1974 Fender Deluxe Reverb Restoration, Part 2: Completion and Testing
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- This is Part 2 of a two-part video series featuring the restoration of a nice, original 1974 Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp. In this video, circuit repairs, tube biasing, reassembly, and sound testing of the amp's features are described, as well as restoration hints and suggestions that you may find useful. For good continuity, be sure to watch the Part 1 video first.
If you enjoy videos featuring classic vintage amplifiers, jukeboxes, and other electronic gear, then please subscribe to my channel to gain immediate access to over 60 related videos, and to be notified each time a new video is posted.
Thanks for watching !!!
Rusty is quite pleased that you noticed his great contributions to our videos. He is a wonderful dog, nearly 16 years old, and he still chases the tennis ball for as long as you are willing to throw it. He also has a cat-sister, but she prefers to sleep on the couch in between meals and is far too lazy to chase anything, let alone a nasty old tennis ball. It's a lot like having a teenager around the house.......again.
I guess by now, old Rusty has long since bid you "Happy Trails." I feel for ya ...
Thanks, CD. I do occasionally sell one....or two, generally just to make room for new ones. If I ever croak, my wife will probably have a garage sale and sell them all for $10 apiece (she doesn't share my enthusiasm for old amps), so keep an eye on the obituary page...:)))
I will be happy to take any Gibson GA-40T's off your hands ... !
That’s funny.
I still love your guitar playing sir and great job on this wonderful Fender Amp.!
Thanks twice, David. You are too kind :)
I have a 74 identical to yours I use it for all my gigs.I absolutely love this amp.
It's a good one, Phil......Thanks for your input :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2019....i found a deluxe reverb for 150$....it makes sound and has the pedal...i was lost with it until i remembered you and your efforts....i have much more confidence having watched your videos.
i wish i could explain how much it meant to me to watch and listen to your work on that 74 silverface. i really ain't much on electronic know how...
but when the box functioned at all and with the trem and reverb working,,,,i knew i had got lucky....it has the stock pedal,,,,,the blind squirrel finds a nut again............i'm 67 and don't try to contact anyone on youtube,,,,,,,,but if you could spare a minute or two to tell me anything about this fender amp i have,,,,you will save me hours of self instruction and fact finding before i turn it over to anyone who professes to have correct knowledge and experience.
do you get new notices are is this message just ina line from 6 years ago?
i promise to not grieve you with dumb questions,,,i am looking for a few heads up when i do get into this amp,,,in a couple of days........
i hope i didn't bore you and i need some one looking over my shoulder on this thing........i think it might be my best acquisition of my life,,,,,please uncle doug,,,,,i want to do this right,,,,,,,,,i need your help.......
Congratulations on a great find, Charles. I have posted all that I know about this (and similar) models in several videos currently on YT. I suggest that you study all the videos I have posted on Fender circuit repair and learn what you can from them. It's just not feasible to verbally describe every possible step via e-mail, so I hope the videos are sufficient. You are welcome to ask a few specific questions in this format if necessary. Good luck.
You always do such a nice job of bringing life back into vintage amps on this channel. The world needs more techs like yourself.
+Eren Semonik Thanks, Eren. I guess my love for these old gems is evident in the pleasure I derive from rejuvenating them :)
Watching your channel is like taking a stroll through the 60's. Groovy Daddy "O", Great example of that amp.
Glad you enjoyed it, TJ.
@@UncleDoug Always... It is like visiting Santa's workshop. That would make you the head elf. 🙂
@@tjnugent62 Definitely a promotion :) Thanks, TJ.
WOW, the Reverb sounds Massive!
Nobody can beat a good Fender reverb, Giulio.
Thanks Uncle Doug, I love watching you do your thing! I'm not a tech but you got me heating up the soldering iron...Ha!
You're welcome, DT :)
That reverb sounds great! The new reverb tanks have a really long decay and you can't get them over 2.5 before everything gets swamped.
Thanks, Mark. Glad you liked it :)
Thanks, BT. After the chassis tune up, the reverb and tremolo are both really stout.....and, as a wise man once said, "You can never have too much reverb". :)))
What's really fun, is to take the output from the reverb tank, and via a couple of cable translators (sort of like one of those "Illudim Q36 Space Modula-TORS"), plug it into the NORMAL channel and roll off most of the bass, run up the treble and bright switch if you like, and have some really clean, clear reverb coming out of that tank.
scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/149563/when-was-the-illudium-q-36-space-modulator-first-depicted
I love your videos. Thank you for sharing the experience and joy of "amp archaeology" with the world! :)
+Rullywow Industries You're welcome, RI.....glad you enjoy the videos. Thanks for watching and commenting :)
Good video. Love the restorations. Would have been fun to see you troubleshoot a little. I learn a lot by watching folks troubleshoot.
Thanks, Bill. Rusty and I have posted over 150 videos, and hopefully many of them will provide some troubleshooting insights.
very nice job Doug.! thx. for sharing so much info. that you've managed to acquire over time. why don't we all do this . many continued blessing for all the family!
You're welcome, Barry. Thanks for the nice comments and thoughts. Likewise on the blessings.
Beautiful. I love the fender reverb sound
+Elsif Thanks :)
Hey Uncle. Send that old amp up here to Longview and let me test it out for a few years. Ill get it back to you some day. I loved this one. What a nice find. When you send the amp send your old guitar too.
Not unless I can also send a case of beer and some Russian pole dancers, Monty.
As you wish oh wise one.
I picked up one of these at an auction for $90. It has become my go to amp.
Another excellent acquisition......and dirt cheap. Any time I go to an auction, people pay way too much for items. Congratulations !!
Nice work! I could listen to you all day. Thanks!
You're welcome, Brian. Please enjoy all of our videos :)
Yup! It’s that sound.
Very nice UD. That Jenson turned out to be a gem! I bought a pair of Jenson bookshelf speakers from Sears in the early 90's and I am listening to your vids through them and a Sansui amp my late father had that I fixed myself. I was learning as I fixed it. SDK 4(something)...465? power amp and two weeks later the rectifier. It sounds great! It is such an awesome feeling to fix something electronic ones self.
I look forward to watching all your vids. God Bless You UD.
Thanks so much, JL. It is indeed a great feeling to complete a successful repair job. I hope you enjoy all the remaining videos. Meanwhile, Rusty and I send you our very best regards :) ^. .^
Such a professional. Really great to watch your videos, Uncle Doug and Rusty!
Thanks, Bill. Rusty is the pro.....I'm just his apprentice :)
My crazy old cat sleeps all day and then, just as we are going to bed, she starts tearing around the house like a lunatic......again, much like a teenager :))
Thanks for this series Uncle Doug, it gave me confidence to get inside my 1977 Twin Reverb and start learning more. I've given it a good cleaning, replaced a speaker, and replaced the filter capacitors so far (the ones in it had 1977 date codes on them and tested very poorly).
I also loved the quip about the white paint. No joke, mine had white paint drips on the tolex when I got it. It must be some unwritten law or something.
You're welcome, Mark, and best of luck with your restoration project. Welcome to the Ubiquitous White Paint Spots Club :)
nice patina on the metal parts, great tone also
Thanks, Carlos :)
Instant replay of the seventies, Doug, ( all our yesterdays).......magic...............Les.
+Les Johnson Thanks, Les......glad you enjoyed it :)
As a reverb hog myself I really needed that 10😊
Amen, brother ;)
That amp is the same vintage as me love it!
Age definitely has its benefits, Robert :)
Great and helpful video. I too am finding bargains on old guitars and amps that often require many hours to restore to original condition (or as close as possible). It amazes me how many people neglect these "works of art" (in my mind anyway). My latest find was an all original 1978 Musicmaster Bass Amp (for less than $100). My biggest issue is becoming attached to these things after fixing them up when I really should be selling them to fund more finds...lol Gotta admit..finding the deal is 1/2 the fun and so many interesting people and stories behind each item I find. Love the videos.
+Tricko Thanks, Tricko. I too feel strongly motivated to undo the years of neglect that many of these vintage gems have been subjected to, and become quite attached to them in the process. Once completed, I generally have to keep them for several months before I can consider selling or trading them to a "good home".....and the hunt is indeed one of the most enjoyable parts of the process.
Dear Uncle Doug. I’ve watched a lot of your videos, and you’ve impressed me with your tolex, amp projects and etc. a lot of guys will benefit from you. Well done, Uncle Doug. From a man that appreciates your safety and warnings. Btw, I’ve been a Marshall technician since 1978. And I’m still at it, including shocks….🤣👍🇮🇪 regards, from Ireland
Thanks so much for your very nice comments, Pearse. It's great to her that the videos are helpful and appreciated :)
@@UncleDoug you’re more than welcome. Keep ‘em flowing….👍
@@pearsedunne9938 Will do, Pearse.
Thanks for the video Doug..love the reveals and teasers, fixing along with you! All the best to you and Rusty.
You're welcome, Mix. I try to make the videos like you are looking over my shoulder while we disassemble, inspect, and restore an amp. As I say in the video, we are both seeing it for the first time, and I'd like to think it adds a little suspense and mystery to the process.
My '73 Super Reverb is in similar shape as this Deluxe. When I got it, it had been black faced and had a GZ34 in it. The tech I took it too changed some things in the PI that had the result of making the bass much tighter which was great. I still thought it sounded a bit sterile though but then I decided to change the rectifier back to 5U4GB and rebias the tubes. I did not expect it to change the sound so much but it sounded heaps better. Now it is fat, warm and amazing. Best amp I have ever owned.
DoItYourselfMusician I'm glad it turned out so well, DIY. They are great amps. Thanks for your input.
beautiful Amp! I have a 74 Champ silver face, wish I had the Deluxe Reverb. Very nice!
+Jake Blues Thanks, JB. Both the DR and Princeton Reverb are among my favorite amps. I hope you can find a nice DR. Good luck.
You're making me miss my old 72 Deluxe something awful. Oh why did I ever trade it off. That sound takes me home. Les
+Leslie Pierce I guess we all regret selling items from our youth, Les. Keep looking and maybe you'll find a replacement :)
Your videos are so helpful! You're my best amplifier friend.
That's great to hear, Rory :)
nice repair very nice amp thanks
It was our pleasure, Joe.
Being "stuck" in the Virgin Islands must be a real "nightmare" :)) I went scuba diving in the BVI many years ago and it is a magnificent place.....you lucky devil!! Re the drilling of a stainless steel chassis, it is indeed one of life's greatest miseries.....somewhere between tax audits and root canals.....but the wiring is so much fun that it (almost) makes up for it. I'll keep an eye out for a silverface PR, and if I find one, maybe I can deliver it personally :))
I have no experience with Marshall amps, Frank, but I'll take your word for it. The GZ34 really is a great upgrade for these 5U4 amps.....I hope more people find out about this. However, they do need to re-check the bias due to the increased plate voltages resulting from the more efficient GZ34. Thanks for posting !!
Really like your show I've learned a lot by accident.
Thanks. Keep having "accidents", Ronnie :)
That's a great compliment.....thanks, JZ.
A friend of mine just sent one of these over to me to repair. I think it's the same year, just a little younger A41489, same chassis style. He bought it new. It was reported to be "cutting out". Well, the rectifier was really loose and after inspecting it I discovered the plastic alignment peg on the bottom of the tube had a crack. Also, cleaned all the pots, sockets and tightened the larger sockets. This also had some rust on the nuts to all the input jacks. All the original capacitors were paper type in the doghouse, he wants to use it regularly so I should replace them. The inside was pristine, shows evidence that it was untouched by human hands since the time it was built - and the original owner attested to that.
It sounds like a really nice vintage amp, Daniel, and in good hands.
@@UncleDoug - Because I have best online Patreon/youtube Amplifier teacher.
@@dbingamon You are too kind, Daniel. Thanks so much :)
Very nice sound, great repair. Keep those video's coming.
+RODALCO2007 We will, Rod. Thanks :)
Great video, Uncle Doug!
Thanks, John. I'm glad you liked it...:)
3 thumbs down??? freakin cats using internet and trying to hate on rusty methinks..... thanks doug for sharing. such a joy to learn about the amps that made the albums i grew up on.. cheers
We agree, Scott. Any heartless jerk who would give Rusty a thumbs down is destined for hell......or (even worse) an eternity of watching those old hags on The View :)
You're welcome, Daniel. Thanks for watching !!!
You're welcome, Dan. Thanks for watching.
Hi Doug, I love your videos. One suggestion: please tune your guitar!
Thanks, JC, but do you realize just what a waste of time it is for you to tell me this, several years after the video was posted? Your comment would have been much more effective.....and appreciated......if the second sentence had been deleted.
Uncle Doug No offense intended.
Thanks, JC.
Greetings, AR. I don't work on solid state amps, but I understand that the L5 is a real gem. Any amp preferred by BB King and Ty Tabor (check out "Over my Head" by King's X) has got to be good !!! The guitar I use in the workshop is a 1979 Matsumoku Vantage Performer VS-695 (it is pictured in the opening of the recent "Shock Hazards" video) with MMK-45 pickups. I rescued it from a pawn shop in lousy condition several years ago, and like a stray dog.....it ended up being a great "pet".
Great video,
classic amp!
Thanks, Matt :)
very nice amp ....and speaker!
Thanks, Chris.
Thanks, SS. It actually was pictured in the opening of the "Shock Hazards" video I posted recently. See the response to AR (above) for details. It's an inexpensive guitar (the harsh workshop environment is too risky for expensive guitars) but has the hottest, nastiest pickups in this sector of the universe. It came from a pawn shop in rough shape, but, with a lot of work (I also work on guitars), it turned into a real gem.
Thanks so much, F86. I wish you did live in my neighborhood....at least then, ONE of my neighbors wouldn't be giving me the "evil eye" over all the "noise" coming from my workshop...:)
I love the Blues Jr. and have owned several. The Reverb is great, it's all-tube (increasingly rare with modern "tube" amps), 12" speaker, and the EL-84's are similar to 6V6's. The tweed adds about $70 to the price. I would hunt down a good, used one and save a bunch. The Blues Deluxe is a whole different beast.....bigger, heavier, louder (40W), and almost $800. I had one and couldn't use it at home at any volume level greater than 1 1/2 without the risk of divorce. For home use, I prefer the Jr.
lol, Im stuck down here in the virgin islands.. no tube amps to be had so I built a 65 Princeton Reverb clone from a weber kit. Really hated drilling their stainless steel chassis. Came out pretty good but if you ever hear of a reasonable priced silverface PR .. give me a shout!
Excellent
Nice job
Thanks, Tim :)
Doug,
The wires with the helical wrap of white wire can be seen in your amp right behind the pots in the dash panel.
I was about to ask hat the deal with this is, since this is by far not the first time seeing it, but now we might get a definitive answer.
Always figured it was to shield EMF, but?...
You sure lucked into a nice amp here, and since you have been so generous with your electeonics information, here is a vinyl restoration tip.
Instead of Armor All, give a try with some 303 Aerospace Protectant.
It is a water based acrylic, UV protectant, leaves the vinyl (plastic, leather, etc.) clean and rich looking without any greasy film or glossy appearance.
It also will not react unfavorably with some plastics or rubbers, and cause cracking or discoloration.
Been using it on the car for many years and love it!
Um, is there a mismatched tuning circuit in that amp?
That guitar sounds a bit out of tune, dontcha know!
Thanks again U.D., and thank Rusty for the excellent directorial skills.
Greetings, John. I agree that the white wires wrapped around the two bundles of wires behind the pots are probably to shield the signal wires from noise. Each of the white wires is grounded at one end, which makes that purpose seem quite likely. I'll give the 303 Protectant a try. Thanks for the tip. The guitar was carefully tuned immediately prior to the sound check....perhaps something in the recording process or my playing is responsible for the discordance you noticed. Thanks for your input.
Have seen those helical wraps for years, but it's funny... Never removed them just to see what happens.
May have to try that next time working on one of these, or adding them to an amp that does not have it already.
What guitar were you using?
I have been using a Peterson Stroboflip with a tempered mode for a few years now.
Saves the time of tempering after tuning any of one's preferred manual methods.
Although I can tune open strings very quickly by ear, laziness has set in with older age.
A bit embarrassing, but admittedly so!
I have a feeling that the wire wrapping might have resulted from some customer complaints about hum....and, in accordance with Leo Fender's tendencies toward thrift, it's cheaper and easier than using shielded wire for signal runs....which probably would have been more effective.
I have an old workshop guitar, a late-70's Matsumoku Vantage, that I use for testing amps in the workshop, which is a rough environment. I don't want to risk damaging a more valuable guitar. It is carefully tuned with a Korg tuner prior to use, but has super-jumbo frets that cause sharped notes with a heavy fretting hand (i.e. mine). The workshop is neither heated or cooled (temp. range 40 to 102F), so the strings and neck are subjected to all sorts of thermal instability. Add to that my significant hearing loss and mediocre musical ability, and you have the perfect storm of tuning challenges. I also suspect that the tiny camera microphone cannot accurately portray all frequencies in a garage environment, with all sorts of complex echoes and overtones. It does a much better job when recording in a more suitable (carpeted and less lively) environment (see my 9 and 12 amp comparison videos).
To be honest, I emphasize the visual, technical, and verbal presentation and consider the audio demonstration to be somewhat extraneous and obligatory. I do what I can to make it tolerable, but, as you can see, conditions definitely work against achieving that goal and, I think you will agree considering all the challenges, we're lucky it turned out as well as it did :)
The Vantage was not a bad guitar for a beater.
Matsumoku built great guitars over the years, often nicer than the "name" shops they built for.
A heavy hand and jumbo frets would account for what I was hearing.
Leo's thriftiness is indeed legendary, but it did open a lot of eyes in a good way, don't you think?
The first time playing a guitar with 6000 wire on it got me good, and I had to learn to play with a delicate touch to keep things in tune.
It's hilarious when you can bend a "Blue Note" just jamming your finger down into the fingerboard.
When is Rusty coming out with his new album?
I think Leo was just being a good businessman. His products are legendary and the ones made during his tenure are in huge demand with astronomical prices. Economical or not, he never cut corners in ways that hurt the product, unlike his successors.
Re the jumbo frets, I can tune the guitar to perfection and watch the tuner while I strike a note (i.e a B). Then simply by pressing harder nearly turn it into an A. In fact, it's very difficult not to sharp most notes. Short of dragging a 70's "fretless wonder" Gibson Custom out into the workshop (and banging it around) or dragging everything into the house (before it's actually ready to come inside), I'm at a loss as to the remedy......maybe a set of .016" strings ala SRV :)
I appreciate the insight. I've tested the vibrato connection as you suggested. I am 90% certain it is the caps.
If you are asking what specific type of capacitor I use, I prefer the Sprague Orange Drops (if I have them on hand), or any other high-quality capacitor (if I don't). I test each of them prior to installation and pick caps that are as close as possible to the .01 and .02uf value. It seems that correct values are important for proper oscillation in the 12AX7. Also, for reasons unknown, some tubes just tend to oscillate better than others. Five tubes can check out fine on the tube tester, but there is often a difference between their performance in an oscillation circuit.....possibly due to tube capacitance (?)
Many thanks for this great video.
+SiliconSet You're welcome, SS :)
Great tip on the sideways chassis installation ... Speaker bell ain't bad!! By the way ... One reason, in my opinion, that Fender went with the silver face, was to make it easier to see on a dark stage, of which, I have made money on many ... Getting a lot of distortion for being that low on the volume dial. But the articulation, otherwise, is excellent, as a Deluxe Reverb should be. BTW: You can take the output from the reVERB tank and run it into the NORMAL channel with the proper cabling. That way you can roll off some bass and increase the treble, for better control and crispness.
Thanks for the observations and tips, TT.
@@UncleDoug Yessir. You are welcome. Not that I know anything, compared to YOU! Great respect for amp techs ...
Nice project. Thanks for making this video.
Hi Uncle Doug,
I recently finished watching your rebuild of the 1974 Deluxe Reverb... it turned into a nice little amp. After I watched both parts last night, I found a video from Gerald Weber of Kendrick Amps about "re-blackfacing" a silverface amp, in this case, a '68 Twin Reverb. It was instructive to see the changes Fender did to these amps after Leo left the company... and seeing just how fast Fender reacted to the complaints coming from their dealers. Now, I understand that the Deluxe Reverb wasn't changed at all when it was redone to silverface cosmetics (although I think the cabinet went from pine boards (complete with knots) to plywood, and the baffle went from plywood to particle board). However, Mr Weber did mention that he completely replaced the caps on the amp during this process... why I don't know (the cynic in me thinks it may have been to charge more for the conversion, while my more practical side thinks it may have been necessary from his point of view). After watching this video I next watched one from your friend at El Paso Tube Amps where he works on a 30 or so watt Fender amp head (the front plate was missing, but I believe it was a silverface Bandmaster. The 6L6 power tubes were unbalanced causing one to run at around 400 degrees, while the other was running at around 320 degrees. As you probably know, he tried to address anything he thought might causing the imbalance, including new tubes... nothing essentially changed (although it did improve when he replaced the defunct filter caps...). The next day, he remarked that someone had reminded him that the "bias adjustment pot" actually was a bias balancing pot (Mr Weber did rewire the one on the Twin he was working on to restore it as a bias adjustment pot, but that was to convert the amp back to blackface specs.)
After all this I wonder about what the takeaway was from all this video madness (yes, I don't have a life...) I guess it was the fact that (1) nobody knows everything, and all of us can learn from other guys. (2) everyone has a different take on repairing old amps.
One more thing... when you were demoing the Deluxe Reverb, I plugged into my 65 Reissue Deluxe Reverb and compared the two... at first I was surprised to hear that mine had much better bass response (both tone controls were at "5") than what I was hearing from your demo... until I looked at my computer "Sound system" which consists of two 2" teeny tiny speakers. I don't think that a pair of 2" teeny tiny speakers are all that good at reproducing bass frequencies...
Adios amigo, and keep that camera rolling! (give Rusty a pat on the head for me...)
+Bill Daniels The "bias or balance" pot enigma can be a little confusing. It's fairly obvious on a schematic, but if you're accustomed to biasing a Fender circuit via a pot, and assume that the pot you see is a bias pot (when it's not), the results can get a bit frustrating, since whatever you do to bias one tube will generally make the other one go further from the desired value. The optimum solution would be to have both a bias and balance pot.....which would eliminate any need to buy matched output tubes :)
Yes, trying to assess the tone of an amp by listening to 2" speakers is a bit fruitless. They can make a Trainwreck Express sound like a $29 Squier beginner's amp. I use good quality headphones for listening to all videos and the scenes I piece together to make my own videos.....it's money well spent.
Bye for now, Bill. Rusty says thanks for the pat :)
I will get the thing in the near future. 1 to 3 weeks it looks like. plan on using that amp to show me how to build more. to ensure the survival of the species. they say they are getting harder to come by. enjoy your weekend uncle doug
+JED TAYLOR Thanks, same to you, Jed.
You're right, I forgot about the Kustom amp being solid state (and requiring a lot of work). If an ailing L5 showed up at the workshop door, I would try to repair it.....out of respect for BB :) You're also right about the inadequacies of my tiny little camera microphone and the alterations associated with uploading to YT. I can tell you that the sound you hear on the videos is often quite different from what you would hear "live". I always try to verbally describe the "live" sound accurately.
Been watching these for the past couple days. I have a Rivera era deluxe reverb ii with a very faint reverb output, I am trying to diagnose and fix this myself. Your videos are leading me to suspect a capacitor, as I have switched out the tubes.
You have the right approach, Mason. Watch videos and study Internet sites and chat rooms for advice, then methodically eliminate each of the possible causes for the problem. Best of luck.
Thanks for the advice, based on your experience, what would be the first things you would check given this issue? (Everything else works fine, but reverb turned to 10 is more like turned to 1.5) This is an issue that has progressively gotten worse over time. Uncle Doug
Reverbs are rather complex and tricky, Mason. Possible culprits could be the tank-driving transformer, shielded connecting cables, the tank coils, driver and recovery tubes, and all the resistors and caps in the reverb circuit. One quick test is to turn up the reverb and rattle the tank. If you get a loud reverb crash, then the output circuit is OK. If the sound is weak, it could be either the input or output circuits.
Uncle Doug Thanks so much. I'll let you know what happens!
Please do. Good luck.
I just wanted to let you know I replaced the nationals that I asked about with gts that are almost the same as in this video. I tell ya I have a 1974 Gibson sg I have never heard a better clean or warmer tone from the amp or guitar before.i did find out that the groove tubes are from fender it says fender musical instruments on the box. Have a good day and make all the videos you want i enjoy them very much
I've had good luck with most modern-made tubes, Philip, including Groove Tubes. I see all sorts of derogatory comments about just about every new brand of tube.....yet in my experience they generally work just fine. Thanks for the update.
What a find unc, Rusty picked a winner.She's one of your best looking & sounding I think.And it shows by the confidence in your inspired playing (or was that Rusty).Reminds me of the Twin I had to put up for adoption about 25 years ago.Like you I've got plenty of other loved ones to take care of in between repairs and builds.Hey, love the cleanup, was that Jacks task.
Thanks again, George. It was a great, but (sadly) increasingly rare, pawnshop find.
"Wow, get out the surfboards" LOL.
Surf's up, Tony :)
wonderful, great job
Thanks, Andrew :)
Rusty says, "Back at ya, Ben". I tend to believe they are are more like 6L6's than 6V6's.....they literally pegged my tube tester. I'm actually glad of this, since 450V would probably be a bit harsh on a vintage 6V6. The volume and tone are excellent too !!! :)
They look like Russian 6L6s (not the GCs).
thanks for part 2. it was a prato for effort
+JED TAYLOR You're welcome, Jed.
It is a good day, found a 54 fender wide panel, am wanting it to work as well as a 60 plus year old amp can I guess....should be interesting to see what comes of this opportunity. Will go to fender on line and see if they can forward me the schematics for this little jewel. I may laugh all the way to the ......... Luck would be a good thing if I get a good tone. Enjoy your week Uncle Doug. If it fails to fruitation, I will keep pushing.
could be a 53.....
Congratulations, Jed. You can download any Fender schematic from the Internet. Simply do a Google search. Good luck with the Tweed amp.
take care I ll show it to you when I get the chance.
Doug! that is a great find without being molested; Who ever worked on it prior to you did a good job overall, I have seen a lot worse where the installer did not have a clue about soldering, not to mention incorrect parts and poor wiring.
+John Cunningham Thanks, John. I was pleased with the overall condition. After cleaning the tube sockets and some other tune-ups, as described in the video, it has proven to be a very reliable amp.
Watching your videos on this and doing research as I just recently acquired a 1979 "pull-boost" Fender silverface deluxe reverb. It sounds pretty good but it has a steady low level hiss when off standby and it sorta increases (though it sounds like a different hiss) when the normal & vibrato channel volumes are turned up (no input signal plugged in). I did find that V1 preamp tube to be microphonic and replaced it as well as the reverb driver (12AT7) was introducing noise static (especially on the pull boost, because this boost is utilizing the reverb circuit) and replaced that as well, which has helped things abit because I was also getting occasional static noises with the hiss, and the static noises are gone but the hiss persists. I'm about to pull the chassis and inspect whats going on inside, though I was told the power and filter caps were replaced. I also found that the power tube sockets are quite loose and need retensioning, so maybe this is another source of this hiss? I'm suspecting at this point that its a combination of the dirty & loose tube sockets, ground solder connections, possibly issues relating to the plate & screen resistors and/or some of the bypass capacitors (if they haven't been replaced). This is my first real adventure into a vintage tube amp though I do have soldering experience with pedal building/modding (yeah its abit different). I've done the homework on working safely inside and amp and properly discharging the capacitors.
Good luck with your project, Scott. Hiss is not a sound I encounter very often from tube equipment.....mostly from SS. Eliminating background noise can be a major chore.
@@UncleDoug Thanks I am starting to realize this! First inspection inside the chassis revealed that it has had a full recap (bias, doghouse and bypass electrolytics), also the screen resistors were replaced at some point. I re-tensioned the power tube sockets, cleaned up the chassis with some air, cleaned the tube sockets and pots w/ contact cleaner, reflowed many of the solder grounds in the chassis. Removed the pull boost, because it is awful sounding. Still hisses... It was recommended to start looking at plate voltages to isolate possible plate resistor(s) that are introducing the noise. My personal threshold of hiss maybe low because I have a rebuilt SF Princeton Reverb a late 70's model also and its very quiet, I also have vintage late 60's early 70's 40W Traynors that run more quiet than this Deluxe.
@@scottvalk It sounds like you are making some excellent improvements, Scott. Keep up the good work, and you will eventually solve the hissing problem.
@@UncleDoug I just came across some other odd things and not sure if it explains may be why the amp sounds hissy. On the fiber board I only see 5 bypass caps, the schematics and layouts for the AB763 and even these late SF Deluxe models (A1172 & A1270) all show 7. I can definitely see that there is not a bypass cap in the V3 cathode that is to run parallel w/ the 2.2k resistor, and at V5A cathode no capacitor parallel w/ the 2.7k resistor. Not sure if this can explain some of this noise coming thru... Strange did whomever previously work on this amp forget 2 bypass caps!? I also didn't mention that unfortunately i found the rectifier an old Tung Sol 5U4GB had a partially broken guide key and cathode flaking, luckily I had a spare (vintage used Sylvania) but not sure how good it is but the amp still runs with it...
Duh! The V5A bypass cap is not missing its directly on the tube socket! A late silverface change...Also, removing the bypass cap on V3 may have been on purpose to reduce reverb drive (from what I've read).
Great sounding amp. One of the guys i played with had a twin. That thing must have weighed
80 pounds. You'r doing great work and i'm learning a little about how things work.
Too bad your dog is a slacker.
Thanks, KoB. Rusty wasn't a slacker, it was all an act ;)
I had one a long time ago !
Thanks for sharing, MT :)
BTW thanx for answering comments so diligently and also, the bluish grey Jensen magnet cover looked so cool even w/o being in matching black, don't you think? You could paint the basket to match the cover... uh huh, right...
cheers
You're welcome, Jonny. I agree that the cover should match the basket......but at least the speaker now has a cover :)
good vid Thanks!
+Marty Lang You're welcome, Marty. Glad you liked it :)
Hi UD, I just read all the comments, below. But I didn't catch what you had to fix on the Reverb..... I saw the Tremolo needed 3 caps... Thanks!
It's been several years, but as I recall, all it needed was to have a footswitch plugged into the chassis jack.
You do us all a great service with your vid's; very entertaining as well. Keep up the good works. Do have a video on the proper use of an oscilloscope in trouble shooting amps?
Marcel Pacheco Thanks, Marcel. I have not made a video on oscilloscopes yet, but will keep it in mind for the future.
I will....thanks, Ben.
Man you do really great work! Great videos!
Thanks so much, DUB :)
I LOL'd at dramamine - nice. Great video btw.
Thanks, Kaptain.....glad you liked it :)
Thank you for sharing!!
Love to hear that DRIP.....🎸
Wetter than the loser in a water balloon fight :)
It would be great if you showed us your guitar too! Can we hope for that, Uncle Doug? Great video, cheers!
Uncle Doug, a huge fan of your videos. I watch them all. I have a 76 Silverface Deluxe Reverb and when I got it, it had very similar issues as the one in your video here. The reverb tank had a broken wire and fixed that. I was going to get another "roach" to fix the vibrato but before I did that, I wanted to see if you would discribe what you did to the vibrato circuit in this video. My amp has terrible ticking in the vibrato and it's weak intermitantly. Thank!
You're welcome, Tim. If you do an Internet search on the issue of "ticking (or thumping) tremolos", you'll find that this is a common issue and largely a result of the high voltages used to trigger the neon bulb. Check out the ways they suggest to reduce the problem and see if any work out for you. Good luck.
Thanks, Frank. It did turn out to be a very nice amp with minimal repairs.....more like an automotive 'tune up'. Good luck with your DR repair job. Which rectifier does it use? 5U4 or GZ34? I'm a firm believer in the GZ34.....it draws 1.1A less filament voltage, provides slow start up, with a little extra plate voltage (what a deal !), and thus might reduce the load/heat in the new PT. A re-bias is generally advisable to compensate for the increased PV.....but you probably already know this ;))
Always love your meticulous attention to detail... You make 'em look so
good, I'm sure this alone improves the tone, right? (...at least that's what
the bonafied registered amp-aholic in me thinks)
Yes okay I'll take it ...what, it's long gone? Well phooey and shucks!
Thanx for another GREAT vid and...
cheers
Thanks, Jonny. Actually, it's still here and available :)
Cripes Uncle Doug, you make me wanna sling my guitar over my shoulder, hop on a bus and schlepp on out there... But you're so much foitha West than me
(I'm in L.A. and yer where, like Texas or sumpin?) ...even if I couldn't drum up the kajjillion or so bucks that little screamer is worth, It'd be cool just to jam
and or demo an amp or three... Leave a light on (;-p)
Sounds good, Jonny. Yes, we're in West Texas.
Sounds like an excellent plan :D
I have not tested a Greta, but they have a decent rating on Musician's Friend. Cost: $160, Power: 2W, Speaker: 4", Tubes: 12AX7 and 12AT7. For a little more money ($299), I would prefer the Fender Excelsior which has 13W and a 15" speaker, push-pull 6V6's, two 12AX7's, and a nice Tremolo. I have heard an Excelsior and was very impressed. I have no idea how they can produce this amp for such a low price (China). You need to check one out before buying a Greta to see which one suits you better.
Doug, I have a freind who has what I believe is also a 1974 Twin Reverb. The Serial is A 98850, but I'm not clear on the exact model number for schematics research. This model has a push-pull boost. This issue is crackling at an insane volume, even when the volume is not turned all the way up. In fact, the volume does not get very loud and after being powered on for around 5 minutes, the tubes really heat up. I'm sure the bias is wacky. I'm hoping to have a look at it this weekend.
The loud crackling may be electrical arcing within the circuit components, Chad, and it does sound like the bias is way too hot. I suggest that you use a current limiter when working on it.
Current limiter, absolutely. Thanks for the insight about the possibility of arcing.
have you ever thought of taking the chrome pieces or ant metal to a jeweler and have them polished ? the polishing is not expensive and does really well on rust removal from small scratches .
I have buffing wheels that would make a jeweler green with envy, T1, but you can't polish chrome.....it's too hard and tends to peel off if you buff it. Most emblems are made of pot metal which doesn't rust, but does corrode beneath the chrome.....which is virtually impossible to repair. The only metals that can be polished well are aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. But more importantly, brightly polished or re-chromed parts on a vintage amp stick out and look inappropriate, in my opinion. Most people tend to prefer the metal to reflect the age of the amp.
Hi uncle Doug the man with an old pretty dog!
I'm really impressed with your videos.
I recently acquired an old fender deluxe reverb, it appears as 1968.
I'd like to send you pictures for your opinion.
Thank you and greeting to your dog!
Greetings, DM. You are welcome to post photos of your DR on my FB page. We would love to see it. Rusty says "Hi" also ^. .^
I share Uncle Doug's opinion on not messing with the Silverface circuit. They were/are good amps in their own right.
John Hudak Thanks for your support, John. On the smaller SF amps, you can see by simply comparing schematics with the BF circuits, that the differences are virtually non-existent.
A great video! I have this model amp. Nice to see the inside workings. What is your opinion on the use ability of the AC electrical outlet mounted on the back panel? I have never used it. Could I plug in an effects pedal? Thanks for the video postings!
Thanks, Monte. Yes, if the pedal uses 120VAC.
Nice again and hi to Rusty -- it has been said that those GT '6V6's' are russian tubes closer to 6L6 specs -- so 450 V with gZ34 no prob -- coulod probably squeeze a few more watts from them if you wished...
This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing this restoration. And if I can make a suggestion...if you have the means, it would be a whole lot better to record the amp separately with a close mic for the sound test instead of using the camera mic. I'm hearing a lot of the acoustic sound of the guitar including a lot of the percussive pick on strings sound and it makes it difficult to appreciate the tone of the amp itself. Plus the fact that camera mics are almost always pretty bad. (even on nice cameras) It's really not doing this amp justice. Anyway...just a suggestion. Otherwise great videos!
+halffulltome You're welcome, HFT, and I agree completely with your suggestion. I bought the video camera several years ago and it has no provision for separate microphone input. As you say, the tiny grain-of-rice microphone in the camera was originally intended to capture conversation and background sounds, and simply lacks the dynamic range and fidelity to accurately capture the audio output of a good amplifier. Otherwise, it's been a great camera and I hate to replace it, but when I do, considerations for improved audio will be at the top of the selection list. Thanks so much for your tactful and accurate input.
Thanks, JF !!
Try a product called "303 aerospace protectant" instead of armor all. It has less shine and really brings your material back to life. I use it on many things and has been great. It can be found on amazon.
Thanks for the tip, Frank. I've been looking for a replacement for Armor All.
Not to hijack but I'm interested in the 303 protectant Frank. If the tolex is dirty, are you cleaning it with something prior to using the aerospace protectant?
Ah, I see. Thank you for answering. I thought that because of that Kustom you might also get to work on other great SS amps from time to time. Also, imagine my surprise when I heard that you use a humbucker equipped guitar. I always thought it was some singlecoil model like a Danelectro U2 or similar. That is probably due camera's mic and TH-cam compression. Cheers!
You had mentioned that the reverb wasn't functioning when you go the amp but no mention of what you did to resolve the issue. I have a 67 blackface with a reverb that is very weak. When at 10 it's what you would expect to hear at 2.
All I had to do was plug in a reverb footswitch and it worked fine. Weak reverb can be caused by a failing oscillator tube, bad oscillator loop capacitors, faulty neon bulb and/or photoresistor, bad output tube bias diode, etc. etc. You'll need to check each of these, and hopefully find the culprit causing the problem. Good luck.