Friedman Pink Taco V2 - Is this noise normal on start-up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HowieJams
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HowieJams

HowieJams

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I have 3 Friedmans..

Little Sister Combo, JJ Jr. combo, and a Pink Taco V2 Head and matching PT112 cab.

My Pink Taco is the only one that makes this weird noise on start-up.

Is this anything to be concerned about?

It is returnable for refund or exchange until 4/25th.

I love the amp, but is this sound normal.

Turn up your volume, it was hard to record the sound.

 
Spoke to Dave, he is sending me new Tubes.

Here is his reply when I asked how to change tubes and if it is dangerous...

It’s just tubes we can just send you a new set. Give me your address.. They are plug in and go nobias or anything needed..
Yeah all you have to do is take the back of the headshell off you dont have to take the amp out at all.. So its fine.. yeah have it off so the tubes cool down..
Nothing dangerous
 
Was also thinking tubes.
Does that amp have a standby switch?
Two of my amps don't and are the only amps I have that seem to wear out tubes.
Is that a thing? Kinda makes sense if it's a thing.
 
NowYou'rePlayingWithPower said:
Was also thinking tubes.
Does that amp have a standby switch?
Two of my amps don't and are the only amps I have that seem to wear out tubes.
Is that a thing? Kinda makes sense if it's a thing.
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Those don't have a standby.
I know they're cathode biased, and run pretty hot, but not burn a pair in a month hot. Just luck of the draw. To me, it sounds like a preamp tube, vs. Power. Sounds like one's gone microphonic. Power tubes, (in my experience), usually drop in volume, or just plain go. They don't typically make noise for long periods.

I'd pull a preamp tube out of one of the other amps and find the culprit. Probably V1 or the PI is my guess.
 
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napalmdeath said:
Those don't have a standby.
I know they're cathode biased, and run pretty hot, but not burn a pair in a month hot. Just luck of the draw. To me, it sounds like a preamp tube, vs. Power. Sounds like one's gone microphonic. Power tubes, (in my experience), usually drop in volume, or just plain go. They don't typically make noise for long periods.
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Mine has done this since day one, but the amp sounds great.
It only makes this noise for about 10-20 seconds and then it is silent
 
HowieJams said:
Mine has done this since day one, but the amp sounds great.
It only makes this noise for about 10-20 seconds and then it is silent
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Yeah, that's a preamp tube - see my other post to remedy until the others show up from Dave..
These should have a JJ in V1, and the other 2 are Chinese Psvane.
 
HowieJams said:
Any dangerous stuff near the tubes?
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Not at all. Like Dave said, once you pull the back off, they're right there. It doesn't sound like it's an EL84 in the power section, it's one of the preamp tubes. Just make sure you line the pins up when putting them in - Those chinese ones have very flimsy pins, and they bend up real easy if you don't get them indexed right.

Take a V1 tube from one of the other amps, (it's the furthest to the left looking from the back). Pop it in the same V1 spot of the PT, and see if it goes away. If not, pop it in V2, then V3 if needed...
 
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I've owned 2 of these, and love them. They really sing with a Tungsol in V1, a JJ in V2, and a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in V3.. :yes:
I actually bought a 3rd one a couple months ago used, and UPS LOST IT!
 
napalmdeath said:
Not at all. Like Dave said, once you pull the back off, they're right there. It doesn't sound like it's an EL84 in the power section, it's one of the preamp tubes. Just make sure you line the pins up when putting them in - Those chinese ones have very flimsy pins, and they bend up real easy if you don't get them indexed right.

Take a V1 tube from one of the other amps, (it's the furthest to the left looking from the back). Pop it in the same V1 spot of the PT, and see if it goes away. If not, pop it in V2, then V3 if needed...
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I most likely will change all the pre-amp tubes at once and if that doesn't solve the problem I will do the EL84s.
 
HowieJams said:
I most likely will change all the pre-amp tubes at once and if that doesn't solve the problem I will do the EL84s.
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Don't do that without thinking about it. You could drop in another microphonic tube and be in the same spot. Its not complex or dangerous. You can do it.
 
SoooRad said:
Don't do that without thinking about it. You could drop in another microphonic tube and be in the same spot. Its not complex or dangerous. You can do it.
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So I should change one tube at a time and then test it?
The problem is, once it is started up one time, it does not do it again until the amp cools down for several hours.
 
That’s a preamp tube. You might be able to fix the problem by simply swapping preamp tube positions with the tubes that are currently in it. It’s probably V1 giving you the problem. Turn off the amp, unplug it and let it cool down for 5-10 minutes and try swapping V1 and V2 around. Anyone who owns a tube amp needs to know basic maintenance
 
LP Freak said:
That’s a preamp tube. You might be able to fix the problem by simply swapping preamp tube positions with the tubes that are currently in it. It’s probably V1 giving you the problem. Turn off the amp, unplug it and let it cool down for 5-10 minutes and try swapping V1 and V2 around. Anyone who owns a tube amp needs to know basic maintenance
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Swap each tube in to the other position, if one is bad, wouldn't it still be a problem?

or do you mean swab a new V1 and if the problem is there swap a new V2?
 
Since you don’t have the tubes yet, remove both V1 and V2. Then install the V1 tube in V2’s slot and vice versa. Keep track of where you originally removed the tubes from. Use a marker and write right on the tube. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a noisy tube. V1 is most prone to noise. As you move down the chain of tubes, the noise is less amplified.
 
LP Freak said:
Since you don’t have the tubes yet, remove both V1 and V2. Then install the V1 tube in V2’s slot and vice versa. Keep track of where you originally removed the tubes from. Use a marker and write right on the tube. Sometimes it’s just a matter of a noisy tube. V1 is most prone to noise. As you move down the chain of tubes, the noise is less amplified.
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I was going to take a wood pencil and tap the tubes to see which one is Microphonic.
That is how I used to find bad tubes.
This amp is new, so if I don't have to change all the tubes I would like to keep spares.
 
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