Spring reverb testing.

[The Guitar]

Something is up with the reverb on the Kasino. Turn the knob up and I get a noise/hum. Once it's past 2, it gets louder the more I turn it up. I've read about testing the ohms of the input and output jacks on the box, but didn't find what ohm setting on a multimeter is needed. I'm figuring that the reverb box itself could be shot. The board is mint and the solder joints look fine. Any help is always appreciated.

 

[NegativeEase]

Something is up with the reverb on the Kasino. Turn the knob up and I get a noise/hum. Once it's past 2, it gets louder the more I turn it up. I've read about testing the ohms of the input and output jacks on the box, but didn't find what ohm setting on a multimeter is needed. I'm figuring that the reverb box itself could be shot. The board is mint and the solder joints look fine. Any help is always appreciated.

How old of an amp?

 

[GuitarStv]

If it's a regular spring reverb there's not usually much that can go wrong with the tank itself. Sometimes the connectors that are used to attach the reverb tank go bad though. Check them for continuity with your multimeter, and try plugging/unplugging them a few times to see if there's oxidation causing issues - this can knock the oxidation off the leads.

 

[NegativeEase]

If it's a regular spring reverb there's not usually much that can go wrong with the tank itself. Sometimes the connectors that are used to attach the reverb tank go bad though. Check them for continuity with your multimeter, and try plugging/unplugging them a few times to see if there's oxidation causing issues - this can knock the oxidation off the leads.

yeah, that's why I was curious about the age of the amp..... oxidation

also, if you store your amp in a basement setting -spring reverbs can be affected sooner.

 

[The Guitar]

Not sure of the date, but the amps were made from 72-75. What ohm setting on the multimeter do I need to test? I'll plug it in this afternoon. It also has on-board tremolo with speed and depth knobs. They aren't working as well.

 

[NegativeEase]

Not sure of the date, but the amps were made from 72-75. What ohm setting on the multimeter do I need to test? I'll plug it in this afternoon. It also has on-board tremolo with speed and depth knobs. They aren't working as well.

It's easy to extract the spring reverb and inspect -2-4 1/4 hex or phillips screws -disconnect RCA inputs and outputs (label them as you remove them for reinstallation).

Then a few screws to open up or perhaps it's open on the bottom -take some pics and post.

Also, the controls -post a pic -I can probably get you fixed up on that too.

 

[The Guitar]

It's easy to extract the spring reverb and inspect -2-4 1/4 hex or phillips screws -disconnect RCA inputs and outputs (label them as you remove them for reinstallation).

Then a few screws to open up or perhaps it's open on the bottom -take some pics and post.

Also, the controls -post a pic -I can probably get you fixed up on that too.

I'll get those up later today. The reverb is mounted above the board, with a pad over the top. I guess I do have a teaser pic of it opened up.

 

[NegativeEase]

I'll get those up later today. The reverb is mounted above the board, with a pad over the top. I guess I do have a teaser pic of it opened up.

The leads to a reverb tank are super tiny -maybe 28-30 guage or something -and sometime almost raw copper or lightly tinned -easy to oxidize -especially for a almost 50 year old amp -so that's the first place I check.

 

[beaubrummels]

+1. I've never had a reverb tank go bad, but 15-20 years of playing outdoor festivals, beach gigs, having drinks and what-not spilled and/or stored in the back have been known to corrode the wires and connections. Impressive it takes 15-20 years, though.

 

[jeremy]

ive had a few newer tanks fail but the old ones in my 60's fenders are still kickin

 

[NegativeEase]

ive had a few newer tanks fail but the old ones in my 60's fenders are still kickin

Yeah -the Fender accutronix tanks are definitely higher end than the average ones

-remember Leo wasnt really a luthier nor wanted to be per se -as much as he was into electronics and electrical engineering -building guitars was more to supplement his desire to make and sell pickups and his especially amps -as in the 50s/60s people bought guitars and amps together in a package more often than now.

 

[The Guitar]

Here we go.
http://imgur.com/a/dlRqfzY
The pots between the RCA jacks are the reverb(left), tremolo depth(middle), and speed(right).

 

[The Guitar]

Update!
Tested the Kasino reverb on the Studio Pro and it works. Tried the Studio's box on the Kasino; no dice. Even tried different RCA cords. Now, when I touch the springs, it comes through the speakers. Happens on both units with both sets of RCA cords.

 

[jeremy]

so the kasino reverb tank is good and its somewhere in the circuit?

 

[The Guitar]

Looking like it. Not sure where or what exactly.

 

[ehdwuld]

I " tightened" rhe screws on my Belair
and the springs touched the bottom of the cab

Did exactly what you describe

 

[Mincer]

I've actually had to repair a few reverb tanks- new Accutronics units solved the problem, although you have to have the specs right.

 

[jeremy]

yep, and there are more than people think. accutronics was sold to belton a while back and the durability doesnt seem to be what it once was. the sound is still stellar though

 

[The Guitar]

The box in the Kasino and Studio Pro are O.C. Though the Kasino's was "manufactured by beautiful girls in Milton Wisconsin under controlled atmosphere conditions." That one sounds better than the Studio's reverb, for obvious reasons.

 

[jeremy]

oc made great tanks and eventually was bought by accutronics