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Topic: 1968 Pro Reverb used and abused All Done!!! |
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 4:08 am |
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This poor thing was found in storage. Not working, speakers disconnected, rectifier tube and socket removed, a Bandmaster power transformer had been installed and a home made rectifier board installed. Wrong reverb tank in it, will be replaced with a MOD tank. The tolex was coming off and beyond any hope of being reused. The grill cloth same condition. Hardware rusty. Back panels were there but in serious need of new hide as well.
First thing I did was work on the chassis. The 68 was an AC568 circuit, not an AA763 as tube charts often wrongly stated. Easy fix and now converted to AA763 specs. A full power cap job, screen grid resistors and 1500 ohm resistors for the power tube grids. New 3 wire power cord as well. Spent an hour cleaning the chassis with steel wool to take off the old bar nicotine. One bad power tube and several new pre-amp tubes as well needed. After a full day on the chassis I got her running and it sounds great.
Will put the correct transformer, diode board for the bias supply, new knobs and more soon. Took the face-plate off and cleaned it with metal polish, too.
Got the cab stripped now. New Tolex, grill cloth, handle,corners, feet and more on the way.
I figure I'll have 30 or more hours in it. Definitely not a money maker! Might install my favorite Jensen 12" Tornado neo speakers and just keep it!
Last edited by Ken Fox on 13 Sep 2018 1:29 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 5:25 am
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I never could understand how some musicians treat their equipment so badly.
Geo |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 5:38 am
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Got the Tolex off the cab and back panels. Cleaned off all the old hide glue and Tolex residue with a sponge and hot water. Just apply water and let it soak and then scrape off excess with a wide scraper. After that clean up with the scrubber side of the sponge. She on the drying rack now. Will fill a bit and lightly sand.
Last edited by Ken Fox on 30 Aug 2018 3:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 6:54 am
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| I’ve refurbished a lot of Fenders including the retolexing of them. I thought I knew all the “tricks of the trade†about that but your description just gave me another one. That is, to remove any of the old hide glue use water to dissolve it first. I thought, “Why, of course, why didn’t I think of that? Hide glue is water soluble.†And here my old method was to use a palm sander which often was hugely time consuming. Thanks for the tip! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 7:04 am
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awesome find , wow ! 
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
Last edited by Tony Prior on 30 Aug 2018 12:20 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 9:50 am
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I had a ‘66 Blackface pro reverb and thought it was the best amp ever made!
_________________
Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 12:21 pm Tolex
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Once I figured out it was water based I've never sanded another cab.
Worked on the baffle board today. Got the drip edge off, grill cloth off. All 5 mounting holes for the baffle stripped out. Drilled 1/2" holes from front of the baffle board and put in wood dowels so I'll have something solid for the baffle screws. Big improvement over attaching to the particle board. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 12:23 pm
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| Speaker are Celestion made in England. New ones are Chinese made. May keep them as they are 7.5 pounds each. Changing to Neo will not reduce the weight enough to be worth the investment |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 1:23 pm
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"She's on the drying rack now." - now that is a workshop I would feel at home in I'm sure!
JE:-)>
_________________
Emmons D10PP 8/4 -75'
Emmons S-10PP 3/4 - 79'
Emmons S-12PP 3/4 -78'
MSA Legend SD12 5/5 -06'
Mullen S-12 4/5 - 1986
Nashville 112 x2 W/Knob Guards - Don't leave home with out one!
Walker SS rack system - 12"BW's
Quilter Steelaire Combo |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 2:43 pm
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My friend had a 69 Pro Reverb. All beat up. Didn’t work. He took it to the repair shop and found that his young toddler son had been “feeding†the amp crayons. They fit right into the 1/4†jack holes.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 2:44 pm
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| One of my favorites. Awesome job by Ken. It will be a sweetheart for sure. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 3:37 pm
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How did you date it as a '68? The chassis serial number is the most reliable method.
FWIW many thought to be '68's were made as early as mid-67 and the "guts" are dead stock AB763 - the blackface circuit. I've owned two like that over the years. Doesn't apply if this one is a later circuit but it's something to be aware of.
Also, the Pro Reverb and Bandmaster reverb (and non reverb) usually had had the same 125P5D or 022798 power trans, with some having 125P7D or 022814's. Fender switched similar power transformers quite a bit in the 60's depending on inventory, but in this case there were only a couple of models used.
The brown bias cap should be changed - it's decades past it's service life. What dates are on the filter caps (if any)? If they're original like the bias cap or more than 15 years old they need to be changed, and I'd do it before powering the amp up again. If one blows it can take out the power trans - no big affect on vintage value on this amp but an expensive repair nonetheless.
Glad you're taking it back to reasonably stock specs.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Mike Taylor
From:
Wetumpka, AL
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 5:36 pm
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Was able to acquire a 71 pro reverb a few years ago and it has become my favorite amp for guitar...
Mike |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 5:52 pm
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I replaced all filter caps, most tested ok with an ESR meter. The transformers are all early 1968. The bias board was replaced with a homemade disaster. As soon as my new correct bias board and correct transformer arrive I will be replacing the bias cap, which also test ok with ESR meter. The cathode bypass caps have all drifted high, some close to 100 UF.
Well aware that some of the early 1968 were blackface circuits. Seen 100's of Fender
amplifiers thru my shop.
The same power transformer was also used on Super Reverb amps.
Lots of fun. Will post more pictures
I'll check the serial number against Greg Gagliano's list. I still have that on my shop computer.
Been a crazy week. Six amps came in for repair. An old Traynor head, Bassman 50, Gibson GA45rvt, Fender Twin, old Peavey Tube amp and a Musicman. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 5:29 am
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| personally i would not have done anything to the amp except the electronics. i like the look of amps that are original whether they are beat or nice. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 3:41 pm
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Got the baffle board repaired and covered today. Slowly making progress. Will start the Tolex on the cabinet next week
Last edited by Ken Fox on 30 Aug 2018 3:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 3:43 pm
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| used to be able to rotate pictures. Not sure why that is not an option in Firefox. Has to use another browser |
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 31 Aug 2018 2:08 pm
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Tolex started. Will finish tops and bottoms Monday
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2018 10:28 am
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2018 5:43 pm
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| Have not done restoration to this degree for around 5 or 6 years. For to get back into it at least one more time |
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 11 Sep 2018 11:11 am
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Nice! My take out amp these days is either my '67 Pro Reverb or my original '65 Princeton Reverb.
_________________
--carl
"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown |
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Wow !