Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

[MVI]

I acquired a 1953 Fender "wide panel" Deluxe amp for dirt cheap some time back, and nursed it to health with some modest TLC.

Then I went to sell it on eBay, and the sharks decended, emailing every 5 mins about whether or not the transformers were original. In my use, I looked at it purely from a tone point of view, but finally had to break down and drill out one of the rusted bolts to find out that one of the transformers is original. I jacked up the price so it wouldn't sell while I figure out what to do.

Now I'm thinking I'll get a new transformer and use the amp some more, and store the original transformer for a rainy day. Anyone have a constructive idea as to how I should proceed ? Thanks !

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

From a Collector's/resale value point of view. I'd say leave it alone. These's guy's can be as anul as wanting to know if it's the original solder joints.:smack:
From a players point of view I'd replace the tranny's with Mercury Magnetic's
tone clones.
I fully understand why you would want to presevre the original tranny's, But IMHO If it ain't broke,Don't fix it.

 

[MVI]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

Thanks for the help. I really don't get these guys. It's basically a crappy old peice of wood from 1953, with everything redone except for that one damn tranny. I guess I'll keep it just to spite the bastards.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

As near as I can tell, most of the guys who are looking for the true originals aren't players. Not all, but most. They're either investors or guys who would like to think that the perfect piece of gear will make up for deficiencies in their playing. It has to be absolutely perfect because the have a lot of deficiencies for which to make up.


Keep it and make it sing.

 

[Curly]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I have a '56, and a friend of mine has a TV front - I think it's a '54.

These amps sound so good when they've been gone through and brought up to snuff.

So, I would say hang on to it if you can. They are simply too hard to find... you will regret selling it, and the money you make will be gone a lot sooner than the memory of the tone.

BTW, although I have the original output trannie, it was non functional, so I replaced it. That amp is still the most harmonically rich one I own.

I agree that if you do decide on a new trannie, then Mercury Magnetics is the way to go.

PM me if you need any help with that amp ... I may know someone up your way who knows the vintage stuff pretty well.

 

[MVI]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I lost a job, and was thinking some kid-on-a-mission would take up the amp as a tone monster on his / her way to stardom. But no, it's the Hollywood lawyer gotta-have-something-from-back-then-to-make-me-feel-better-about-my-small-***** crowd that takes the day. Oh sigh.

 

[MVI]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

You guys are righteous. I'm keeping it. My job stinks and doesn't pay crap, but my tone draws mermaids to the shore in admiration. Long live the SD forum, and its users.

 

[Curly]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

mermaids in Northern California???

I shoulda stayed up there.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I have a 1954 wide panel 5D3 Deluxe that sounds unbelievably good. The speaker and handle were replaced before I got it, and I had it checked out and upgraded with a grounded power cable and a better replacement speaker. It was owned by Paul Burlison of the (Johnny Burnette) Rock ' n' Roll Trio. I consider it a fantastic player, a piece of history, and a good investment all rolled into one for about the same amount of money as most boutique tweed Deluxe replicas.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I agree with all the above advice. Keep it. If you need spare cash in a pinch, look at all the little accessories that have no sentimental value, and can be replaced later with even better stuff.

 

[Curly]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I have a 1954 wide panel 5D3 Deluxe that sounds unbelievably good. I had it checked out and upgraded with a grounded power cable and a better replacement speaker.

just FYI, for future reference,I know that a lot of techs and books say to 'upgrade' to a grounded power chord, but my former tech did not like doing this on vintage amps .. he preferrred having the option to reverse the plug at the outlet to reverse ground hum.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

I've heard that, but I'm not sure I understand or agree with it. If it's properly grounded and plugged into a properly grounded outlet, then AFAIK there shouldn't be any hum to worry about. If there is, then I'd prefer to use a 3-to-2 adapter with the 3rd wire clipped to the outlet plate screw. Maybe I'm missing something here. Anyway, I like the grounded cord better than the risk of shock even in my home studio, and it can be reversed pretty easily if someone wants it back to 1950's specs.

 

[marvar]

Re: Vintage Fender Deluxe Advice Needed !!

As near as I can tell, most of the guys who are looking for the true originals aren't players. Not all, but most. They're either investors or guys who would like to think that the perfect piece of gear will make up for deficiencies in their playing. It has to be absolutely perfect because the have a lot of deficiencies for which to make up..

Boy, have you got that right! I sold my ES333 a few months ago on ebay, and I was inundated with emails- especially from one guy- I went on to explain that the guitar had been a player, and had a few scratches, character marks, etc- nothing that would affect the playability- anyway, he decided to BUY IT NOW- at a very resonable price (I needed the cash) and after he got it, he was all upset that it wasn't perfect! turns out he sold baseball cards! and didn't even play guitar! He filed a long list of complaints with ebay, and after the investigation, I was cleared of all his accusations. But it was tramatic enough to me that I no longer buy/sell on ebay.