Static on right channel

jcado35 · 1082

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
on: May 22, 2023, 07:33:59 AM
(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



Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
Reply #1 on: May 25, 2023, 03:28:08 PM
any help please? I've cleaned the tubes pins and the static on the right channel still persists



Offline Paul Birkeland

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 19316
Reply #2 on: May 25, 2023, 04:08:26 PM
Can you post some build photos?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
Reply #3 on: May 26, 2023, 03:09:29 AM



Offline Paul Birkeland

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 19316
Reply #4 on: May 26, 2023, 04:27:13 AM
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?

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
Reply #5 on: May 26, 2023, 05:04:35 PM
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



Offline Paul Birkeland

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 19316
Reply #6 on: May 27, 2023, 04:44:13 AM
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.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
Reply #7 on: May 27, 2023, 09:14:45 AM
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?



Offline Doc B.

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 9540
    • Bottlehead
Reply #8 on: May 27, 2023, 09:38:33 AM
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.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline jcado35

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 9
Reply #9 on: May 29, 2023, 04:51:54 PM
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!