Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Joe6v6 on August 02, 2021, 09:02:27 pm

Title: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 02, 2021, 09:02:27 pm
I have a princeton reverb reissue that started ticking with the tremelo on. The speed increases with the speed knob, the intensity knob does not affect it. If I shut the reverb off it goes away & the reverb knob acts like a volume control for the tick, with the reverb knob at zero it goes away. With the reverb off the tremelo work fine with no noise.  .   Any ideas? Ive tried swapping preamp tubes with no affect.  .   Joe
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: jordan86 on August 02, 2021, 09:28:05 pm
How old is the amp?
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 02, 2021, 09:37:13 pm
 Its 4 years or so old,  never had any issues. Only gets played at home so it hasnt been thrown around or anything.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Latole on August 03, 2021, 03:10:28 am
Princeton 65 reissue ?

Microphonic tube ?

Schematic ; https://www.thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/Fender/Fender-65-Princeton-Reverb-Schematic.pdf
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: sluckey on August 03, 2021, 07:01:11 am
Unplug the footswitch. Still tick?
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 03, 2021, 07:22:52 am
Quote
Princeton 65 reissue ?

Yes & that schematic looks to be correct
Quote
Microphonic tube ?
No , Ive already swapped several different tubes in & out.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 03, 2021, 07:26:19 am
Quote
Unplug the footswitch. Still tick?
Unpluging the foot switch stops the tick but it also shuts off the tremelo, the reverb stays on.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: sluckey on August 03, 2021, 08:38:25 am
Unpluging the foot switch stops the tick but it also shuts off the tremelo, the reverb stays on.
Really? The schematic shows that the tremolo will still be enabled with the footswitch unplugged.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: jordan86 on August 03, 2021, 10:19:24 am
Could it be lead dress or connections around the reverb and trem jacks? The circuits aren’t really connected on a schematic level. But in the layout they interact at the footswitch jacks. I’d check grounds, jacks, and lead dress around the footswitch connections.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 03, 2021, 10:28:55 am
Quote
Really? The schematic shows that the tremolo will still be enabled with the footswitch unplugged.
Correction - I didnt pay close enough attention - When the footswitch is unplugged the tremelo and the reverb operate
                                                                       correctly with no ticking.   .   
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: sluckey on August 03, 2021, 11:02:56 am
When the footswitch is unplugged the tremelo and the reverb operate correctly with no ticking.   .   
The typical Fender two button FS has three conductors in the cable. The reverb uses a shielded wire and the tremolo just has a single unshielded wire. The tremolo switch uses the reverb shield for a ground. Inspect the cable at the plug end and at the FS end for a bad shield connection. Even better, replace the cable with a cable that contains two separate shielded wires.
Title: Re: Princeton reverb reissue started ticking
Post by: Joe6v6 on August 03, 2021, 12:08:52 pm
Quote
The typical Fender two button FS has three conductors in the cable. The reverb uses a shielded wire and the tremolo just has a single unshielded wire. The tremolo switch uses the reverb shield for a ground. Inspect the cable at the plug end and at the FS end for a bad shield connection. Even better, replace the cable with a cable that contains two separate shielded wires.
Will Do - Thanks & I will report my findings.   .