Ampeg SVT-4 Pro Problem

[BassMan4Him]

So, my Ampeg SVT-4 is doing something I'm not used to. Randomly while I play through it, there is a clicking noise. Its just one click that is very short and as loud as the bass is.

I checked the inputs, outputs, cables, basses, and speakers to no solution.

It only happens every few seconds. It did this a few days ago but went away after 5 minutes of playing. Now it is back.

I really need some here.. Thanks!

[BassmanPaul]

Sounds like it's tech time. Could well be a leaky decoupling cap in a power line that's allowing the amp to motorboat at a very long interval.

[JimmyM]

Don't let Paul scare you with that...that's not a horribly expensive repair. Sounds way worse than it is.

If you have any spare tubes laying around, you could try swapping tubes around before you take it to a tech. But Paul is a tech, so he has a higher likelihood of being right than I do

[BassMan4Him]

Who could I take it take it to? Guitar Center? Could local small music places handle it or is it too complicated? How much? Ill try the tube idea first...

[JimmyM]

Service Center Locator

[BassMan4Him]

Why would it start clicking and then stop?

[BassmanPaul]

If I am correct, the cap could well reform its dielectric reducing the leakage and stopping the feedback. As the cap fails more then this reforming will take longer until it just stops and the cap has failed.

Reforming the caps is why old amps that haven't been powered up for a while should be brought up to full voltage slowly using a variac.

[BassMan4Him]

Ive noticed it seems to click more often when the gain is up compared to when just the master is up...

[ajwolfcale]

Mine started doing that and then it would drop the signal completely. I have other friends that had the exact same thing happen to theirs also. I love the sound of these things but the quality is just terrible (at least on the non-usa models). I tried contacting ampeg and never got a response, so as soon as it gets out of the shop for the 100th time I'm getting rid of it. Its the most unreliable amp that I have ever used.

[JimmyM]

Not that I'm calling you a liar, but other than a brief period between 2007 and 2008 when LOUD was being run by an idiot, I haven't seen anything out of current Ampeg that suggests QC is not as good. Just the opposite, in fact. Not getting an answer from Ampeg is very atypical.

[BassMan4Him]

Also, it clicks a LOT when I move the head around. C'mon this can't be rocket surgery!! Thanks, so much for the current help. I just really need an answer....

[JimmyM]

Ya, well you wouldn't diagnose a medical problem over the net without going to a doctor because there could be a different cause that someone would need to see to determine. Same with amps.

[Nightlyraider]

Open up an SVT 4 Pro and examine the innards.

One might be able to refer to an old-school turret board, hand wired, fender amp as simplistic, but the PCBs covered in parts you are discussing aren't easy to diagnose unseen.

The fact that any head movement results in more noise makes me think tube or loose connection somewhere in the signal path.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by BassMan4Him

Also, it clicks a LOT when I move the head around. C'mon this can't be rocket surgery!! Thanks, so much for the current help. I just really need an answer....

Best answer you can get over the net: Its broken get it to a tech. If you think it is so easy, open her up and try not to cause yourself additional cost when you get it to a tech.

[BassMan4Him]

Originally Posted by Nightlyraider

The fact that any head movement results in more noise makes me think tube or loose connection somewhere in the signal path.

That's what I'm thinking.. Thanks for the help guys