Hello all! Brand new here. I am an experienced guitarist and amateur luthier, but I am new with working on amps. I am in search of some help on how to fix this amp, and which tubes I should buy!
I recently acquired an original Fender Deluxe Reverb II. Before and after an in-depth restoration (cleaning-wise), I noticed that the clean channel was not working properly on the amp. The gain channel, when you pull the channel switch, seems to work fine. There is a decent amount of crackling and such with any type of playing through the amp.
For a brief history of the amp, it was owned by the brother of one of my dad’s friends whom was a musician before he passed. This friend had lent me a ‘79 Fender Stratocaster a year ago to restore and he ended up letting me play around with it for awhile as a thanks for bringing the guitar back to life. All of the music gear owned by the friend had been sitting for years and years, I assume untouched.
Do I need new tubes? Is there any further troubleshooting I should do before buying tubes? I am going to try the wooden spoon trick on the amp today. Any input helps. And if I have to upload a video showcasing the issue (if I can) I have no problem doing so. Thanks!
I recently acquired an original Fender Deluxe Reverb II. Before and after an in-depth restoration (cleaning-wise), I noticed that the clean channel was not working properly on the amp. The gain channel, when you pull the channel switch, seems to work fine. There is a decent amount of crackling and such with any type of playing through the amp.
For a brief history of the amp, it was owned by the brother of one of my dad’s friends whom was a musician before he passed. This friend had lent me a ‘79 Fender Stratocaster a year ago to restore and he ended up letting me play around with it for awhile as a thanks for bringing the guitar back to life. All of the music gear owned by the friend had been sitting for years and years, I assume untouched.
Do I need new tubes? Is there any further troubleshooting I should do before buying tubes? I am going to try the wooden spoon trick on the amp today. Any input helps. And if I have to upload a video showcasing the issue (if I can) I have no problem doing so. Thanks!
What does not working properly mean? No sound? Weak sound? Distorted sound? Noise with sound? Unstable sound? CAn't get any girls?
The small tubes can last for decades. I usually only replace them when they fail. FAil as in stop working or get real noisy or microphonic.
The power tubes wear out doing their job, like tires on a car, or for that matter, guitar strings. A new pair of 6V6s couldn't hurt, but be aware, they will not selectively affect one channel and not the other.
The small tubes can last for decades. I usually only replace them when they fail. FAil as in stop working or get real noisy or microphonic.
The power tubes wear out doing their job, like tires on a car, or for that matter, guitar strings. A new pair of 6V6s couldn't hurt, but be aware, they will not selectively affect one channel and not the other.
I'd say what can happen as an older tube amp ages, is the signal coupling capacitors start to "leak" DC through them, which is ordinarily blocked. This can cause all manner of havoc with the amplifier operation. As one possible "first", I'd check all the signal coupling caps for leakage, starting with the power tubes and working back up toward the input.
I assume you're a novice at electronics. You'd need some level of competence in this type of work;
1. You can handle working around voltage levels that can really hurt you by accident.
2. You can handle a DMM based DC measurement, how to interpret non-zero values you may come across.
3. You can identify a coupling capacitor in a tube circuit, without a schematic.
4. You're willing to take the amp apart, set the chassis on a bench and run it exposed.
5. You have a spare small speaker to connect, to substitute for the original - or build an extension lead to it (we dont run a tube amp w/o speaker load)
There's lots to learn; you've come to the right place.
I assume you're a novice at electronics. You'd need some level of competence in this type of work;
1. You can handle working around voltage levels that can really hurt you by accident.
2. You can handle a DMM based DC measurement, how to interpret non-zero values you may come across.
3. You can identify a coupling capacitor in a tube circuit, without a schematic.
4. You're willing to take the amp apart, set the chassis on a bench and run it exposed.
5. You have a spare small speaker to connect, to substitute for the original - or build an extension lead to it (we dont run a tube amp w/o speaker load)
There's lots to learn; you've come to the right place.
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From the top of my head:
1.Faulty output tube(s)
2.Leaky signal coupling cap(s)
3.Faulty anode resistor(s) in the gain stages (and in the PI too)
4.Cracked/aged/cold solder
1.Faulty output tube(s)
2.Leaky signal coupling cap(s)
3.Faulty anode resistor(s) in the gain stages (and in the PI too)
4.Cracked/aged/cold solder
Leaky coupling caps? I would think the electrolytic power supply caps would be high on the agenda. You will need a schematic and layout drawing.
http://www.thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/Fender/Fender-Deluxe-Reverb-II-Schematic.pdf
Although just a Deluxe Reverb, you can learn about the general amp from rob's site.
How the AB763 Works
Look up Uncle Doug on Youtube. Aww what the heck.
Uncle Doug - YouTube
Would be a great addition, adjustable bias.
Princeton Reverb II Bias Kit - PLUS BONUS MOD
http://www.thetubestore.com/lib/thetubestore/schematics/Fender/Fender-Deluxe-Reverb-II-Schematic.pdf
Although just a Deluxe Reverb, you can learn about the general amp from rob's site.
How the AB763 Works
Look up Uncle Doug on Youtube. Aww what the heck.
Uncle Doug - YouTube
Would be a great addition, adjustable bias.
Princeton Reverb II Bias Kit - PLUS BONUS MOD