Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

Solid State Amplifiers => The Newcomer's Forum => Topic started by: junkbones on March 25, 2011, 04:27:22 PM

Title: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: junkbones on March 25, 2011, 04:27:22 PM
 Ok so when I plug the amp up and play a few chords its fine.... if I turn the bass up or hit a power chord (G does it everytime) it starts sounding like really low toned feedback starts. It will not stop regardless of me unplugging the guitar from the amp or turning all the volumes down to 0.  This is a Silvertone 1464 SolidState 100. If someone could point me in the right direction Id appreciate it. Thanks!
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: junkbones on March 25, 2011, 04:45:49 PM
just would like to add that you can play over the hum. Thanks
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: Casey4s on March 25, 2011, 06:55:21 PM
Does it have all the original power supply caps?
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: J M Fahey on March 25, 2011, 07:18:48 PM
What Casey means is that the power supply caps must be certainly dry by now, replace them with fresh ones, and since sizes have shrunk along the time, you probably can easily fit at least 2 X as much capacitance in the same board, which is good.
The hum is a symptom , and the sputtering low frequency sound is motorboating, both caused by dying filter caps.
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: Casey4s on March 26, 2011, 04:34:00 PM
Quote from: J M Fahey on March 25, 2011, 07:18:48 PM
What Casey means is that the power supply caps must be certainly dry by now, replace them with fresh ones, and since sizes have shrunk along the time, you probably can easily fit at least 2 X as much capacitance in the same board, which is good.
The hum is a symptom , and the sputtering low frequency sound is motorboating, both caused by dying filter caps.

Thanks Mr Fahey  :tu:

I guess I didn't say enough for a change...
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: junkbones on March 26, 2011, 09:07:15 PM
Ill check all this out and replace as requested but its not "humming" and its not a sputtering low frequency.. its low end feedback, steady and long. Sounds exactlly the same as if you put a bass guitar in front of a bass amp plugged in and turned up. Its for sure feedback, im positive of that.
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: Casey4s on March 26, 2011, 09:21:40 PM
It's really not that expensive to just replace all the electrolytics at once.


Just my opinion...
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: J M Fahey on March 27, 2011, 02:55:58 AM
QuoteIts for sure feedback, im positive of that.
Ok, maybe, no stone should be left unturned. :tu:
To check for actual (physical) feedback, open the chassis and *lightly* tap everywhere with a chopstic or plastic ball point pen.
I mean everywhere, from input jack to speaker out and everything in between.
Anyway, electrolytic caps, as well as any non-soldered connection remain prime suspects; the first ones for age-old dryness and the second ones for rust/grime.
An electrolytic cap may still have *capacitance*, but have also developed high internal resistance , called ESR, which is "asyntomatic" until it starts to really hurt (think diabetes / high blood pressure as a "human machine" equivalent concept).
Consider replacing them something to do on an otherwise a boring evening. :)
PS: post a couple pictures too, at least one from its guts.
Title: Re: Help with old silvertone solid state please..internal feedback?
Post by: teemuk on March 27, 2011, 04:28:51 AM
Does it have a spring reverb?