Reverb tank conundrum…

[donslow]

Not bass related but hoping someone might be able to help

 

recently acquired an orange guitar head, reverb doesn’t work, at all

 

took the head apart and found the wires inside the tank (it looks) have been cut off, seems a simple job to solder them back on but can anyone tell me if it matters which way round the go?! i.e. green or black at the top or bottom or should it not matter

much?!

 

if anyone knows what those plastic connectors (there’s only one left) are called or where I can find some, that might be a tidier solution

 

many thanks in advance 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Eric.C.Lapton]

I’d be more worried as to why they were disconnected. Maybe get it checked by a tech 

[Aidan63]

what brand and model tank is it ? Been watching psionicaudio a bit on YT and many tanks in amps that come in to him are similarly failed, polarity does matter as can cause a hum issue especially in some valve amps; most of current tanks are pretty poorly built iho; he tends to fit new but even the better new tanks aren't that good; there are specialists (at least in the states) who repair them and that's where he sends vintage tanks that sound good

[DGBass]

Might be worth sticking a meter across the pins at both ends on the the tank to make sure you get a reading from the springs/coils. Just in case the tank is actually broken and that is why the wires were disconnected in the first place. Those small IDC plugs ( usually made by Molex or AMP) are used commonly in tanks and can normally only be fitted one way around as they have a locking tab on the fitting. That being the case its usually possible to work out which wire goes where and solder them on. On one side green is the tip( signal) and black is the ground. On the other end red is the tip( signal ) and black is the ground.  The tip wires on tanks I've repaired or restored are usually at the top tag, screens on the bottom tag. Its only two wires, if you solder them on backwards, the reverb will hum like mad when is use. Easy enough to reverse them and retest. 

The other thing you could do is just replace the tank, most new ones are as good as the old ones for general use and Orange type 3-springs ones are available online at around £40-60 depending on what model. you need.  Look on the can chassis for a reverb identifier code( see photo) and that will tell you what model you need to match the way the amp reverb circuit is configured. I'm sure if you contacted Orange they would be able to help you, I hear they are really good with post sales tech support.

 

 

IDC connectors showing tip wires from the locking side of the connecter. ( this example is from a fender amp )

 

 

Tank identifier 8EB2C1B in this example will tell you the type of tank you need and what the spring impeadance is to match your amp.