Is it possible to make a Fender Blues Deluxe RI PTP???

Triple Threat · December 8th, 2005, 04:00 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to do this? Would you have to make a custom chasis for it or could you just rip everything out and go PTP with whatever diagram you wish. What do you think?

Jef · December 8th, 2005, 04:44 PM

The chassis and the trannies are fine. You can build anything you wish in there with more or less the same tube configuration. I'd drop the reverb and go for one of the big old tweeds (Super / Pro / Bandmaster)
The only thing is, I believe, in those amps the tube sockets are mounted to the PCB. You would want your sockets mounted to the chassis. Maybe you'll have to make cover plates with a smaller diameter hole to fit in the tube holes.

EDIT: now I'm confused: do you mean a Blues Deluxe or a Deluxe Reverb RI?

Jef

BTW: love your avatar!

dhdfoster · December 8th, 2005, 04:55 PM

Oddly, there actually is a Blues Deluxe "RI". I can't see much advantage to doing a ptp conversion considering the cost.

Joe-Bob · December 8th, 2005, 05:15 PM

You would be better off just buying an amp that suits your needs from one of the boutique amp manufacturers.

Triple Threat · December 8th, 2005, 05:26 PM

Gotta hlove more cowbell

It is a blues deluxe ri. I already have 2 great amps (a '59 tweed deluxe and a '62 brown deluxe) I was just looking for a project. Transformers and caps aren;t all that expensive really and I was looking to make this amp something more in spec with my 2 vintage amps. I really don't think it would cost that much. Better than spending $2k on a new or vintage amp.

CancerLeoCam · December 8th, 2005, 05:38 PM

..coming from someone who retrofitted his Fender Reverb Reissue to PTP/stripboard it can be almost more trouble than it's worth. I have not taken a look at the schematic for anything that you would want to build or to PTP the existing circuit. Just sell the amp if you want a project and buy the chassis and transformers and cab and make a complete go at it. Ithink you'll ultimately go there if you're into projects.

Oh yeah, BTW......

"I gotta fevah...and the only prescription is MOHR cahbell!"

Pierce · December 8th, 2005, 08:10 PM

and made it into a 5e3 tweed deluxe that will run 6L6's..
stripped all the old caca out and dropped in a garolite board ..works real sweet!
I used mercury magentics iron as I had a set here but you could use the stock stuff. The merc mag PT has a tube rectifier that the stock PT didn't.

check these guys.. they do prewired boards..
http://www.tonezoneonline.com/

David Barnett · December 8th, 2005, 09:55 PM

There are a number of guys who have converted Pro Jr. amps to the Marshall 18W circuit, by replacing everything but the chassis and transformers.

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to do that with a Blues Deluxe or Hotrod Deluxe. You might be able to find a basket case one with a fried circuit board that still has good transformers. You'll be trashing everything else anyway, no sense spending good money on a working example, and there are plenty of PC board Fenders that have melted down. Get in good with your local amp tech and he can probably steer you to an unhappy customer who took his blown amp home with his tail between his legs after being told how much it'll cost to fix it out of warranty.

I don't know how many of the Blues and Hotrod Deluxes have melted down, but everyone I know who has or had a Hotrod Deville has had the whole circuit board replaced at least once under warranty, and the Deville uses the same board as the Deluxe.

If you just want to build something, there are any number of sources for donor amps.

JohnnyAtomic · December 9th, 2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Barnett

.... You might be able to find a basket case one with a fried circuit board that still has good transformers. ...

Yeah kinda like the one a guy brought me to work on. I asked him what's wrong with it. He said a cat pee'd on it. But he didn't tell me that it had pee'd on it apparently HUNDREDS of time. I just put it back together and told him to come get it. Then i went and washed my hands REALLY good. YUCK!

Johnny Atomic

WickedGTR · December 9th, 2005, 11:05 AM

Wow. That cat likes those amps almost as much as I do.

December 8th, 2005, 04:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Triple Threat TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 31	Is it possible to make a Fender Blues Deluxe RI PTP??? Does anyone know if it is possible to do this? Would you have to make a custom chasis for it or could you just rip everything out and go PTP with whatever diagram you wish. What do you think?

December 8th, 2005, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jef Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 690 2 Photos	Really explore the space!! The chassis and the trannies are fine. You can build anything you wish in there with more or less the same tube configuration. I'd drop the reverb and go for one of the big old tweeds (Super / Pro / Bandmaster) The only thing is, I believe, in those amps the tube sockets are mounted to the PCB. You would want your sockets mounted to the chassis. Maybe you'll have to make cover plates with a smaller diameter hole to fit in the tube holes. EDIT: now I'm confused: do you mean a Blues Deluxe or a Deluxe Reverb RI? Jef BTW: love your avatar! __________________ Amplification is not a social dinner, a literary event, a drawing or an embroidery; It cannot be done with elegance and courtesy. Amplification is an act of violence... (Mao Tse-Tube)

December 8th, 2005, 05:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,016	You would be better off just buying an amp that suits your needs from one of the boutique amp manufacturers. __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

December 8th, 2005, 05:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
CancerLeoCam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mule Deer-Mt. Lion Safari, CA Posts: 1,692 5 Photos	well.. ..coming from someone who retrofitted his Fender Reverb Reissue to PTP/stripboard it can be almost more trouble than it's worth. I have not taken a look at the schematic for anything that you would want to build or to PTP the existing circuit. Just sell the amp if you want a project and buy the chassis and transformers and cab and make a complete go at it. Ithink you'll ultimately go there if you're into projects. Oh yeah, BTW...... "I gotta fevah...and the only prescription is MOHR cahbell!" __________________ Everyone's your "buddy" or "friend" when they want you or something from you. If you're not willing to work for free why should somebody else?

December 8th, 2005, 08:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pierce Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: skull island Posts: 471	I just did that to a blues deluxe.. and made it into a 5e3 tweed deluxe that will run 6L6's.. stripped all the old caca out and dropped in a garolite board ..works real sweet! I used mercury magentics iron as I had a set here but you could use the stock stuff. The merc mag PT has a tube rectifier that the stock PT didn't. check these guys.. they do prewired boards.. http://www.tonezoneonline.com/

December 8th, 2005, 04:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
dhdfoster Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Age: 41 Posts: 945	Oddly, there actually is a Blues Deluxe "RI". I can't see much advantage to doing a ptp conversion considering the cost.

December 8th, 2005, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Triple Threat TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 31	Gotta hlove more cowbell It is a blues deluxe ri. I already have 2 great amps (a '59 tweed deluxe and a '62 brown deluxe) I was just looking for a project. Transformers and caps aren;t all that expensive really and I was looking to make this amp something more in spec with my 2 vintage amps. I really don't think it would cost that much. Better than spending $2k on a new or vintage amp.

December 8th, 2005, 09:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,491	There are a number of guys who have converted Pro Jr. amps to the Marshall 18W circuit, by replacing everything but the chassis and transformers. I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to do that with a Blues Deluxe or Hotrod Deluxe. You might be able to find a basket case one with a fried circuit board that still has good transformers. You'll be trashing everything else anyway, no sense spending good money on a working example, and there are plenty of PC board Fenders that have melted down. Get in good with your local amp tech and he can probably steer you to an unhappy customer who took his blown amp home with his tail between his legs after being told how much it'll cost to fix it out of warranty. I don't know how many of the Blues and Hotrod Deluxes have melted down, but everyone I know who has or had a Hotrod Deville has had the whole circuit board replaced at least once under warranty, and the Deville uses the same board as the Deluxe. If you just want to build something, there are any number of sources for donor amps.

December 9th, 2005, 11:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,150 4 Photos	Wow. That cat likes those amps almost as much as I do. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey