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Post subject: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:44 pm
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Hi!

I just bought a new Fender Deluxe Reverb (came right out of a box at Long & Mcquade in Richmond BC).

Sounds great, I love the amp and the sound.

But when turned on it has a relatively faint crackling / bacon frying sound. I took it back to the store, and the guy - who seems really helpful - told me that I had to turn the amp up to 6 or 10 really quickly then it would go away... I did but the sound didn't go away. Then he told me I have to play it for a month and that the crackling would go away. - that it is a brand new speaker, and that is why it is crackling. The crackling noise isn't audible when you are playing (ie. it probably is, but it is so faint you won't hear it when playing through the amp)

But to me: this doesn't make sense. How can it be the speaker that needs breaking in, if it crackles when nothing is being played? Wouldn't it be the tubes, as they are on and "working" even when not being played through? I've pulled V1 and V2 to no effect - I guess I could pull V1 through V6 and find out (I think if it is V6 pulled that makes the sound go away, then it is probably the power tubes or something else, and I'm not going to go further than pulling the pre-amp tubes myself) but I'm not an experienced amp tech, so don't really want to mess around too much (anyone know where I can buy a cement based resistor?... yanking the power while playing through the amp "should" drain the capacitor but I'm not really sure...)

Question 1: Is a slight crackling normal behaviour for a Fender Deluxe Reverb? The old Traynor YGL1 I had was dead silent, but maybe a different animal

Question 2: If it is not normal behaviour, will just playing it for a month really make it go away (I may as well tell you I believe in Santa Clause too... but I have to ask)

Question 3: Did I just get a lemon?

Now I have 30 days and can just exchange it / get them to fix it... (I would take it in "before" I played it for a month so I could still exchange of course ;) I'd prefer to keep the amp cause I love the sound and am otherwise really happy with it - but when idle and everything is quiet it is annoying (I've got a mesa boogie walkabout for my bass, and it's got a fan noise which I can live with.. but constant crackling doesn't sound right).

Please help with some advice!

thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:33 pm
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No, no, and probably.

Speakers -- broken in or otherwise -- do not "crackle". Ever. Likely you've got one or more noisy tubes or perhaps a bad coupling cap somewhere on the PCB (difficult to isolate and identify).

For brand new and that kind of money this amp should shine your shoes, wind your watch, and excrete one-ounce Tiffany cufflinks on demand.

Take it back and exchange it or insist on a refund.

And tell the ignoramus who told you that rubbish to go pound sand -- my cats know more about Fender tube-amp architecture than that 'tard!

:roll:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:09 pm
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awesome!

thanks for the response!


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:52 pm
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Yip, don't go messin' where you don't know whats cookin'. I am hoping for you that this is a once off exchange and that this amp does not become a repeat offender with all these QC issues we are hearing about.

Try testing out the exchange unit before taking it home, making sure those problems are gone.

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:17 pm
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Get your money back and buy the latest SF Deluxe Reverb :D


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:06 am
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Going to return it today - L&M has a good policy with returns and exchanges. I'll get full value.

But what to get? Looks like they are out of any other DRRI, and I don't really want to wait for Fender to ship one... and I am a bit turned off the quality - makes me wonder if something else could easily be wrong with another one... I just wanted some great cleans - maybe a Deville? How about a Machete? Supersonic 22 / 60?

Or I am even thinking Traynor, who has a better rep in these parts (Canada) for quality than Fender... the YGL2 has got some great reviews (and the YGL1 I used to have was awesome). Or their Ironhorse 40w head.

I'll try some of these and anything else in the 1K price range out and see what I end up with :) If nothing seems better than the DRRI I'll just order a new one ;)


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:16 am
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Nikola Tesla wrote:
Get your money back and buy the latest SF Deluxe Reverb :D


I thought the DRRI is the latest?

You mean this one:

http://www.fender.com/series/vintage-mo ... verb-120v/

Did it just come out? Bassman stack, reverb and trem on both channels... wonder if the foot switch switches channels or just reverb and trem again...


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:04 am
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Looking forward to see what you end up with. Test them well.

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:36 am
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Krhodes wrote:
If nothing seems better than the DRRI I'll just order a new one ;)


You'll likely fare better finding a used one made before 2006.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:00 pm
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Ok: Walked in wanting a Deville... walked away with Hughes and Kettner 18 Tube Meister

http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/produ ... 018%20Head

and a small 12 cab (although it sounded way better out of a 2x12 or 4x12 - of course ;) but they were too damn heavy, and I can always swap cabs out or rent one for a specific gig.

http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/produ ... %20Cabinet

The Fender amps - I loved all the clean channels, wasn't one I didn't really enjoy. But they all have something else going on, and if you want what that is - like I was with the Deluxe Reverb - you are set. But the DRRI kind of needs to be played at a particular volume, there is definitely a sweet spot volume-wise. I don't always fit into that space I realized.

Traynors - they have versatility, and the YGL1 is definitely a blues Jr killer, it just is miles above it IMHO for the same price... but I was looking at the next level up, the YGL2. The cleans are not as good as Fenders, but almost - and it has the extra channel and is really versatile. But I really wanted a great clean tone and the YGL2 was it - until I found the H & K

Then the H & K - was originally going to try out the 36w version, but they didn't have one in stock. But for what I need, I realized 18w was probably good enough. It is a remarkably simple unit - which is why it is so good. 2 channels, gain on each one, to get a bit of blues crunch from the clean channel to taste, and to get a metal crunch from the distorted (called lead) channel. Effects loop, and red out for a sound board or recording, which is a huge plus for me (sure logic pro / x has almost anything you want, but the sound of real tubes still beats it imho!). But the cleans sold me on this thing! unbelievably smooth and full! They don't have that Fender luster-like sparkly-creamy sound, more like the DRRI on just the clean channel but a bit more modern sounding. It doesn't have Reverb, which is probably a deal breaker for some, but I was willing to compromise (I'm not a huge reverb fan, usually just add a sparkle to my mix and leave it... so I probably won't miss it much - but some songs need it). Has a built-in attenuator for 1w, 5w, and 18w... so it sounds awesome quiet. In short, it is the perfect home recording and small gig amp. With a 2x12 cab it has more than enough headroom for a drummer - and the red-out is great for the sound guys (way better than trying to mic the amp).

Direct comparison to the DRRI (only clean channel comparison, and no reverb):
On my SG (2013 standard - got the etune system too, quite fun) rock chords sounded clean and low - just like on the deluxe reverb, with some bite the more gain you add (or higher you turn the volume on the DRRI - again, an older style concept). The highs aren't as piercing and can be controlled easier than on the DRRI - although mine had the bright cap still on of course. When played at the same volume - a volume where the DRRI is in it's sweet spot, I'd say the tone of the 2 is remarkably similar, but the H&K can get that same sound at lower and higher volumes (depending on the cab with the H&K, and the attenuator at 1w/5w/18w). The DRRI can add Reverb, the H&K can add an awesome sounding distortion channel... I'd rather have a great sounding distortion channel than a great sounding reverb option, ergo the decision to go H&K.

And it is LIGHT! comes with a padded bag and strap, it weighs less than a macbook pro - or not noticeably different anyways...

Missing that reverb though ;) Any advice on a great sounding digital reverb pedal?

thanks for all the feedback! I really appreciate your input on the crackle noises! Retroverbial

cheers! and happy playing!


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 2:13 pm
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for what it's worth, here is a review of the H&K:

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guita ... -18-476889


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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:34 pm
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I think this is worth giving it a go ..

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:23 am
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I think so too, whos going to do it.

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:36 am
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AaronK wrote:
I think so too, whos going to do it.


If I see one, I'm definitely gonna take it for a test-drive.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Brand new Deluxe Reverb: Low crackling noise on idle
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:30 am
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Will be awaiting your critique Arjay.

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