Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey folks,
I have a blackfaced 1974 Fender Super Reverb and the Vibrato is not working. It was working perfectly and then stopped all of a sudden. I replaced the preamp tube twice just to make sure that wasn't the problem. I also checked the footswitch connection in the back. In fact, when I unplugged the footswtich, the reverb stayed on and I am guessing the vibrato should too. Anyhow, before I take the amp in, I am curious to hear any suggestions on what else to check. I really miss the vibrato in this amp!!!

\Peace,

Gil

Needs a new bug. (the lamp/photoresistor device that makes the tremolo happen)

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/item.a ... id=4113400


Brad

SarnoMusicSolutions wrote:Needs a new bug. (the lamp/photoresistor device that makes the tremolo happen)

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/item.a ... id=4113400


Brad

The bug is usually the last thing to go. They generally outlive the amps in my experience. A Tremolo that suddenly dies on a Fender amp without any other signs of fading, etc, is 99% of the time a bad foot switch, cable to the footswitch or dirty RCA jack.

If you did have some other symptoms leading up the Trem dying, such as weaker than usual intensity, or volume dropping when you turned the intensity up, then it's the string of blocking caps that are leaking. They would be the .02uf, and the pair of.01uf's.

The Trem bug does have to be replaced in some instances but they are few and far between.

FYI, Unless the amp has been modified, with no footswitch attached the Reverb should operate BUT NOT the Tremolo.

Thanks all. I'll check the connection and the footswtich. I will say that the reverb side of the footswitch "clicks" properly and the trem side is not so clean feeling although it does click. Could I reverse the plugs and plug the reverb path of the footswitch into the trem jack without harm?

I lost my vibrato way back in High School

That's funny stuff deadguise! When I posted this, I actually "mistakenly" typed an r after vibrato. Had a good laugh over that one!

You can just take an RCA plug and connect the tip to ground with a wire inside the plug, and then just plug that in. It's the same as what a working switch would do. People will do this to keep the vibrato (actually tremolo) on all the time without a footswitch.

Let us know what the fix turns out to be.


Brad

Jon, it must be an east coast thing. I think your "roaches" are more resilient! HA!
Seriously, anytime I hear of vibrato going on an old fender it's the roach.