Inconsistently scratchy, crackly amp - regardless of volume?

[Big Brother]

Just had a used Markbass CMD102P shipped to me from GC and sadly have an issue with it, hopefully I'm not stuck with a bad amp.

Ever since I opened it up last night it is making a random scratchy crackling sound that happens without any outside cause. It isn't just amp hiss, it happens only about a 1/4 of the time and it is just the same with the gain and master at full or off, and with a cable plugged in or without.

The pots are fine, I turn them all and get the sound at every setting, and not because of turning any pot.
It's the same at all volume levels and amp levels/settings.
I've plugged everything in and out, turned every knob. Same consistent crackling no matter what.

A smaller Markbass combo amp plugged in the same circuit is perfectly quiet with the same guitar and cables.

I am worried something was knocked loose in transit, they packed it very poorly, in a Remo drum box that was basically the same size as the amp so there was little cushioning and the amp itself would have absorbed every jolt.

I'm about to call GC back but I'd rather eliminate any ignorance or stupidity on my part first (interference?) and I'd rather not go through the hassle of a return if at all possible, I know they will battle me and this will be a headache as it is a used item.

Any ideas or advice?

[Big Brother]

And here we go... it's everyone's fault but theirs.

First they blamed UPS and said I had to file with them, directly contrary to their own enclosure on returns which told me to call the store directly. I pointed that out, then he suggested it was scratchy pots for me to clean, despite that the symptoms had nothing to do with pots. Finally, after I pointed out that the only real packing was the box itself, he decided he can't authorize a return over the phone and I have to drive it to another GC since he is out of state, seeya bye, where the runaround will surely begin anew.

I am half expecting them to send me back out the door saying they want nothing to do with another stores returns.

Good times.

[craig.p]

Just for the heck of it, take another instrument cord and connect the effects send jack to the effects return jack.

Or have you already tried that?

Another option is to get inside the amp and re-seat every plug you can find. Could be something just shook loose on the truck.

[ldervish]

Originally Posted by craig.p

Another option is to get inside the amp and re-seat every plug you can find. Could be something just shook loose on the truck.

I don't think I'd open it up unless/until I was sure I was stuck with it, and then only if I felt I could do it without hurting myself or damaging the amp further. It's not up to you to try and fix it, at this point.

How about another call to the source GC and if you get the same run around, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor who could authorize the return?

You may be giving them too much information by describing all your detective work, and simply saying "It sounds great but has random crackling noises that are ruining my gig & driving my band crazy" (or something similar) might work better.

Maybe they have another they could swap it for?

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by craig.p

Just for the heck of it, take another instrument cord and connect the effects send jack to the effects return jack.

Or have you already tried that?

Another option is to get inside the amp and re-seat every plug you can find. Could be something just shook loose on the truck.

Interesting idea for a test, that is the only thing I didn't try. I did that and the noise stopped. I was about to ask you for membership to your church until the noise returned a couple of minutes later...

I'm not about to open the amp up though unless I've already bought it as ldervish said. Likely it is something that shook loose but I don't want to risk the return to open it and find out.

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by ldervish

I don't think I'd open it up unless/until I was sure I was stuck with it, and then only if I felt I could do it without hurting myself or damaging the amp further. It's not up to you to try and fix it, at this point.

How about another call to the source GC and if you get the same run around, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor who could authorize the return?

You may be giving them too much information by describing all your detective work, and simply saying "It sounds great but has random crackling noises that are ruining my gig & driving my band crazy" (or something similar) might work better.

Maybe they have another they could swap it for?

I thought about keeping as much as possible to my chest also, but every time he said no I had to pull more out. He mentioned how he saw it go out and heard it himself, and relented when I pointed out how poorly packaged the item was. And when I also pointed out that I bought another used Markbass amp from another GC that arrived on the same day, was packaged far better, and works...

It was literally bare cardboard in many places, every bump rattled right through the amp and at 40 pounds, those FED-EX home guys are thudding it often.

OMW and crossing my fingers.

Thanks for the help and ideas guys

[Jeff Scott]

I thought GC had a money back return guarantee, even on used gear. Why are they giving you a hard time about this, just return it!

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I thought GC had a money back return guarantee, even on used gear. Why are they giving you a hard time about this, just return it!

Done and refunded. I think I was just getting resistance from the store I bought it from because he really didn't feel like processing the return. He really tried hard to get me to work with UPS in the beginning - I would skip that store next time except I doubt I'll ever find occasion to buy used gear there again.

Just noticed on the refund to my credit card that they kept $40 for themselves. I got for free shipping out here, so I don't understand how they can take something back that they never charged me for in the first place. Guess I will call tomorrow again.

[Jeff Scott]

Good luck, put the screws to them.