Amp playing up last night..

[_tom_]

I had some problems with my Hot Rod deluxe at band practise last night, which I havent had for ages. Sometimes the sound goes all mushy, dull, and sometimes the sound kinda sounds like its "choking", like its spluttering or something haha kinda hard to explain. Whereas normally its bright and smoother than this. It did this when I first got it then went away, havent had any problems for over a year and now this! Any ideas whats up with it? Could it be valves or does it sound like it could be something else? Time to give up the Fender and get something more beastly (:twisted:)?!

Cheers for any help

[March]

Sounds like you have a valve problem. The description is normally symptamatic of a pre-amp valve dying.

[_tom_]

Ooh right cool, glad its nothing major then.. Just thought it a bit weird for it to be dying, as I had the problem ages ago then it went away!

[Twinfan]

Might the output transformer though, which is a few quid to replace.  Pre-amp valve seems a likely starting place though.  Might be worth getting it check by a tech?

[_tom_]

I dont know of any amp techs around here  :(

[headtheball]

That's a shagged valve if ever I heard one, and seeing as me laney goes after two RATs, i've heard lots!

Get a 12ax7 and change each preamp valve for it in sequence, trying the amp each time. When the problem dissapears, chuck the valve you took out away. Although I'd bet pounds to pennies it's either V1 or the phase splitter.

Tech? Tech? We don't need no stinkin tech!!!


unless thats not  the problem, in which case we do.)

[_tom_]

hahaha ok I was actually planning on replacing em soon anyway.. Reckon JJ's will be any good?

[maliciousteve]

hahaha ok I was actually planning on replacing em soon anyway.. Reckon JJ's will be any good?

JJ 12ax7's are the nuts. I use them in my ADA preamp and the cleans are just amazing. As well as the distortion sounding better than most £1000+ super amps.