Need help with my Fender Princeton Reverb RI

[1977CJ5]

Hello. I got a New Princeton Reverb special edition Bordeaux with the 12" speaker about 2 years ago. I put it in my office and it has stayed there since I got it. Don't play out, usually volume is on about 4, never move it. I love the sound of it!!

A few months ago, my reverb started acting up. Sometimes it is not there or cuts out completely when I'm playing. I can usually bring it back to life by turning up the volume or the reverb level and hitting a chord hard, when I do this, I hear the spring clash sound, and it starts working again. Sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for a few weeks...

I got a new reverb driver tube and it did not fix it. All tubes have a nice glow, and don't rattle if I touch them with a pencil. Cables seem OK, looking at inside of tank I don't see anything that looks out of order.

Thinking about buying a new tank as my next attempt. Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Bourbon Burst]

Hello. I got a New Princeton Reverb special edition Bordeaux with the 12" speaker about 2 years ago. I put it in my office and it has stayed there since I got it. Don't play out, usually volume is on about 4, never move it. I love the sound of it!!

A few months ago, my reverb started acting up. Sometimes it is not there or cuts out completely when I'm playing. I can usually bring it back to life by turning up the volume or the reverb level and hitting a chord hard, when I do this, I hear the spring clash sound, and it starts working again. Sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for a few weeks...

I got a new reverb driver tube and it did not fix it. All tubes have a nice glow, and don't rattle if I touch them with a pencil. Cables seem OK, looking at inside of tank I don't see anything that looks out of order.

Thinking about buying a new tank as my next attempt. Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

I have the same amp. Another thing you could try is using another cable with the RCA ends to the unit. Some people replace them when they get the amp because they feel they are cheap.

 

[uriah1]

Also reverb return could be swapped.

 

[Swirling Snow]

Obviously, the problem is your Fender is in Princeton, and your reverb is in Rhode Island.

No, sorry, I got nothing. I play Marshalls, and when a Marshall reverb breaks, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

 

[schmee]

Check all the RCA plugs. Make sure they grip tight. Some of the modern plastic ones will not do that no matter what you do. Do yourself a favor and buy some ones with the all metal jacks like the vintage amps had.

For now though, twist each cable end around the jack to get good contact. On the tank end also if necessary.

 

[1977CJ5]

Also reverb return could be swapped.

Is that a tube or cable?

 

[1977CJ5]

Check all the RCA plugs. Make sure they grip tight. Some of the modern plastic ones will not do that no matter what you do. Do yourself a favor and buy some ones with the all metal jacks like the vintage amps had.

For now though, twist each cable end around the jack to get good contact. On the tank end also if necessary.

I've done that on the amp end, and the reverb unit. They all feel very tight when I twist.

 

[uriah1]

Is that a tube or cable?

Tube. Ya. Reverb send tube and reverb return tube.

 

[schmee]

I've done that on the amp end, and the reverb unit. They all feel very tight when I twist.

ugh. I know newer Fender amps have trouble with the reverb tubes, but not sure which. I have two friends who both initially had bad reverb tubes in Blues Jr's ... or was it a pretube problem also?

I wouldn't expect a tank to be intermittent...?

 

[King Fan]

Yes to new RCA cables, then maybe a new V3 12ax7 — reverb recovery happens in V3a. But I might try cleaning pins and tightening socket springs on V2 and V3 first, if the problem is intermittent….

 

[Wally]

V2…second from the right as you look at the back of the amp is the reverb driver tube,.,a 12AT7. V3 has one triode as the reverb return.
when the reverb stops working, can you hear the springs crash—-through the speaker—-when you lean the amp back and bring it back to the floor…or when you simply slap the side of the amp? If so, the return is working.
That said, it is about time for the amp develop problems….your warranty has expired. (;^)….and yes, this is the way it seems to work out.

 

[archetype]

Obviously, the problem is your Fender is in Princeton, and your reverb is in Rhode Island.

No, sorry, I got nothing. I play Marshalls, and when a Marshall reverb breaks, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

Yours breaks because your Marshall is in North Dakota and your reverb is in the Marshall Islands.

 

[randym]

My tank had a wire break inside. The tech said he sees that often. He fixed it quick and cheap.

 

[corliss1]

I have two friends who both initially had bad reverb tubes in Blues Jr's ... or was it a pretube problem also?

Reverb in the Hot Rod series is op amp driven/recovered.

Swapping the tank is easy enough, and would at least tell you where the problem is. I like MOD for replacement tanks.

 

[Michael Smith]

When I hear of an intermittent problem, I think of a cracked solder joint. I don't know easy it is to inspect the solder joints on the tube sockets in that particular amp, but that's where I would start. On an amp that new, they surely used lead free solder, which is not as reliable (in my opinion) as the good old solder.

I would remove the tube shields for now. When the reverb is not working, try wiggling the reverb recovery tube (use gloves or a piece of towel, so you don't get burned, although the small tubes don't get as hot as the power tubes). If the reverb starts working when you wiggle the tube, I think you may have found the issue.

 

[Liriodendron]

My tank had a wire break inside. The tech said he sees that often. He fixed it quick and cheap.

This is what I would check - flip that sucker over and chopstick it.

 

[schmee]

Reverb in the Hot Rod series is op amp driven/recovered.

Swapping the tank is easy enough, and would at least tell you where the problem is. I like MOD for replacement tanks.

A Blues Jr EL84 based amp is in the Hot Rod series?

 

[1977CJ5]

Yes to new RCA cables, then maybe a new V3 12ax7 — reverb recovery happens in V3a. But I might try cleaning pins and tightening socket springs on V2 and V3 first, if the problem is intermittent….

Thanks to everyone for suggestions! A few mentioned the tubes, I had changed the V2, but not the V3.
I did that this morning. I'm cautiously optimistic... Ive powered it on and off about 6 different times and it has not messed up. It also sounds better (actually better than it's ever sounded), so I'm hoping that's a good sign the V3 was bad. Fingers crossed. Thanks again!

 

[LostGonzo85]

It sounds like you've fixed the issue, but just throwing this out there - the Fender amp warranty is 2yrs from purchase, so if the issue comes back, before you think about throwing money at a new tank, it might be worth checking to see if you're within the warranty window.

 

[corliss1]

A Blues Jr EL84 based amp is in the Hot Rod series?

Fender Hot Rod Amps – DeVille IV, Deluxe IV, Blues Junior

The Hot Rod Series amps are for those who crave legendary Fender sound and an amp that can stand up to the rigors of the road.

www.fender.com