1960 Fender Twin 6G8 ** A Work in progress!!**

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 2 Jun 2010 3:16 pm

What you are seeing in the filter input caps is a mod I devised to make my brand new Fender Twin work in Germany. While we all used transformers to reduce the 220/230 household voltage to 110/120, we could not change the line frequency which was 50Hz instead of the 60Hz the filter was designed for. The difference in the duty cycle between the two power frequencies is what was blowing the input caps.

After it blew up the first time I used it, I took the first two caps and wired them in series to double the voltage rating. I think Fender used that and maybe the resistor for export models but that was almost fifty years ago. 1965 or 1966.

Regards, Paul

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 2 Jun 2010 3:59 pm

That was used ion all Twins after about 1970. Later they went to 220UF caps in the 135 watt models

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 3 Jun 2010 10:43 am

Series filter caps were used in lots of Fenders starting in 1963. Prior to that, Twins would have two 600 volt 20u caps in parallel as the first power supply filter. Ken, what did you use on your 5F8A amp?
The 6G8 also had a unique tone circuit, only used for a year or so. Maybe even less.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 3 Jun 2010 10:54 am

I used Sprague 20uf at 500 volts in parallel. Our supply is right at 400 VDC.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 3 Jun 2010 2:30 pm

Ken, way-back-when, some techs used a conductive grease on tube pins that was supposed to eliminate corrosion. It's still available today. You just kinda dipped a short length of the pins into the grease, and it spread onto the full length of the pins and the socket when you inserted the tubes. It didn't take much.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 3 Jun 2010 2:34 pm

I have tried many things for that issue but the old brass brush wins out! Had a tube that raised all kind of noise when wiggles in the Premier reverb unit I have in the shop. I just pulled the 6EU7 and cleaned it with the brass brush and all the noise issues disappeared.

I have sever dielectric compounds for preventing oxidation but they do not help the poor contact problem on the old tubes at all.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 4 Jun 2010 5:34 am

About 26 or 27 years ago I used to go by a local Music store at lunch time. The owner I knew as he had worked at another music store (Jackson's) before opening his own store (Wallace Reed Music). He played in a band with a guy I had played with back in high school.
He had a 1960 Twin, and told me he would sell it for 950.00 (a lot of money at the time for me) since he wanted to order a Mesa Boogie.
I could never raise the money, as was the case with most good deals I came across. He decided to keep the Twin, and later when we talked he could not believe that he ever considered selling it.
He could play through just about whatever amp he wanted, so the makes a statement. Great Amp. I can't wait to see it finished.
Lefty

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 5 Jun 2010 12:31 pm

Carl, at So Fla SPeaker, checked the speakers and both, while original to amp have been re-coned at different times with different kits.

Even though one is in good shape I have opted to re-cone both with the Kapton formers and the best kits we can find.

No surprise that they have been re-coned in the past. Most of these Twins blew the Jensens at one time or another. I have found two other 1960 amps for sale and neither has the original speakers in them. I feel lucky to have the originals still with the amp.

Hope to have them back next week and will take it out for a test run next Friday night.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 5 Jun 2010 12:37 pm

Ken,
If I were you, when you get those speakers back, box them up for when you sell this amp. In the meantime, put in two Weber Californias or two Jensen Neos. Otherwise, you may be taking a chance of blowing one of those originals again.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Jun 2010 12:39 pm

I say leave them in. They've already been reconed. I boxed up the original speakers for my Tweed Pro Amps though, as they still had the original cones.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 5 Jun 2010 12:58 pm

I will go easy on it for sure and keep them in there. I tried a set of the Neo 12's in a Twin and they were just great. if I were keeping the amp that would be my first choice,

My plan is to get it ready for eBay soon. I bought it strictly as an investment, not an amp I can afford to keep too long!

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 25 Jul 2010 4:17 am

Just got word the chrome shop in Washington finally got the legs and chassis straps on the way to me. Cost a $100.00 and shipping but I think well worth it, as these original legs were the first used on Fender and there was no logo on them at all.

Got the speakers back and they sound great. Replaced another cap in the tremolo circuit and it is working like it should now as well.

Can't wait to take it out and play with some friends on a Friday night real soon!

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 26 Jul 2010 1:31 am

Ken,
You said you tried a set of Neo 12's in a Twin, and like them. I'd like to try some Neo speakers in one of my Twin's, a lighter Twin must sound good

. What speaker(s) would you recommend?

Mark

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 26 Jul 2010 4:03 am

We are using the Jensen neo speakers. You will need the 8 ohm speaker.

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 26 Jul 2010 7:51 am

Thank you for the advice Ken. I just have to find a supplier in the UK. Am I correct that there is only one model? the Neo 12-100.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 26 Jul 2010 9:00 am

yes, but several impedances to choose from in that model

Mark Dunn · Post by **Mark Dunn** » 26 Jul 2010 1:10 pm

Thank you Ken.

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1960 Fender Twin 6G8 A Work in progress!!