Brownface Deluxe 6G3

[Scott_F]

Finally got off my butt and got this amp out together. Got some nasty snarl to it. Unlike any vintage Fender I've played.

I've heard this described over on TGP as:

"The Brown Deluxe is not similar at all. It is probably the hottest, "highest gain" amp Leo ever put out. Take a 5E3...cross-breed it with a 18-watt Marshall...remove the loose, boomy low-end, make it louder, tighter, more focused, more gain...that's the 6G3."

Pretty much nailed the description.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

How much clean headroom does it have vs 5E3?

 

[Scott_F]

Brownface Deluxe 6G3

About the same. Slightly more headroom but nothing like a blackface. However it doesn't fart out. I've got a Weber Alnico 12A125 in it right now. It's loud. I could definitely play with the speaker efficiency a bit.

Next thing is to lower the B+ voltage a bit. It was 415 initially. I used some 5v Zeners to drop it to 394v. . I want to bring it down a bit further. Will try using a smaller value rectifier as well.

It's got some serious gain working.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

those are awesome amps! got a 5e3 from you, got a real bfdr, someday gonna have to get me a brown one too

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

I'll never forget. I put too low a voltage rated 8uf cap in there and we chased down that intermittent Vol drop. One of the early ones.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

yep, i went through cleaned up some of the wiring and changed the first two .1 coupling caps to .047 to shave some bottom off. it still sounds great and has seen plenty of stage time. went through a bunch of speakers over the years but keep coming back to the mojo g12h30. loved the eminence red fang in there but it was sooo close to the tubes

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Sounds awesome. Are brownfaces typically nastier than their blackface counterparts? The world of old Fenders is relatively new to me, and I have some serious learning to do.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Dude. The Browns are like mini Marshall's.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

I'm regurgitating some things I've read. But back in the early 60's the trend was to try and get bigger cleaner tones. These little champs prince tons and deluxes were practice amps. We all love them now because of the grind we can get out of them. But back in the day, Blonde Showman was the big clean screamer.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Here's a good history link on the Deluxe line.

https://robrobinette.com/Fender_Deluxe_Models.htm

 

[jeremy]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

thats a great site scott, thanks for the link

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

That's a lot of info to digest. Interesting. I majored in electrical engineering for a few years, so I've done a bit of soldering. Looking at those circuits really makes me want to take a stab at building one.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

That's a lot of info to digest. Interesting. I majored in electrical engineering for a few years, so I've done a bit of soldering. Looking at those circuits really makes me want to take a stab at building one.

Do it.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

The 6G3 is one of the amps I've always GASed after, but never had a chance to play.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Gotta love that amp porn. Nice build. You made look up clips/videos of the 6G3 which was a mistake on my part lol. GASing hard for one now :laughing:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Is this the soon to be completed amp listed on Celtic?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

I actually have a buyer that I've given first crack at. It'll be a listed model as soon as I get it tweaked up where I want it for him.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

That's a lot of info to digest. Interesting. I majored in electrical engineering for a few years, so I've done a bit of soldering. Looking at those circuits really makes me want to take a stab at building one.

mojo has kits available. They use Herboer transformers. I like the mercury's. But the chassis, faceplate and cabinet aren't that easy to come buy. So start there and grab a black fiber board from them as well. The kit would be your smartest move. They allow you to ala carte it and dump items that you don't want, like speaker, per chance.

I did get the cab, chassis and faceplates from Mojo. I get a lot of the basics from mojo and their cabinet work is first rate. You gotta watch the lead dress to the bright channel as it gets persnickety.

If you get transformers, try to get the "lower B+" versions. I'm having to step this one down a bit as it's too hot. I didn't realize the standard would be so dam hot.

 

[J E C]

Re: Brownface Deluxe 6G3

Very cool Scott!