[dmblackburn]

Plastic rod or a wooden chopstick has no effect on the thump. Placing my finger on the grid cap of the IF (44) eliminates the thump but strong stations have a very low volume and I must hold my finger on the cap the whole time. If I remove my finger from the cap, the thumping resumes. When I turn the volume knob all the way up, I am getting a shrill squeal (without holding my finger on the cap). When I hold my finger on the cap (at increased volume), thumping is gone, and I have pretty clear reception but not the full volume that you would get with a normal set.