1964 Deluxe (non-reverb) barn find
- Thread starter MrCoolGuy
- Start date
theprofessor
Poster Extraordinaire
Those are magnificent amps! Congratulations! Please keep us updated with pics as you do your restoration. I'd love to see more.
Thumper
TDPRI Member
Run it at 110VAC and it will sound awesome and tubes last a lot longer.
Gunny
Tele-Holic
That's the best 'find' I've seen on any Forum. What a great project. There's been many replies with many opinions on how intense the cleanup may be. If it were me, I'd remove the nest, do a decent cleanup internally, then focus on the electronic restoration.
I could only dream of having this one as my own project. It'll cost a bit, but well worth it. External cosmetics are easy to do on these amps - let your wallet be your guide. Enjoy!
I could only dream of having this one as my own project. It'll cost a bit, but well worth it. External cosmetics are easy to do on these amps - let your wallet be your guide. Enjoy!
Telecastoff1
Tele-Afflicted
Nice find.....it'll be a fun project.
The schematic calls for a 50V cap in the bias supply, but shows -55V in that circuit. Don't use a 50V cap.
I've had a '63 BF Deluxe-Amp since the late 1980s, I'll never part with it.
I've had a '63 BF Deluxe-Amp since the late 1980s, I'll never part with it.
Luthier Vandros
Tele-Afflicted
These are my fav threads. Congrats! Love the wasp’s nest! Have fun with the resto. Looks like good times from here.
-55 or -35?
it looks like -35 to me, which makes more sense.
bias is very predictable.
So.... what's the latest on this @MrCoolGuy ? Going well I hope! Enquiring minds wanna know 
MrCoolGuy
Tele-Afflicted
I usually use those Sprague 50uf 150v caps for bias supplies like this. Or the F&T 33uf 160v... but im pretty sure the bias supply is -35v on this amp. I havent decided what I'll use.
MrCoolGuy
Tele-Afflicted
To make this story even crazier, the owner didnt just find this amp, there was 2. For a total of 700 bucks he got this Deluxe and a 1965 Twin Reverb in similar condition.
The cabinet on the Twin is even worse. I had to do a little structural work and replace the tolex on the bottom.
It has had minor work
done to it in the past. (Diode replaced, polarized plug installed) But still pretty original. Though someone made it into a 1x15 with this Altec speaker...
Owner said this amp is actually working, just has a hum (pretty believable considering the amount of dried electrolytic leaking out of filter caps)
But I'm not gonna turn it on just yet.
It has some nice tubes as well. Sylvania preamp tubes and those "Fender special design" USA made 6L6GC's that I believe are Sylvania too. I did try that 15" Altec with a different amp... pretty nice!
The cabinet on the Twin is even worse. I had to do a little structural work and replace the tolex on the bottom.
It has had minor work
done to it in the past. (Diode replaced, polarized plug installed) But still pretty original. Though someone made it into a 1x15 with this Altec speaker...
Owner said this amp is actually working, just has a hum (pretty believable considering the amount of dried electrolytic leaking out of filter caps)
But I'm not gonna turn it on just yet.
It has some nice tubes as well. Sylvania preamp tubes and those "Fender special design" USA made 6L6GC's that I believe are Sylvania too. I did try that 15" Altec with a different amp... pretty nice!
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MrCoolGuy
Tele-Afflicted
Now this Twin, on the other hand... does have a bias voltage that is a bit high for the 25/50 cap it came with. I believe -52vdc? And dont worry, I'm aware.
The duct tape is a nice touch.
MrCoolGuy
Tele-Afflicted
Fair enough. Regardless, ill be using something higher.
MrCoolGuy
Tele-Afflicted
The speaker baffle in the deluxe was in pretty sorry shape. Particle board doesn't hold up to water and time very well.
I'm making a new baffle, but I removed approximately 1 million staples and I'm going to try to reuse the old grillcloth. It has mojo.
After removing the old baffle, I found more loose tolex to glue back down.
I'm making a new baffle, but I removed approximately 1 million staples and I'm going to try to reuse the old grillcloth. It has mojo.
After removing the old baffle, I found more loose tolex to glue back down.
I'm surprised to see a particle board baffle in a Fender Elect. Inst. Co. amplifier. I didn't think they went to p-board until well into the CBS years?
FenderLover
Poster Extraordinaire
I haven't seen any amp relicing services yet, but I'd love to have an amp that looks like it had been through the seventh circle of hell, but has brand new electronics in it.
