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Post by Colchar on Dec 17, 2015 0:38:24 GMT
Yesterday I purchased a Class 5 (C5-01 model) that had belonged to a friend of mine. This is my second Class 5. The first was one of the originals (one of the green ones) and had major rattling issues that could not be resolved. Because of the rattling I got rid of that amp.
My new Class 5 sounds good (especially turned up) but I have noticed that it is noisy when in 5 watt mode, even with the volume turned down (and by turned down I mean almost off). The noise is noticeable but does not increase as the volume is turned up, at least not until I hit about 3 o'clock and then the noise becomes significantly louder. I am not so concerned with that as I doubt I will ever be using the amp when turned up that high. It is the noise at low levels that is the issue.
When in low power mode the amp is dead silent - this is only happening on the normal 5 watt mode.
I am curious whether anyone might have an idea what is causing this noise?
Below is an audio file of the noise that I am hearing.
For the first 15 seconds the volume of the amp is on '2', for the next 15 seconds it is on '8', and for the final 15 seconds it is back down to '2'.
The volume of the noise might be a bit exaggerated as I didn't realize until after I had ripped the audio file from the video file that I had the media volume on my phone turned all the way up. By that point I couldn't be arsed to record and rip it again. This was recorded with the phone an inch or two away from the front of the amp.
https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fcolchar%2Fclass-5
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Post by Maxwell on Dec 19, 2015 21:46:34 GMT
How high is the gain knob?
Never mind, just looked at the knobs on the Interwebz....
Ain't nary gain.... just volume...
Some of that sounded like RF interference but there is a hiss... Your cell phone isn't on top of the amp is it?
I have a slight hiss noise in my Blackstar in the clean channel... Seems to be fairly common for some reason on the combos...
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Post by Schidney on Dec 19, 2015 23:46:08 GMT
https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fcolchar%2Fclass-5 It's a hit.  |
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Post by Colchar on Dec 20, 2015 23:00:48 GMT
Turns out it was the preamp tubes (or one of them at least).
My buddy at the store offered me tubes yesterday and I took the amp in today. It still made the noise in the store so it definitely wasn't the electricity in my house that had been causing the problem.
We put new preamp tubes in and tested it to see if that had worked or if we would have to replace the power tube as well. With the new preamp tubes it quieted right down. We couldn't hear anything until the amp was turned up to its maximum output, and it is to be expected that you would hear something at that volume.
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Post by Maxwell on Dec 20, 2015 23:32:38 GMT
Coolio!
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Post by Colchar on Dec 27, 2015 21:34:34 GMT
Bugger!
Now that the preamp tubes have been replaced the amp has started intermittently losing sound. Everything will be fine, it will stop producing sound, it will crackle, and then the sound will come back. A little while later it will lose sound again.
I checked that the tubes are all seated properly so we'll see if that helped. If not, I have the option of having the store send it out for repair or I can just return it and get something else (I would wait until the chain has their inventory clearout at the beginning of February in the hope of picking something else up at a stupidly good price).
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Post by thumpalumpacus on Dec 27, 2015 21:41:05 GMT
Was the amp new or used? If used, remove the tubes and squirt some contact cleaner in there right before reinserting each tube (get your mind out of the gutter!) in case there's any corrosion in there.
Might want to check volume knobs for spluttery response too.
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Post by Maxwell on Dec 27, 2015 21:53:41 GMT
Check the guitar cable...
If it is one of those yellow end heatshrinked cheap ass cable, throw it away anyway.
If it is one of those white end heatshrinked cheap ass cable, throw it away anyway.
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Post by Colchar on Dec 27, 2015 23:27:52 GMT
Check the guitar cable... If it is one of those yellow end heatshrinked cheap ass cable, throw it away anyway. If it is one of those white end heatshrinked cheap ass cable, throw it away anyway. Sorry, I should have mentioned that this is happening with multiple guitars and multiple (3) cables. |
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Post by Colchar on Dec 27, 2015 23:31:48 GMT
Was the amp new or used? If used, remove the tubes and squirt some contact cleaner in there right before reinserting each tube (get your mind out of the gutter!) in case there's any corrosion in there. Might want to check volume knobs for spluttery response too. It was purchased used. A friend of mine (the one I keep mentioning who is a sales guy at the guitar store I shop at) owned it before me. But he hadn't played it for a while, especially after buying a Friedman. He returned it to the store and I purchased it from the store a few days later. There is a three month warranty on used gear so when it had the noise issue they gave me new preamp tubes. We will see if we can fix it ourselves. If not, I have to decide whether to send it out to be repaired or whether to avoid the hassle and just move on to something else. If they do send it out to be repaired it will either be to a Marshall service center or their own head office. Traynor amps was started in the back room of the original location of this chain and they are still the same company so, if they send it to their own head office, they will be sending it to the same building that houses Traynor. |
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Malikon
Burnt Rock Star
Posts: 72 
Likes: 146
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Post by Malikon on Feb 11, 2016 17:24:33 GMT
Hope you can get it running well. I love my Class5
turning it up and playing on the neck pup of a lester is .... a beautiful sound.
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Post by Colchar on Feb 11, 2016 20:55:40 GMT
Hope you can get it running well. I love my Class5 turning it up and playing on the neck pup of a lester is .... a beautiful sound. I think I have decided to move on from it. The amp is out for repair right now and they are busy so I have no idea when it will come back. I decided to grab a Traynor YGM3 Reissue instead. There is a thread about it linked below. But I have that amp home as a loner at the moment and it is ridiculously loud for my needs. I knew the vintage Traynors were moronically loud but for some reason expected this one to be a bit quieter despite the fact that the built them exactly the same, right down to sourcing transformers and grill cloth to original specs from their original suppliers. Anyway, I was playing it last night and only brief got it up to '2' on the volume. Most of the time I was playing with it on '1'. So I think I might go for a Traynor YGL1 Reissue instead. They are 15 watts and have a master volume so are easily tamed. The chain I deal with has their annual inventory blowout sale this weekend. If my store puts the YGL1s that they have on sale for a good price I will snag one. If not, I will wait to see if any of the ones that other locations have survive the sale. If they do, I will have one transferred in for me. If not, then maybe I will reconsider keeping the Class 5 when it eventually comes back from repair. guitartalk.freeforums.net/thread/281/new-amp-incoming-traynor-content |
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