Tremolo volume drop in super reverb

[beasleybodyshop]

Is this normal? When I crank up the intensity knob I notice the overall volume level drops a bit.

[Stevem]

If this is not a re-issue amp have the bias supply filters been changed out, even if this is a re-issue amp the filters they use are crap and some border line defective even when new!
Your recto tube could also be weak and slow to recover.
The stock fender blackface and early silverface bias filters where run above there voltage rating.
When I re cap these amps the bias filter(s) get up rated to 100 uf at 100 volts.

[pdf64]

Maybe the opto-isolator is failing, light is getting in or something, so consider replacing it.
This is with the chassis in the cab?
Pete

[Leo_Gnardo]

Sometimes I've found the neon lamp is always glowing dimly except when it goes bright when the vibrato circuit kicks it into blinking. If not possibly a photocell that doesn't go to megaohms when the neon lamp goes dark. FWIW I never buy pre made "bugs". I get photo cells from Mouser or Antique/CE. Last batch were intended for Morley pedals. They were relatively cheap and work OK. An NE-2 lamp, a little heatshrink and off ya go.

[beasleybodyshop]

Thanks guys, ive recapped the entire amp with good, tested caps, including the bias circuit (got to use my new capacitance checker yeah!) and I replaced the LDR roach with a new one from CE. also replaced those ceramic caps and brown turd with mallories.

yes, this is with the chassis in the cab. new LDR roach looks well heat shrinked.

[beasleybodyshop]

When I get home I will swap in my SS recto plug and see if the rectifier is weak. Thanks for the tip.

[Richie]

The bug with a wrong value photocell will suck the life out of the amp,or lets say, yes a volume drop.

[beasleybodyshop]

The bug with a wrong value photocell will suck the life out of the amp,or lets say, yes a volume drop.

tubesandmore only sells one kind of LDP - thats the one i have in it. would it be the wrong value?

[Richie]

Its possible, or even new things can be faulty.



http://www.clarkhuckaby.com/fendervib.html

[beasleybodyshop]

Is there a way to check to see if it's working properly in circuit?

[beasleybodyshop]

Sometimes I've found the neon lamp is always glowing dimly except when it goes bright when the vibrato circuit kicks it into blinking. If not possibly a photocell that doesn't go to megaohms when the neon lamp goes dark. FWIW I never buy pre made "bugs". I get photo cells from Mouser or Antique/CE. Last batch were intended for Morley pedals. They were relatively cheap and work OK. An NE-2 lamp, a little heatshrink and off ya go.

Leo, what spec photo cell are you using?

[beasleybodyshop]

Update:

Stuck the original photocell in there - volume doesnt drop when intensity is cranked up. Instead, it makes a ticking noise, and the tremolo effect is very weak.

It sounds like I need to find the proper LDR roach for this amp.

Does anyone know of a place that carries the proper one?

[Leo_Gnardo]

Leo, what spec photo cell are you using?

Spec, how formal! I don't know, just get 'em from Antique/CE, they're intended for Morley. Previously I got a photocell from Mouser then that one "left the catalog." Oh I could get it, if I paid $8.12 each for a hundred and waited for - - - a while... special order. Get a couple Morley replacements, a couple NE2 bulbs, black heatshrink & you're off to the races. If you hear a click from the NE2 there's a couple spots to try a 0.02 uF 630V cap to suppress the noise. One is across the 10M resistor, the other is from the junction of 10M resistor and Neon to ground.

[beasleybodyshop]

er.....does the NE-2 have to be red? I found around 20 of them in a box at a garage sale last weekend....except they are orange. would that be fine?