My amp rattles!

Gamera

Gamera

New member
I'm still in the honeymoon period with the Genz Benz el Diablo 60 combo that I won a couple weeks ago. So far so good. I'm digging some of the tones I'm getting from it although I still need some time to dial in MY tones. With the 6L6 tubes I had installed it gets some really great distortion sounds.

But I've noticed that when I really start digging into some power chords and palm-muted stuff the amp starts to make a vibrating noise and trails off into a rattle. The amp has a closed back so it's not easy for me to look inside to see if anything may be loose. And even if it were I don't know if I'd know what to look for. I've tried turning down the bass but it's really not that high to begin with. If I do take a screwdriver to the back and take it off, is there anything that immediately comes to mind I should be looking for? Thanks!
 
Re: My amp rattles!

There's not much to look at in back of the amp other than a couple tubes hanging down so it's hard to define where it may be coming from. It starts as a metallic vibration after hitting a chord that increases as it sustains then finally trails off. I'm not at home with the amp now to check but I'm fairly sure the tubes are Svetlana:

http://www.thetubestore.com/ne-6l6gc.html
 
Re: My amp rattles!

There is a real good chance your tubes are rattleing...I haven't come across mny recent 6L6's that don't have a slight )to not so slight) rattle to them...tighten down all the screws, panels, handle(s) then see how it is...if it still rattles after that it might very well be tubes...
 
Re: My amp rattles!

I was afraid it might be the tubes. It is a higher-pitched, almost "glassy", metallic vibration, not the same as the "knocking" in the MP3. When I get home I'll see if I can tighten them anymore. Being my first tube amp I'm not really familiar but judging by these responses rattling tubes aren't so unusual?

If I were to get a better brand of tubes (can you recommend one?) that are still 6L6's woud I have to re-bias or can I just plug 'em in and play? Thanks for the replies.
 
Re: My amp rattles!

Gamera said:
I was afraid it might be the tubes. It is a higher-pitched, almost "glassy", metallic vibration, not the same as the "knocking" in the MP3. When I get home I'll see if I can tighten them anymore. Being my first tube amp I'm not really familiar but judging by these responses rattling tubes aren't so unusual?
If I were to get a better brand of tubes (can you recommend one?) that are still 6L6's woud I have to re-bias or can I just plug 'em in and play? Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...

There are gonna be no plug and play power tuibes for an amp that is a fized bias. Also, FWIW I don;t know of any current production 6L6's that don't rattle. I am using the Winged C SED's in myu Twin Reverb and they are, so far the best about the rattle...so far there is little to no rattle.
 
Re: My amp rattles!

The amp isn't fixed bias, it's actually quite easy to adjust from the back panel since it'll take 6L6's or EL34's. But if I'm replacing 6L6 w/ 6L6, would I need to rebias?

Although it seems tube rattle is fairly common and something most folks just live with?
 
Re: My amp rattles!

My C30 amp rattles like crazy sometimes... it comes and goes... sometimes i think it's the reverb.... when i'm driving with the amp in the car the reverb unit slaps around like crazy.... But i think it's tube rattles for the most part... i've taken the amp apart and there is not much inside them!!!! i was thinking it could be the circuit board buzzing against the chassy as well....
 
Re: My amp rattles!

First things first, tighten up all the screws on the cab. Make sure that part is secure.
 
Re: My amp rattles!

I was just going to suggest buying the tube dampers. It sounds like that's all you need. The rattle is more prevalent on combos, because the speaker vibration is close to the tubes. The internal parts of the tube vibrate against the glass. The tube dampers deaden the glass, and they don't burn.

Imagine rattling a pen around, inside a drinking glass. Then wrap a few rubber bands around it. That's how it works.
 
Re: My amp rattles!

Thanks for the responses, guys. As for the cabinet, it's all screwed tight and built like a tank. I have my first "gig" with it tonight so I'll have ample time to see if I can live with it or if I need to invest in a couple dampers. Luckily our gigs are just in the basement tiki lounge with friends so if it's really disruptive I can easily refund everyone's admission as I have a wallet full of nuthin'. ;)
 
Re: My amp rattles!

Another thing you can do, which is more easily bought, is Silicon glue. You simply put a stripe of silicon glue all around the center of the tube. It won't burn, and does the same thing as tube dampers. I got this advise directly from Phil Jamison from Matchless Amps. I trust his advise, because he's spent a lifetime of getting noisy EL-84's to run silently.
 
Re: My amp rattles!

Follow-up to my situation. I used the amp last night for the first time within the context of the whole band together. The rattle was hardly noticeable at those volumes. I think I'll live with it for a bit then try the silicon glue trick if it gets too annoying.

As for the amp, whoa! The other guitarist I play with has a 100watt Valvestate head and 4x12. In addition to that, he pumps it through the PA which is hooked up to 2 other vertical 4x12 cabinets on either side of the room. Being heard over all that noise was always a challenge for me and my Fender Stage 160 2x12 combo even when I was mic'ed up. Not a problem with the Genz Benz. Every single note that I pounded out of that single 12" speaker stood up authoratatively, towered over, and commanded attention. It cut right through the wall of scratchy noise coming from his twelve 12" speakers! The bass was incredible and the tone was huge and I was only running the amp in 30watt mode with the volume at about 11:00! Later in the evening he noticed and turned himself up which forced me to kick in 60watt mode. I could still be easily heard but it was obvious it was no longer about getting a good sound, instead things just became painful to listen to. Happily after a couple songs like that we called it a night.

It's obvious to me that this amp will change my playing style in a few ways. First all of those little fills and crunches I would throw into the songs for texture are finally audible. And secondly, I think I need to practice more. When you have a tone that demands attention like that, you better have something to say. ;)
 
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