New AC30 Build - Tremolo not working - Crackling with EQ?

[evancorylevine]

Good evening, y'all!

I just built a Weber AC30 and I had everything working great, but the chassis was super microphonic, so I moved some tubes around, got the microphonic stuff to go away, but now my tremolo isn't working. I get a clean signal that doesn't change between trem and vib. Sounds just like the normal channel.

Any idea what I should be doing? Should I be ordering new tubes? checking some of the other components?

Also, is it normal to get crackling and other sounds when adjusting the treble and bass? It doesn't sound like a dirty pot. It sounds like audio noise, or sometimes a bit of a thunk. I think the sound was cutting out altogether when treble was all the way down.

I eagerly look forward to your advice. You all have been so helpful. I am very grateful.

-e

[sluckey]

Tremolo circuit needs a strong tube.

[shooter]

is it normal to get crackling and other sounds

um, no, crackling can be lots of things, bad soldering, bad socket, dirty stuff.........

other sounds, I'm thinking that's why we build

[evancorylevine]

okay! crackling is basically gone.

when I pull the trem/vib pot to turn on the trem, there's a loud snap in the speaker. Any ideas?

Also, are there mods to increase the range of the speed and depth? I find that the speed could stand to be wider, and the depth could stand to be mellower.

[sluckey]

... are there mods to increase the range of the speed and depth? I find that the speed could stand to be wider, and the depth could stand to be mellower.

Yes. I replaced the depth preset pot with a front panel pot for complete user control of the depth. And I added a switched cap to extend the slow speed of the oscillator. You can see the mods on my schematic of the AC-15 which has the same trem/vib circuit as your Weber amp. Schematic at bottom of this page...

     http://sluckeyamps.com/VAC15/ac15.htm