Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

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beasleybodyshop
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Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by beasleybodyshop »

I would like the tremolo on my super reverb to be slower than the lowest setting can provide. Do i change the values of the 3 ceramic caps in series or change the value of the 100K hanging off the speed pot?

Also when i crank the speed up all the way the oscillation goes away, does anyone have a trick for this? Thanks.
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xtian
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by xtian »

The speed can be slowed just by tacking in an additional cap in parallel with an existing one. Search with google for tremolo mods.
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by Stevem »

I have moded a bunch of Fender amps to get that real slow New Orleans swap type Tremolo and you will find if you play around with it long enough and kick up those caps big enough that you will need a real strong Trem tube to keep that oscillator going, but that slow Tremolo I love!
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xtian
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by xtian »

I build and repair tube amps. http://amps.monkeymatic.com
beasleybodyshop
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by beasleybodyshop »

Thanks guys. For what its worth. I just replaced the old ceramic disk caps i had in there with new .02uF ones. Trem is slow and beautiful!

However the oscillation at the highest speed settings still just, well, disappears. Huh.
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by sluckey »

Also when i crank the speed up all the way the oscillation goes away, does anyone have a trick for this?
Replacing the cap/resistor on the cathode of the oscillator with a red or yellow LED will give you a stronger trem signal and may allow the higher speeds to keep oscillating.
beasleybodyshop
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by beasleybodyshop »

sluckey wrote:
Also when i crank the speed up all the way the oscillation goes away, does anyone have a trick for this?
Replacing the cap/resistor on the cathode of the oscillator with a red or yellow LED will give you a stronger trem signal and may allow the higher speeds to keep oscillating.
Which cathode of that tube? The one that is on the side of the roach (100K\25uf) or the other side (2.7K/25uf)?
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by sluckey »

The oscillator triode. Cathode is 2.7K/25µF.
beasleybodyshop
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by beasleybodyshop »

sluckey wrote:The oscillator triode. Cathode is 2.7K/25µF.
Oh. Well dang. I picked the other one. It sounds great. Swapping in the .02s and installing the cathode LED really sounds great. Thanks everyone!
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Bombacaototal
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by Bombacaototal »

beasleybodyshop wrote:
sluckey wrote:The oscillator triode. Cathode is 2.7K/25µF.
Oh. Well dang. I picked the other one. It sounds great. Swapping in the .02s and installing the cathode LED really sounds great. Thanks everyone!
did you use yellow or red LED?
10thTx
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by 10thTx »

Some info on modifying Fender tremolo here:

http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=604.0

With respect, 10thtx
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by Bombacaototal »

What is everyone's favourite cap for the speed resistors on the oscillator? Ive seen some builts with ceramic but have been finding hard to get the correct high value

Maybe Polypropylene or Polyester instead? Any brands in mind?
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N

Post by Stevem »

No need for anything but a cheap Ciramic type!
For the cost of one Poly type you can parallel 3 Ciramic's if need be.
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!😊

Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
Bombacaototal
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Re: N

Post by Bombacaototal »

Stevem wrote:No need for anything but a cheap Ciramic type!
For the cost of one Poly type you can parallel 3 Ciramic's if need be.
Thanks a lot!
Firestorm
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Re: Slowing down BF fender tremolo?

Post by Firestorm »

Ceramics are also compact in 1KV or 2KV ratings. This may help minimize leakage which can hurt the oscillator's performance.
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