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(non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:23 pm
by 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?

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:32 pm
by StrummersOfThunder
Vince wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:23 pm 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

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 2:46 pm
by Capt. Black
Bass. Maybe crackle is in the amp or amp to speaker connections.
Bass make big shake.

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 3:16 pm
by jeremyb
If it is a tube amp I'd say you've got a dodgy tube, or a tube that needs re-seating :-)

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 4:11 pm
by jimi
3 responses, 3 different answers. Could be the guitar, the lead or the amp. Thats narrowed it down plenty!

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:02 pm
by Capt. Black
It’s a broad topic

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:06 pm
by jimi
Capt. Black wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:02 pm 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.

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:08 pm
by robthemac
jimi wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:06 pm
Capt. Black wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:02 pm 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?

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:13 pm
by jimi
robthemac wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:08 pm 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.

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:41 pm
by Vince
jeremyb wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 3:16 pm If it is a tube amp I'd say you've got a dodgy tube, or a tube that needs re-seating :-)
Nah, SS. :)

Re: (non pork) crackling

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2023 5:44 pm
by Vince
jimi wrote: Sat Dec 30, 2023 4:11 pm 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.