Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I've added the 500k ohm pot in place of the dark/bright switch.....ridiculously easy to do and if you're like me- the darks are too dark and the brights too bright- that's corrected! Less than $2 for the pot and 3 matching Fender knobs for $1.50 ea.

Replaced the stock speaker w/ an Eminence Legend 1518 and that's a huge change; volume gets a major, and I mean major, boost. The extreme, somewhat harsh, raspiness is gone yet it retains just enough edginess to still appeal.

Maybe down the road, I'd like to put a footswitch on the tremelo for on/off.

Thanks for updating this thread with mod info.

I was wondering if the new knob completely covers all traces of the original switch? And did you encounter any problem fitting a speaker with larger magnet in there? Doesn't sound like you did.

[IM4Tone]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Thanks for updating this thread with mod info.

I was wondering if the new knob completely covers all traces of the original switch? And did you encounter any problem fitting a speaker with larger magnet in there? Doesn't sound like you did.

The new knob DOES NOT cover the two screw holes. It does cover the slot (which must be very slightly widened in the middle...I used a Dremmel tool.)

The new speaker is a tight fit. Not because of the larger magnet, but due to it's having a different spoke configuration on it's frame. Both the pre-amp section and the power amp sections must be removed to change speakers. The speaker must go in with the wiring attachment at 12 o'clock so that the most clearance is available at 6 o'clock (between spokes) for the power amp to go back in. The PA housing needs to be flexed slightly (not bent), but makes it OK. The speaker wiring must be lengthened due to the 12 o'clock attachment point.

Now that you know the pitfalls w/ the speaker (I put it in and back out several times before I saw what was going on.) it is nowhere as difficult as my description suggests.

All-in-all easy to do if you're willing to spring for the $90 for the new 1518. If not, by all means, do the switch replacement w/ the pot.

Let us know how you like it if you do the mod(s).

[BloodRose]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I had completely dismissed this before, but am really impressed with the build of how everything in back is protected. and the wire casing is cool too. So, these sound pretty cool? Fender has another lil cool amp too..

[wosinek]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Failure of some Excelsior amps can be traced to faulty soldering of the larger devices on the circuit boards like power resistors, spadelug, or any other wiring that may have poor soldering.
Also, many of the Spadelug connectors were too short and did not protrude through the circuitboard and therefore were not soldered adequately during the flow soldering manufacturing process. EVERYONE should check all the circuitboards for cold solderjoints to prevent eventual charring of the PC board. If you smell any electrical type burning smell coming from your amp turn it off and make sure you dont have any intermittent connections on each of the circuit boards.
Here is example of damaged printed circuit board from improper factory soldering.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/amp-owners-clubs/221553d1393224994-excelsior-lounge-excelsior-circuit-board-problems-jpg

[IM4Tone]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Odd resurrecting this thread after nearly a year and a half....
I've rarely seen comments/complaints about this type of fault in the Excelsior. Many about rattles and vibrations, but not about cold solder joints.
For an inexpensive amp, I've had no problems to-date (except for rattles and vibrations...which are easy to correct DIY with patience). That is more than I can say about other amps I've owned for 3 to 5 times the cost.

[Securb]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I have had mine for 2+ years and have had zero problems with it. It is my go to amp now. I have yet to plug a pedal into the amp because the tone is so dynamic.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Now, I've finally gotten a chance to play the new Fender Vaporizer. All the Pawnshop amps are pretty fun and quirky, and so is the Vaporizer and Ramparte. They all seem like an old Gibson amp someone hacked with mods.

I love the look of the Vaporizer, and was happy to see reverb included. Unlike the smooth textured pastel tolex of the Excelsiors, the blue, green, and red tolex on the Vaporizer is textured like tiny bubbles. That was the first cool thing I noticed.

The odd part of this amp is that there's a 2nd channel that must be activated with the included footswitch. I didn't see any button to switch channels on the amp itself. Maybe I missed it? Not sure.

The other odd part about the gainy Vaporizer channel is that it has no volume knob, EQ, or anything. It's as if the signal is sent past the whole circuit right to the output stage. It's just full blast grainy gain that must be controlled from your guitar's volume knob. I've never seen an amp setup like that.

So, here's yet another fun and cool looking amp from Fender's Pawnshop series. It's either for you or it is not.
For $400 retail, Fender isn't gouging anyone. It'll be interesting to see the collections of these amps years from now.....the players who bought one of each.

I've got enough amps, but if a blue Vaporizer ever comes up used and cheap, I may have to grab it.

[wickenspoet]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I see that they now make the Excelsior with a 15" Eminence speaker available stock as an option with these amps.

Do you guys think that the new speaker they offer fixes some of the complaints certain people had about the amp being brittle, or breaking up too early, or not being loud enough for a band?

[IM4Tone]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I see that they now make the Excelsior with a 15" Eminence speaker available stock as an option with these amps.

Do you guys think that the new speaker they offer fixes some of the complaints certain people had about the amp being brittle, or breaking up too early, or not being loud enough for a band?

Most relate 'brittle' to the fact that the bright position is too bright but the dark is too dark. The very simple installation of a 500k ohm pot (@$5) in place of the 2 position switch allows any in-between settings. The Eminence 1518 is a MAJOR increase in volume an improvement in tone. This amp can get loud. I've had no problem using it in a band. Swapping a 5751 pre-amp tube ($17) in V1 insures against premature breakup, and makes for a smoother tone.

If you're thinking of getting one, better do it fast, since they're discontinued.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Sounds like a cool amp if it's already what you want. But by the time I was done modding it, I might as well have just built my own similar amp from scratch, just the way I wanted it, with far superior quality of components and construction.

[JeffB]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

My brother has the updated version in Sonic Blue. Super cool amp. I have thought about picking one up myself.

[IM4Tone]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Sounds like a cool amp if it's already what you want. But by the time I was done modding it, I might as well have just built my own similar amp from scratch, just the way I wanted it, with far superior quality of components and construction.

I don't know what mods you did, but my suggestions on the tone pot mod and a 5751 pre-amp tube (which really isn't a mod) will cost <$25 and take very little time nor skill.

The Excelsiors are quirky and most people love them or hate them.......few are in-between. It's very 'old school'. Think Valco or Supro.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

This thread is a couple years old, but I've never started a thread that racked up more views than this one.

Wow, almost 11.5 thousand views!

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

I guess this thread wouldn't be complete unless the original poster (me) finally acquires a Fender Excelsior. The antique blush with upgraded Eminence Legend speaker was the one that I really wanted upon it's release. Not to mention that my acquisition skills means it cost me nothing but a trade for a delay pedal!

[IM4Tone]

Re: Finally tried the Fender Excelsior

Congratulations! Finally.