Dodgy Valves?

[Hammerheart]

I have been playing my Orange TH30 quite a lot recently on very low volume (we are talking at that point where the volume knob cuts from silence into 'sound on') and its started making crackly noises. Its sounds like a vinyl record pop and crackle in the background although it doesn't appear to affect the running of the amp.

Have I messed the valves up by not cranking it? Can I get around this by getting that new EVH5150iii combo that has the attenuator?

Your advice sorely needed.

[witeter]

I have never heard of anyone messing up their valves by playing at too low a volume! so the question would be, are you running any pedals with it? have you checked all your cables? sometimes cabling issues can give you that scratchy sound

[JJretroTONEGOD]

you can't mess valves up by not cranking it, it might be a valve gone I'd just try replacing them and if it doesn't work it's something more serious then were into amp tech territory.

[JimmyMoorby]

I do the same with my 100 watt orange rockerverb through a 4x12 and never had a problem.  I've had the amp for donkeys years....since the brought it out and only changed the valves once I want to change them again though.
One of the best things about my orange is it sounds so good at low volume where most amps wouldnt if any.....dont worry about it theyre very well made sounds like its just the valves.

[Hammerheart]

It does it with all cables removed so its deffo something in the amp.

Could a boost pedal have messed something up? I do have a tc electronic spark booster and seem to remember it making things sound a bit farty once lol.

[Dmoney]

a boost pedal won't have messed it up.

is it a combo or a head & cab?

[Hammerheart]

Head and cab

[Hammerheart]

Are the stock valves usually a bit cr@ppy?

[Dmoney]

Nah.

Orange take the reliability of the valves they use very seriously. I've heard their valve amp designer talking about such things in person. They used JJ ECC803S at one point because they are easy to get and sound good and are pretty reliable, but I know they started using the JJ ECC83S because it is even more reliable, better for combos because combo's played loud transfer more vibration into valves, and the trade off in tone was acceptable given those benefits. I'm not sure what they use for output valves but I'd bet they have put in something reasonable and not just cheap chinese guff.

If you want to figure out if its the preamp or power amp valves making the noise, depending on the FX circuit (if it's insert and not parallel) you should be able to break the connection from the preamp to the power amp. If you still get a noise, it's something after the FX return. Possibly the FX retun stage, the PI or the output valves.

that said. I find lots of amps make little pops but I don't sweat it.

How long have you had the amp? Ever changed the valves?

[Hammerheart]

Its probably about 6 months old. :/

[Dmoney]

Should be fine then.
I dont think it's anything major. Might be worth trying new valves like the others said. Worst that happens is you end up with some spares, really?

[Dave Sloven]

I bought my Peavey at the end of June (winter here) and developed a noise somewhere around a week later.  There was an odd 'pop' and since then I've had a 'drip drip' sound in a valve somewhere (like you I tested everything before coming to the conclusion it's definitely in the amp).  As the amp sits rather close to a window and that day I turned it on reasonably early in the day I am wondering if maybe I did not have it on long enough before turning on the standby switch?  Anyway I suspect that even if that was the case all that happened was that a flaw in a tube was found through that process rather than it being a perfectly good tube.

My amp is still within the 3-month tube warranty period, although the Australian distributor AMI is taking their sweet time getting back to my dealer regarding warranty service authorization.

If you have had your Orange for 6 months I doubt the tubes are covered by warranty but it does suck to have a tube go so early on.

There is some good advice regarding servicing amps in a video by Gerald Weber.  You can buy it for $60 or you might just find it as a torrent somewhere ;)

There are some clips on the web but you would be better off trying to track down the full thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Tube-Guitar-Amplifier-Servicing-Overhaul/dp/B000ESSTJM

[Dmoney]

Actually, turning the standby off too quickly doesn't harm most modern amps. some stuff with valve rectifiers might benefit from a slower start, but the myth for standby prolonging valve life comes from transmitter valve technology. The other myth is that you can't touch output valves with your bare hands because the oils in your hands will damage the valve and catch fire. That is a amp myth borrowed from lighting rigs were that is an actual problem.

valves get hot and cold. they expand and contract. they wear down. I've had new valves blow with two days of installing them and next to no use. It's rare to get any kind of warranty on valves I think and when you do it's often really short.

If you're reluctant to get new valves try getting a second opinion on the noise from someone who has used a few valve amps. Shoot Orange an email, I bet they will be helpful. Little pops and groans happen in my amps sometimes but that's different to a constant cyclic ringing noise or loud hum or something.

[HTH AMPS]

I'm sure most amp companies offer a 90 day warranty on valves.

[Dave Sloven]

I think my problem was a bad ground in the house, as I can also get the same noise with my old practice amp if I turn it up loud enough, and at every powerpoint.  It must either be the fusebox or the grounding of the slab. I'm having trouble working out who is responsible for what though with this stupid privatized electricity service we have now in Australia.

The good news is that Peavey warranties for gear bought by old distributor are definitely honored by the new distributor, AMI.  I have an authority number but it doesn't look as though I need it.