Scored a Frontman 15R PR241, needs a reverb tank.

[redstringuitar]

Saw this on ebay with 2 minutes left to go, couldn't resist, ended up getting it for £16 to my door.

image removed

It's no Pathfinder, but it sounds great through my Marshall 2 x 12 cab, lovely cleans and cheap as chips!

Thing is, the previous owner has been using it as a bass amp(!) through a larger cab (internal speaker is intact) and removed the reverb tank and wires, so now the reverb knob just increases noise if it's not minimised.

I've had a good look around for specs, part number etc., but can't find any information on the original unit, so have no clue which replacement tank to get, only that it connects to P10 and P11 on the board.

Any of you amp gurus able to point me in the right direction?

 

[stax]

You could give these guys a ring, they may be able to help you out.
Accutronics UK dealer.

SELTRON COMPONENTS LTD.
KEY CONTACT : Mr. Michael Williams
TEL : 01207-588600/566
FAX : 01207-588533
E-MAIL : selmark1@aol.com
MAILING ADDRESS : SUITE G9, PROSPECT BUSINESS PARK, LEADRATE,
COUNTRY DURHAM, DH8 7PM , ENGLAND

 

[Tony474]

I just tried calling this company, as by coincidence I too am in the market for a replacement reverb tank of a particular type. However, all I got was a BT announcement saying the number has not been recognised. Googling failed to elicit any alternative means of contact.

However, I discovered two US suppliers yesterday whose prices are reasonable:

www.theguitarfiles.com
www.newoldsounds.com

...though once you factor in the cost of postage you may find the total disproportionate for your sixteen-quid amp...

Don't know which type of tank you need, I'm afraid, but variables include size, input and output impedance, length of delay, connection type and which way up it's meant to be installed. Maybe someone else who has such an amp can tell you the code stamped on the reverb tank, which will reveal all.

 

[redstringuitar]

Maybe someone else who has such an amp can tell you the code stamped on the reverb tank, which will reveal all.

That's what I was hoping for Tony...then I could decipher the spec. and order a replacement accordingly.

Thanks for your input guys...it's a shame that guy up north isn't reachable.

I have heard that Fender always fit 8Ohm units, but have no idea if that's input, output, or both.

Emailed fender for part no./specs. earlier today, but not holding my breath.

That stamped part number would be great....anyone?

 

[laird]

I have a reverb tank from a Frontman 15R sitting around collecting dust. If shipping wasn't so much from here to Wales I'd just drop it in the mail. I'll try to get a part number from it tonight.

Because the FM15R is all solid-state, the impedance is different than on Fender tube amps. I remember it being higher, a few hundred ohms. Don't recall if it's 150, 300 or 600 ohms, but it's one of those for sure.

-Laird

 

[Tony474]

Here's a link to an Accutronics web page from which you can get to the code interpretations for the main types of reverb tank.

http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/main/?skin=sub02_01.html

I expect your amp had a type 1 or type 8 short tank. It may be an idea, since the UK distributor seems unreachable at present, to try the European distributor in Germany, listed on the page.

 

[redstringuitar]

Part number will be great Laird, thanks and I agree, transatlantic postage is far too prohibitive!

I'll give the EU distributor a try Tony, if I get no joy on the part number, thanks again.

 

[Batman]

What's the betting the tank costs more than the amp did? There's some on ebay for £25 each at the moment... hehehe

 

[redstringuitar]

No bet, Batman, my dinner this evening cost more than the amp did!

 

[Batman]

Ah, the high life!

My dinner this evening was leftover from yesterday...

 

[redstringuitar]

Nothing wrong with that, the salt keeps the caviar...

 

[Batman]

Actually it was shepherd's pie... heh.

This is getting a bit OT, sorry

 

[redstringuitar]

Not worried about going OT, more concerned with you eating a Welshman's dinner!

 

[Batman]

Cheese on toast?

 

[laird]

OK, I got the tank in hand. It's a short 3-spring. There's a model sticker on the floating spring mount, with model number AS3D0MA, manufactured 6.6.2004. I can't find anything anywhere with a part number like that. The input measures a DC resistance (not AC impedance!) of 28 ohms. Output measures DC resistance of 229 ohms. Grounded output, ungrounded input.

Based on the transducer inductance information here I'd guess it's about 200 ohms input impedance with the typical 2.5k output.

The equivalent Accutronics model would be 8BB2C1B. A quick google search shows this is a very common stock tank in a number of solid-state amps, so you can probably pick up a used one for next to nothing.

-Laird

 

[redstringuitar]

laird, you are a hero Sir, thank you so much!!!

Big, snarling dogs wag their tails and lick your hand!!