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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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10th Jun 2019, 10:45 am | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Bass Guitar amplifier problem
I have a Peavey TNT 150 bass guitar amplifier (1980's) here that has developed a mains hum. The hum is just about bearable, but I am sure this amp was quieter than it is now.
If anyone has worked on a similar rig and problem, I would be interested to know what they found. It is a transistor amp, not valve. Mike. |
10th Jun 2019, 11:51 am | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
YouTube suggests that the three screws on the large preamp board connect the circuit ground to the chassis, can make a high resistance contact as the years pass and the copper tarnishes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYHYd471siw |
10th Jun 2019, 11:52 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
I don't know this amp in particular but the question "What's causing the hum ?" is the one with the most possible answers in all of audio electronics. A quick way of eliminating a large number of possible options is to establish whether the hum is at 50Hz or 100Hz. If it's 100Hz then it's very often a power supply or power rail issue, which can include a fault somewhere else overloading the power supply. If it's 50Hz then it could be grounding, magnetic field leakage, raised circuit impedance somewhere, transformer vibration shaking a microphonic component ...
Cheers, GJ
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10th Jun 2019, 1:20 pm | #4 |
Moderator
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Playing around with volume controls and tone controls to see which do and which don't affect the hum can be enlightening and reduce the area to be searched. Unplugging all inputs etc is another check.
David
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10th Jun 2019, 9:07 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
The YouTube tip is certainly worth checking. All controls have no effect except volume control which increases the volume of the hum although I would not be using the amp at that higher volume. Guess it could be time to dig out the scope.
Mike. |
11th Jun 2019, 4:59 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Well checked out the YouTube tips but to no avail. The various earthing terminals/tags all read zero ohms to the main input lead earth. The neutral pin screw in the 13 amp plug was loose as is often the case. Why do they do that ?? Always the neutral and not the phase. So its probably a leaky cap and lucky for me, not many in the power section. The main electrolytics are 5000 ufd, 47 volt working. Almost impossible to check without removing the board. As this is a USA built amp, if needed, exact replacements may be hard to find. It looks like they are the type with lugs that are twisted after fitting in the board. Might be worth giving Peavey a call/email.They used to have a UK base in Northants, but I have an idea that got shut down.(Maybe not ?)
Mike. |
11th Jun 2019, 6:24 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Called Twist-Lock caps. If they are Sprague they can be open circuit. Basically where the ground tape inside the cap is crimped to the can, it slowly electrolytically rots through over thirty years or so, and disconnects the innards.
They are real sods to desolder, particularly if the twist lugs are soldered to the board too. Craig |
11th Jun 2019, 6:28 pm | #8 |
Heptode
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Hi, I seem to remember that the main smoothing caps can party fail. I seem to remember replacing them with some tag electrolytics, but using hot glue to hold them in and wires to connect to the printed circuit board....
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12th Jun 2019, 5:35 am | #9 |
Diode
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
It's the caps. 100% Many trans amps from this period fail like this after a number of years.
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12th Jun 2019, 11:16 am | #10 |
Rest in Peace
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
If the hum is effected by the volume setting, have you got a guitar plugged into the input.
If nothing is plugged into the input when the hum is present then try a jack plug which is shorted, if the hum goes then the hum is just a case of residual mains hum interference. It should help with a guitar connected to the input, assuming the guitar cable and guitar are good quality and wired correctly. Mike |
12th Jun 2019, 12:51 pm | #11 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
I've had several of these amplifiers over the years and a couple of them had the hum issue. In my case the fix was simply the earth cable had come loose from the terminal inside the mains plug. Retightened and all good again...………..
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14th Jun 2019, 3:10 pm | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
I need to check the main electrolytics first with my cap tester. Only thing is the highest range is 2000 uf. The caps are 5000uf. I will have to try and and see. At least it should tell me if they are very low.
I will also check mains lead earth for continuity. Possible internal break. (I doubt it but you never can tell.) Mike. |
14th Jun 2019, 5:08 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Mike, you say in #5 that the hum increases when the volume is turned up, this suggestS something in the pre-amp or EQ side perhaps? Have you checked the +/-16V rails? A scope on these should show if the filtering is amiss
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14th Jun 2019, 9:14 pm | #14 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
In reply to previous post, sorry for that error on my part, that was with the guitar plugged in. With no input, hum level is constant.
Mike. |
15th Jun 2019, 8:00 am | #15 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Apparently, the preamplifier can be unplugged and the power amp can be run on its own, so if the hum still persists, then I will know which section it is in.
Mike. |
15th Jun 2019, 3:52 pm | #16 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
Hi Watford Valves do a wide range of amp components, worth taking a look.
Cheers John |
16th Jun 2019, 7:13 am | #17 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
I found a good company in the US who stock all kinds of Mallory caps of the twist-lock type, typical price around $10-$12. Of course postage would be a deciding factor and probably cost more than the two items.
I did find out that a common fault on these amps is cracking of the solder on the main electrolytics lock tabs and connections, but on removing the board, all was perfect.A slight discolouration on the standoff earths but nothing else. Board removal is easy. Four screws that hold the heat sink part of the board,three screws on the other edge of the board, one jack socket to remove,complete with wires and a tie wrap to cut. That is enough to rotate the board to check soldered connections. I found a four page pdf with circuits etc.on line of the same model. I did see that the 5000uf caps were shown as 1000/35 on one drawing and 5000 on another, so perhaps they found that more smoothing was required. Since removing the board and replacing it, the hum seems slightly quieter or am I going progressively deaf !! Hum is around 60hz., (or low C.) Mike. |
16th Jun 2019, 7:25 am | #18 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: Bass Guitar amplifier problem
60Hz (or 50Hz) is an odd frequency for the hum, unless it is being induced by stray field in the mains wiring. Most hum is second harmonic from full wave rectification artifacts and should be at 100Hz and harmonics thereof.
If it is indeed at 50Hz that indicates something very different from duff reservoir caps. Craig |