Silverface reverb unit not sounding like it should

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Silverface reverb unit not sounding like it should

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toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 05 2014 06:13 PM had this serviced about a year ago and just doesnt sound right the dwell doesnt have much of a tapper to it...has some splash but its a dull splash, and when i try and push it to surf mode a loose a lot of gain and it gets real muddy...is that just the nature of the beast or is something wrong have the 6k6 nos power tube Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 05 2014 06:34 PM Could be a kaputt 6K6? - did you try a tube swap already? — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Dec 05, 2014 18:35:14 Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Dec 05 2014 07:56 PM $20 for a new tank is a good investment. These things DO wear out, I can attest. Short of that, epoxy on the spring ends and middle joint, with tiny shims at the transducer transformers may improve the sound. But if the transducers are sagging, you need to spend $20 for a new one. — Squink Out! Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 05 2014 08:40 PM its a rca 6k6 and the transducers are loose, and now its not workin lol, just my luck Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Dec 05 2014 08:45 PM toddr513 wrote: ... the transducers are loose, and now its not workin lol, just my luck Note: Routine maintenance/replacements not reportable in the GA thread. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 05 2014 08:58 PM Badger wrote: toddr513 wrote: ... the transducers are loose, and now its not workin lol, just my luck Note: Routine maintenance/replacements not reportable in the GA thread. ya well i had it serviced a year ago and always thought that just how the tanks sounded but after doing research, i know its not sounding good guess ill find a new tech Top
SURFmole Joined: Nov 22, 2007 Posts: 901 Portland, OR	Posted on Dec 05 2014 09:29 PM Is it a 6K6 or a 6V6? If it's a silverface, it uses a 6V6 and you have the incorrect tube in it. — www.apollo4.com Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 05 2014 10:34 PM i have tried both and still is not working...and when it was working i tried both and didnt seem to notice much difference Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 06 2014 12:21 AM The silver face reverb unit 6V6 is fixed-bias and the bias voltage may be failing - you better get it to an amp tech it you don't know how to fix it yourself. — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Dec 06, 2014 00:22:02 Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 11:22 AM can i use a 6k6 is it messed up now cause i didnt use a 6v6 all the time....by the way i want to learn how to work on these things myself just dont want to hurt myself Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 12:19 PM ok so now im getting a crash but no guitar is comung through Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 06 2014 02:49 PM The crash indicates the reverb recovery circuit is working. So it is something on the driver side of the pan. The simplest thing to eliminate is the pan cable - so maybe try a new reverb transformer-to-pan cable? After that its the 6K6/6V6 driver tube and the reverb transformer (and the pre-amp tube driving the 6K6/6V6) - so try a tube swap with a known good tube. Even if your 6K6 is a NOS RCA or whatever, it could still be a bad tube. The other thing is that in the SF reverb unit, the 6V6 is fixed-bias. If you've put a 6K6 in there without changing the bias, you could be running the 6K6 too hot and have have damaged it already. Not trying to pick one thing or another specifically but giving you some diagnostic options, seeing as how I'm here on the other side of the world, and you're whoever you are and I can't be in eh same room to check your amp directly. Otherwise I'd just do some quick tests and put my finger on it straight away. As it is you'll either have to try a few different things without electrocuting yourself, or take it to a tech if the simple fixes (cable swap/tube swap) don't do it for ya. — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Dec 06, 2014 14:52:03 Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 05:25 PM ok so one of my cables was bad so thats y its wasnt workin...go figure i swear all of my gear wants to crap out on me at the same time...its working now with the 6v6 but this tank still sound like crap maybe ill just pawn it and get a topanga till i can afford a real tank Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 05:54 PM so did some research and looks like im missing the bias....does that look right to everyone else Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 06 2014 05:57 PM The fixed bias circuit in the SF unit isn't adjustable - you have to mod the bias circuit to make it adjustable. — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 05:58 PM Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Dec 06 2014 09:14 PM Todd you mentioned you replaced the cable but previously you'd mentioned the transducers were loose. Do you have, or know someone who has, a spare pan to rule out that you haven't just got a glitchy pan (with its accompanying transducers)? You also mentioned it never really sounded the way you thought it should. What's the number on the pan? For example, on the '63 reissue it's typically a 4AB3C1C (don't know if the SF is different, don't have that service manual). Those characters all have meaning as to type of delay, electrical values (ohms in and out) & intended orientation. Would be easy to check if it's the wrong pan put in at some point; it happens. Just some thoughts. — Wes SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 10:37 PM its the right pan....something is missing in my chassis, its in the middle of the other pic, its round and right above the pan locker latch you can even see the the circle where its missing it...i feel like im going crazy my tech knows nothing about how a good tank should sound...know one i know is into surf, my band mates in my spaghetti surf band dont really even listen to surf, so they just look at me like im crazy when i say the drip/tank/reverb does not sound right maybe i need to make sound clips... Top
toddr513 Joined: Dec 30, 2013 Posts: 245	Posted on Dec 06 2014 10:39 PM or maybe ill just buy a pan and if thats not it ill just pawn it..and move on hows are the RI reverb units is it worth selling mine and just getting a RI Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Dec 07 2014 04:51 AM Todd, A new reverb pan costs as much as 3 sets of strings! Quit agonizing and just get one. — Squink Out! Top

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