• alan
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-11-26
  • Posts: 69

Topic: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

when I played tonight, I noticed a strange vibration in the back of my blues deluxe  which stops when I touch it especially

with the bass.I 'd already noiced that in the shop but the seller told me it came from the base on which the amp stood so I

didn't care.I wonder if it would'nt come from one of the lamp or something not well tied

had anybody the same problem and is it usual with such amps?

I think I will call the shop and bring it back tomorrow!

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

Depending on what your touching? what sort of vibration? it could be the back panel that is a tiny bit loose.. you could have a microphonic tube.. Mine has a rattle and I'm guessing for such a bassy amp it kind goes with the territory.

  • Registered: 2009-12-12
  • Posts: 48

Re: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

What are you touching to make the vibration stop?  I am assuming you are pressing against the back panel, so it could be a loose back panel like John said or the chassis may be vibrating against something.  Either way those are pretty easy fixes so let us know.

Here are some methods to search for tube rattle (they may not be the best, but they work for me):

Take a pencil and tap lightly on the pre amp tubes while the amp is on.  If you here a ringing from one of them, you found your culprit and just need to replace. 

If that test doesn't help, play a note on the guitar that produces said vibration/rattle and use the eraser end of the pencil to apply pressure on the power tubes.  If that works, your power tube has some mechanical rattle.  This is very common in combo amps because of all the air being moved by the speakers.  Replace both power tubes with a new matched set. 

Sometimes the larger power tubes are prone to mechanical rattle, which really sucks.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

Make sure the handle on the top of your amp is tight. I had the same problem. I think that did it.
Also want to try it with your reverb at 0... could be a noisy reverb. It is a rattle similar to a vibrating snare drum though, right? I've noticed this before. I thought it was the springs that keep the the EL84's in there, but it's not. Blues Jrs are noisy amps.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

5 Reply by JohnTB (edited by JohnTB 2010-01-18 19:29:51)

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Blues Jrs are noisy amps.

There is a fix for that, I think it was something to do ith the transformer position in relation to the speaker. I remember seeing a website about it in which they made a plat that went over the transformer, It's prob a billm mod come to think of it...

  • alan
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-11-26
  • Posts: 69

Re: strange vibration in the blues deluxe

Thanks for all your advices but I think I'll be wiser to bring it back to the seller who will certainly manage to solve the

problem or replace it/I think the problem comes from the rear pannel in contact with the next lamp box which rattles

for it's attenuated when I press the rear panel at this place but I can mistake so it's guaranteed:

I think I would'nt have such a problem if I 'd bought the twin amp which is surely better built and not serie but I hadn't the

bucks for it and the BD gain channel appealed me which proved deceiving when I tried it,it's a bit shrill and without energy