MXL Genesis Repair.. help me out?

[Steelwitch]

Hey y’all, I usually work on tube amps, so this is not my usual repair. Just doing it for a friend! MXL Genesis has a bit of soft crackling going on. It’s related to the tube socket for sure. Jostling the tube in the socket gets it to start and stop, so there is a bad connection somewhere.

Has anyone had to replace these sockets before? I want to be sure 100% of where it’s coming from. Usually I’d just use a scope but will that in any way damage the capsule? Please fill me in on how I can get a scope on this mic so I can trace it safely

[nosaj]

I would start by reflowing the socket then cleaning an retensioning the socket and cleaning tube pins. Then go from there.

nosaj

[Steelwitch]

I should have mentioned that I have done this already! Reflowed every solder joint that may be related. The pins inside the socket are too small to retension unfortunately.

[Enzo]

Remember when you jistle the socket, you are also jostling other parts. Poke at the circuits with a wooden chopstick and see if anything reacts.