Ha nevermind, i fixed it. i did some reading around and found that pincushion effects can be caused by dying capacitors. i thought the one big capacitor i replaced a few years ago was the only one that needed it. I ended up using the cap kit i purchased a few years ago and fixing up most of the capacitors especially the ones around what i believe it the pincushion pot. turned it on and it's crystal clear, now to set up mameWah (oh the fun that will be!) Mod's feel free to lock this now.