Crate Amp snap crackle & pop!

Eric Joined: Sep 29, 2007 Posts: 30	Posted on Nov 12 2007 07:41 AM Hi all! Yes, I know a Crate G80XL amp is not the surfiest amp around, but I want to try to fix a small problem with it & sell it. This will help get back some $$$ I just spent on a new Fender DRRI. The amp is like 15 years old now & the last time I tried to play with it, the loudest crack & pop sounds came thru the speaker as I dialed the volume knob up to the 2 or 3 position. It was LOUD! Once the volume knob is at the desired position I played for an hour with no issues. Just for kicks I rotated the volume knob again & POW!! It sounded like a single clap of thunder once again. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what this is? Any remedies? I would like to fix this problem myself to avoid cutting into my profit when I sell it. I'd like to consider myself somewhat mechanically inclined. At least the government assumes I am & pays me for it. ahahaha! Take Care Group: Eric Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Nov 12 2007 02:20 PM Hey Eric, Sounds like an issue of "dirty pots". Basically, the potentiometers (the meat and potatoes of the volume knob) have gotten some sort of oxidization or other crud on them. What you do is go down to Radio Shack, buy a can of "contact cleaner" or DeOxIt, and see if you can get into the guts of your amp. Find the cylinders behind the knobs, and hit 'em each with a little squirt, then rotate the knobs vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. FIRST -- make sure everything is unplugged and all that before getting into the amp. Even if it's unplugged, be sure not to poke around at all, as some of the components still carry a charge long after the amp has been powered down. Hope this works -- be sure to let us know! ~B~ Top
NicholausLee Joined: May 13, 2007 Posts: 223 Ypsilanti, MI	Posted on Nov 12 2007 02:30 PM Eric, I have an old Crate G160XL, or so I seem to remember that as being the model number. It's not a horrible sounding amp, and it does have an actual spring reverb, albeit a horrible sounding one. I have the same problem though, mostly with the volume knob, but also some of the tone knobs snap and pop when turned. Let me know if what SurfBandBill suggested fixes the issue, so I can make my amp slightly ore usable. I'm going to be moving into a small apartment in a month or so and I'm probably not going to be able to bring my vox half-stack with me. — http://about.me/nicholaus.lee Top

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Crate Amp snap crackle & pop!