The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Here's a good tip: silverface non master volume '73 & 74 Super Reverbs (and probably other Fenders from those same two years) are excellant sounding amps that IMO can be modded to better than blackface tone. Better tone, better parts and better sounding transformers than those built before or after. The cabs are cheezy unfortunately...but the chassis's are excellant once they've been blackfaced and the bias balance adjustment reconfigured back to a blackface era bias adjustment. After blackfacing my '74 Super and doing a few mods, I compared it to my '66 Super and SOLD my '66 Super! The '74 just sounded better: ballsier and just "better".

Lew

I'm so glad you cleared that up for me. I've always heard people hinting at certain silverface Fenders, and saying there were some good one's. Nice to know that it's the 73 and 74's. Those were also good years for Marshall Superleads, since the new simple tracer circuit boards weren't that bad sounding, maybe even gainier. Another good set of years for Marshalls are the 76 & 77 Master Volumes, although in my experience, it's usually based on the tubes that are in it. Maybe I should find the cheapest 73 Fender Super Reverb, buy a blackface panel, have the circuitry changed like you did, and put 4 new Jensen's in it. Or just wait till I get lucky and find a guy selling his minty blackface for less than it's worth. :wink:

 

[Kent S.]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I'm so glad you cleared that up for me. I've always heard people hinting at certain silverface Fenders, and saying there were some good one's. Nice to know that it's the 73 and 74's. Those were also good years for Marshall Superleads, since the new simple tracer circuit boards weren't that bad sounding, maybe even gainier. Another good set of years for Marshalls are the 76 & 77 Master Volumes, although in my experience, it's usually based on the tubes that are in it. Maybe I should find the cheapest 73 Fender Super Reverb, buy a blackface panel, have the circuitry changed like you did, and put 4 new Jensen's in it. Or just wait till I get lucky and find a guy selling his minty blackface for less than it's worth. :wink:

One thing of note that I found out reading up on some Fenders, Some of the early silverface amps ... ARE blackfaces, although I don't have the exact time frame ...it was like a 7~9 month window I think ... The first silverfaces were a cosmetic change only, they didn't get around to making circuit changes until later when CBS decided to try to up the effeciency of 'em. Not really useful, but interesting nonetheless. If I find that article I'll post it, it details how to simply pull the chassis out about 2 inches, and it tells you what to look for as to whether that SF is actually a BF. I mention this because there are still old jems to be found hiding in the back of pawnshops, garage sales, and as Govenor Arnold would say ... *and things of this nature* ... :laugh2:

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Or just wait till I get lucky and find a guy selling his minty blackface for less than it's worth.

A buddy of mine found a blackface twin in a pawnshop for $350 last week. I haven't seen it yet but he says it's the real deal. He didn't have the cash to buy it but he had enough on him to put it on lay-away. I think I hate him now. :evil:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to convert a 6V6 amp, like a Deluxe Reverb, into a 6L6 amp? I'm not a big fan of 6V6's, but have heard some of those amps with the beefier sounding 6L6, and like them a lot more.

 

[Curly]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

maybe beef up the power resistor

 

[Hellion]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

6L6's & 6V6's are interchangeable. Just like a 12AT7 can be used in place of a 12AX7, the power outputs are different.

 

[OneL]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I'll cast another vote for the Deluxe Reverb II. I did a speaker swap and had my amp tech do a few tweaks to the overdrive circuit and man what tone!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

6L6's & 6V6's are interchangeable. Just like a 12AT7 can be used in place of a 12AX7, the power outputs are different.

Be VERY careful here, folks. I was told by a local amp guru that an amp that uses 6v6s can take 6l6s without modification, but an amp that has 6l6s cannot take 6v6s without modification.

I've done the 6v6 to 6l6 thing on my blue angel when I had it. It works fine.

 

[PRG]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I'm a lover of the Blackface Bandmasters. I loved mine greatly. I replaced the caps with slightly larger ones and loaded it with SED 6L6's and it was beautiful. Very refined and classy tone. Smooth, yet punchy. Clear, yet full. Bright, but not icepicky. Full, but not muddy. Plus it had that Fender clean "spank", albeit smoother with humbuckers. I snagged mine for $300 several months ago and they're going for $400 now, so look for them to keep going up.
Fender Super Champs are fantastic amps, also. Perfect small gig amp for blues/pop/rock.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I really love my '70 Fender Vibrolux Reverb.

It has great warm and full cleans (w/ humbuckers) and a little sparkle (w/ single coils).
Overdriven, it does blues justice. My tube screamer really makes it rock at tolerable volume levels. The amp gets pretty loud.

Another bit of info around was that I heard that the VR and one other Fender silverface model was very close to blackface specs and that it would take a simple mod or two to get it there. I'm keeping it all stock personally (hopefully it will go up in value with time). I never even bought it, it was given to me by my grandfather when he couldn't play anymore. Great practice amp (for rehearsals, I love diming my Triamp )

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to convert a 6V6 amp, like a Deluxe Reverb, into a 6L6 amp? I'm not a big fan of 6V6's, but have heard some of those amps with the beefier sounding 6L6, and like them a lot more.

When I first got my Princeton I was not a fan of the 6V6s in it. I put 6L6s
in it. I was later advised by my local amp guru Not to do that? ( I didn't ask why)
He said to get a set of GOOD N.O.S. 6V6s. So I got a pair of JAN 6V6s
A little pricey, But what a difference!!

 

[Falstaff]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

Does anyone know what needs to be done to convert a 6V6 amp, like a Deluxe Reverb, into a 6L6 amp? I'm not a big fan of 6V6's, but have heard some of those amps with the beefier sounding 6L6, and like them a lot more.

Only from what I have heard and read, it's a rebias (obviously) and a change to a solid state rectifier. Some folks suggest a replacement OT as well, I think. A good amp tech can do it easily. Neil Young's tweed Deluxes are all modded to use 6L6.

 

[Alvin Lee Fan]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

I'll cast another vote for the Deluxe Reverb II. I did a speaker swap and had my amp tech do a few tweaks to the overdrive circuit and man what tone!

What kind of tweaks have you done on this amp? I'm really liking my amp but I think the lead channel could be improved.

What speaker did you go with? I'm thinking of a Weber California with a paper dust cap.

Thanks!

 

[Falstaff]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

There is a Rivera era Twin Reverb II at a store near me...I should check it out!

 

[DBentley]

Re: The "Unsung" Fender Amps. Less popular models.

+1 for the ProSonics

absolutely gorgeous