Well thanks Enzo. Heres what  I found: no speaker - no symptoms, so I checked the polarity of the speaker output wires and found I had them reversed.  When I powered up after correcting this screw up, no symptoms! LOL. However, the previous possible input jack problem persisted.  

Quote from: Tbass on September 24, 2010, 04:56:37 PM
amp history: 1. distorted sound/ speaker swap didnt fix 2. bad connection sound when input jack wiggled/ resoldered jack didnt fix These past problems may be related to present problem, or not.

I replaced the small resistor  next to the input jack and the bad connection sound went away but input sounds a bit overdriven now.  Next step is confirm I used the correct resistor. Also, Im wondering if I damaged anything with my screwup. Thanks again!  

Though Ive got some experience with music electronics, tube amps primarly, I have a vast ignorance of solid state/transistor amps. Ive got the schematic for this, my little apartment amp, and I can take measurements with my vom.
amp history: 1. distorted sound/ speaker swap didnt fix 2. bad connection sound when input jack wiggled/ resoldered jack didnt fix These past problems may be related to present problem, or not.
amp now: with no input, makes loud squealing sound and 1 transistor (there are 2 on the heatsink with a smaller one in the middle) gets verrry hot.
With the clues Ive got so far can anyone tell what this problem is or tell me what to check next?