Reverb 'condenser choosing/finding

[petemoore]

  Old accutronics reverb tank.
  One *condenser [*word check] is blown IIRC, and measuring resistance across it's connections= R value of 0. The other side read 'something' I forget what, I think I blew the one condenser somehow.
  I cant imagine these are terribly expensive, and I could just buy two and replace both if that made component choices easier to figure out.
  Any help on 'what' and 'where' to obtaining the little transformer looking devices would be...helpful !!!  THanks !!
  I'd like to get this tank back up and running with a reverb drive circuit. 

[Mark Hammer]

There shoud be a part number on the tank if it's Accutronics.  That will let you order a replacement.  You could probably attempt an "interesting" repair of the original but quite frankly, they still make them, they're widely available, and all you gotta do is plug them in.  Why monkey around?

[petemoore]

  You could probably attempt an "interesting" repair of the original but quite frankly, they still make them, they're widely available, and all you gotta do is plug them in.  Why monkey around?
  I'm not sure we understand, I have a tank I'd like to use, I think a new condenser is all it needs...well plus a driver/recovery circuit.
  If you're suggesting buying a reverb unit, that's more than I'm ready to spend on right now I think.
  I have the tank, that's why I'm interested to get it into operational status !!

[Fp-www.Tonepad.com]

I also have a broken tank. The magnets that go inside the transformers are lost. I'd need to get replacements, in the accutronics page you can order almost every part, but I don't know with which part do these magnets come! (maybe the transformers, maybe the springs).

Pete, I agree with you in that if something can be fixed by just replacing a small part, why replace the whole thing!

Fp

[Mark Hammer]

Gahhhh!  That's what I get for trying to wedge in one more reply before I run switch to doing my work.

I misunderstood and thought you were substituting "condensor" for lack of a proper term for the driver element in the pan itself (which looks like a transformer).  Had I taken the time to READ the posting thoroughly I would have realized you were talking about a) a capacitor, and b) an impedance matching transformer.

If you can find the Accutronics part number, you can use the code to decipher what the input impedance is (found here: http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/prodspec.htm ).  Once you know what the input impedance is, you can pretty much decipher what sort of matching transformer to get.  For instance, if it is one of those where the second digit in the part # is "A", then you'll need a transformer that matches a higher load to 8 ohms.  Quite likely one of those Radio Shack 1.5k:8 transformers, or a Mouser comparable, will do.

No idea what value the caps are.  That WAS what you were talking about, wasn't it?

[Fp-www.Tonepad.com]

Hmm.. I thought he was talking about a part of the pan...

Pete, what are you talking about?

Fp

[petemoore]

  I know' what I'm talking about.
  I should ahve been more direct,...I can't or don't know the word for:
  I have a reverb tank with springs, two jacks, but between these components are small transformer looking jobbers [I called them 'condensers', I can't verify if that is the common or correct term] that 'jiggle' the springs [on one side] and 'pickup' on the other side of the springs.
  I go look at the tank now...while 're-arranging' some GE's...the new TB 3K set came in today...plugged them in and WOW...

[Eric H]

  I know' what I'm talking about.
  I should ahve been more direct,...I can't or don't know the word for:
  I have a reverb tank with springs, two jacks, but between these components are small transformer looking jobbers [I called them 'condensers', I can't verify if that is the common or correct term] that 'jiggle' the springs [on one side] and 'pickup' on the other side of the springs.
  I go look at the tank now...while 're-arranging' some GE's...the new TB 3K set came in today...plugged them in and WOW...

Condenser is an old term for capacitor (still used for old cars with points).
The parts you and Francisco are referring to are usually called "transducers".
Mark had it right the first time.
A new reverb unit (pan) should run you under $20.00. I'll bet the parts will run you half that, or more. I completely understand, though, I fix broken stuff all the time, that would have been more cost-effective to replace.
It makes me smile.   

[petemoore]

  No, I'm looking for the VM [Vintage Mojo] of the old non rusty springs !!! {LOL
  Thought I may have learned from what I read earlier...
  Recent findings show:
  2K resistance from green wire [but not the RCA lug it's assigned to, which has crusty looking solder}, so there's the one thing to fix...nice simple instant as a hot iron fix  ...
  And the other side also measures 2k  [seems 'congruous enough'].
  So now, I think all I gotta do is reflow the connections on it and figure out what circuit I could use to drive it.
  I have a 30vdc supply, also an LM317, [ I should look at the data sheet of the reguator, forgetting what max supply V is], and remember hearing about an LM386 transducer driver/recovery circuit.
  I'll look around and see what I can find.
  There's this one, the CA from GGG...
  http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/stage_center_reverb_sc.gif
 

[petemoore]

  I need to understand the two grounds, 'forked' and 'coned', and how V+ for the Quad OA gets connected. {I don't see a Vcc+ shown, it looks like +9V from B1 connects to -9v [B2] through protection diodes forming virtuil ground].
  Does anyone recall something about the LM386 based reverb unit? perhaps you can help me find the schematic for that one and I could take a look at it.
  You might want to skip all the below stuff [showing what I don't know, or maybe know] if there's a page, or you're good at clarifying this type of power supply [is the word 'floating'?]...OK...I'm still searching...
  all the forking [lol  sorry had to] grounds in the schematic connect together and to chassis ground which also, when I/O jack's are plugged, connect to batteries [+ & -] ITCase it looks like IC1A has it's pin 4 [ground] connected to 9v+ through a RPProtection diode...
  Ok...sitting here Schreading...and sorting what I see as best I can...
  Now I see +9V and -9V 'forming' ground for the IC*s...*but the tl074 data sheet shows only one Vcc+ and one Vcc- connections...hmmm
  The schematic symbol [lines] under the letter "A" [in 'IC1A'] and "C" [in 'IC1"C"], look like ground connections, again the TL074 having only one Vcc- connection...
  Schematic isn't showing 'me how the OA connects to V+...I need school .