Blackheart 5w Little Giant Head - static and high pitch squeal

What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
info:

Brand new amp

Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.

I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
my electrical outlet.

I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
the Epi 1x 12

Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube? If not, I'll just
send it back. Thanks in advance, Marty

"mirt54" <mirt54@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:f8e18ce3-81a8-4ed7-946f-3816515410e1@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
> What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
> info:
>
> Brand new amp
>
> Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
> input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.

Consider it defective. Send it back. Could be tubes, could be the amp.
Who cares? If new, they need to make it right or better yet, replace it.

"mirt54" <mirt54@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:f8e18ce3-81a8-4ed7-946f-3816515410e1@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
> What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
> info:
>
> Brand new amp
>
> Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
> input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.
>
> I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
> my electrical outlet.
>
> I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
> the Epi 1x 12
>
> Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
> tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube? If not, I'll just
> send it back. Thanks in advance, Marty

Using a pencil eraser, thump on the tubes one at a time, lightly...
you'll probably find one that changes the squealing. Replace it
and have fun.
__
Steve
.

On May 13, 11:14 pm, "Stephen Cowell" <scow...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> "mirt54" <mir...@verizon.net> wrote in message
>
> news:f8e18ce3-81a8-4ed7-946f-3816515410e1@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal.  Here's some=

> > info:
>
> > Brand new amp
>
> > Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level.  In fact with no
> > input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.
>
> > I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
> > my electrical outlet.
>
> > I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
> > the Epi 1x 12
>
> > Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
> > tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube?  If not, I'll just
> > send it back.  Thanks in advance, Marty
>
> Using a pencil eraser, thump on the tubes one at a time, lightly...
> you'll probably find one that changes the squealing.  Replace it
> and have fun.
> __
> Steve
> .- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hmm, would a bad tube also cause the static? What about biasing or
whatever? ( I mentioned I knew nothing) Would the new tube need
biased? I know I can replace it easily, I use to take the tubes from
our '50's TV's and take them to the corner drugstore where they had a
tube tester, test, return home and install the new ones. Thanks, Marty

"mirt54" <mirt54@verizon.net> wrote
> On May 13, 11:14 pm, "Stephen Cowell" <scow...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> ...
>
> > Using a pencil eraser, thump on the tubes one at a time, lightly...
> > you'll probably find one that changes the squealing. Replace it
> > and have fun.
> > __
> > Steve
> > .- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Hmm, would a bad tube also cause the static?

Yes... or maybe no. Try it and see!
> What about biasing or
> whatever? ( I mentioned I knew nothing) Would the new tube need
> biased?

Not in a little 5w baby amp... and generally the tubes that
do the squeal-hiss thing are not the output ones (that get
biased)... and small amps as a rule don't use adjustable
bias, too easy to use self-bias (not as efficient, no problem
for small amps, they're small!).

Anything beyond replacing a tube could void your warranty...
read your manual before doing anything.
__
Steve
.

On May 14, 12:13 am, "Stephen Cowell" <scow...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> "mirt54" <mir...@verizon.net> wrote
>
> > On May 13, 11:14 pm, "Stephen Cowell" <scow...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > ...
>
> > > Using a pencil eraser, thump on the tubes one at a time, lightly...
> > > you'll probably find one that changes the squealing. Replace it
> > > and have fun.
> > > __
> > > Steve
> > > .- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > Hmm, would a bad tube also cause the static?
>
> Yes... or maybe no.  Try it and see!
>
> > What about biasing or
> > whatever? ( I mentioned I knew nothing)  Would the new tube need
> > biased?
>
> Not in a little 5w baby amp... and generally the tubes that
> do the squeal-hiss thing are not the output ones (that get
> biased)... and small amps as a rule don't use adjustable
> bias, too easy to use self-bias (not as efficient, no problem
> for small amps, they're small!).
>
> Anything beyond replacing a tube could void your warranty...
> read your manual before doing anything.
> __
> Steve
> .

Any recommeded preamp tubes? Don't want any expensive NOS stuff.
Thanks, Marty

"mirt54" <mirt54@verizon.net> wrote
> Any recommeded preamp tubes? Don't want any expensive NOS stuff.
>Thanks, Marty

Anything... you need a couple to have around, for swapping,
taste-testing, etc. Get several, they sound different, one might
be better than another. Shop around. Old ones can be found
inside old equipment... and just might work better than any
of them.
__
Steve
.

On Tue, 13 May 2008 18:02:41 -0700 (PDT), mirt54 <mirt54@verizon.net>
wrote:

>What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
>info:
>
>Brand new amp
>
>Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
>input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.
>
>I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
>my electrical outlet.
>
>I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
>the Epi 1x 12
>
>Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
>tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube? If not, I'll just
>send it back. Thanks in advance, Marty
Leave it alone and send it back. Just tell them it is defective and
you want a new one...

"J.P." <jpasano@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u1nk24duvb3u4rjer9n7pu4ckp9jenp2tv@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 13 May 2008 18:02:41 -0700 (PDT), mirt54 <mirt54@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>>What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
>>info:
>>
>>Brand new amp
>>
>>Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
>>input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.
>>
>>I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
>>my electrical outlet.
>>
>>I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
>>the Epi 1x 12
>>
>>Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
>>tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube? If not, I'll just
>>send it back. Thanks in advance, Marty
> Leave it alone and send it back. Just tell them it is defective and
> you want a new one...

I gotta agree with J.P. here. To use an analogy.. if you brought home a
brand new car from the dealership and started hearing noises coming from the
engine, even if you were a mechanic would you try to find and repair the
problem yourself?

Who knows what's causing it, maybe a new tube will make it go away maybe it
won't or maybe it will cook the amp for all we know, just ask for a new one.

A bad preamp tube could cause both static and squealing. As easy as it is
to fix however, I'd have to agree with others who've suggested returning
the amp...just in case it's something more.

Having said that however....the tubes were the first thing I replaced
after getting mine! The tubes that come in those amps are pure CRAP (my
humble opinion, anyway).

Still...better to start with a properly working amp before doing any
experimenting.

Mike



mirt54 wrote:

> What could be the source of static and high pitch squeal. Here's some
> info:
>
> Brand new amp
>
> Static and squeal remain regardless of volume level. In fact with no
> input, they both occur, very quickly after warm up.
>
> I have an Epi valve JR Head and neither occur, so I presume it's not
> my electrical outlet.
>
> I'm running both the valve jr and the blackheart through the same cab,
> the Epi 1x 12
>
> Any ideas? I know nothing about tube amps, although I could change a
> tube. Could it be something so simple as a tube? If not, I'll just
> send it back. Thanks in advance, Marty