crackling sounds from Selmer TnB 50 R SV

[selmertnb]

hi,
As I have absolutely no valve experience, I wonder if someone has had any experience with "crackling" sounds from a valve amp? - when you switch over from standby after warm up, there is a loud random crackling; at least one poti is noisy too, but it seems to add to- rather than being the source of the crackling noise...
Any suggestions as to what I might do before approaching (..and paying) a professional?

[Steve Conner]

I had a T'n'B 50 SV that crackled. In my case, it was one of the plate load resistors in the PI beginning to go. But pots, valves and capacitors can also go faulty. I ended up gutting my TnB completely and rebuilding it with fresh components.

If you don't know what "plate load resistors in the PI" are then my advice is take it to a professional.

[selmertnb]

of course I don't - but in the end it is a load of metal and carbon pieces soldered together, right? - could I perhaps spray some contact cleaner into the potis (avoiding any thing else) and turn and turn...and perhaps check the setting of the valves and clean contacts etc. or is this unlikely to resove anything?