Just bought this one and all I can say is it was not a cheap purchase at all!! according to Greg Gagliano's research there were 100 made in 1960, this is serial #0062.
Had all NOS tubes and some excellent cap work done already. Missing all the tube shields, a replacement handle (I have the original and it is not broken!!), and Jensen speakers from late 1959. One speaker needs repair or re-cone, as the paper has come loose at the outer frame. I sent both to South Florida Speaker repair for evaluation and repair. Original tilt legs that do not say Fender on them! These were the first amps to have them and the name was not on them yet. Sent to them to a custom chrome ship I used to use in Vancouver Washing for triple plating (along with the chassis straps).
Got it all apart today for cleaning. Will post pictures when it is all back together!!
Last edited by Ken Fox on 3 Jun 2010 4:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm with Cartwright. Those cigarette burns are too classic! I'd be tempted to leave that original cover on. Gotta be some stories in there somewhere. LOL.
Zumsteel 12 Universal
SGBB
ShoBud VP
'64 Fender Twin Reverb/Fox Rehab
Fender Steel King w/BW 1501-4
FX to Taste
Got her all detailed out and will post pix tomorrow. Put away my black spray paint and new Tolex. It will stay origianal, just a lot cleaner!
Speakers will be off to So Fla Speaker Repair Monday for evaluation and repair. The chassis straps and legs will also go out to Pacific NW Plating in Vancouver, WA. Tony is one of the best show chrome platers I have ever seen and will get that hardware looking better than new! I used him on many a project when I lived in Battle Ground, WA.
I have 3 old stock tweed era tube shields and am looking for 3 more.
Oddities on the amp, no Fender logo on the legs and the leg stops are unlike the newer stops. Also no power cord restraint to the cabinet wall ever installed
Sound thru my shop test speaker is magnificent. I am really looking forward to the Jensen P12N speakers!
Ken,, I had one of those,too many years ago. That could be my cig. burns. Or other burns !
No need to talk about that. Sweet amp, as I remember.
Wish I could remember all those days.
Got 9 of the Sozo caps ordered to replace the Orange Drops. I appreciate the suggestion on that. I doubt I would hear a lot of difference between them and the Orange Drops but they sure have the correct look for this chassis!!
Great looking amp Ken. How much does it weigh? Those P12N's will be taking a beating with all that power. I'm looking at the filter cap board, and can't figure out how you have the first two caps wired up. Looks like they are in parallel, with 220 k resistors between each + and - terminal. Or am I missing something there?...Jerry
I did not do the filter caps. Actually they have two 100Uf/350 in series for a total of 50uf, a bit more than the original 40uf with two in parallel. Each cap has a 220K in parallel, as per the 1970 Twin amps.
Last edited by Ken Fox on 2 Jun 2010 9:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks again for showing us some of the treasures you get to work on. Like Rick I love the metal dealer tag. Our music store used to put the decals on the chassis, but I haven't seen metal before.
I also talked with Carl about using a Kapton former to increase the heat capability of these speakers. To me it looks like two different cones in them and neither are likely original. Will probably be best to re-cone them for the best tone and performance.
Ken... I am absolutely positively sure that once you get done with this amp will will be better than it ever has been.. You are the master my friend WoW !!!
Got the tube shield from that era amp on the way. The NOS preamp tubes all acted like they were plugged into corroded sockets! The problem the pins of NOS tubes get a coating on them that inhibits conduction. The cure, a small brass bristle brush to clean the pins. Once done, there were no more connection issues.
