New project for me (old Fender content!!)

[the guy who invented fire]

Well, a few weeks ago I picked up a new project. I picked up a 1962 Fender Deluxe amp...these are the brownface amps that were made after the narrow panel Tweed amps from the late 50's and before the famed Blackfece Deluxe and Deluxe Reverb amps from the middle 60's. This amp was made before Fender offered reverb so it doesn;t have it but I'll tell ya what it don't need it!!!

This one was cut down into a head years ago and was returned to combo form by it's previous owner who made this beautiful solid cherry cab for it...however as good as it looks Im going back to a soild pine cab as soon as it gets done!

It's pictured with a vintage late 60's silver frame Celestion G12 alnico, now I wasn;t able to get that speaker from it's previous owner but I did however snag one JUST like it a few weeks ago so right now it does still have a vintage silver fram G12 alnico Celestion (with an original Pulsonic 102/3 cone!!!) from a Vox...just not the one you see here!

I bought this amp from our very own Lew and I must say, he is right (as always)...this is a killer sounding amp!!!

Im gonna get a cab made for it and restore it to the way it was in 1962 except the speaker...I might stay with the alnico Celestion and I might try a few other things, Im just not sure yet. However I have to say this alnico G12 in here now is simply a killer sounding speaker with this amp!

Anyway, here are some pics...actually these are the ones that Lew sent me...more pics to follow as the amp starts to take shape!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Very cool.... I'm trying to become the owner of a 60's Fender, too

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Glad you're liking it Christian. I always thought that amp had the sound of the Marshall that I hear in my head...kind of an idealized imaginary Marshall.

As you said, I bought it cut down into a head and we built the cherry cabinet in my shop. Turned out nice.

I do think solid pine will sound even better though...probably more resonant.

One thing I did a little different is design the cab you have to be a little deeper and I do think it gives the amp a little bigger sound and the bass a little more depth because being deeper, it takes a little longer for the sound waves coming off of the back of the amp to get around to the front and there's not as much bass cancellation. That was my plan anyway.

It's a cool amp...glad it's found a good home!

The grill cloth I put on, BTW, is Marshall's version of the wheat grill cloth.

Looks cool with the solid cherry dovetailed cab we built...don't cha think?

Lew

 

[firebirdV]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

At first glance I thought it was a mark series boogie.

Finger jointed pine with brown tolex should look nice. I'm not familiar with the sound of the brown fenders. How does it sound compared to a tweed or blackface deluxe?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

When I get it done, I'll post a pic of the amp I bought to replace that brown Deluxe: a '68 Deluxe Reverb chassis I bought without a cab and which I put in the custom DR cab you suggested: it's rough blonde tolex with a wheat colored grill.

Bruce (missionamps.com) has already completely recapped and tweaked the DR and I'm just waiting for him to provide me with the vintage style reverb cables so I can plug in the reverb tank. I put a Celestion G12H30 in the cab...as usual.

The amp is identical to my '66 and '67 DR's. All the parts codes date the trannys to '66 and '67, and all the wiring is the original cloth covered wire Fender used before Fender/CBS switched to plastic covered wire.

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Very cool.... I'm trying to become the owner of a 60's Fender, too

COOL!! What are you tryin to get your mits on???

Glad you're liking it Christian. I always thought that amp had the sound of the Marshall that I hear in my head...kind of an idealized imaginary Marshall.
As you said, I bought it cut down into a head and we built the cherry cabinet in my shop. Turned out nice.
I do think solid pine will sound even better though...probably more resonant.
One thing I did a little different is design the cab you have to be a little deeper and I do think it gives the amp a little bigger sound and the bass a little more depth because being deeper, it takes a little longer for the sound waves coming off of the back of the amp to get around to the front and there's not as much bass cancellation. That was my plan anyway.
It's a cool amp...glad it's found a good home!
The grill cloth I put on, BTW, is Marshall's version of the wheat grill cloth.
Looks cool with the solid cherry dovetailed cab we built...don't cha think?
Lew

Lew,

I really am digging it a lot!!! I think it's my favorite amp...that might wear off after a while but Im think it might be my fav for a good long while! It is kind of like the tone I always wanted to hear when I played through a Marshall but never did!

The cab is beautiful, to be honest I feel bad taking it out of that cab and putting it back to normal but I have a feeling it'll sound better in a pine cab! But, man it looks so sweet in this cab, and I had a feeling that was Marshall grill...looks killer with the cherry! I do think that the deeper back makes it have more bottom...I also had the cab on my V Front Super built deeper than normal and that amp has LOADS of bottom for an open back 2x10 combo! By the way...this Deluxe sounds AMAZING run in stereo with a V Front Super, but Im sure you already knew that!

Thanks again Lew!!!

At first glance I thought it was a mark series boogie.

Finger jointed pine with brown tolex should look nice. I'm not familiar with the sound of the brown fenders. How does it sound compared to a tweed or blackface deluxe?

It does look a lot like those Boogies, in fact several people have picked up on that!

Brownface Fenders are great! This is the first time I've ever owned one but I've tried several...they are not as clean or as mid scooped as a Blackface but again not as raw and nasty as a tweed...kind of in the middle! I think it's a great sound...like Lew said, kind of like a Marshall in ways...I'll tell you this, this amp kills every 18 and 20 Marshall I've ever played through vintage, reissue or clone! Another thing I really like about it is that I like this amp with every gutar I own...some amps I have only sound great with a Les Paul, some only great with a Strat this amp loves everything I've run through it so far and it works great with pedals (but you don't need them!)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

When I get it done, I'll post a pic of the amp I bought to replace that brown Deluxe: a '68 Deluxe Reverb chassis I bought without a cab and which I put in the custom DR cab you suggested: it's rough blonde tolex with a wheat colored grill.
Bruce (missionamps.com) has already completely recapped and tweaked the DR and I'm just waiting for him to provide me with the vintage style reverb cables so I can plug in the reverb tank. I put a Celestion G12H30 in the cab...as usual.
The amp is identical to my '66 and '67 DR's. All the parts codes date the trannys to '66 and '67, and all the wiring is the original cloth covered wire Fender used before Fender/CBS switched to plastic covered wire.
Lew

Very cool! Im actually thinking about trying a G12H30 in this Deluxe as well, just to see if it has a little more bottom than the G12 Alnico. Im betting that a blone/wheat grill BF Deluxe Reverb will look great! I'll post pics of this one once it's all finished up!

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

That's a beauty as is! I do understand taking it back to original though, as nice as that Cherry is, original brown just looks cooler.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

my 65 Deluxe amp does not have reverb either... the reverb adds a little bit of life i guess but to tell the truth i hardly miss it when i use my heads so i don't really miss it that much on the combo

 

[Gunny47]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

If I decide not to go with the Pro Reverb and go with something smaller (or both hehehe) then I am getting a browface Deluxe. Very underrated amps IMO, I played one and with a bunch of pedals, and it was SICK. Good luck with that one, are you getting it with the correct brown tolex over the pine or are you going to leave it natural??

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

COOL!! What are you tryin to get your mits on???

68 Bassman head. I'll probably try to find a cool 1 or 2X12 to mate it with. Something affordable, then I'll try to step up to something really cool.

I'm also gonna try to talk my dad out of his Silverface Super. I mean seriously.... he's a bluegrass guy anymore, and NEVER uses any of his electric stuff.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

It is a great looking cab, Lew and crew did a great job with it but like I said I just keepthinkin that Pine will win out in tone over the cherry. Im gonna go with a period correct brown tolex, wheat grill and keep the leather handle...when im done with it it will look just like it did the day it left Fender with the exception of a little wear...and a better speaker!

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Thanks for getting me to look at the Brown Deluxe schematic. It is an interesting transitional circuit. I'd love to hear one...

What are you doing with that ugly cab Lew built anyway?

Chip

 

[blueslegend8]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

I'll vouch for Christian when he says this is a killer sounding amp, because I've heard it and I love it. I still like the cherry cab better though, but do as you must Christian

 

[MVI]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Hey this is great. I bet it sounds great, certainly looks good now, will be a fun project, and will no doubt make you loud and proud when you're done. Righteous ! I'm sure you & Lew make a good team.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

I like it better now!

What are you going to do with the cab?

 

[Gunny47]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

I can't wait to see it when it's done. I'm sure it sounds awesome with that Celestion. I've tried Tweed Deluxe clones with Alnico Blues and they were the best sounding I've ever tried! Good luck dude

 

[B Bent]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

I really like this amp C, but the cab has got to go. No offense Lew. You did an outstanding job on the cab, but that old amp needs to be in a brown tolex cab! I just take my Fenders seriously. LOL!



I have to ask though. Why not make your own cabs Lew? You did a great job on that one. Veddy veddy nice!!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

I really like this amp C, but the cab has got to go. No offense Lew. You did an outstanding job on the cab, but that old amp needs to be in a brown tolex cab! I just take my Fenders seriously. LOL!



I have to ask though. Why not make your own cabs Lew? You did a great job on that one. Veddy veddy nice!!!

Just not enough time. And folks are waiting for their furniture. Those of you who think I make a living playing guitar and selling guitar pickups and guitar parts probably don't know that I only do that for the love of it.

As far as making a living, this what I do: http://www.mountainfurniturearts.com

I'm a furniture designer...and am always about three months out on custom orders for clients.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: New project for me (old Fender content!!)

Christian, I didn't mention this, but after Bruce ( http://www.missionamps.com )got done tweaking that '62 Deluxe you have, he created an amp based on it. I forget what he calls it. That Deluxe is fairly stock but like all of my amps that Bruce has worked on, it's not quite stock...Bruce did make a couple of changes/improvements to it. Maybe he'll see this thread and comment.

Lew