(non pork) crackling

[Vince]

Weird occasional crackling sound from guitar while I am playing. Momentary volume drops too.

I tried several different leads and plugging straight into the amp. Problem persists across different pickup combinations (neck, bridge, middle)

P-Bass style output jack (on scratchplate) I finally managed to stop the sound by pushing the lead forward toward the headstock.

But opening up the guitar, I see the two connections are well soldered to the ring and the tip connects well with the head of the lead. There is no dust or anything that could break the contact.

Guitar is playing ok today.

Basically... what else should I be looking at? I worry that I will have the same problem again, but I have no idea what is causing it. Everyone I know that could look at this is on holidays.

Ideas?

[StrummersOfThunder]

Weird occasional crackling sound from guitar while I am playing. Momentary volume drops too.

I tried several different leads and plugging straight into the amp. Problem persists across different pickup combinations (neck, bridge, middle)

P-Bass style output jack (on scratchplate) I finally managed to stop the sound by pushing the lead forward toward the headstock.

But opening up the guitar, I see the two connections are well soldered to the ring and the tip connects well with the head of the lead. There is no dust or anything that could break the contact.

Guitar is playing ok today.

Basically... what else should I be looking at? I worry that I will have the same problem again, but I have no idea what is causing it. Everyone I know that could look at this is on holidays.

Ideas?

You’re in the right track isolating the issue
Obvious questions first:
You’re sure it’s the guitar ? Leads are often the weakest link …
If you isolate it to that specific guitar and it changes with leverage on the jack socket then you’ve either got poor contact, sketchy
Solder joint or there is part of the hot coming into contact with ground (such as grounded shielding tape etc)
My guesses would be:
Lead
Grounding issue
Solder issue

[Capt. Black]

Bass. Maybe crackle is in the amp or amp to speaker connections.
Bass make big shake.

[jeremyb]

If it is a tube amp I'd say you've got a dodgy tube, or a tube that needs re-seating

[jimi]

3 responses, 3 different answers. Could be the guitar, the lead or the amp. Thats narrowed it down plenty!

[Capt. Black]

It’s a broad topic

[jimi]

It’s a broad topic

Honestly I thought this thread was going to be about whether you can get crackling on a lamb roast. Disappointed really.

[robthemac]

It’s a broad topic

Honestly I thought this thread was going to be about whether you can get crackling on a lamb roast. Disappointed really.

Well, can you?

[jimi]

Well, can you?

lamb roasts for under $10 a kg atm, and I got a bluetooth thermometer for the BBQ for Xmas. Never done a lamb roast before but Im tempted to give one a go.

Sorry Vince for the derail.

[Vince]

If it is a tube amp I'd say you've got a dodgy tube, or a tube that needs re-seating

Nah, SS.

[Vince]

3 responses, 3 different answers. Could be the guitar, the lead or the amp. Thats narrowed it down plenty!

Oh, I wasn’t expecting surgical precision. but it’s giving me ideas about what more to check.