My Bugera V5 is making noise

Tube or solid-state, this section goes to eleven!
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GuitarlCarl
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Post by GuitarlCarl »

Yeah yeah, it's a Behringer, knock it all ya want... I've read a zillion posts about how crappy this amp is...
Whatever dude...
I've also read posts from folks who seem to like it alot. I've had mine for a 8+ months and it was second hand when I got it CHEAP, and I like the way is sounds with my pedal board, in the church praise band. (my board is split 2 ways between the PA and the V5 is kinda my own monitor but also extra grit in the backround of the bands total sound) Now, it has started to kinda buzz staticy after its been warmed up. I've read a new power tube (EL84) solves a microphonic rattle that many users report... My question is... does a microphonic rattle in a tube sound like static? Is that what my amp is doing? I know decent EL84 tube like a JJ can't hurt this thing, but I wouldn't call this static sound a rattle and that is what many many owner reported, a rattle. I'm like a nerd at the mechanic's telling him my car is goin' RRR, whats wrong with it? :blackeye
I want it to sound like bees buzzing around in a 55 gallon drum...
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Post by Greenmachine »

Try tapping the power tubes, if there's a 'woofing' sound when that happens, then replace the tubes.

Static sound can come from bad plate resistors on the preamp tubes - these are typically 100k in the fenders I've worked on.

Does the static occur with the turning of the tone knobs? if so, you could have a leaky tone cap.

Those are the first places I'd try.

Also, if you've got a spare preamp tube, try replacing them one by one. But even before this, you can pull preamp tubes one by one and when the fizz stops, you know it originates in the stage before that tube.
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DrNomis
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Post by DrNomis »

If you lightly tap the Valves/Tubes with a pencil while the amp is off standby and the master volume is turned up, a microphonic Valve/Tube will make a loud "pong" or ringing sound, if you find one of the Valves/Tubes in your amp does that, note which one ot is, then power down your amp, wait for it to cool down, then remove/replace the Valve/Tube with a new one.
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GuitarlCarl
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Post by GuitarlCarl »

Cool. Thanks for the replies... I repaired a speaker jack problem on an Albion for the local shop and he ordered me a new EL84 in return so we'll see what we can see. The V5 only has 1 EL84 and 1 AX7 whatever for preamp... it's not near me now to look. But the tube tapping is new to me, I'm not a amp tech but I can do a little. The Albion was dead soundwise but powered up, so I figured it was speaker or jack or somewhere after the amp and it was a solid state output so wasn't too alien. I also have an ancient Sherwood Master, made by Danelectro for Sears long ago... she's half dead but powers up, no board just direct point to point wired, old cardboard cap etc. so I'm sending her off to a real tube amp guy... the Bugera V5 tho, I think I can maybe learn something off of this one.
I want it to sound like bees buzzing around in a 55 gallon drum...
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Post by tubejockey »

Power tubes will make a rattle when tapped if they are microphonic, and preamp tubes will ring. The bad plate load resistors that were mentioned usually only shows up in older amps that have soaked up some moisture. Assuming the amp has a PC board, your problem could very well be a broken solder joint on the board. This is a very common problem in amps. If you can't pull the board to inspect the solder side, try gently pushing on the board with the amp running to find the source of the noise. Just be sure to have a speaker or equivalent load on the output or your transformer could suffer badly. Another source of noise in tube amps is dirty sockets. Try rocking each tube in it's socket to see if it makes the noise.
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Post by grrrunge »

tubejockey wrote:try gently pushing on the board with the amp running to find the source of the noise.
And please try gently NOT to be killed from the 200+ volts flowing around your amp... The above mentioned solution sounds like risky business! :shock:
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Post by tubejockey »

grrrunge wrote:
tubejockey wrote:try gently pushing on the board with the amp running to find the source of the noise.
And please try gently NOT to be killed from the 200+ volts flowing around your amp... The above mentioned solution sounds like risky business! :shock:
It certainly can be. Amp repair guys do it all the time though. Use a non-conductive probe such as a chopstick and keep one hand in your pocket while you work. Many times this is the quickest way to find the bad solder. Be safe!
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GuitarlCarl
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Post by GuitarlCarl »

Note to self: Must use chopsticks when working on Made in China amp... :blackeye
I want it to sound like bees buzzing around in a 55 gallon drum...
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GuitarlCarl
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Joined: 14 Dec 2010, 15:14
my favorite amplifier: anything tube
Completed builds: Ds-1 mods, SD-1 mods, Small Clone mods, Muff build, Axis build, various other transistor booster builds... I can build a badaxe harmonic perc, but I can't get a fuzzface to sound worth a crap!
Location: Smellinoiz
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Post by GuitarlCarl »

On the Bugera V5 owners club on TDPRI forum, 99% of them suggested or had changed out their EL84s for a better tube...
So, it's WAY better now with a GrooveTubes EL84 in it. I've been trying different speakers I have with it too. So next is to build a "Head" to put the guts in. I'm liking a no name 15" speaker I have put in an old open back Teisco cabinet a lot, and a 12" from a silverface Bassman sounds good too but I'd have to build a cabinet for it too... maybe a matching head and cabinet covered in something crazy, leopard or glitter pleather... :blackeye

Any cabinet makers out there? What would be better, solid wood like birch or poplar, or a good 3/4 plywood?
I want it to sound like bees buzzing around in a 55 gallon drum...
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