Vibrolux Reverb Filter Caps

[Guitar Dave T]

Looking through my books, I cannot find a schematic or layout for my amp, a 1967 Vibrolux Reverb AA864.

Can someone please tell me what filter capacitors are SUPPOSED to go in this amp?

Next question, was the amp originally designed for 110 VAC or 120?

Finally, If the amp was in fact designed for 110, what would be the correct filter cap values for today's 120 Volt power?

Background: There are 12 year old IC caps in there right now. They are reaching the age that I can justify replacing them with some Sprague Atoms.

Thanks,

[Dave C]

Sorry , I couldn't find an AA864 either, but a AA964 shows 5 -16mf/450v caps and 117v mains. I wouldn't worry about the ac mains difference in this case. The caps would be the same anyway. I'd use Sprague 16 or 20mf(leaning to 20's)...also used IC 22mf/500v with good results in a pinch.
12 yrs is probably the expected lifetime for caps , but I've seen plenty still running with 40+yrs on 'em. I think at that age.....it's just a matter of when they're going to fail though and new ones will usually sound way better anyhow.
Dave C

[Blue Strat]

Looking through my books, I cannot find a schematic or layout for my amp, a 1967 Vibrolux Reverb AA864.

Can someone please tell me what filter capacitors are SUPPOSED to go in this amp?

Next question, was the amp originally designed for 110 VAC or 120?

Finally, If the amp was in fact designed for 110, what would be the correct filter cap values for today's 120 Volt power?

Background: There are 12 year old IC caps in there right now. They are reaching the age that I can justify replacing them with some Sprague Atoms.

Thanks,

From memory, they're 16ufs all the way across, just like a Deluxe Reverb.

[TheAmpNerd]

They are 16uf across, with the mains wired in parallel (32uf).
Same from AB763 - A1270.

I'd dump the ICs in a heart beat.
Spragues are okay, Nichicons better, Jensens better still.

As long as you are in there, might as well replace the
bypass caps too. Start everything fresh and you'll be
a happy camper for years.

Enjoy.

[Blue Strat]

At a bare minimum, replace the bias supply cap inside the chassis. This single $1 part can take out your power tubes and/or OT when it becomes electrically leaky (usually with no visible indications).

[AL30]

I'd dump the ICs in a heart beat.
Spragues are okay, Nichicons better, Jensens better still.


Not trying to derail this thread but I'm curious. AmpNerd you are the first person I have heard recommend certain caps over Spragues. Could you please elaborate on this? I'm not arguing I'm just interested in your opinion/experiences on this. Thanks

AL

[TheAmpNerd]

I'm not arguing I'm just interested in your opinion/experiences on this. Thanks
AL

I understand.

Those are my opinions/experiences based on what I've used,
what I listened to, etc; along with some of what we used
at Bell Labs/Lucent Tech. : )

[Guitar Dave T]

They are 16uf across, with the mains wired in parallel (32uf).
Same from AB763 - A1270.

I'd dump the ICs in a heart beat.
Spragues are okay, Nichicons better, Jensens better still.

As long as you are in there, might as well replace the
bypass caps too. Start everything fresh and you'll be
a happy camper for years.

Enjoy. Interesting. How would you describe the difference between the Jensens and Spragues? What is the final impact/result of using the Jensens?

[TheAmpNerd]

Interesting. How would you describe the difference between the Jensens and Spragues? What is the final impact/result of using the Jensens?

Both Nichicon and Jensens sound and feel better than Spragues.
Clark uses these in his amps for a reason as do others.
Also check out the following link:
http://www.jensencapacitors.com/audio/white-papers/default.asp

Try it, you'll like it.

[slider313]

I use two 20uf@500v for the mains and 3 16uf@475. This brings the total to 40uf on the main power supply filters instead of 32uf. Not a big difference but a little tighter and won't put a strain on your rectifier tube.