Debugging a weak Super Reverb RI tremolo

[sonicmojo]

I am trying to debug a really weak tremolo on a Super Reverb reissue. My gut tells me the LDR photoresistor is not working correctly. I see it blinking and seems to react to the speed dial quite well. When I measure the resistance on it while running, it fluctuates at about 48K but even at the slowest setting still probably goes too fast for my meter to keep up. I would think it would average closer to 25K or so(50k intensity pot) if it were working correctly and grounding the signal as should be more evenly. The pot seems to work okay when I meter it but it has that nasty flipped PCB strip and I don't really want to go flipping it over just to look closer. I don't have any better tools to test this with but does anyone have opinions for me or should I just go ahead and order the $10 part and see what happens?

[Reeltarded]

The optocoupler things suck. You can watch it blink all day. When it's done it's done.

Here is something I recently found. Wrong pot value came stock. Speed control was too fast by 5 to even work. I can't remember what series resistor I added, but it's pretty simple to tame. Was too fast to audibly track. 5 was like 15!

[sonicmojo]

I agree the speed control seems too fast too quick. If I get it fixed I may look into that next. Thanks for the feedback.

[Reeltarded]

Ahh I remember. I just put a spare bias style pot across the outside lugs of the speed control, turned the speed to ten, then set it for the upward extent. Radio Shack has 3-4 good values to have on hand for limiting pots.

[sonicmojo]

Replacement LDR did the trick. The speed didn't seem too bad on this one so I left it alone. Owner is happy.

Thanks!

[Reeltarded]

The best thing about this amp tinkering thing is happy people, and that is coming from a level 9 sociopath.



Basically, I hate people, until they smile.