes get noisy over time. It's just the nature of the beast.
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Update: Upgraded to the speedball last night and so far there is no static in the right channel (I hope!) , hopefully it's fixed. Not sure if it was from the parts I took out to install the speedball, or from soldering the terminals again while installing!