Fender reverb - go figure

[Tiny_Daddy]

Got a Fender stand-alone reverb, all original except for the extra input jack. I replaced the usual parts but it didn't work. Reverb coils were not measuring open so I pulled the tank, expecting to find broken springs. What I found was three ancient and brown chunks of foam rubber, the sort that are stuffed in reverb tanks for shipping purposes, glued to the inside of the cabinet. There were grooves worn in the foam from years of rubbing against the springs. Removed them and all is well.

[John]

  Wow.

[Willabe]

Don't the old stand alones have a lever to lock down the tank for transport? That style would have some type of damping material glued to the cabinet to stop/protect the springs from moving.


           Brad      

[Tiny_Daddy]

Yep, that's the way that should work. The lock-down lever was tight and wouldn't move. Thanks, I'll be replacing the foam.

[John]

Wait, I'm confused again (go figure, right). You're saying that the foam actually belongs there after all? I was laughing because I thought someone never took it out from new and that's why the tank wasn't working.

[Tiny_Daddy]

Yes the foam is supposed to be there. There is a sliding arm that shoves the whole tank against the foam. Problem was, the arm was screwed down tight and would not slide. I thought the sliding arm was just a mounting support. The old foam has decayed and needs replacing.

[John]

Gotcha, thanks! I've never even seen a tank in person.

[EL34]

Yes, the foam gets pushed into the springs for transporting the unit.
The springs are held in place and cannot wiggle about
It's a cool system when it works right

I've seen a ton of Fender combos where the springs connection points broke from wiggling around too much.

Was this brown 6G15 unit or black unit?

[Tiny_Daddy]

Hi Doug, it's the brown.

[Willabe]

You probably already know this, but I think that thing is worth some money?


            Brad        

[Tiny_Daddy]

Well the owner is a regular and is always bringing in something outrageous.

[HotBluePlates]

I doubt even the most OCD collector would pitch a fit that crusty hardened foam has been replaced to allow the tank to actually function.

I forget about those locking arms all the time.