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Hi. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. A couple of
days ago, I bought a black Fender reissue '63 reverb unit from Musicians
Friend. It arrived today and when I opened the box, the first thing I
noticed was a small metal piece lying loose at the bottom of the unit. It's
cylindrical and looks like it twisted off of something else. It's about 3/4"
long. So, I looked into the back to see if I could find where it came from.
The next thing I noticed was that two of the small springs that suspend the
reverb pan were disconnected. So, I took out the control panel and
re-connected the springs. That's when I noticed where the metal piece came
from. At the top of the reverb pan are two very small holes. One is plugged
with what looks like the end of a similar metal pieces. I didn't want to
take out the pan, but without looking inside the pan, I'm pretty sure that's
what's plugging the hole. The other hole is open (or unfilled).
Here's what I think happened, but this is just conjecture. I'm thinking that
the machine at the factory somehow attaches to the small metal cylindrical
objects to hold the reverb pan in place while the springs that suspend the
reverb pan are attached. If the one cylindrical object broke off from the
machine too early, that would explain both why the metal piece was laying at
the bottom of the unit and why two of the springs that suspend the pan
weren't attached. Both unattached springs were on the same side of the pan
as the unfilled hole.
So, here are my questions. Could any damage have occurred to the unit during
shipping due to these suspension springs being unattached? The metal lever
that pushes the pan against foam to prevent the springs from being damaged
due to excessive movement was locked, but the pan itself was locked in a
crooked position due to the two suspension springs being unattached.
My second question is about the small cylindrical metal object. Does anyone
know whether or not my conjecture is accurate? The metal piece is not
electronic and I'm pretty sure that it does fit in that small hole at the
top of the reverb pan. I'm just not sure if it's supposed to be doing
something on the other side where I can't see?
The unit works fine, now. I can send it back to Musicians Friend and get
another one, I suppose. Does anybody think that would be advisable? I have
some negative feelings about having to have spent this much effort on
something that's supposed to be new, but, at the same time, I learned a lot
by looking at it and by doing the work! At some point, I'd like to do that
tube/capacitor modification. With the mix knob past "6," my jag sounds
extremely trebley and a bit harsh. I have to keep the tone on "4." Besides
that, the reverb is very wet and sounds great. I don't know why I waited so
long to get one!
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Tom
Tsunami Soul
www.oberlin.edu/serials/
wobc.org (Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., EST)
Hi Tom,
When my reverb unit arrived it too had 2 or 3 of the springs that suspend
the pan disconnected. UPS must have done a number on it. I too took the
thing apart and put it back together, learning about it in the process.
Sound familiar? It seems none worse for the wear though. I'll poke around
mine again and see if I can see these pieces you are talking about.
I also noticed the harshness you describe. A set of NOS tubes took care of
that! I haven't done the cap mod, though may try it in the future. Make sure
you replace the 6V6 with a 6K6.
I'll let you know if I find anything.
BN
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Hinders [mailto:]
> Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 10:17 PM
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
>
>
> Hi. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. A couple of
> days ago, I bought a black Fender reissue '63 reverb unit from Musicians
> Friend. It arrived today and when I opened the box, the first thing I
> noticed was a small metal piece lying loose at the bottom of the
> unit. It's
> cylindrical and looks like it twisted off of something else. It's
> about 3/4"
> long. So, I looked into the back to see if I could find where it
> came from.
> The next thing I noticed was that two of the small springs that
> suspend the
> reverb pan were disconnected. So, I took out the control panel and
> re-connected the springs. That's when I noticed where the metal piece came
> from. At the top of the reverb pan are two very small holes. One
> is plugged
> with what looks like the end of a similar metal pieces. I didn't want to
> take out the pan, but without looking inside the pan, I'm pretty
> sure that's
> what's plugging the hole. The other hole is open (or unfilled).
>
> Here's what I think happened, but this is just conjecture. I'm
> thinking that
> the machine at the factory somehow attaches to the small metal cylindrical
> objects to hold the reverb pan in place while the springs that suspend the
> reverb pan are attached. If the one cylindrical object broke off from the
> machine too early, that would explain both why the metal piece
> was laying at
> the bottom of the unit and why two of the springs that suspend the pan
> weren't attached. Both unattached springs were on the same side of the pan
> as the unfilled hole.
>
> So, here are my questions. Could any damage have occurred to the
> unit during
> shipping due to these suspension springs being unattached? The metal lever
> that pushes the pan against foam to prevent the springs from being damaged
> due to excessive movement was locked, but the pan itself was locked in a
> crooked position due to the two suspension springs being unattached.
>
> My second question is about the small cylindrical metal object.
> Does anyone
> know whether or not my conjecture is accurate? The metal piece is not
> electronic and I'm pretty sure that it does fit in that small hole at the
> top of the reverb pan. I'm just not sure if it's supposed to be doing
> something on the other side where I can't see?
>
> The unit works fine, now. I can send it back to Musicians Friend and get
> another one, I suppose. Does anybody think that would be advisable? I have
> some negative feelings about having to have spent this much effort on
> something that's supposed to be new, but, at the same time, I
> learned a lot
> by looking at it and by doing the work! At some point, I'd like to do that
> tube/capacitor modification. With the mix knob past "6," my jag sounds
> extremely trebley and a bit harsh. I have to keep the tone on "4." Besides
> that, the reverb is very wet and sounds great. I don't know why I
> waited so
> long to get one!
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
>
> Tom
> Tsunami Soul
> www.oberlin.edu/serials/
> wobc.org (Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., EST)
>
>
I have this suspicion that UPS uses small packages (like reverb tanks) as
footballs during the NFL season . . . gotta watch that kind of talk - my
bro-in-law works for UPS and denies all wrongdoing :)
Congrats on your new tank, Tom! Sounds like it got pretty tossed up during
the shipment. I'm not sure where those parts you describe are coming from -
sounds like some UPS aftermarket work vs. coming out of the Fender factory
like that. I think that MF has a 30 day return policy, so you can keep an
eye on your tank to be sure it continues to work o.k. If not, I'd return it
for a new one.
The take-your-head-off piercing treble seems to come with the RI tanks.
IMO, the Groove tubes are the primary culprit - replace those with NOS tubes
(yes, don't forget the 6K6 to replace the 6V6) and you'll be on your way to
better tone. One recommendation to reduce the treble sharpness is to
replace the 12AX7 with a 12AT7 - this tube has less gain and makes the
output less shrill. The tube swaps are easy, non-invasive ways to mod the
sound.
Of course, I fully support the "cap swap", too. I think that makes the
sound a bit richer - check out my cap mod site to get more details:
Enjoy !
-Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Neal" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2002 11:35 AM
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
> Hi Tom,
>
> When my reverb unit arrived it too had 2 or 3 of the springs that suspend
> the pan disconnected. UPS must have done a number on it. I too took the
> thing apart and put it back together, learning about it in the process.
> Sound familiar? It seems none worse for the wear though. I'll poke around
> mine again and see if I can see these pieces you are talking about.
>
> I also noticed the harshness you describe. A set of NOS tubes took care of
> that! I haven't done the cap mod, though may try it in the future. Make
sure
> you replace the 6V6 with a 6K6.
>
> I'll let you know if I find anything.
>
> BN
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tom Hinders [mailto:]
> > Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 10:17 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
> >
> >
> > Hi. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. A couple
of
> > days ago, I bought a black Fender reissue '63 reverb unit from Musicians
> > Friend. It arrived today and when I opened the box, the first thing I
> > noticed was a small metal piece lying loose at the bottom of the
> > unit. It's
> > cylindrical and looks like it twisted off of something else. It's
> > about 3/4"
> > long. So, I looked into the back to see if I could find where it
> > came from.
> > The next thing I noticed was that two of the small springs that
> > suspend the
> > reverb pan were disconnected. So, I took out the control panel and
> > re-connected the springs. That's when I noticed where the metal piece
came
> > from. At the top of the reverb pan are two very small holes. One
> > is plugged
> > with what looks like the end of a similar metal pieces. I didn't want to
> > take out the pan, but without looking inside the pan, I'm pretty
> > sure that's
> > what's plugging the hole. The other hole is open (or unfilled).
> >
> > Here's what I think happened, but this is just conjecture. I'm
> > thinking that
> > the machine at the factory somehow attaches to the small metal
cylindrical
> > objects to hold the reverb pan in place while the springs that suspend
the
> > reverb pan are attached. If the one cylindrical object broke off from
the
> > machine too early, that would explain both why the metal piece
> > was laying at
> > the bottom of the unit and why two of the springs that suspend the pan
> > weren't attached. Both unattached springs were on the same side of the
pan
> > as the unfilled hole.
> >
> > So, here are my questions. Could any damage have occurred to the
> > unit during
> > shipping due to these suspension springs being unattached? The metal
lever
> > that pushes the pan against foam to prevent the springs from being
damaged
> > due to excessive movement was locked, but the pan itself was locked in a
> > crooked position due to the two suspension springs being unattached.
> >
> > My second question is about the small cylindrical metal object.
> > Does anyone
> > know whether or not my conjecture is accurate? The metal piece is not
> > electronic and I'm pretty sure that it does fit in that small hole at
the
> > top of the reverb pan. I'm just not sure if it's supposed to be doing
> > something on the other side where I can't see?
> >
> > The unit works fine, now. I can send it back to Musicians Friend and get
> > another one, I suppose. Does anybody think that would be advisable? I
have
> > some negative feelings about having to have spent this much effort on
> > something that's supposed to be new, but, at the same time, I
> > learned a lot
> > by looking at it and by doing the work! At some point, I'd like to do
that
> > tube/capacitor modification. With the mix knob past "6," my jag sounds
> > extremely trebley and a bit harsh. I have to keep the tone on "4."
Besides
> > that, the reverb is very wet and sounds great. I don't know why I
> > waited so
> > long to get one!
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
> >
> > Tom
> > Tsunami Soul
> > www.oberlin.edu/serials/
> > wobc.org (Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., EST)
> >
>
> >
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
Tom,
I had the EXACT same issue with my brown reissue tank when it arrived. I
did the same as you...I just hooked everything back up like I thought it
should be, unlocked the tray lock, and fired it up...and consequently
cringed...and promptly did the cap n tube mod. If you go to the links page
on our site, you can find a great instructional website by my good friend
Dick Messick on how to change the cap. Takes about 20 minutes from start to
finish.
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
>From: "Tom Hinders" <>
>Reply-To:
>To: <>
>Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
>Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 23:17:05 -0500
>
>Hi. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. A couple of
>days ago, I bought a black Fender reissue '63 reverb unit from Musicians
>Friend. It arrived today and when I opened the box, the first thing I
>noticed was a small metal piece lying loose at the bottom of the unit. It's
>cylindrical and looks like it twisted off of something else. It's about
>3/4"
>long. So, I looked into the back to see if I could find where it came from.
>The next thing I noticed was that two of the small springs that suspend the
>reverb pan were disconnected. So, I took out the control panel and
>re-connected the springs. That's when I noticed where the metal piece came
>from. At the top of the reverb pan are two very small holes. One is plugged
>with what looks like the end of a similar metal pieces. I didn't want to
>take out the pan, but without looking inside the pan, I'm pretty sure
>that's
>what's plugging the hole. The other hole is open (or unfilled).
>
>Here's what I think happened, but this is just conjecture. I'm thinking
>that
>the machine at the factory somehow attaches to the small metal cylindrical
>objects to hold the reverb pan in place while the springs that suspend the
>reverb pan are attached. If the one cylindrical object broke off from the
>machine too early, that would explain both why the metal piece was laying
>at
>the bottom of the unit and why two of the springs that suspend the pan
>weren't attached. Both unattached springs were on the same side of the pan
>as the unfilled hole.
>
>So, here are my questions. Could any damage have occurred to the unit
>during
>shipping due to these suspension springs being unattached? The metal lever
>that pushes the pan against foam to prevent the springs from being damaged
>due to excessive movement was locked, but the pan itself was locked in a
>crooked position due to the two suspension springs being unattached.
>
>My second question is about the small cylindrical metal object. Does anyone
>know whether or not my conjecture is accurate? The metal piece is not
>electronic and I'm pretty sure that it does fit in that small hole at the
>top of the reverb pan. I'm just not sure if it's supposed to be doing
>something on the other side where I can't see?
>
>The unit works fine, now. I can send it back to Musicians Friend and get
>another one, I suppose. Does anybody think that would be advisable? I have
>some negative feelings about having to have spent this much effort on
>something that's supposed to be new, but, at the same time, I learned a lot
>by looking at it and by doing the work! At some point, I'd like to do that
>tube/capacitor modification. With the mix knob past "6," my jag sounds
>extremely trebley and a bit harsh. I have to keep the tone on "4." Besides
>that, the reverb is very wet and sounds great. I don't know why I waited so
>long to get one!
>
>Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
>
>Tom
>Tsunami Soul
>www.oberlin.edu/serials/
>wobc.org (Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., EST)
>
_________________________________________________________________
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Hey Tom,
I opened my unit up and looked behind the pan, etc. I didn't see anything
that looked like the cylindrical metal piece you describe. So perhaps it was
just a present from some anonymous Fender employee...a byproduct of the
manufacturing process. If the unit seems to work okay then maybe you aren't
missing anything.
I also found the infamous capacitor "C10", so now I am curious to try Dick's
cap mod..... :^)
BN
PS. Your story Tom reminds me of something. A few years ago I worked for an
electric utility. One of the contractors left a wrench inside one of the
main turbines at one of the nuclear power plants during a maintenance
outage. Those turbines are 18 feet in diameter and about 50 or 60 feet long.
Well, the next time they spun the turbine up during testing, there was a not
so nice racket and there went a couple of million dollars down the drain. As
Homer Simpson would say: "D'OH!"
Hey Brian!
Do it! Do it! Do it! . . . *sorry, just some peer pressure . . . * :)
I can't claim any rights to the cap mod (it goes back to a Guitar Player
article many years ago, at least), but I think my site give some pretty easy
to follow directions. My further research has indicated that a ceramic
capacitor (like the factory c10) may work just as well as a silver mica cap
(the silver micas tend to be tough to get "locally" for most of us). Since
you can easily get a ceramic cap at the local Radio Shack, that option makes
it even easier to get started.
-Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Neal" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 11:39 AM
Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
> Hey Tom,
>
> I opened my unit up and looked behind the pan, etc. I didn't see anything
> that looked like the cylindrical metal piece you describe. So perhaps it
was
> just a present from some anonymous Fender employee...a byproduct of the
> manufacturing process. If the unit seems to work okay then maybe you
aren't
> missing anything.
>
> I also found the infamous capacitor "C10", so now I am curious to try
Dick's
> cap mod..... :^)
>
> BN
>
> PS. Your story Tom reminds me of something. A few years ago I worked for
an
> electric utility. One of the contractors left a wrench inside one of the
> main turbines at one of the nuclear power plants during a maintenance
> outage. Those turbines are 18 feet in diameter and about 50 or 60 feet
long.
> Well, the next time they spun the turbine up during testing, there was a
not
> so nice racket and there went a couple of million dollars down the drain.
As
> Homer Simpson would say: "D'OH!"
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
>
If anyone needs a 390pf silver mica cap, let me know, I have a bunch.
When I ordered mine, it seemed silly to get just one or two since they cost
less than a buck each.
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
>From: "Dick Messick" <>
>Reply-To:
>To: <>
>Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
>Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 14:27:55 -0500
>
>Hey Brian!
>
>Do it! Do it! Do it! . . . *sorry, just some peer pressure . . . * :)
>
>I can't claim any rights to the cap mod (it goes back to a Guitar Player
>article many years ago, at least), but I think my site give some pretty
>easy
>to follow directions. My further research has indicated that a ceramic
>capacitor (like the factory c10) may work just as well as a silver mica cap
>(the silver micas tend to be tough to get "locally" for most of us). Since
>you can easily get a ceramic cap at the local Radio Shack, that option
>makes
>it even easier to get started.
>
>-Dick
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Brian Neal" <>
>To: <>
>Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 11:39 AM
>Subject: RE: [SurfGuitar101] Reverb tank questions
>
>
> > Hey Tom,
> >
> > I opened my unit up and looked behind the pan, etc. I didn't see
>anything
> > that looked like the cylindrical metal piece you describe. So perhaps it
>was
> > just a present from some anonymous Fender employee...a byproduct of the
> > manufacturing process. If the unit seems to work okay then maybe you
>aren't
> > missing anything.
> >
> > I also found the infamous capacitor "C10", so now I am curious to try
>Dick's
> > cap mod..... :^)
> >
> > BN
> >
> > PS. Your story Tom reminds me of something. A few years ago I worked for
>an
> > electric utility. One of the contractors left a wrench inside one of the
> > main turbines at one of the nuclear power plants during a maintenance
> > outage. Those turbines are 18 feet in diameter and about 50 or 60 feet
>long.
> > Well, the next time they spun the turbine up during testing, there was a
>not
> > so nice racket and there went a couple of million dollars down the
>drain.
>As
> > Homer Simpson would say: "D'OH!"
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > .
> > Visit for archived messages,
>bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
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Thanks to everybody, including Brian, Dick and Dano, for the reverb help. I
really appreciate both your help and how cool this group is! I think that
cylindrical metal piece is indeed a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
Nothing to worry about. So, I'm thinking to myself how nice it is that
SurfGuitar101 saved Musicians Friend from having to pay the extra shipping
charges for me to return my reverb unit when, what is this?, the other item
that I ordered from Musicians Friend arrived today. I ordered a brown tolex
Fender Jaguar case. I open it up and inside is a tweed Danelectro case! I
guess Musicians Friend just had to have me return something! D'OH!!!
Hey, thanks again,
Tom
> Message: 7
> Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 10:39:51 -0600
> From: "Brian Neal" <>
> Subject: RE: Reverb tank questions
>
> Hey Tom,
>
> I opened my unit up and looked behind the pan, etc. I didn't see anything
> that looked like the cylindrical metal piece you describe. So perhaps it
was
> just a present from some anonymous Fender employee...a byproduct of the
> manufacturing process. If the unit seems to work okay then maybe you
aren't
> missing anything.
>
> I also found the infamous capacitor "C10", so now I am curious to try
Dick's
> cap mod..... :^)
>
> BN
>
> PS. Your story Tom reminds me of something. A few years ago I worked for
an
> electric utility. One of the contractors left a wrench inside one of the
> main turbines at one of the nuclear power plants during a maintenance
> outage. Those turbines are 18 feet in diameter and about 50 or 60 feet
long.
> Well, the next time they spun the turbine up during testing, there was a
not
> so nice racket and there went a couple of million dollars down the drain.
As
> Homer Simpson would say: "D'OH!"
Hey Tom...
How much was that Jag case?
-Dano
-=The Nebulas=-
>From: "Tom Hinders" <>
>Reply-To:
>To: <>
>Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Reverb tank questions
>Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 21:36:46 -0500
>
>Thanks to everybody, including Brian, Dick and Dano, for the reverb help. I
>really appreciate both your help and how cool this group is! I think that
>cylindrical metal piece is indeed a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
>Nothing to worry about. So, I'm thinking to myself how nice it is that
>SurfGuitar101 saved Musicians Friend from having to pay the extra shipping
>charges for me to return my reverb unit when, what is this?, the other item
>that I ordered from Musicians Friend arrived today. I ordered a brown tolex
>Fender Jaguar case. I open it up and inside is a tweed Danelectro case! I
>guess Musicians Friend just had to have me return something! D'OH!!!
>Hey, thanks again,
>Tom
>
>
> > Message: 7
> > Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 10:39:51 -0600
> > From: "Brian Neal" <>
> > Subject: RE: Reverb tank questions
> >
> > Hey Tom,
> >
> > I opened my unit up and looked behind the pan, etc. I didn't see
>anything
> > that looked like the cylindrical metal piece you describe. So perhaps it
>was
> > just a present from some anonymous Fender employee...a byproduct of the
> > manufacturing process. If the unit seems to work okay then maybe you
>aren't
> > missing anything.
> >
> > I also found the infamous capacitor "C10", so now I am curious to try
>Dick's
> > cap mod..... :^)
> >
> > BN
> >
> > PS. Your story Tom reminds me of something. A few years ago I worked for
>an
> > electric utility. One of the contractors left a wrench inside one of the
> > main turbines at one of the nuclear power plants during a maintenance
> > outage. Those turbines are 18 feet in diameter and about 50 or 60 feet
>long.
> > Well, the next time they spun the turbine up during testing, there was a
>not
> > so nice racket and there went a couple of million dollars down the
>drain.
>As
> > Homer Simpson would say: "D'OH!"
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
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