Help with reverb on Fender Ultimate Chorus amp

[loungedebaldy]

Hi everyone. It's cold outside so am trying to fix some equipment that is on the "To Do" list.
Anyone familiar with the workings of a guitar amp wire reverb. I could sure use some help.
The 90's Fender amp's reverb does not work at all. Just a humming noise that gets louder as you turn the pot up for the reverb. The chorus works fine.... different technology, I presume.
I have taken the guts out of the amp cabinet and had a look at the board and all seems fine there. I took out the wire reverb and have tested both sides for continuity (see pic). The right side has continuity but the left side does not. I don't know a thing about the workings of this so am asking for help with diagnosis and hopefully fixing of said reverb. Thanks for any help and ideas.
Baldy

http://imgur.com/AbKhBj0

 

[loungedebaldy]

The side with no continuity is the output side of the spring reverb. I kind of know in general how it works now with reading different posts and threads in this forum but I wonder if it could be the output coil that could be at fault and if it could be replaced? Maybe I should just buy another complete tank? I'd hate to buy one only to find out that it is something else in the circuit. Is there a test that I could do with a multimeter that would confirm that the circuit is working?
Thanks

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Can you take some closeups of the transducers at the ends of the springs? Follow the wires and take a few shots of what they connect to, at different angles. Are there any numbers marked on them?

 

[loungedebaldy]

Hi Kris. Thanks for answering my post. I have taken some pics of the accutronics reverb tank and no numbers except some painted on the tank. I have unplugged the wire at the coil and unhooked the anti-shock springs and propped the one end up on a pen to take the pics. There is no continuity at the pins of the coil.
http://imgur.com/YwkjKiv
http://imgur.com/Jevusa2
http://imgur.com/vSUI9a9

I have checked on the codes for the numbers on the tank and it is a Blues Junior number is
8EB2C1B model. Input insulated and output grounded.

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Your third image didn't work.

I Googled blues junior reverb and found some sites that will sell you a replacement. I also found some useful information at http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=46.

It seems pretty clear that there's a pickup coil in there, and yours is open-circuit. You say you measure open circuit between the two long pins? He says this can be caused by a break in the fine wire coming from the actual coil (the part that's wrapped in yellow tape). If you can find the break, under a strong light, you may be able to fix it.

 

[loungedebaldy]

Thanks for that input Kris. I will try fix the tiny wire. If I can find it!. I see that the replacements are not expensive so I will go with that if I can't fix this one. Again thanks for your help.

 

[loungedebaldy]

I read the fix and then looked for the broken wire on the plug and could not find anything wrong there. I removed the insulation from the tiny wires that come out of the coil with fine steel wool and checked for continuity and still no luck. I assume that the wire is broken someplace inside the coil. BTW. I used reading glasses, a flip up set of magnifying glasses and a table mounted magnifying lens to see the wires and poke around. Geesh! I miss the days of my youth when I could see!!

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Yeah, I'm starting to get that way myself :-/

That's a shame that you couldn't find the break. That tiny, fine wire does break easily. It kind of makes you wonder why manufacturers continue to use it, without doing more to protect it :-/

 

[loungedebaldy]

Yes, I agree!! Like everything these days, it is all about the money! Make it as cheap as they can as long as it lasts past warranty then they will sell you another. Share holders are happy! I was in to the appliance repair shop a few months back for a belt for my 30 year old dishwasher. I paid dearly for the belt when it arrived but don't have to wash the dishes by hand! The repair guy says, "You still using that old machine? They don't make them like that anymore! Lucky if they last 5 years now!". Well I hope the 5 year thing is not true but it seems to be the norm. I guess there is no money in quality anymore!

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Yeah. I was going to post a long rant about it, but what's the point? People need to figure it out for themselves.

 

[loungedebaldy]

I got the new reverb tank today and installed it and it works great! Very easy and inexpensive fix in the end and supposedly an upgrade although It's been so long since the reverb last worked that I could not remember what it sounded like before!
Anyway, I am sure happy with the sound and the fact that it now works. Thanks for sending me in the right direction and help in the fix.