Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

TheDarkOne

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Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Hey all, okay so the other day I plugged into one of my Peavey XXX half stacks and it has started making a a strange whoosh/wind sound?

I have two of these identical stacks side by side, both plugged into the same power source, only one head makes the noise, and swapping heads/cabs over does not stop it either. Have never had this issue before and have not changed anything to suddenly make it start.

It even does it when the guitar is unplugged/other guitars plugged in and stuff. It is only the one amp and just started doing it. I am using humbuckers not single coils so it is not that. Nothing in the effects loop either.

The second I flip it off standby after warming up it starts making the sound. It does seem to go away after a few minutes but usually I crap myself and switch it straight off as I don't want it to blow up or get worse. Changing channels on the amp does not stop the noise at all.

It also makes the noise when in other rooms, with all computers/monitors/televisions turned off and unplugged.

I have pulled it apart, sighted and wiggled all the tubes, no tubes look black/silver/white etc. The wiggle did not stop or change the noise. Did not yet try swapping around tubes, but will definately try that over the next few days.

Have tried looking up this issue and heard that it could be:

A: A blown or blowing preamp or power tube.
B: A bad/cold solder joint in the circuit.
C: A bad capacitor or "tube coupling capacitor".
D: 60hz hum, television, computer monitor, house power, etc. (These are not the cause in this case due to other matching head not having same issues).
E: Something else all together.

Both were purchased 2nd hand and are up to 10 years or so old each. I rarely use them and when I do at fairly low levels, but god knows what they have been through before I got them...

Both are definitely due for a tube swap, no matter what, I know this, but not got to much in the way of spare funds atm, that, and I not been playing much anyway, but really want to get this sorted so I can jump back in to the geetars asap.

Any suggestions please? I'm starting to get worried, I love these amps :guilty:

Thanks guys.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

I suggest swapping the tubes, checking the bias and then seeing what happens. I had problems like that with my JVM which were resolved when I changed the power tubes and reset the bias.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Yes, check the tubes. Tube "rush" is common but it's a low level noise that you generally wont hear over music. Past that, if it's a tube, it's a "bad" tube. It may not be a tube but since tubes are easiest to rule out, start there.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Start with the phase inverter then work your way back to V1
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

If you have not at least eliminated the possibility of a tube issue by swapping them out one by one there is not much point looking for other issues.
Tubes are like car tyres or light globes. They wear out and sometimes just die instantly. They are a consumable item. You should always have spares for exactly this kind of thing, and depending on how much you use your amp, you will need to replace all of them periodically. Just to give you a ball park figure of how often that needs to be done...i tend to replace the tubes on my main gigging amp every year and notice the difference with the new sets. Your mileage may vary but unless the amp has sat unused for 10 years you can be pretty sure it will be in need of a full set to operate at its best. However, weird behaviours (like your wooshing sound) can be eliminated in a matter of minutes simply by a process of swapping each tube with a known strong tube.
The best solution is to just buy a full new set. Your amp and tone will thank you for it. Keep the old ones as spares in a plastic lunch box in your speaker cabinet for "on the road" emergencies.
If you are broke and just need to get rid of this problem until you can afford a full set, just buy a single preamp tube. Pull out V1 and see if the problem goes away. If not, put it back and then work your way through the rest of the preamp tubes. If this helps you work out the issue, then great. Put your new tube in V1 again because it has the biggest influence on your tone. Move the old v1 down to wherever you have a gap.
 
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Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

I'm going with the jack
The speaker out jack to be specific
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Thanks so much for the replies :-)

I live in a small country town in Australia with no decent music shop, and don't really want to buy tubes online. I am definitely going to pick up a few sets when I get into the city next. (Want to get matched sets from respected shops etc).

I'm thinking, for now, if I just swap the tubes out between the two amps, (both identical model XXX's, except one doesn't whoosh), and say the whooshing begins on the other head- I could instantly narrow it down to a faulty tube, I guess..

If the whooshing continues after tube swap I will cry.

I will hopefully get some time today to change them around.

Will report back soon.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

When you turn on the amp, and the noise starts, look at the power tubes to see if one is getting way more red than the others. If it is, turn the amp off and let them cool down. Next, move the power tubes around...if the red plate stays in the same spot, it is the socket and if the red moves with the tube to a new spot, it's a bum tube.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

I'm going with the jack
The speaker out jack to be specific

Okay, only just got time to sus this out, first thing I tried was new guitar to head lead and new head to cable lead.

Made sure computer and computer monitor were turned on too, out of curiousity. Turned on head, whooshing gone. I suspect it was the head to cab lead.

Ill swap the tubes soon anyway, thanks for all the help, I was worried, glad turned out to be the simplest answer. :-)
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Had a crack at amp again today and THE DAMN WHOOSHING SOUND WAS BACK!

Swapped the V1 and V3 tubes and it has stopped. I then swapped the V2 and the Phase inverter and it is also still gone, but now sounds a bit thinner than ever before. 6 of the eight tubes are microphonic, with 2 VERY microphonic (original phase inverter and one of the power tubes).

I guess this has narrowed it down to bad tubes. At least it has stopped whooshing for now.

Just an update.
 
Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

Re: Peavey XXX just started making that "Whooshing" or "windy" sound. Any tips?

I live in a small country town in Australia with no decent music shop, and don't really want to buy tubes online. I am definitely going to pick up a few sets when I get into the city next. (Want to get matched sets from respected shops etc).

Forget about trying to buy decent valve sets in Aussie shops, you'll get a dog's breakfast and pay severely for the 'pleasure'. Buy your valves online. I recommend this site/ seller

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Tube-Amp-Shop/Tubes-/_i.html?_fsub=2

Whereabouts in Australia are you located ? (town and state)
 
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