Given To Fly said:
Mine has a burn mark as well. At least, that is what I suspect it to be. I have not had any problems with my preamp.
Don't all tubes make clicking sounds when they warm up and cool down?
Yes, but those are more random and more like a pinging ringing sound, and mostly power tubes.
I opened it up, after intalling all Mesa tubes, and powered it on and off to see where the noise is located. It appears to be coming from either the orange block relays, or those curve topped black things with holes in the middle, which I am assuming are chokes or filters with plastic covers.
I sounds like the relays are moving to match the amp settings when powered on, and back when powered off. If I put it in clean mode on that channel, I only get one click. If I switch it to Fat mode, I get two rapid clicks, Brit mode same two clicks. If it's on the lead channel, and in Vintage or Modern, it sounds like four rapid clicks. So it seems like the relays switching during power up and down.
It sounds bad *** BTW, with a SPAX7 in V1, and Standard Mesas in the rest of the spots. The EQ sections seem to have way more effect or range than on my 2ch Tri-rec. I can almost make all the low end disappear, which was impossible on the Tri-rec. The mid range voicing on modern is scooped, but very usable, and great with the presence dialed back on the 2:50.
I think I will call Mesa today, and ask if the reay noise is normal, and if it is I will probably keep this one unless a better on pops up for under $700 some where.