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What is the tube compliment on that bad boy?

Normally, when you have no vibrato at all, it's just replacing a few caps and resistors, sometimes the tube. Some circuits won't work without a footswitch- my Fender is that way.

 

[capnjuan]

I just picked up a '66 Ampeg Reverberocket II that cleaned up like new, but the tremolo doesn't work; any ideas before I bring it in or what it might cost to repair?

Hi JPP, welcome to LTG, and congratulations on your amp! The pic below is the trem section common to many '60s Ampeg designs. The object in the dotted red box is an opticoupler - 'roach' in Fenderspeak. The contact points are color-coded to show how the device patches the effect into the line.

The cap in the dotted green box is the trem cap; typically the source of problems with weak trem. If you get the coupler replaced, you might as well get this cap replaced too; $1.50 for the part ... adds nothing to the bill. Link to opticouplers on Fliptops; a site for all things Ampeg;
http://www.fliptops.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=25_56

On another BB, one of our BBers reported crappy reliability with these but, if the problem is the coupler, you really have no other choice. Their purpose is to kill the clicks and pops associated with grounding the signal via the footswitch to turn the trem off so this coupler effectively switches the function on and off without the noise ... of course, if the opticoupler doesn't work, there's no noise to worry about anyway .... :evil: :wink: Welcome and good luck with your amp! CJ

 

[jpp]

Thanks, capnjuan!

I just received my copy of "Ampeg The Story Behind The Sound" and it gives a few tips regarding the tremolo and a few other upgrades I should probably have done, too. At least now I won't sound like a complete idiot when I bring it in...

The label inside reads: Tube Location (from left to right) 7591 7591 12AX7 6U10 12AX7

Anything else I should know? Could it be the foot switch? Thanks for the help!

(I'm thinking about a custom Blue Diamond tolex amp cover for it. Anyone else done something similar?)

 

[capnjuan]

... Could it be the foot switch? ..

Hi JPP; yes, could be the switch and / or the depth/speed controls. Use lubricating-type contact cleaner on both; good luck with your amp! CJ

 

[Spectrum13]

JPP

I have a similar Ampeg purchased new in 65 but built as a proto type in 63. I had it serviced recently and the tremolo was not working. Sorry I forgot what the part was called but the tech called it some kind of box that needed to be replaced and some source he had charged $50 for the Ampen part but a similar box from Fender cost about $12. I had him install the Fender and the tremolo works but it's no where near the intensity and the turbo mode doesn't work however I liked the smooth "weak" effect. Hope that helps. They are great amps.

 

[Default]

I would guess that that was the optocoupler or "roach". :wink: