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A couple of years ago, I ended up ditching an amp that I'd had for a few years because there was a really loud crackling noise that would start about five minutes after turning it on. It was a relatively cheap amp (and I'd been lusting over a different one for a few months), so I ended up putting it aside and getting a new one. Now I kind of want to use it again. Is this something that I could potentially fix without having to bring it in to get repaired?
Resolder all the solder joints on the board and look for electrolytic capacitors that have swollen. If you find any that have rounded tops, replace them. Also look for any other component that looks like it has gotten hot, and replace any that look discolored from heat. If after that it still crackles and pops, you'll need to troubleshoot with an oscilloscope. That may be beyond the level of effort you're willing to do.
Thanks for the advice! There are a few electrolytic capacitors that look swollen, so I'm going to replace them. I haven't checked closely for the other issues you mentioned, but I'll give them a closer inspection if this doesn't do the trick. Thanks again!
Honestly, it might be something simple, but it really depends on what’s causing the crackling. A lot of amps start doing that when a part inside gets old, like a dirty pot, a loose connection, or something heating up after a few minutes. Sometimes just cleaning the knobs with contact cleaner can help, but other times it’s more of an internal issue. Since it starts after the amp warms up, that usually means a part inside isn’t super happy anymore. You could pop it open and look for dust or loose wires if you’re comfortable, but if not, it might be safer to get someone to check it. I’d hate for you to try fixing it and make things worse. If you really wanna use it again though, it’s definitely worth trying a basic cleaning first.