Clean and treat ALL of your connections.
Power cords: Unplug from wall. Use a small fine toothed metal flat-file to file-flat both plug flanges (4 sides). Most plug flanges I've seen are stamped (by some kind of punch-press) and have a fine ridge, along the edge, that restricts contact with the female receptical (Seinfeld fans: "the holes").
File down until no more ridges and the blade surfaces are shiny and even.
Note: Some flanges have a raised bump running down the middle. DO NOT attempt to file the whole dang thing flat! Use common sense!
Next, use "Tarn-X" the deoxify the copper/brass plug flanges. This stuff can be found in most large super markets and makes metal look like new.
Finally, plug-and-unplug about 6 times to scrape off any oxidation from the female receptical. This is the best you can do until someone invents a $100 receptical that can be disassembled for cleaning (you can't expect this for a mere $50 dollars).
Speaker cable and ICs: Unplug and clean with alcohol first (the "non-sticky when dry" kind). Use your flat file on spade lugs where appropriate (forget it with those fancy Kimber kind). Again, you're trying to make the spade surface as flat as possible for maximum contact. use the file on amp connections and speaker terminals where appropriate (I don't have to tell you to unplug the amp first, do I?). Use your Tarn-X here too if connections are copper.
After filing and cleaning, apply something like "Pro Gold" or "Tweek" (follow directions) for maximum contact. For female RCA jacks (Jills?), pull most of the cotton from an ear swab and roll remaining cotton TIGHT! Dunk it in the non-sticky alcohol and "do" the inside of the jack.
Wait a while until all alcohol evaporates.
After all of this work (takes 2-3 hours) you'll be so tired that anything you play will sound fabulous!
Power cords: Unplug from wall. Use a small fine toothed metal flat-file to file-flat both plug flanges (4 sides). Most plug flanges I've seen are stamped (by some kind of punch-press) and have a fine ridge, along the edge, that restricts contact with the female receptical (Seinfeld fans: "the holes").
File down until no more ridges and the blade surfaces are shiny and even.
Note: Some flanges have a raised bump running down the middle. DO NOT attempt to file the whole dang thing flat! Use common sense!
Next, use "Tarn-X" the deoxify the copper/brass plug flanges. This stuff can be found in most large super markets and makes metal look like new.
Finally, plug-and-unplug about 6 times to scrape off any oxidation from the female receptical. This is the best you can do until someone invents a $100 receptical that can be disassembled for cleaning (you can't expect this for a mere $50 dollars).
Speaker cable and ICs: Unplug and clean with alcohol first (the "non-sticky when dry" kind). Use your flat file on spade lugs where appropriate (forget it with those fancy Kimber kind). Again, you're trying to make the spade surface as flat as possible for maximum contact. use the file on amp connections and speaker terminals where appropriate (I don't have to tell you to unplug the amp first, do I?). Use your Tarn-X here too if connections are copper.
After filing and cleaning, apply something like "Pro Gold" or "Tweek" (follow directions) for maximum contact. For female RCA jacks (Jills?), pull most of the cotton from an ear swab and roll remaining cotton TIGHT! Dunk it in the non-sticky alcohol and "do" the inside of the jack.
Wait a while until all alcohol evaporates.
After all of this work (takes 2-3 hours) you'll be so tired that anything you play will sound fabulous!