Help: Vibrolux Reverb issues?

[Sean French]

Just pickup up a silverface 1978 Vibrolux Reverb.
The vibrato and reverb do not work.I know I need the footswitch for the vibrato to work.I don't believe the reverb needs the footswitch to work.Does it?Pan is hooked up.
Also when I'm only plugged into the vibrato channel the normal channel adds noise(hiss) to it when the normal vol is turned up.I'm not plugged into the normal channel so should it add the noise to the vibrato channel?
Thanks.

 

[MapleFlame]

What happens sometimes is it may have been switched off the last time it was used. If you can get a footswitch repro, that should get both working. Scratchy that need cleaning and also sounds like some filter caps are an issue. I would replace the filter caps. You also could have a bad 12AX7 or it's contact point need cleaning.

 

[corpse]

My DR had no reverb so I removed the bottom panel, the bag and took out the pan. The wires had come loose. This was an easy resolder job. FYI. I have a couple pics in the SFDR thread Sean.
Jim

 

[Gold Tone]

My DR had no reverb so I removed the bottom panel, the bag and took out the pan. The wires had come loose. This was an easy resolder job. FYI. I have a couple pics in the SFDR thread Sean.
Jim

+1

Those are mighty small wires and break easily. I've had to resolder in the past also.

Easy fix and you'll be 100% on the reverb (assuming that's it).

How's it sound otherwise?

 

[Sean French]

My DR had no reverb so I removed the bottom panel, the bag and took out the pan. The wires had come loose. This was an easy resolder job. FYI. I have a couple pics in the SFDR thread Sean.
Jim

That's what it was.
One wire came loose.I soldered it back and all is well in verb land.:salude

 

[corpse]

Sweet- all donations of cigars- prefferable cuban-- cigars can be sent to...

 

[Sean French]

Sweet- all donations of cigars- prefferable cuban-- cigars can be sent to...

:2cool le :hippy

 

[L.A.M.F.]

From my time working as a roadie for the NEW YORK DOLLS IMHO it sounds like it may be what was said by MAPLE FLAME about it being turned off and you need the foot switch to turn it back on but get the schematics on your amp and I would bet it is the TUBE OR TUBES that drive the reverb and tremelo that is no good !!!

If I were you I would get a copy of Vintage Guitar Magazine in there is a guy who sells NOS tubes.
It woud be my guess that is is the tubes that drive that part of the circuit that has gone bad.
If ya go to FENDER.COM you can get a copy of the schematic...
BUT if ya want professional advice call SKIP SIMMONS AMP REPAIR.
SKIP is the AMP GURU and very friendly just have your numbers etc on hand so you can say em without hesitation as soon as he asks as he is busy busy busy.

From what you heard you might wanna ask SKIP but from what I learned is you do not change one or two tubes for then the older ones become the WEAK point.

A complete set of tubes for an amp like yours will cost ya about $125-150.00 and it will make your amp sound like brandy new !!!
I hope that helps ya and I feel quite confident that is your problem.

DO NOT BUY GROOVE TUBES THEY ARE CHEAP TUBES MADE IN CHINA !!!!

Here is Skip Simmons website address
WWW.skipsimmonsamps.com and his phone number is 707-678-5705
His reputation is good enough for Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, BB King and a ton of celebrities and just regular guys too.

Call Skip and get the right answer.
I have a backround in Electrical design and have worked on amps but am not that deep into it.
I can't diagnose your
problem without it in front of me and a few testors but SKIP CAN
.
He may also be able to direct you to a guy who can sell you a set of tubes that are already biased so you don't need anyone but yourself to do the install and move on.

Does your reverb/ tremelo foot switch have two wires or a 1/4 inch jack????
If they are a two wire set up BUY A NEW pedal as a back up...they get pulled n used pretty hard


Good Luck

respectfully
LAMF

 

[27sauce]

Yup, just like brand new with a JTM-45 circuit in one channel!!!

 

[Wilko]

what is this stuff about it "being switched off the last time it was used"?

That doesn't make any sense. The switches are either on or off. The tremolo switch is an open=off circuit. that's why it needs either a switch or a shorting plug to use tremolo if you don't have a switch. The reverb is an open=on circuit, so it will work without a switch.

 

[Don]

That's right. The state of the switch when it was unplugged from the amp does not matter on these amps. It's just a simple, latching on/off switch. Without a switch reverb is on and tremolo is off.

 

[27sauce]

I just went home and tried my VR. The reverb doesnt work without a switch.

 

[Wally]

This SFVR is like all other two channel Fender reverb amps. The switch is not necessary for the reverb to function. The switch is needed to turn the reverb off, and the switch is needed to turn the tremolo on. 27 sauce, if your amp's reverb will not work without a switch, something is odd about that amp's circuitry ....odd being abnormal in this case. The switch should take the reverb out of the circuit by grounding it out. The switch for the trem function completes the ground so that the circuit can work.
Sean, regarding the noise in the NOrmal channel. IF that channel creates noise, that noise will be heard if you turn thar Norm ch volume control up whether or not you are plugged into it, right? Depending on the type of noise, you could have an open shorting jack on the input or just a noisy channel---tube, resistors, etc. Cure: turnt he volume down on that channel.
I also agree witht he suggestion above to have the amp properly serviced. You will be amazed at the difference in the sonics..before and after recapping.

 

[MapleFlame]

I just went home and tried my VR. The reverb doesnt work without a switch.

Yuppie. All mine do that too.

 

[Sean French]

Correct that the footswitch can not lock the vib on or off.I knew this.I simply could not recall about the verb.
My amp' reverb works without the footswitch.
Not problem as all is well in verb land.
This amp sounds wonderful.
The normal channel on 8, treb 8, bass 1 and bright switch on is killer.:dude:
Creamy gain that has just the right sag.Fresh Cream anyone?:headbange
Alan knows his stuff and it shows in this amp.
BTW, the power tubes are JAN Phillips 6L6WGB' and all the pre's but one are Fender(orange lable) which I think might be original.