NAD: Traynor TS-15 (any help on fizzy sounds?)

[YouFellowRebels]

Picked this up today and plugged it in. First, somebody cut the ground off the plug so that needs replaced. Plugged in and everything powers up great. Easily put, the filthiest amp I’ve bought. I worked at a Music Go Round for a while, and they rarely felt this gross. Used Clorox wipes on the whole thing and they kept turning black. Used some rubbing alcohol as well. Turned the pots a ton, they got smooth.

So the problem…it sounds great on low and medium at 2 or below. Volume higher than that, or on the high setting, it just sounds like a gnarly fuzz pedal. Picking harder, even at 2 or below, it starts to do the same. While it’s a cool lo-fi sounding fuzz, there is definitely some good sounds in the 2x8 if that can be resolved. Should I buy some deoxit and do all the jacks/pots, or is it likely something else? Love to hear from those who know more than me about electronics.

 

[Rockabilly Doc]

Congrats. Cool amp. Love that Delay Llama pedal too.

 

[Ricochet]

That hi/mid/lo switch makes me suspect it might be built into the circuit. Have you sampled other TS15s?

 

[mister rain]

Congrats. Cool amp. Love that Delay Llama pedal too.

it’s a crazy fun delay. true story.

 

[YouFellowRebels]

That hi/mid/lo switch makes me suspect it might be built into the circuit. Have you sampled other TS15s?

Just watched videos, this seems to get fizzy way earlier than others. Hoping it’s something easy.

 

[cielski]

DeOxIt or ethyl alcohol (never use rubbing alcohol) on the controls and jacks could help. Use a rough pipe cleaner on the jacks as they're abrasive.
It's a solid state amp, right? That could be the issue. Everything from a transistor going south to a bad capacitor might be the culprit. If it's a tube amp, use the DeOxIt on the tube sockets with the pipe cleaner.
Fix the AC cable. You need the ground. As it's been cut off, it speaks to the issue.
Even the speakers could be the problem.
It just might need to be tossed into the bin.

 

[Hammerhands]

I think cutting the plug off is something a tech does when he wants to indicate something about the repairability of the device.

There are lots of Traynor guys, and an one unknowledgable bot, on guitarscanada.com

 

[ChloeDogsDad]

My Fender Champion 30 had a similar issue, and had some "white noise" that had crept in after 20-odd years or so, turned out the solder connections between the board and the Transistor. some careful re-flowing of the solder took care of the entire issue.

 

[64ChevSS]

Try the low input and turn your guitar down a bit - helps a lot.
I can get the volume up to 7 on mine and still no hiss or fizz.
Mine is 43 years old and was used for 6 months back in the 80's and sat unused until I bought it. The high output will make it hiss a fair bit - other than that noise free.

 

[YouFellowRebels]

Try the low input and turn your guitar down a bit - helps a lot.
I can get the volume up to 7 on mine and still no hiss or fizz.
Mine is 43 years old and was used for 6 months back in the 80's and sat unused until I bought it. The high output will make it hiss a fair bit - other than that noise free.

That’s helpful. I’ll play with that tomorrow.

I did use contact cleaner on all the pots today. They felt better after. Also on the input jacks. I’m still thinking there’s something going on with the volume pot, there’s a spot just past 2 that instantly goes to fuzz, and then cuts out if you push down on the pot. I may end up looking inside.

That said. It sounds so good at 2 on the middle (10w) setting. Worth what I paid for that sound, and the bandsaw low fi fuzz when it’s cranked.

 

[Mark 6120]

Make sure all of the screws are tight. Speakers being loose can cause noise, but don't over tighten them.

And regular contact cleaner can ruin pots. Your cleaner should have some kind of lubricant made for pots in it.

 

[cielski]

I’m still thinking there’s something going on with the volume pot, there’s a spot just past 2 that instantly goes to fuzz, and then cuts out if you push down on the pot. I may end up looking inside.

Sounds like a bad pot to me. R&R---remove and replace.

 

[mister rain]

i mean. i was already shopping for a traynor combo.