Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

[MacDaddy]

I've just bought a Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb. Mostly I'm very happy with it, the tones available are like nothing else I've played. Just lush, lush Fender tone.

However, I'm wondering if there's an issue with the amp and whether I should return it.

It is quite hissy, there's always an audible background hiss. When playing not so much of an issue but I would expect it to become a potential problem if mic'ing it up or recording.

Secondly, the tremolo when engaged has an audible ticking/flutter to it even with nothing plugged into the amp. Is this normal? Again, when playing not so much a huge problem but mic'ing up and recording could be disappointing.

The tremolo seems to contribute to the hiss too. When not engaged turning the speed and intensity to zero lessens the hissing quite a bit.

Thanks all.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

1. Play another one.
2. That Trem circuit has "always" been a problem. It is usually (like 98%) a lead dress problem. I have fixed it in many BF/SF Fenders and a few Reissues as well. I have never dealt with it in these amps, but I am sure it is the same.

 

[MacDaddy]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

Thanks. I purchased via mail order since there's nowhere local that has one. Maybe I'll have to go out of my way a bit and find somewhere that has one I can try.

Thanks again.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

It is usually (like 98%) a lead dress problem. I have fixed it in many BF/SF Fenders and a few Reissues as well.

Authentically "vintage" features, then.

The mic positioning issue depends on how sophisticated you propose to get. With an SM57 right up against the grille cloth, yes, you are going to get noises in the recorded signal. With something more sensitive, positioned at a distance, not so much. Professional gating on the mic channel(s) should eliminate the worst of it. In a full band live hit, the noise from an individual amp will almost certainly be masked.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

Secondly, the tremolo when engaged has an audible ticking/flutter to it even with nothing plugged into the amp. Is this normal? Again, when playing not so much a huge problem but mic'ing up and recording could be disappointing.

The tremolo seems to contribute to the hiss too. When not engaged turning the speed and intensity to zero lessens the hissing quite a bit.

Thanks all.

you cant really help the ticking, but you can reduce it by experimenting with different tubes in the v4 position. I like jj's for low noise and a less noticeable tick.
The stock tubes used by fender are actually rebadged sovtek 12ax7wb. Not a bad tube, but nowhere near as good on the noise front as their 12ax7wc or their much better LPS model. Pretty much any other brand out there will give you better results than the fender/gt branded ones.

You can dramatically reduce the hiss tho by unplugging the footswitch.
You might notice that the lead for the reverb is shielded and the lead for the trem is unshielded. The trem and reverb signals goes all the way out to the footswitch and back again. Its a long way to travel and especially prone to acting as an antenna for picking up hum...especially the unshielded trem.
I leave my reverb "always on" so i don't need to have it switchable, but i do sometimes switch on or off the trem.
Swap the shielded lead (the reverb lead) to the tremolo plug. Leave the other lead unused and unplugged.
Now the reverb switch turns on and off the trem, and the reverb switch does nothing....however you will have a drastically reduced noise floor and you can still switch the trem on and off from the floor.
Works on all old style fenders, so i don't see why it would not work for you.

Thank you to the excellent Crusty Philtrum for showing me this trick a few years back.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

I need to ponder what you just said, because it sounds like it's correct.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

lol why dont you try it and find out?

 

[ken361]

Re: Fender 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb - normal or an issue?

The hiss is very common! check the Gear Page theres a ton of info there. Fender uses JJ 83 rebranded tube and for the foot switch I had the 68 twin, my basement wasnt ground on one side at the time and that caused more noise from the foot switch! I fixed that issue.