Amp/fx crackle

hotpickups

More of a techy question i guess. I've noticed that when I play hard sometimes I get a crackle in my amp/s. Not a massive problem but it may get picked up when I record in the studio soon. Ok when I play lightly, so only when thrashing some chords out. All my fx board cables test ok for continuity so could it be anything else I haven't checked? 

hotpickups

Just plugged it all in again and it seems to have stopped....for now. Maybe it does it when the amp if hot - I don't know, I'm not a techy as you can tell LOL

Cabicular

Get some contact cleaner like servisol
apply to all connections
get used to the smell ..

hotpickups

Cabicular said:

Get some contact cleaner like servisol
apply to all connections
get used to the smell ..

Do you mean put it on the Jacks themselves @Cabicular ;

Modulus_Amps

isolate the problem, is it the guitar/pedals/amp try any two together until you get the problem, you probably need it loud for  vibration, then once you have it down to two, swap one out and see if it comes or goes.

could be anything really

hotpickups

Modulus_Amps said:

isolate the problem, is it the guitar/pedals/amp try any two together until you get the problem, you probably need it loud for  vibration, then once you have it down to two, swap one out and see if it comes or goes.

could be anything really

If anything it could be the board but I have tested the patch cables and they're fine. As mentioned above it didn't do it the last time I plugged in. So it sounds intermittent so far

ESBlonde

It can even be things like the extension bar for the mains, the cheap ones particularly, but older ones get worn so that the contacts on the mains plugs or even the cables where they screw in get loose and cause a crackle at highet volume/when you tread on them etc. If the mains plug is not sealed check those screw connections too.
Contact cleaner on a Q-tip and swab those jack sockets inside a couple of times. Include the guitar socket, all the pedals and all the amp sockets, especially the loop FX send return even if you dont use them. Wipe some more over the jack plugs on the cables.
Are you sure all your jack leads are A1 condition?

hotpickups

ESBlonde said:

It can even be things like the extension bar for the mains, the cheap ones particularly, but older ones get worn so that the contacts on the mains plugs or even the cables where they screw in get loose and cause a crackle at highet volume/when you tread on them etc. If the mains plug is not sealed check those screw connections too.
Contact cleaner on a Q-tip and swab those jack sockets inside a couple of times. Include the guitar socket, all the pedals and all the amp sockets, especially the loop FX send return even if you dont use them. Wipe some more over the jack plugs on the cables.
Are you sure all your jack leads are A1 condition?

Can I just spray some contact cleaner into the jack sockets of the pedals etc? Not sure about the guitar leads as they are the only 3 I have Could be an expensive check otherwise

ESBlonde

Yes you can just spray into the sockets, it would be wise to allow a decent amount of time for evaporation afterwards before connecting up. It's unlikely there will be issues with moisture, but prudence dear boy, prudence.

hotpickups

ESBlonde said:

Yes you can just spray into the sockets, it would be wise to allow a decent amount of time for evaporation afterwards before connecting up. It's unlikely there will be issues with moisture, but prudence dear boy, prudence.

Can you recommend a good contact cleaner @ESBlonde then?

ESBlonde

"Servisol", either Maplins, Farnell, Rapidonline or RS Components amoung others stock it.

RS have thier own brand too as do halfords. I think there is a fancy WD40 contact cleaner as well, but Servisol has been the trade product for decades.

Sassafras

I've just ordered a can of the WD40 contact cleaner.
Review to follow.

Cabicular

hotpickups said:

Cabicular said:

Get some contact cleaner like servisol
apply to all connections
get used to the smell ..

Do you mean put it on the Jacks themselves @Cabicular ;

I normally spray the jacks and plug them in and out and twist them a few times

pintspiller

I normally spray the jacks and plug them in and out and twist them a few times

sounds pornographic