Custom Vibrolux Reverb - troubleshoot or rebuild

[jlaj]

Hey everyone, a few years ago, after I built my first Deluxe Reverb build, I picked up a later model Custom Vibrolux Reverb to tinker around with. I really like this 6G16 as it has more of that gritty brown sound. Anyway, I’ve been having issues with the reverb from time to time. About a year ago, i got this hum when the reverb was engaged -and I’d get no reverb. I traced it out and couldn’t find anywhere it was grounding out.  Tried cables, tank orientation, different tubes and something worked and I got the nice lush reverb back.  Well, I hadn’t played the thing since it was all put together because I crossed paths with my very first build, a 5E3 that I built in 2003 and I’ve been gigging that amp after I bought it back. Yesterday I decided to plug into the CVR because of the cleaner headroom that I can’t get from the 5E3 and lo and behold, the reverb issue is back. So I now have two questions, does anyone have any suggestions on what to check for this reverb hum and two, has anyone built this similar 6G16(or have a layout file) ?  I’ve looked and only recently found this rebuild on Amp Garage https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35646  I really like the Hoffman layouts but I haven’t seen one that has the diode rectification as I’m not really looking to swap transformers and add a rectifier tube.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[sluckey]

I really like the Hoffman layouts but I haven’t seen one that has the diode rectification as I’m not really looking to swap transformers and add a rectifier tube.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You don't need a tube rectifier and new transformer. It's very easy to use a FWB diode bridge with Hoffman's layout. Keep your PT and get the block FWB that Hoffman sells. Use one screw to attach to the chassis.

[jlaj]

Sluckey,

Thanks for the reply. It never occurred to me to use a FWB rectifier.  I was ready to pull the pin and gut the amp and go that route until I did one more round of troubleshooting during the Lions/9ers game. Got it figured that it was a bad input on the reverb tank that kept opening up the connection as soon as the tank bag was screwed down and everything was put back together.
The little bit of tension was enough to cause it to crap out while in the bag but work outside. Ordered a new short decay MOD tank and we’re off to the races.