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**Jazz P Bass** · 02-19-2011, 12:56 AM

I would have to suggest resoldering the connector, which will entail removing the circuit board.

**olddawg** · 02-19-2011, 01:00 AM

Originally posted by trem View Post

http://music-electronics-forum.com/t23653/

Earlier, I had posted the above question. Right after you guys gave me some advice, the noise issues went away completely for several days. Then, all of a sudden, they returned. So I started chop-sticking a bit more aggressively and found where the trouble is. Not sure what the SS Device is called. I guess it is the equivalent of power tubes. It is on page 3 of the schem (schem is in the above link) diagram on the right side. There are actually Two Times what the diagram shows.
Anyway....the trouble lies in one of those white, 15 pin (apprx 15) connectors. They are not 2 pieces, they are 1 piece. Looks like the wires are crimped into that white connector "block", then that whole thing is inserted into the PCB and then soldered. So you can not pull it apart. If I chop-stick that connector, I get all the noise I have been having problems with.
Sorry this is taking so long to explain....
What is the best way to deal with a bad/intermittent connection in one of these connectors.?
Thank You
photo link below
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...moore/Haco.jpg

Those are the output ICs. (integrated circuits) or finals or whatever you want to call them. I would start by fluxing and resoldering EVERYTHING on that board including the ICs. You might want to look at it with a magnifying glass and bright light but you may not see the bad connection. If that doesn't resolve the problem you may have to unsolder the offensive connectors, cut them loose, and hardwire the wires back to the pcb one at a time. If it is indeed the crimping on those connectors causing the problem.

**trem** · 02-19-2011, 01:30 AM

That is what I was afraid of. From chop-sticking, i get the feel/sense that this is more of an internal problem, more of a problem with the crimp on the inside of the connector. I have looked through a magnifying glass, and to be honest, the solder job looks real good.
We shall see.
What a PITA these things are.
Thanks Again

**trem** · 02-21-2011, 07:20 PM

Well, I guess it was a bad crimp (maybe more than one) in that plastic connector. I took all the wires out, cut the crimp off the ends, and soldered them all into the PCB one at a time. The whole job probably took 2 hours, but seemed more like 5. Just kind of a PITA is all.
Thanks for the help. My friend will be glad to have his amp back in working condition.
I do not have much experience with SS amps, but this seems typical of what I do know. The amp sounds pretty good at "living room volume", but the amp sounds worse as you get close to max volume on the clean channel. The OD channel sounds bad at any volume.....the typical bee in a jar, buzzing kind of OD that I hear a lot of you guys complain about with these kinds of amps. But what the heck, he got it for free.....
It feels good to return it better than I got.
Thanks Again

**Enzo** · 02-21-2011, 11:57 PM

The lesson here is that your problem was wiring. Tube or solid state never entered into it.

**trem** · 02-22-2011, 01:20 AM

Originally posted by Enzo View Post

The lesson here is that your problem was wiring. Tube or solid state never entered into it.

Yeah, you are right.
Although, the SS thing does throw you at first. You know you are in unfamiliar waters when you do not see tubes, and an OT. The comfort level is real low looking at all those strange, small parts.
But yeah, just some persistence, and a bit more aggression with the chop-stick (and brain power) found the problem. And, I have seen this kind of wiring in a lot of "mass produced" tube amps like a HRDx and other modern, "affordable" amps. It has been enlightning.....
Thanks Enzo

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