Thank you, Craigslist!!!

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xwhiskeydustx

New member
I was browsing the Electronics section of my local Craigslist the other day looking for a cheap replacement for a dead iPod when I noticed an ad that read "Amps for Sale - $100". The description was pretty bare bones - it literally just said 'Fender/Vox for sale, have been in storage, may not work' along with a small picture of what looked to be a blackface Pro Reverb. Assuming it was a scam or something, I figured it wouldn't hurt to at least contact the guy. I wrote him, sent him my digits; a couple of days passed and I forgot about it.

I'm sitting at work on Tuesday and my cell rings - it's the CL guy. It turns out he'd bought the Pro Reverb new in 1966 along w/the Vox (a SS Cambridge Reverb). He spent two years playing in a band, called it quits, and had them in dry storage ever since - they've literally been sitting unused and in storage for nearly 50 years. Needless to say, I told my boss that I had an emergency, ran out of the office, drove to the guy's house and forked over my $100 post-haste, not quite believing that this was actually happening!

To my amazement, the Pro Reverb is in excellent shape - it definitely looks like it's been sitting untouched for 46 years. Not even a single tear in the tolex. Totally blew my mind. Here's my question, I know virtually nothing about tube amp maintenance, particularly when it comes to vintage amps - what I DO know is that simply turning on the amp without a Variac would be a bad, bad idea. My question is, is this something I can do on my own or am I better off just taking it to an amp tech and letting them do it? I'm assuming the tubes will need to be replaced as well. Any suggestions from the amp-knowledgeable among you?

Lastly, I'm inexperienced when it comes to posting pics in a forum, so here's my shutterfly link instead: http://clproreverb.shutterfly.com/pictures/8
 
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Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

If it's sat unused for 40 years, the tubes are probably fine. However, there could be other things that may need to be checked. I'd take it to a tech and let them look it over before doing anything with it.
 
Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

Thanks, I'll definitely do that, then. Definitely appreciate the advice. And I had no idea that tubes could still be fine after that period of time, left unused or not - that's pretty cool.
 
Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

tubes can be fine, the caps are probably shot and should be replaced.

thats a sweet score man. congrats!!
 
Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

9finger said:
If it's sat unused for 40 years, the tubes are probably fine. However, there could be other things that may need to be checked. I'd take it to a tech and let them look it over before doing anything with it.
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Great advice. Tubes are probably going to be fine, but the Filter caps are probably bad. They usually have a life span of about 20 years then they start to leak. Take it to a "Vintage" qualified tech. Don't take it to a chain store. Shop out a good amp tech. They will usually do the right thing. An Amp like this deserves new old stock tubes and a real knowledgeable guy doing the work.
 
Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the advice & the congrats! I'm really still sort of in shock that this actually happened. Based on your suggestions, I'll definitely be hunting down a legit vintage amp tech rather than risk damaging it myself.
 
Re: Thank you, Craigslist!!!

Holy crap....a Pro Reverb for $100? Get his Vox too, if it wasn't included.

Have you turned it on yet? I'd try it out...it may be just fine. If it has any hiss, pops, crackles, or sounds weak, then have a tech do an overall checkup. Make sure you know which tubes you have, so a shady tech doesn't swap them out and take your NOS tubes!
 
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