Fautly reverb tanks

[Reeltarded]

What is the main failure mode in a spring reverb tank? I replaced some things on Marshall valvestate where the reverb was creating quite a noise as well.

I noted that when I touched the tank, it hummed like a dynamo. Someone had replaced the RCA cable with a 4' one. When I cleaned the connections, and replaced the cable, it lost probably 75% of it's input. I know the out is fine, because it bounces when you spank it.

Just wondering. I don't have a replacement lying around, but I do have 5-6 long tanks that I can rob pickups from, although I am sure they are lower in/out than the short model Accutronics in the Marshall. I don't even think the owner cares to use the verb, I just see it as a chance to muss around.

[Buddha's Guitar Tech]

Most of the failures i've seen are either the wires coming off the RCA sockets, or the wee transducers failing. i don't know that the transducers can be fixed, unless you have microscopic fingers and microscopic tools.

Possibly silly question: have you metered the in and out of the tank? Better yet, is the tank the wrong way round? in/out swapped?

When you touch it and it hums, is there a chance the signal and screen have been reversed?

[Reeltarded]

Hmmm.. that sounds like it would require tiny eyes.. uhoh...

I tried swapping i/o and even reflowed at the board. I swapped in a long tank and I got cleaner sound, just very low. It is in the input transducer/connection, I am positive.

While tracing just the -in- side, I confused myself enough with toning to put it down and go for an asprin.

Thanks!

[kevster]

Hmmm.. that sounds like it would require tiny eyes.. uhoh...

I tried swapping i/o and even reflowed at the board. I swapped in a long tank and I got cleaner sound, just very low. It is in the input transducer/connection, I am positive.

While tracing just the -in- side, I confused myself enough with toning to put it down and go for an asprin.

Thanks!

Well, as a Valvestate owner, it isn't that great an amp. It was a great beginner amp, but it really isn't a tone monster. In addition to the design issues (i.e. chorus volume bump), the Valvestate is prone to build flaws. A lot of common quirks with the board and the pots/controls. Reflowing solder is a good place to start. I've done it to solve pot issues.

If you want to buy my 8240 I've been intending to put on consignment, it has a working reverb...

[M Fowler]

I've had the tiny wire come off the transducer which I didn't notice at first then I discovered it and tried to solder it back on but ended up replacing the tank.

Mark

[Structo]

Well, as a Valvestate owner, it isn't that great an amp. It was a great beginner amp, but it really isn't a tone monster. In addition to the design issues (i.e. chorus volume bump), the Valvestate is prone to build flaws. A lot of common quirks with the board and the pots/controls. Reflowing solder is a good place to start. I've done it to solve pot issues.

If you want to buy my 8240 I've been intending to put on consignment, it has a working reverb...

Yeah those reverb tank transducers are just about impossible to repair.
Unless you are a micro surgeon.

I know what you mean, I have a Valvestate 50 head.
I opened the cabinet up one time and here is this huge cabinet and inside is this tiny little pcb with a 12ax7 stuck on it.
Really kind of ticked me off when I thought about the $400+ I paid for that thing.

[Reeltarded]

I have 27 4-holers. This isn't my amp.



And for just a touch of heretical rhetoric, I like the amp ok, excepting the middle channel. The power thingy makes it squat. Still, everything is a distortion unit with many stages of eq.

At least it don't do what it did when he dropped it off. Yikes. Why don't they mount the boards facing down? Easier to repair.

[TUBEDUDE]

Sometimes the transducer coil is loose. If you use a tiny wooden shim, (I split a wedge from a chopstick) and slide it along the core under the edge of the coil bobbin, it will wedge the coil in place and increse the output. Good luck!

[Reeltarded]

Thanks! That is a tip I will try, and paste on the wall of my mind! Makes sense too, considering what it's actually doing.

[TUBEDUDE]

NICE STUDIO! Just looking at the mic list made me firm. I'd love to spend a day running my strat through the space echo and every amp with that leslie! A week in that studio would be a wonderful vacation. Congrats on assembling such a wonderland!

[Reeltarded]

Thank you! It's a nice sounding room that works!

What a great compliment! It's a great day!

If you ever get close, let me know and we'll see what that Strat sounds like.

Cheers!

[Structo]

Just checked out your studio.
Looks great and like a real fun place to hang out.

[TUBEDUDE]

Sometimes the transducer coil is loose. If you use a tiny wooden shim, (I split a wedge from a chopstick) and slide it along the core under the edge of the coil bobbin, it will wedge the coil in place and increse the output. Good luck!

[Reeltarded]

You are also invited, Tom!

I got out some glasses, and I think I can see a problem with the input of the tank.. but these are reading glasses, and I think my perscription might be microscope by now.

lol

Ooops... I hoped I'd die before I got old, and then got old came around without a spectre. Oh well! Diapers weren't so bad the first time around, from what I recall. When I play My Generation next, I'll do it in front of a big Geritol banner wearing Depends.

People try to put us... sn.. sn.. sn..snore..

[Deric]

People try to put us... sn.. sn.. sn..snore..