Marshall valvestate 8080 1. when i turn the buttons they make a cracking sound 2.when i play on it the sound becomes very quiet
I have a marshall valvestate 8080 and every time i turn it on the sound fades away and becomes very quiet. A second problem is that when i turn the buttons they make a lot of cracking sounds. Any suggestions ??
Music - Marshall
Answers & Comments
As an electronics tech for 40 years I have spent half of those years reparing the damage done to electronic equipment by WD40. It is a great product when used in the correct situation. When it comes to cleaning controls in amplifiers etc the correct procedure is to apply a contact cleaner to flush out any dirt then apply a contact lubricant. WD40 contains minute graphite particles as well as corrosive chemicals. Between the two they swiftly render the controls to the bin.
WD40 great for unlocking rusty screws etc but never use it in electronic gear.
The crackling, and the low volume could both stem from just the control problem. I suggest a cleaner such as Tech Spray 1677 in the controls first, just a 1/4-second spritz is all it takes into each resistor element, work the control limit to limit many times, and then a similar spritz of WD.
When turning the knobs you might get a crackling noise if the amp is old, The knobs get worn. Either you can replace them or repair them with a tiny squirt of WD40. Check youtube videos for help.
As for the fading sound, That would be your valves ... They need to be replaced ... I suggest taking it to a repair dhop for that because they need to be matched.
The noisy pots can be cleaned using contact cleaner specifically made for controls.As for the sound dying or being low:Jumper the power amp in jack to the preamp out jack [or effects send jack to the effects return jack]. There may only be oxidation in the contacts of these jacks. If the normal sound level comes back-either clean the two jacks or have them replaced.