JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work

wantsa58 · 01-19-2009, 09:21 PM

I just got this amp through ebay and its in great condition, however the reverb does not work. The seller claims that it worked before shipping it and seems to be an honest guy. The amp arrived safely but I cant seem to get the reverb to work at all. The reverb controll pot doesn't sound scratchy or anything and it seems to be hooked up correctly. Is there any simple trouble shooting I can do to see whats wrong? Im not sure what model is used but I know it is an acutronics unit.

All ideas and suggestions are more than welcome.

DocNrock · 01-19-2009, 11:33 PM

I have one of those and bought it new back in '98. I haven't played it in a while, but as I recall, the reverb on it is not "really there," if that makes any sense.

mc_guitar · 01-20-2009, 05:32 AM

Hello,

Check the connections for the reverb-tank, it might be loose. If that is not the case, maybe the internal connections are faulty. I have never heard of any reverb-tank beeing broken. If the connections are chich or any similar, you should also try swapping the in and out. Maybe they are wrong in the first place.

Regards,
Michael

ToneZone100 · 01-20-2009, 02:07 PM

I had an identical problem with the DSL head I got from ebay. It turned out to be a loose connection, the tank itself was fine. I don't think shipping does amps many favours and having seen the way some stuff gets chucked about it's not surprising.

wantsa58 · 01-20-2009, 02:43 PM

What connections should I check? I only see a red and white cable that goes to the reverb and to the chassis. Also is it odd that I can hear a metallic clanking coming from the unit occasionally if I move the amp about? It sounds like its coming from the tank... like a springy sound. Only happens if I'm walking the amp up stairs etc.

I'll prolly take the panels off tomorrow and check things out again.

mc_guitar · 01-20-2009, 03:08 PM

Of Course you will hear a springy sound, it is a spring reverb!!!!

The Reverb Tank is normally wrapped into some kind of tolex or plastic bag and mounted onto the bottom of the combo. You should try to look into that bag and check the connections. Should be chinch. The same for the other end, at the amp.
If you totally unpack the reverb tank, you should be able to look inside from the bottom side, you will see if the springs are okay!

Cheers Michael

wantsa58 · 01-20-2009, 03:16 PM

Mine is just screwed or bolted to the bottom of the combo.. no bag as far as I can tell. I'll actually take it out tommorow and check everything.. I know the external connections are fine, but if there are internal or underside connections I'll have to check those as well.

The first time I heard the noise I freaked out and thought it might be the valves, I didn't know any better because its my first valve amp lol.

comradejay · 04-09-2009, 09:43 AM

I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL head and my reverb has stopped working completely. I opened my back and saw the red and white RCA cable which i disconnected and reconnected. I saw that it has four large tubes and three smaller ones, one of which has a spring in a tube on it (which must be the reverb). I tried taking that out and re-inserting it to no avail. I've run out of troubleshoots...

zeusecho · 04-09-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comradejay

I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL head and my reverb has stopped working completely. I opened my back and saw the red and white RCA cable which i disconnected and reconnected. I saw that it has four large tubes and three smaller ones, one of which has a spring in a tube on it (which must be the reverb). I tried taking that out and re-inserting it to no avail. I've run out of troubleshoots...

That spring in tube is the is the protective cover for the V1 pre amp tube. I don't think that tube drives the reverb.

To you and the OP, just remove the reverb box mounted to the back of the front face. Make sure all the springs are suspended properly and that none of the electrical leads are bent and shorting against the case. I had the same reverb shipping damage on my DSL I got off ebay last year. Once I did the above and also replaced the the RCA cable with a high quality gold connector/thicker cable I had more lush reverb then I would ever need.

zeusecho · 04-09-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mc_guitar

Of Course you will hear a springy sound, it is a spring reverb!!!!

The Reverb Tank is normally wrapped into some kind of tolex or plastic bag and mounted onto the bottom of the combo. You should try to look into that bag and check the connections. Should be chinch. The same for the other end, at the amp.
If you totally unpack the reverb tank, you should be able to look inside from the bottom side, you will see if the springs are okay!

Cheers Michael

Yeah but if you hear the springs too much from very minor movement of the amp it probably means the springs have come off the suspension system and need to set back in place.

JohnH · 04-09-2009, 03:35 PM

The springs do rattle around - particularly if you are driving with the amp in the car.

I havent tried this, but I reckon you could test the circuit by unplugging the tank and feeding a small signal into the reverb return - ie one of the RCA connectors that go to the tank. Im thinking a signal from a guitar pedal, or maybe an ipod. Then carefully turn up the reverb control nd you should hear something.

John

zeusecho · 04-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnH

The springs do rattle around - particularly if you are driving with the amp in the car.

John

Yeah your right but when mine had shipping damage (springs loose off the tension springs) the rattling was much much worse and didn't have the rattling sound that faded out, it was more like a hard rattling sound, you could tell the springs were just sitting on the housing.

comradejay · 09-05-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wantsa58

I just got this amp through ebay and its in great condition, however the reverb does not work. The seller claims that it worked before shipping it and seems to be an honest guy. The amp arrived safely but I cant seem to get the reverb to work at all. The reverb controll pot doesn't sound scratchy or anything and it seems to be hooked up correctly. Is there any simple trouble shooting I can do to see whats wrong? Im not sure what model is used but I know it is an acutronics unit.

All ideas and suggestions are more than welcome.

I have the same problem. I have a JCM 2000 DSL and the reverb on both channels doesn't work. I checked all the suggestions in this thread. I changed the RCA cables, checked the wiring which looks intact but nothing seems to work. I could use some suggestions as well. Thanks.

fringedweller · 09-06-2009, 01:30 PM

For what it's worth, bro, here's something I learned when I bought my DSL 401. When I got it home, (it was used,made in 2000), I could have sworn the reverb didn't work, so I called the seller. He said to check the connections, which I did, and found them to be OK. I called him back, and he said to bring it over. I did and he plugged in and showed me the difference between clean and reverb. It was super subtle and I could barely hear it. Basically, I'm trying to say that this is a strange reverb. Even if you turn it on full, it's not like one of those super intense, echoey reverbs, to say the way least. But, that's what it is, so it might be there and you might be missing it. Kinda crazy, eh, but that's the way they made it. Try this--turn the reverb up full, play a chord and quickly mute the strings, listen for an echo. Then do the same with the reverb off. Don't know why they made it so freakin' wimpy. Good luck.

thrawn86 · 09-06-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fringedweller

For what it's worth, bro, here's something I learned when I bought my DSL 401. When I got it home, (it was used,made in 2000), I could have sworn the reverb didn't work, so I called the seller. He said to check the connections, which I did, and found them to be OK. I called him back, and he said to bring it over. I did and he plugged in and showed me the difference between clean and reverb. It was super subtle and I could barely hear it. Basically, I'm trying to say that this is a strange reverb. Even if you turn it on full, it's not like one of those super intense, echoey reverbs, to say the way least. But, that's what it is, so it might be there and you might be missing it. Kinda crazy, eh, but that's the way they made it. Try this--turn the reverb up full, play a chord and quickly mute the strings, listen for an echo. Then do the same with the reverb off. Don't know why they made it so freakin' wimpy. Good luck.

I too have a 401 (made in 2002). The reverb is not what I would call adequate. I finally went and bought a Holy Grail for that purpose, which I love. I will say that the onboard Accutronics reverb is subtle enough to play with your OD channels and it doesn't muddle the sound; that's typically what I do with it.

01-19-2009, 09:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
wantsa58 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 24	JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work I just got this amp through ebay and its in great condition, however the reverb does not work. The seller claims that it worked before shipping it and seems to be an honest guy. The amp arrived safely but I cant seem to get the reverb to work at all. The reverb controll pot doesn't sound scratchy or anything and it seems to be hooked up correctly. Is there any simple trouble shooting I can do to see whats wrong? Im not sure what model is used but I know it is an acutronics unit. All ideas and suggestions are more than welcome.

01-19-2009, 11:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
DocNrock Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 37	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work I have one of those and bought it new back in '98. I haven't played it in a while, but as I recall, the reverb on it is not "really there," if that makes any sense.

01-20-2009, 05:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
mc_guitar Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LE / Germany Posts: 50	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work Hello, Check the connections for the reverb-tank, it might be loose. If that is not the case, maybe the internal connections are faulty. I have never heard of any reverb-tank beeing broken. If the connections are chich or any similar, you should also try swapping the in and out. Maybe they are wrong in the first place. Regards, Michael

01-20-2009, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
ToneZone100 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 94	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work I had an identical problem with the DSL head I got from ebay. It turned out to be a loose connection, the tank itself was fine. I don't think shipping does amps many favours and having seen the way some stuff gets chucked about it's not surprising.

01-20-2009, 02:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
wantsa58 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 24	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work What connections should I check? I only see a red and white cable that goes to the reverb and to the chassis. Also is it odd that I can hear a metallic clanking coming from the unit occasionally if I move the amp about? It sounds like its coming from the tank... like a springy sound. Only happens if I'm walking the amp up stairs etc. I'll prolly take the panels off tomorrow and check things out again.

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01-20-2009, 03:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
mc_guitar Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LE / Germany Posts: 50	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work Of Course you will hear a springy sound, it is a spring reverb!!!! The Reverb Tank is normally wrapped into some kind of tolex or plastic bag and mounted onto the bottom of the combo. You should try to look into that bag and check the connections. Should be chinch. The same for the other end, at the amp. If you totally unpack the reverb tank, you should be able to look inside from the bottom side, you will see if the springs are okay! Cheers Michael

01-20-2009, 03:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
wantsa58 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 24	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work Mine is just screwed or bolted to the bottom of the combo.. no bag as far as I can tell. I'll actually take it out tommorow and check everything.. I know the external connections are fine, but if there are internal or underside connections I'll have to check those as well. The first time I heard the noise I freaked out and thought it might be the valves, I didn't know any better because its my first valve amp lol.

04-09-2009, 09:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
comradejay Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work I have a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL head and my reverb has stopped working completely. I opened my back and saw the red and white RCA cable which i disconnected and reconnected. I saw that it has four large tubes and three smaller ones, one of which has a spring in a tube on it (which must be the reverb). I tried taking that out and re-inserting it to no avail. I've run out of troubleshoots...

04-09-2009, 03:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
JohnH Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wollongong NSW Posts: 781	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work The springs do rattle around - particularly if you are driving with the amp in the car. I havent tried this, but I reckon you could test the circuit by unplugging the tank and feeding a small signal into the reverb return - ie one of the RCA connectors that go to the tank. Im thinking a signal from a guitar pedal, or maybe an ipod. Then carefully turn up the reverb control nd you should hear something. John __________________ DSL401 8412 cab Crate Powerblock 1 x 12 Vintage 30 cab '76 Shergold Masquerader '93 Les Paul Studio '83 Roadstar

09-06-2009, 01:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
fringedweller Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Santa Fake, NM, US Posts: 15	Re: JCM 2000 DSL 201 reverb does not work For what it's worth, bro, here's something I learned when I bought my DSL 401. When I got it home, (it was used,made in 2000), I could have sworn the reverb didn't work, so I called the seller. He said to check the connections, which I did, and found them to be OK. I called him back, and he said to bring it over. I did and he plugged in and showed me the difference between clean and reverb. It was super subtle and I could barely hear it. Basically, I'm trying to say that this is a strange reverb. Even if you turn it on full, it's not like one of those super intense, echoey reverbs, to say the way least. But, that's what it is, so it might be there and you might be missing it. Kinda crazy, eh, but that's the way they made it. Try this--turn the reverb up full, play a chord and quickly mute the strings, listen for an echo. Then do the same with the reverb off. Don't know why they made it so freakin' wimpy. Good luck.

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