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Topic: Proper bussman fuse for the 50's vintage Fender White amp |
Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 7:47 am |
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I have done several searches on the forum for answers and haven't found one.
I have just acquired from a friend here a Fender "White" amp/guitar combo from the mid fifties that is in mint condition. Not quite as new condition but very close. All original, it's a choice set. It looks exactly like the 1955 set on ebay right now with an asking price of $2750.00 only exception is the vol and tone knobs on my guitar are chrome and original. However, the fuse cap is gone on the amp and sitting in the fuse holder is a buss sfe30 fuse which is 35mm long. The amp requires a 2 amp fuse.
What is the correct size buss fuse to use?
Also will any panel mount fuse cap work?
Serial number of the amp is AS00306. What year would this be anyone? The guitar is serial number HS10573.
I am anxious to try the amp but can't until I hear from someone here. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Dick |
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Mike Schwartzman
From:
Maryland, USA
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 3:24 pm fuses
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Alright....thanks a bunch Mike.
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 4:02 pm
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Dick,
Be sure you use a Slo-Blow fuse, otherwise the high turn-on current spike caused by the power transformer will blow the fuse every time.
Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 4:54 pm fuses
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Thanks Craig.
Just guessing that that's the reason for a missing cap and a 30amp  fuse sitting in the holder, the folks didn't have extra proper fuses to use. This amp and guitar haven't been touched for the last 57 years. I hope no damage has been done. Just to look at the amp, it looks perfect.
Dick |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 5:18 pm
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A bit of advice...buy at least 3 of them to have available for spares later on.
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Best regards,
Mike |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 5:41 pm
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Dick, if those filter condensers haven't been energized is 57 years, you might want to buy three dozen fuses.
Best regards,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 7:40 pm fuses
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Okay, a big batch of fuses and a fuse holder on the way.
Next week sometime I will hopefully hear a good amp.
Thanks fellas for your help.
Dick |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2014 9:26 pm
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| Some people like to bring those old amps up slowly using a variac just in case. It's worked for me! |
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Bill A. Moore
From:
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 7:05 am
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I always use a bulb limiter to power up an old amp that I am unfamilar with. It is merely a light bulb, (60-100W), in line with the "Hot" wiring. If the lamp glows brightly, there is a problem!
I suspect ther has been a problem, hence the 30A fuse. It would be a shame to lose a transformer in such a nice old amp. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 8:48 am fuses
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Paul:
What capacity variac would one need for this amp?
It's a 40watt input, 5 watt output, with the 2 amp fuse. I see its recommended to use a variac that's rated twice over possible needs. I see 3amp variacs for $60.00 But would I need a 5 amp perhaps?
Just wondering here....could a person use an ac step down transformer such as a Lionel train transformer? They of course step clear down to 16 to 20 volts ac output and go up to 275 watts. Would it do any good to try it or could damasge occur?
Could a person use an ac light dimmer switch in line maybe? Or would it be like an inadequate extension cord and starve the amp and cause overheating?
Craig if you happen to look in again, am I apt to cause any more damage other than blowing a handful of fuses until the filter condensers energize if I just go ahead and plug in the amp? |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 8:55 am fuses
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Bill:
I went online and found an easy to make dim-bulb tester. It's just a switch to bulb to secondary outlet that go inline between wall outlet and the amp. It says to start with perhaps a 15watt bulb and work up. That's looks doable. Is this what you are doing then?
Dick |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 9:34 am
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Dick,
Bill Moore's method is probably the greatest invention since compound interest. I use it on high power transmitting equipment when the need occurs. Best to stock up on some incandescent bulbs before they take them away from us too.
A problem in the amp could indeed destroy the power transformer, or at the very least ruin the rectifier tube. New caps are much more affordable to replace than the transformer.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 9:38 am fuses
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Okay Craig, I will build a dim-bulb tester and start there.
Dick |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 4:12 pm
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Don't know whether the 275-Watt Lionel Train transformer would do the job or not. But a good old ZW would probably be more expensive than a suitable variac.
Then, you'll need to buy some three-rail track, a locomotive, some rolling stock... pretty soon you're talking serious money.
Trust me -- been there, done that! |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 6:25 pm fuses
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Too late Jack. 
Another life long passion of mine has been trains, railroading, and model railroading.
I have several ZW's. Been there still doing that too. We have train parties during the summer and ride our outdoor 7.5" gauge train around, then go down in the basement and run the big G scale trains.
And boy you got that right about serious money. OOOOfta!! I have trains of every scale from standard gauge down to Z. Did you give up model railroading altogether then Jack?
Anyway regarding the ZW, perhaps the voltage drop clear down to 16v ac would not work.
The dim-bulb tester is cheap and easy to make, I am going to make one tomorrow.
Thanks for chiming in Jack. I have found it interesting how many musicians are model railroaders too. |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 7:08 pm
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| The light bulb deal is cheaper and should work fine. |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Mar 2014 9:22 pm
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Dick and Jack,
My dad's 1937 Lionel 00 gauge is put away in boxes. Any idea where I could buy track? Years ago, I laid the ties and spiked down the rails. Whew! Lots of ideas, but I'm running out of steam.
Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792
cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com
C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024
_________________
"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2014 7:59 pm Fuses, testers, and tube amp
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Howdy all:
I built the dim-bulb tester, got the correct fuse cap, correct fuses all together today and tested this 1956-57 white amp.
Lo and behold......the amp is in perfect shape. Everything is good, it passed the tester stage, it fired up, no noise, so clean there isn't a scratchy anything. Wow...it just sounds terrific, so amazing that a 40w input 5w output can be so darn loud. I turn it up to only 4 in my practice room (10' by 10') and it is too loud already.
What a great find on an extremely scarce amp.
So exciting. Even with my big hearing loss I really can hear a difference playing through this amp compared to my Peavey Sessions 500, my Mustang II, and my Vox DA-20.
Thanks everyone for your input. |
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Bill A. Moore
From:
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 18 Mar 2014 7:16 am
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| Sounds great, Dick! one of my favorite amps is an old 5W Airline that I bought back in the 60's. |
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