Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 06, 2025, 12:36:51 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb  (Read 3860 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SleepLess

  • Level 3
  • ***
  • Posts: 646
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« on: October 17, 2010, 02:29:22 pm »
Hi there!
I thought I'd be done with my blackfaced 1973 Super Reverb last week when I changed the optocoupler. It was the culprit and now the tremolo works perfectly. But now comes another issue. I start understanding why some guys say "when you buy a vintage amp, buy the tech that goes with it..." Here's the problem:

On the vibrato channel:
1. With the Bright Switch ON everything is normal and the amp works as it should.
2. With the bright switch OFF there is a continuous loud hum. I mean really loud. The amp still works and I can hear the guitar, but the hum is too loud to play this configuration.

Would you guys know where this problem coud come from? I swapped preamp tubes and the problem is still there. The thing that really bugs me is that the amp works just fine with the switch on the ON position...  :embarrassed:

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2010, 03:58:36 pm »
Are you sure it's wired correctly? Sounds like you may be breaking the wiper or the pot ground.
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

Offline eleventeen

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2229
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2010, 04:29:28 pm »
I'll second sluckey's post. Either wired wrong or a defective switch.

Offline SleepLess

  • Level 3
  • ***
  • Posts: 646
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2010, 04:30:00 am »
Thanks guys, I'll look into that. The thing that bugs me is that the amp works fine with the switch ON. If the switch was defective I guess the amp would produce the hum in either position. Or at least in the ON position and not the OFF as it does... Strange stuff...  :sad:

I have also found microphonics. When I hit the knobs on the front panel they resonate through the speakers. I'll have to swap each preamp tube to find the microphonic culprit. Do you think that a tube could be responsible for the bright switch hum thing as well?

Thanks!

Offline phsyconoodler

  • SMG
  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 4679
  • honey badger don't give a ****
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2010, 10:04:52 am »
Listen to Sluckey.He knows what he's talking about.That switch isn't wired right or someone may have used it for a boost switch instead.If you know your way around a super reverb it's easy to spot those simple things.If not it can be a bear for you.
  It sounds like someone wired that bright switch up as a boost which might explain the microphonics when you hit the panel.
Honey badger don't give a ****

Offline SleepLess

  • Level 3
  • ***
  • Posts: 646
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Bright Switch issue on Super Reverb
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2010, 10:29:21 am »
I ALWAYS listen to Sluckey  :smiley: I will check the amp as soon as I've got enough time to open it up. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program


password