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1959 Fender Bassman - Hunting for an Annoying Electrical Buzz

1,908 views · Published 19 March 2016 · 20:22 · Indexed 8 November 2026

Channel: millstap · 2016 · Music

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In this video, you learn a little about troubleshooting while you help me find an annoying electrical buzz that appeared over the past several months.  Since I have the 1960 Bassman as a reference (it is dead quiet), I knew that the noise was not normal and I was determine to snuff it out.  It turned out it was somewhat basic troubleshooting 101.  I say somewhat because it took me a while to pinpoint it.  I removed every tube in the initial process EXCEPT the Mullard GZ34 because I wanted to be sure the rest of the circuit had its DC power supply.  It was not blowing fuses which is usually an indicator of a bad rectifier tube.  The GZ34 was on its way out.  Too bad, because I just ordered a NOS GZ34 for $130.  Not cheap and they are getting more expensive.  Looking back, I think most of my Mullard GZ34's were supposedly "slightly" used so I could get them for less.  I think the last one I bought was around $85.  The last one that went bad started blowing fuses.  It was completely gone.  This one was sputtering.  
The cool thing I learned is that it is easier to find a noise with a camera mic than with the human ear (at least my ear) because it is pretty obvious when I got close to the rectifier, the sound got louder.  With my ear, it sounded like it was coming from the tranny side of the chassis.  They probably make some type of amp "stethoscope" that I should look into.

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