Is someone using this indicator lamp to communicate from the OTHER SIDE! :surprised:

[SoulFetish]

This is kind of interesting. Anyone ever see this kind of behavior from a neon indicator bulb before? I tried to catch on video that whatever is causing this effect, can be visually seen as well.

I posit these hypotheses:
1. These are the dying breaths of a neon bulb who gave its life in the service of telling some fool his amp is still on.
2. There is some fault elsewhere in the amplifier causing instability and erratic oscillation in the Neon.
3. Someone, somewhere, is trying to communicate with me through non-traditional channels, and can't or won't speak English.
4. There is a Dolphin somewhere inside my amp.

[Enzo]

Um.... WHAT behavior?

[SoulFetish]

Um.... WHAT behavior?

Can you not see and hear the video?
I'm not sure if it embedded

... hold on I'll compress them and post 'em

[Enzo]

I don't find any links at all in your post.

[SoulFetish]

I don't find any links at all in your post.

Weird, I tried to link to a Vimeo video I uploaded. I can see it, it's weird that you guys can't.
In any case, here are some short clips:

Ghost in the this Ampeg.mp4.zip
Ghost in the this Ampeg2.mp4.zip
https://vimeo.com/244498399
https://vimeo.com/244498643

[Enzo]

OK, can you post the schematic too?

Your neon lamp is oscillating. If I had to guess I'd call it a "relaxation oscillator". I used to make them on purpose with ne2 bulbs, caps, and resistors.

[Enzo]

I found one. it is a indicator assembly rather than a bulb in socket, right? meaning a neon lamp and series resistor in the housing. I suspect your neon innards are arcing, then it takes a brief moment to recharge and arcs again. The rate it does this is the tone frequency you hear. I would replace the indicator.

or if originality matters, carefully get into it, leaving the jewel half intact, and replace the lamp - a likely NE2.

At least that is what occurs to me.

[Jazz P Bass]

Hah!

"There is a Dolphin somewhere inside my amp."

[Randall]

I'm definitely going with the dolphin.

[J M Fahey]

Me too.
Specially because Dolphins *are* trying to communicate with us obtuse Humans for a long time now, in many ways, so why not through Tube Guitar amps?
Now that I think of it, that hum through Twins when off standby must also be some kind of (unsuccessful) Dolphin communication.


For another take on it (audio starts at 0:28):

and no, replacing all caps will NOT solve it, of course.

[g1]

My vote is for the dolphin as well. Telepathically.
I think it's saying "so long, and thanks for all the fish".

edit: uh oh, simulpost. Perhaps we are both under dolphin control.

[drewl]

It's either a warning alarm that the amp is going to blow up or that's the Sabbath War Pigs mod to play the siren effect in that song.

I've seen some weird stuff in amps, as have you all, but that's a good one!

[Mick Bailey]

Sometimes noises can drive you nuts. I had a fuzz box that I thought was talking to me and it got so bad I went to see my doctor. He found a tiny radio inside my head that was being controlled by Fidel Castro. That was a lucky break - I thought I was going insane.

[g1]

I got freaked out pretty bad by a baby monitor once. I had never heard of or seen such a thing (back in late '80's) and the speaker end was stuck to someones fridge amid a bunch of papers so you couldn't see it. I was sure the fridge was breathing.