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Post subject: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:03 am
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From what I can gather it’s a 1973 Silverface Vibrolux Reverb (chassis says A 26989). I hadn’t played this amp for several years, and a few months ago I plugged it in and turned it on, very loud hum, crackling static and microphonic noise, the reverb didn’t work but the tremolo was ok, and after being on for a bit it didn’t output guitar sound. It clearly needed some TLC! Having done some reading here and elsewhere, I figured some caps, some tubes and back in business. Alas!

The tech I took it to here on LI said it wasn’t worth repairing, or more accurately, wasn’t worth his time to repair, as he felt it needed $400+ worth of repairs and more bench hours than he cared to devote to an amp that isn’t exactly collectible.

It had been in a basement apt that had some flooding and the resultant mold apparently has destroyed the circuit board: the entire thing would need to be redone. I guess I can’t blame the guy for throwing up his hands (and maybe lunch) at the prospect of dealing with it.

I loved the sound of this amp, but it has mostly sentimental value to me (my first gigging amp). I kind of hate to give up on my old pal, but I also don’t want to just keep the thing sitting there, staring at me accusingly, and taking up space. Any thoughts (besides “nice going, dumbass!”)? Is it worth salvaging, speakers, etc., cannibalizing for parts, etc?

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:31 am
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Vintage Vibrolux Reverbs are commanding $1400 to $2400 on Ebay. Were it mine I'd repair it in spite of the cost, especially so if there were sentimental attachments.

JMOOC

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:10 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Vintage Vibrolux Reverbs are commanding $1400 to $2400 on Ebay. Were it mine I'd repair it in spite of the cost, especially so if there were sentimental attachments.

JMOOC

Arjay


+1.....save some coin and fix it. The board may still be good despite the mold issues. Is the chassis totally rusted on the inside too??


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:13 am
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See another tech about the cost ( always get more than 1 estimate in anything, unless you trust the source ).

$400 is not that much really to bring that up to its glory.

As Arjay mentioned, those command $$$ these days in working condition.

If you still don't want to and you live near Massachusetts let me know. :)

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:28 am
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tyronne wrote:
If you still don't want to and you live near Massachusetts let me know. :)


Give me a holler if you're closer to Arizona!

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:30 am
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FYI: Here's a little blurb fixing a bad reverb.

No reverb:

o Input or output cable to the reverb pan not plugged in
o Failing reverb drive tube
o Failing reverb recovery tube
o Bad reverb tank: measure the resistance between the center and outside conductors on the RCA jack on the reverb tank. It should be less than 2K ohms for all types of Hammond/Accutronics tanks, at both input and output sides. Many Fender amps may have a resistance of only 2-4 ohms at the input side. This is normal.

Other amps may have higher input resistances, from several hundred ohms up to a couple of K. If the resistance is high, the tank is bad. You can look inside the tank to see if one of the little wires have come loose from the RCA jack; some tanks can be saved this way. If the little coils at the ends of the springs are open, get a new tank. Sometimes the delay springs break. You're welcome to try to solder/putty/glue them back together, but don't expect too much from this.

Very faint or thin reverb

This is caused by too little signal getting through the reverb path.Could be:

 Failing drive or recovery tube
 Failing component making one of these tubes be biased incorrectly.


Hum from reverb

 Open ground/shield on reverb cable
 Dirty/corroded RCA jack/plug on reverb cable
 Broken ground wire inside reverb tank


Hiss from reverb
 drive or recovery tube going noisy
 Resistor going noisy in drive or recovery tube circuit


Distorted reverb sound; failing drive or recovery tube or failing component making one of these tubes biased improperly.

Other problems:

Crackling or popping sound from reverb

Squealing noise from the reverb, affected by the reverb control

Scratchy reverb control


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:06 pm
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Thanks for your replies. I doubt mine commands that much, Arjay, it's pretty beat (will try to post pics here, but am a spazz at it), but I am encouraged. I didn't think $400 was a lot, the fellow saying it was pointless/a fool's errand is what stopped me. And no, i don't know if the chassis is rusted, doesn't appear so from the back. Interesting re: the reverb issues/cures, thanks. Will keep you posted on any developments.
http://s7.postimage.org/kuko0cpnv/Vibrolux_front.jpg
http://s7.postimage.org/xi9m4cjcb/Vibrolux_back.jpg

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:25 pm
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Well it's a bit rough, to tell you the truth.

But not enough to qualify as "spazz rough" IMO.

:mrgreen:

If you can open it up and shoot some pics of the chassis, the empty cab, the speakers, etc, we can get a better idea of what it'll take to make the amp sing again. Personally, I think it's definitely redeemable.

HTH

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:41 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Well it's a bit rough, to tell you the truth.

But not enough to qualify as "spazz rough" IMO.

:mrgreen:

If you can open it up and shoot some pics of the chassis, the empty cab, the speakers, etc, we can get a better idea of what it'll take to make the amp sing again. Personally, I think it's definitely redeemable.

HTH

8)

Arjay


Thanks Arjay, from your lips to Gods ears re: redemption of the poor old bastard. I will try to get it opened up and take some more awful phone pics, I don't know anything about taking amps apart, etc, so will be an adventure for me and the screwdriver.

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:58 pm
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Twang99 wrote:
I don't know anything about taking amps apart, etc, so will be an adventure for me and the screwdriver.


Unplug the amp

Remove the upper and lower back panels

Disconnect the cables for the reverb tank and (if present) the footswitch

Remove the strain-relief bracket holding the power cable to the left side of the cabinet

Remove the four chassis-strap screws and the two straps (there is a kep nut at the bottom of each screw, which holds the chassis snug to the top of the cabinet)

Gently slide the chassis rearward until you clear the rear cleats of the cabinet

Pour yourself a "tall one" then set back and admire your handiwork.

:mrgreen:

*********************

To re-install the chassis, reverse the procedure.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:47 pm
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Twang99 wrote:
Thanks for your replies. I doubt mine commands that much, Arjay, it's pretty beat (will try to post pics here, but am a spazz at it), but I am encouraged. I didn't think $400 was a lot, the fellow saying it was pointless/a fool's errand is what stopped me. And no, i don't know if the chassis is rusted, doesn't appear so from the back. Interesting re: the reverb issues/cures, thanks. Will keep you posted on any developments.
http://s7.postimage.org/kuko0cpnv/Vibrolux_front.jpg
http://s7.postimage.org/xi9m4cjcb/Vibrolux_back.jpg


def worth looking into. Whats the worst that can happen?? You decide not to??

Open er up per Arjay's instructions and lets take a peak....


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:20 pm
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One tiny caveat. If you've play the amp recently (like within the last week)... the power supply caps are still charged (~ 400-450 VDC). Please take care probing around the circuitry components, once the amp is out of the chassis--- as those caps can hold that charge for quite awhile, post the last turn-on.

It maybe a good idea to use a draining resistor (like a 500-1K-ohm, 5-watt WW "sand-box" resistor with leads & alligator clips on each end). This resistir is attached to circuit AFTER the amp is pulled out of the cab.

One end attaches to the (+) of the main caps & other to the chassis (ground). Turn the STANDBY switch to ON. Be sure to remove this resistor and turn all switches OFF, once you are finished with the job.

Luck good. This is a very nice amp, once restored to reliable status.


Last edited by BMW2002Ti on Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:26 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
One tiny caveat. If you've play the amp recently (like within the last week)... the power supply caps are still charged (~ 400-450 VDC). Please take take probing around the components, once the amp is out of the chassis--- as those caps can hold that charge for quite awhile, post the last turn-on.

Luck good. This is a very nice amp, once restored to reliable status.


hee hee......


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:28 pm
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post the last turn-on

I was gonna use a crude analogy, with my first post but thought discretion the better part of valor. Heck, might as well...

Reckless probing " around hot or recently hot circuits is like slamming your you-know-what into the " target " without looking. Can lead to a broken weenie along with a wasted moment.

FWIW... 400-450 VDC at mA range won't kill you. But, you'll surely have a "defining moment," if you catch my drift.


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Post subject: Re: Dead Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:39 pm
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"Broken weenie"?

:shock:

I hate it when that happens!

:lol:

Arjay

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