Fender hot rod deluxe tube rattle. - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Guitar Combo Amplifier

The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe shows a 2-button footswitch as standard but I'm confused. This link shows it as connected to the amp via a mono cable ... FENDER Hot Rod Deluxe DeVille Footswitch which is impossible using two switches. Normally it's a stereo (tip, ring, sleeve) with tip to sleeve being one connection, and ring to sleeve the other. Good luck with this one.

voltometer may help.

Had this happen once, maybe the amp module is fried... if thats the case, you might need a new one.

Are fuses OK?

First thing would be try another guitar with the amp. This will eliminate if it's a problem with the guitar or the amp itself. If the guitar is working properly then check all the tubes to be sure they are all seated into there slots completely. Depending on how much use they have been played it may be a good suggestion to then replace your tube's. Occationally the tubes will start loosing power, making sound fluctuate up and down or distortion sounding static in background noise. You will notice a big difference with newer tube. But remember the bias must be set correctly to match the new tubes so they won't over heat. You can check out youtube for setting the bias. Anyway this is my suggestion and I wish you good luck.

CHECK VOLUME CONTROL BUTTON.

Hello. You might have a "Tube rattle" problem. This is very common in these amps.
google "tube rattle" and you will find alot of people having the same issue.
There is some rubber tube dampers that you can buy to stop the rattling.
Hope this will help

/Daniel

This sounds like a bad solder joint or cracked circuit board feeding the heater voltlaage to the left tube.

Pins 2 and 7 are the heater. LOOK for circuit board crack or bad solder to these pins.

Remember there is HIGH VOLTAGE in this unit so use ALL precautions for your personal safety as the voltages can be lethal.

This is likely either a tube issue OR one with capacitors.

You need to characterize the loudness of the noises versus the settings of the controls as part of troubleshooting...

You can try tapping each tube with a pencil to see if one in failure will reveal itself.

More than likely a bad solder joint. Where is the next question. How confident are you with voltage measurments? The rails in tube amps are high and can kill you so if you are not inclined to do so please don't. The reason I suspect a solder joint is that it is a failure over time, cold solder joints expand and contract with heat. When they heat up they break connection. Not saying 100% that is your problem but it is very likley.

Ah yes, the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I have seen more of these in my shop than any other amplifier!! I have even sent recomendations for design changes to Fender about this amplifier.
Sadly, your amp tech may be correct: while the amp is within working specs, you can still have an issue with a bad socket. The cheapest thing to try is to replace the preamp tube(s) you think may be causing the problem. If the problem persists, it may need to be serviced on this issue (by a different 'certified Fender tech'). In defense of the last tech you had work on this amp, these amplifiers have a brittle design and do not gig or travel well (there are a minority of these amps made that do perform). Fender tried to do too much for the price on this model: best advice is to fix it, sell it and get your tone with a more stable model made by Fender (like the new vintage re-issues). Fender, like Marshall, has for years been having problems when they get too far from thier 'working reciepe' of what made them great companies.
You likely have a socket that needs re-tensioned, or a preamp tube not behaving. If it is not these, then a tech had to dive in the house of cards that is this circuit. Sorry for the bad news on this, but it is the truth. I only take on Hot Rods that 'appear' to be fixable. I am a development engineer, build amps from scratch and fix them for the local music shops, and my success rate is a dismal 60%-ish percent on these...
Thanks,-mike