My Amp is Making Bug-zapper Noises

[greekorican]

I have a Hartke Kickback 12. I play mostly at home, with the volume around 9 o'clock, any louder and the parents will complain. This amp does not get abused, and I have had it for a year or less. Lately when you play a note that has any sustain, the amp will make short noises that sound like a moth being fried by a bug-zapper.

I do play with some friends in my friend's basement once in a while, and 120 watts doesn't go very far. To get enough volume, I'll leave it at 1 or 2 o'clock and play for an hour or two. Is that enough abuse to blow out a speaker?

I want a new amp anyway, but right now I am broke. I need to figure out what's wrong with this amp so I maybe I can still use it for a couple months. I'd also like to be able to sell it, and I'm gonna have trouble selling a broken amp.

Thanks

 

[Nighttrain1127]

Check the screws that hold the speakers in make sure they are tight. That can cause some strange sounding vibrations.

 

[greekorican]

Is there some kind of capacitor I have to short out? I'm not gonna mess with the wiring, but I also don't want to get the crap knocked out of me if I touch something by accident.