I'm learning guitar and just recently picked up a Line 6 112 spider valve guitar amp. It works great for what I do but the master volume control is very scratchy and cracks/squeals any time I adjust the volume. Any suggestions? Not sure it is worth sending to a shop but would be interested in any home remedies.

Jeremy.......You might try spraying some DeOxit into the volume potentiometer while working the knob back and forth a dozen times or so. That should eliminate the scratchy noise when you change volume. Squealing may be a bad tube. Simply pull the tube and replace it with a new tube of the same tube designation. Be sure to unplug the amplifier while you do any of this.

Dan, this is is exactly what I was looking for! Ty!

Dan (or anyone else): any suggestions of what tubes to replace with? Not very familiar with guitar amps -- was thinking telefunken or gl (2) Ll6 and (2) 12ax7.

Jeremy.......Guitar amplifiers are not as finicky or critical of the tubes used as are audio amplifiers we use for stereo applications. Gold Lion, JJ Electronic, Electro Harmonix, Tung-Sol, or Philips tubes will work just fine. I do not recognize the Ll6 tube you listed. What model Line 6 amplifier do you own?

Hi Dan. I read it wrong-- the 6L6 are actually 5881 tubes. Good to know about guitar amp tubes- I went with JJs for output and Genelex GL for preamp (had extras sitting around the house). The amp I bought (from a local pawn shop) is a Line 6 Spider 112 valve. It's their first Bogner version from what I can tell-- not their fanciest but since it was only a couple hundred bucks and I'm just getting started it seems to work. Playing the guitar has been transformational to my enjoyment of listening-- and so much cheaper than all the expensive equipment I've been buying! Thx for your help-- I can't wait to clean up the amp and get her back to her days of glory!


http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...2907924826.jpg

Jeremy.......OK, 6L6 makes more sense. Groove Tube makes new 6L6 tubes at a decent price. A Google search will bring up plenty of sources. Unless you are certain of a dealers reputation, beware of used 6L6 tubes. Some command ridiculously high prices and you really don't know what you are getting unless you have a tube tester.

A fresh set of 6L6's and 12AX7's, plus cleaning the volume pot with DeOxit will breath new life into your Line 6 guitar amplifier.

Rock on!!!!! Now if my fingers could just work the chords (a, e, e, e...)!

Quick update: my amp sounds great after a little maintenance. ThxDan!

Jeremy.......Great news. :yahoo: