Fender FM65R Reverb issues

nick

Ive had my Frontman 65 for a while now and reverb just never worked. aways figured that since the reverb control was on the 2nd channel side it only worked with that (which I only used for distortion). Ive been wanting to buy a reverb pedal to get around this but I finally got around to downloading the manual for it and it claims

"Reverb - Adjusts the Reverb level for BOTH channels"

now.. it doesnt do this, is there any way to test what exactly is wrong? nothing else doesnt work, the two RCA type leads plug into the spring unit at the bottom of the amp and if you bump the amp it makes the usual spring echo noise, just absolutely no reverb when playing through it? anything I can try?

AlanRatcliffe

That's an odd one, as the reverb only has one input and output and the two channels should be mixed together before the reverb and then the combined signal would go on to the power amp. I would think if they weren't being mixed together the way they should be, the reverbless channel would also not be making it to the power amp.

I think this is one for a pro repairman... Have you had it longer than a year?

nick

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: That's an odd one, as the reverb only has one input and output and the two channels should be mixed together before the reverb and then the combined signal would go on to the power amp. I would think if they weren't being mixed together the way they should be, the reverbless channel would also not be making it to the power amp.

I think this is one for a pro repairman... Have you had it longer than a year?

bought it secondhand and had it longer than a year so its way out of any warranty Im fairly sure. I'll test tonight but if I remove the RCA's to the spring unit I shouldnt be able to play? so that'd at least comfirm the signal is getting there, might be (hopefully) something simple like a dryjoint on the reverb volume pot.

AlanRatcliffe

if I remove the RCA's to the spring unit I shouldn't be able to play?

That will just stop the reverb sound completely, while the direct signal will still pass through to the power amp.

It's a very odd one - I'm wondering if it isn't a design "feature" that was changed on later versions of the amp, and you have the manual for the newer one. Even then, it's very odd for a drive channel to have reverb and not the clean - the other way round makes more sense.

Looking at HC reviews of the amp, half of the "reviewers" seem to say that the reverb is so subtle as to be useless.

nick

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
if I remove the RCA's to the spring unit I shouldn't be able to play?
That will just stop the reverb sound completely, while the direct signal will still pass through to the power amp.

It's a very odd one - I'm wondering if it isn't a design "feature" that was changed on later versions of the amp, and you have the manual for the newer one. Even then, it's very odd for a drive channel to have reverb and not the clean - the other way round makes more sense.

Looking at HC reviews of the amp, half of the "reviewers" seem to say that the reverb is so subtle as to be useless.

also read a few reviews about the reverb but mines so subtle its not there ? can you recommend a decent reverb pedal?

AlanRatcliffe

Well you don't get more subtle than "doesn't work", do you? ?

The Holy Grail seems to get a lot of kudos, but I'm not a pedalhound, so maybe ask over on the gear board, where the guys that are hang out.

Also consider it might actually be better to sell your amp and buy something else with a decent 'verb - might work out cheaper in the long run.

nick

found the issue...

fixing its gonna be a bit interesting. the springs hook onto something thats now snapped off it seems. someone must have dropped the amp which caused them to break off.

AlanRatcliffe

I thought the reverb was working on the drive channel? Any problem with the tank will affect both channels.

Anyway, looks like the springs have broken right by the magnets - difficult if not impossible to repair - but have a look anyway. From all the complaints about the reverbs on these amps it must be a common problem.

You can get a replacement from Mojo for under R300:
https://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/products.asp?id=45003

nick

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I thought the reverb was working on the drive channel? Any problem with the tank will affect both channels.

Anyway, looks like the springs have broken right by the magnets - difficult if not impossible to repair - but have a look anyway. From all the complaints about the reverbs on these amps it must be a common problem.

You can get a replacement from Mojo for under R300:
https://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/products.asp?id=45003

miscommunication it seems ? yip, springs broke off just after the magnets where the tiny piece of wire extends to the mounting point.. to me it looks unsoldereable and if I could, it'd probably break ☹

out of the list on the url you've given (thanks by the way) which is the most like the original? 3 spring ruby tubes?

AlanRatcliffe

I once had a Peavey where the springs kept on coming loose, but they were just hooked on, so although it broke frequently, it was easy to fix.

Just check the length - there are two different ones (9" & 17"). The Ruby looks right because it is black, but I suspect any one will work.

nick

attempted to repair it but one of the magnets was broken, fixed the 2nd coil. connected it up with 2 springs in it and
it has about 0.05% more reverb ? guess I'll either:

1) buy reverb unit
2) buy reverb pedal (kinda cool cos I like the idea of being able to turn it on when I want it)
3) use this as an excuse to buy another amp ?

Mr-M

I'd say go with option 3. You can do a lot better than an FM65 for not too much more.

AlanRatcliffe

Mr M wrote: I'd say go with option 3. You can do a lot better than an FM65 for not too much more.

nick

well, if I have to ?

any ideas what a 2nd hand FM65R with slightly working reverb but fully functionaly other bits is worth on the second hand market? ?