Grr. Need help with SVT.

**jmattbassplaya** · #1 02-14-2011, 02:49 PM

I was jamming at a friends place the other day and my SVT suddenly and unexpectedly cut out. The fan was still running, but no sound was coming out. I let the amp sit for a minute, and when I tried it again the amp once again started up in standby, but the main LED on the front went from red to nothing, and my bias lights on the back didn't come on at all. I then learned that my friends house had no ground, so I figured that was part of the problem.

Anyways, I decided to unplug my SVT and try it at home later. Long story short, I've had the same results. The amp will turn on alright and the fan will run, but after a minute or two in standby the power LED will go to blank, and if I try taking it out of standby I get no sound. I think I can also hear a very, very slight clicking noise from the tubes (like something is tapping them), but this might be my imagination or something completely normal that I just never noticed before.

I consulted the users manual and it says nothing about about the power LED turning on and then off with the amp still running, so I don't know whether I need to check the tubes or just take it to a tech.

Any advice?

Rickett Customs · #2 02-14-2011, 02:51 PM

Is it a CL or a VR? It definitely sounds like 2 issues....

**jmattbassplaya** · #3 02-14-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

Is it a CL or a VR? It definitely sounds like 2 issues....

CL.

Eric Moesle · #4 02-14-2011, 02:58 PM

How old are the tubes?

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 02-14-2011, 03:02 PM

Not sure. I bought the amp used from a fellow TBer (Ray Salamon) and he said they had about 100 hours worth of playing time on them.

okcrum · #6 02-14-2011, 03:14 PM

If the power LED is going off while the amp is still in standby, then it's tech time. You've probably lost one of the +-15 volt supplies, or a component in the fault sensing circuit.

EDIT: The krinkling noise is just the output tubes heating and is normal.

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 02-14-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okcrum

If the power LED is going off while the amp is still in standby, then it's tech time. You've probably lost one of the +-15 volt supplies, or a component in the fault sensing circuit.

EDIT: Make sure the tubes are lighting up. The krinkling noise is just the output tubes heating and is normal.

The tubes are lighting up. Everything seems normal except for the light and the fact that there's no sound coming from it. Could an ungrounded power outlet do something like this - even though I ran my amp through a surge protector?

okcrum · #8 02-14-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

The tubes are lighting up. Everything seems normal except for the light and the fact that there's no sound coming from it. Could an ungrounded power outlet do something like this - even though I ran my amp through a surge protector?

There's no telling until you know what's failed in the amp. You might have just had a coincident failure.

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 02-14-2011, 03:29 PM

I guess my next question is this - does anyone know any good amp techs in Knoxville, TN?

coreyfyfe · #10 02-14-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I guess my next question is this - does anyone know any good amp techs in Knoxville, TN?

Good amp techs!

http://www.el34world.com/service.htm

**jmattbassplaya** · #11 02-14-2011, 06:48 PM

Thanks man! I'll give him a call in the next day or two.

Jerrold Tiers · #12 02-14-2011, 09:04 PM

I like grounded outlets...... but that would NOT be expected to happen just from using an ungrounded one.....No.

**jmattbassplaya** · #13 02-14-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerrold Tiers

I like grounded outlets...... but that would NOT be expected to happen just from using an ungrounded one.....No.

Thanks for answering that. That was my only guess as to what it could be since the amp has given me zero problems til now.