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Post subject: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:35 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Hey guys. So as you might have noticed (or not), I will be buying my first tube amp hopefully this weekend. I have been almost completely sure I'll buy the Blues Deluxe Reissue with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, but now I saw a guy selling a Supersonic 60 tube amp combo at a price too good to not buy it (I don't really need the extra 20W, but from what I've read and heard through clips on youtube, it does seem to have a better clean and a much better overdrive sound - and a new one costs 1450€ while he's selling it for 900, the new BDRI costs 750 and he's selling it for 600 so relatively speaking, the SS 60 is much cheaper).
So I called the guy and, unless he sells it sooner, I am meeting him on Saturday. He did say he retubed the amp less than a year ago, only had the amp at home and in studio, no issues with it whatsoever, except for the loud pop and hum that happens when switching on the amp. It lasts, according to him, for 2 seconds or a bit less and it's gone afterwards. He did say this was normal for tube amps and that almost any tube amp will produce the same sound, even if I bought a new one from the store.

The guy did seem honest and is prepared to drive an hour in 1 direction, so I don't have to drive the whole 3h to get to him and did say he wanted me to test the amp first (which I do intend on doing, of course) to see that everything is ok like he said.. So I am pretty sure the amp is as described, the only thing I (being a newbie when it comes to tube amps) am unsure is whether or not the pop sound is something completely normal, as he described it, or whether it is something that would mean the amp is not functioning properly and needs maintenance or might soon break down. So those of you that have tube amps which do pop (or don't pop), please advise and either confirm that the sound is normal, or tell me that something is wrong with the amp :)

Thanks :)

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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 5:30 pm
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I have owned dozens of tube amps since 1968. It's not normal.


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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 6:21 pm
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"Loud pop and hum that happens when switching on the amp. It lasts, according to him, for 2 seconds."

Sounds like main filter cap(s) starting to go bad (most likely, the first filter stage caps).


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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 6:53 pm
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You might be right BMW2002Ti, but I have to question if the standby switch is being used properly, or......? If using the power switch, amp in standby, the caps wouldn't be charging yet, so there should be no noise even with a bad cap. Does the owner mean that the noise occurs when switching from standby to play? If the standby is left in play when switching on power, I might expect some noise, followed by early tube failure, which could be the source of the noise mentioned.

Being as how the owner is completely misinformed about this noise being normal, I might pass on this one, excepting quite a bit more of price discount. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:56 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Thanks guys :) Seeing how you all agree it's not normal (and I suspected as much, otherwise I wouldn't have asked for more opinions from more experienced fellow musicians), I called a guitar amp tech and told him about my dilemma. He confirmed that it is not normal, but did say it shouldn't be a problem if the noise stops after 2 seconds. He said he wouldn't worry about it if it were him buying, unless the problem worsens. Apparently it could be just that the switch is starting to fail, or an indicator that one of the tubes might be failing soon, but it shouldn't damage other parts and the repairs of such things are usually cheap.

And yeah, the noise happens when switching from standby to play. Btw - now that you mention the 'proper use of standby switch' - could you tell me whether what I think the proper use of standby is correct or wrong (as I said, never owned a tube amp before)? When switching on - turn the standby switch on, wait a few minutes for the tubes to heat, then turn the play switch on. When switching off - first turn the play switch off, wait for the tubes to cool down a bit, then turn the standby switch off. Or do I have to turn the standby switch off after I turn the play switch on, and then turn it on before I switch the play switch off again?

All things considered, do you think 900€ is a good price for a Fender Supersonic 60, 1x12, a few years old but had tubes replaced within the last year, one that was never used in a live environment and only saw the inside of a studio and his room at home, an amp that has the noise when turning on the play switch and an amp that otherwise costs between 1350 and 1450€ if you want to buy a completely new one?

I really appreciate all the help and wealth of information I am learning from you guys :)

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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:17 am
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With STANDBY switch ON, power on the amp, wait 1 minute then switch standby OFF to play.
Use STANDBY for between long intervals of not playing too if you can.
When turning OFF my amp I usualy switch to STANDBY for 10 seconds before powering off completely.
However there is no consensus on powering down a valve amp, you can switch it all off at once or to STANDBY first. Many people have different opinions on shutting down, but everyone usualy agrees on the powering up sequence.

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Post subject: Re: Pop and hum when switching on a tube amp?
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:36 am
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Ok thanks for clearing that up mate :)

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