Topic: guitar players-anyone know old Fender amps?

[JBMorse]

Hey gang,
I have a silverface Vibrolux Reverb that is my main and only amp.  I use it for everything, jazz band, blues bands, combos, rock, whatever.  It is one of my prized possessions, and i love it for many of the reasons I love my SOHC4 (simplicity, reliability, effectiveness, etc)
Anyway, I recently have had a loose solder joint or something making lots of noise.  I can tap the top of the amp and make it worse or sometimes go away.  My dilemma is whether I should fix it myself or take it to a tech.  Last time I had something repaired, a few years ago, I was told it really needs to be recapped.  So I'm looking at doing that job or having it done as well.  What can I expect to pay for that job? 
The reason I ask is I think I could save money by doing it myself but don't want my only amp to be tied up on the workbench while I slowly figure it out!
Any thoughts?

[Duke McDukiedook]

I assume this is a tube amp, yes? A recap on your power supply would be easy peasy as long as you can find about the same cap value farad-wise, Antique Electronic Supply out of Arizona supplies all kinds of junk for old guitar amps. Usually the electrolytic caps of today have higher voltage ratings than the old ones, make sure you match or exceed the rated voltage.

It doesn't hurt to be decent with a soldering iron either, you should be able to pick up a total station like a Weller for about $50 or $60US.

Have you checked your tubes to see if they are not going out? Tube rectification I assume? Check that tube first.

I think forum member Cupcake works on and has a few tube guitar amps, you might want to speak to him.
 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Or it could ba a loose solder joint on one of your tube pins.

Cold solder joints act like this sometimes.

[TrueSpin]

You may have significantly better luck in the Gear Building/Customizing section of UltimateGuitar.com 's forums.

That's where I have always gone for these sorts of questions (which unfortunately I can't really help with )

[vance]

Make sure you learn how to discharge your filter caps  before you go poking around in there. They can have a dangerous amount of voltage.

[faux fiddy]

Make sure you learn how to discharge your filter caps  before you go poking around in there. They can have a dangerous amount of voltage.

+70 vots
I posted a link a while back. The guy I am taking it to is old school TV repair, become tube amp. (TV's fry out and you buy new and  don't repair anymore.)  Good career move for someone perhaps in his '70's.

He said my amp was like an elephant, cool and all, but not something average you'd necessesarily need to own for standard purposes.

People kill themseves reaching into the things without knowing what they are doing.

[azuredesign]

Hey gang,
I have a silverface Vibrolux Reverb that is my main and only amp.  I use it for everything, jazz band, blues bands, combos, rock, whatever.  It is one of my prized possessions, and i love it for many of the reasons I love my SOHC4 (simplicity, reliability, effectiveness, etc)
Anyway, I recently have had a loose solder joint or something making lots of noise.  I can tap the top of the amp and make it worse or sometimes go away.  My dilemma is whether I should fix it myself or take it to a tech.  Last time I had something repaired, a few years ago, I was told it really needs to be recapped.  So I'm looking at doing that job or having it done as well.  What can I expect to pay for that job? 
The reason I ask is I think I could save money by doing it myself but don't want my only amp to be tied up on the workbench while I slowly figure it out!
Any thoughts?

If it's an amp that you depend on, wouldn't make more sense to spend $100-200 and have it tip top?
It could be a solder joint and it could be leaking filter power supply caps, or preamp caps or resistors. It could also be old tubes. If you don't need the amp for a while, go buy an instructional manual, or see if you can find a troubleshooting guide online, get a decent VOM meter, a schematic, and start checking voltages. It's interesting and fun to figure out and fix a problem, but it's not necessarily easy to do so right off the bat. If you do start messing around, remember the cardinal rule, and don't put yourself in circuit, keep one hand in yer pocket!
If you don't feel up to it, and Boston's not too far, call Craig Jones at Baystate Guitars, Tom Corteau at Aztech Sound, or Roy Goode at Goodesounds.
FWIW, I also really enjoy my Vibrolux Reverb.

[scottly]

Bad filter capacitors stay bad; they don't change by tapping on the cabinet. When bad, they cause a 60 cycle hum. Sounds like a poor connection to me, most likely in the 1/4" plug socket. A poor connection to the sleeve of the plug can cause noise, as the cable is no longer shielded. Try playing with the plug, and see if it has any effect..

[Frankencake]

Bad filter capacitors stay bad; they don't change by tapping on the cabinet. When bad, they cause a 60 cycle hum. Sounds like a poor connection to me, most likely in the 1/4" plug socket. A poor connection to the sleeve of the plug can cause noise, as the cable is no longer shielded. Try playing with the plug, and see if it has any effect..

It could also be a grid resistor.  They take a lot of heat and can develop cold solder joints and snap off.  They are in a position that, when banged, will do what you are describing.
It could be a loose pot.
It could be any one of the solder joints letting go. 
It could be a bit of many things.  Most repairs like this shouldn't take that much time. 
Having your filter caps done if you don't know when they were done last is a good thing to do as well.  They are the equivalent of the timing belt on a car.  When they go, they could(but it's unlikely) wipe out your power transformer.  Most of the time they just take out the fuse.  When you hear of an amp pouring smoke on stage, this is what happens, unless it's an Ampeg.  Their transformers actually burn when they short out internally.  It's awesome!

[2wheels]

I don't do old amps, but electronics is my life.

If it has volume or tone controls, they get very sensitive when there old.
Cleaning helps for a little while, and lets you know if there the problem.
Replacing them is the solution.

Connectors are also a good source for intermittents.

[JBMorse]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I am leaning towards taking it to someone to have the buzz figured out and have the filter caps changed.  I am pretty sure the buzz is just a loose joint.  I've changed some of the tubes over the years. 
I like working on old stuff and figuring things out (hence the interest in SOHC4s) but I don't really have time to get into this.  Cupcake has contacted me and I am going to try and get over to him soon. 
Azure, thanks for the names.  I'll certainly keep them in mind.  I know of a couple of good techs closer to me but they're kind of hit or miss with availability. 
I know about discharging capacitors and all that, but I have never actually done it.  In the future I may buy a variac and some other tools so that I can build myself a replica tube amp.  Perhaps an early Deluxe or something. 

[Frankencake]

You don't need no stinking Variac.  Build it and throw the coal to it!

[TwoTired]

Tube can become "microphonic", meaning they make noise when tapped upon.  You can tap each one while operating with a wooden dowel, to find the offender.

Oh, and there is far more than +70V inside there.  B+ voltages are usually in the 300V to 400V range, with plenty of power to stop your heart.  Survivors learn to use just one hand, with the rest of them insulated from earth, and/or use implements/tools that don't conduct energy to any part of the human body.

FYI.

[70cbk0]

Before you change those caps, ask the tech what types of caps he can get. Newer (much smaller) caps will change the sound of that amp, and it's never for the better. You can still get caps like what would be in that amp, but they're a boutique item, and more money, although not ridiculously more. If the noise comes and goes with hitting the amp, it's likely a bad solder joint or a bad tube.

[Don R]

No, but hum a few bars and I'll fake it!