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Marshall Valvestate VS65R Hum in Clean Channel

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  • Marshall Valvestate VS65R Hum in Clean Channel

    Hey guys, I have a VS65R here which was brought to me for an intermittency problem. That is sorted out now, but the clean channel has a low frequency hum (60 cycle), not overpowering but enough to be annoying. A bloke on a Marshall forum said that this amp is sensitive to different tubes and indeed when I tried a newish JJ 12AX7 the hum was reduced, but not eliminated. It is not audible whatsoever in the Lead channel (at least not at moderate volume levels). I did some probing around and it seems the hum originates at the cathode output of the tube on the side where it splits off to tone stacks etc. for the respective channels. However, the Lead channel has additional circuitry that for all intents and purposes kills the hum. The hum is present in the Lead channel to the same extent as the Clean channel until it reaches C56 which reduces it quite a bit and then whatever is left over would only get through if VR9 is turned way up. So in the end there is significant hum on pin 2 of IC5 and negligible hum on pin 7. IC5 switches the preamp output (pin 5) to and from pins 2 (clean) and 7 (lead) via the channel select switch and the switching function of pin 1.

    So before I start rolling tubes I wanted to check if the voltages on the tube pins seem right to y'all. Note the right half of the 12AX7 in the diagram corresponds with the "A" triode (pins 1, 2, and 3). Pin 1 ->371VDC, Pin 2 -> 200VDC, Pin 3 -> 203VDC. Pins 4 and 5 are 6.7VAC measured to ground.

    Pin 3 seems suspect to me but I'm not experienced with this design so any feedback would be much appreciated.

    - BL
    Attached Files

  • #2
    Can anyone verify what the value of R21 is? It is hard to read on the diagram but near as I can tell it says 10K. Someone previously shotgunned a 680R resistor in that spot. Maybe that's my issue.

    Comment


    • #3
      I went through two videos that D-Lab did fixing one of these amps to check if I could identify R21. If the amp circuit board matches yours in the video it appears that it is a 10k resistor. Brown-Black-Orange-Gold.

      The first video shows it most clearly but I located it on both vids.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIqtvDH9pkk
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-RdSM7D83c
      Attached Files
      When the going gets weird... The weird turn pro!

      Comment


      • #4
        R21 & R24 are 0.33 Ohms or is it 10k for R21?
        Click image for larger version  Name:	Screenshot 2020-09-18 at 22.04.40.png Views:	0 Size:	16.6 KB ID:	913762 Click image for larger version  Name:	Screenshot 2020-09-18 at 22.04.16.png Views:	0 Size:	49.6 KB ID:	913763 Depends which R21 you mean. If in the power supply it is 10k.
        Support for Fender, Laney, Marshall, Mesa, VOX and many more. https://jonsnell.co.uk
        If you can't fix it, I probably can.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Jon Snell View Post
          R21 & R24 are 0.33 Ohms or is it 10k for R21?
          Depends which R21 you mean. If in the power supply it is 10k.
          Yep, the 10K one, thanks.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by DrGonz78 View Post
            I went through two videos that D-Lab did fixing one of these amps to check if I could identify R21. If the amp circuit board matches yours in the video it appears that it is a 10k resistor. Brown-Black-Orange-Gold.

            The first video shows it most clearly but I located it on both vids.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIqtvDH9pkk
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-RdSM7D83c
            Right on, I watched those two videos as well and didn't think to go back and see if I could see that resistor. I'm satisfied it is supposed to be 10K. Unfortunately, changing it to the correct value has reduced the voltage of the plate and cathode of V1A by about 20V but no change in hum. I initially called it a Clean channel problem only, but that would be on the assumption that the Lead channel was run with the volume pot at moderate levels only. Turning up the volume on the Lead channel to near wide open exposes the same level of hum as with the Clean channel. I don't measure any ripple in the preamp HT supply. Does that 200V (180V with the correct dropping resistor) on the cathode look normal?

            Comment


            • #7
              Yes that is normal to have high voltage like that on the CF cathode. There's a 100K resistor there, so that's just under 2mA current. As you read elsewhere, some brands of tube do struggle with that kind of voltage on the cathode. I think nickb found Chinese tubes to work ok there. Do you have any to try?
              Originally posted by Enzo
              I have a sign in my shop that says, "Never think up reasons not to check something."


              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by g1 View Post
                Yes that is normal to have high voltage like that on the CF cathode. There's a 100K resistor there, so that's just under 2mA current. As you read elsewhere, some brands of tube do struggle with that kind of voltage on the cathode. I think nickb found Chinese tubes to work ok there. Do you have any to try?
                Well, I'll be darned, I have a made in China tube labeled "Hot Rods" and it works like a charm. Thanks!!!

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