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Post subject: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:30 am
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Hi,
I want to built a Fender amp from scratch.
I think a amp with reverb is the best choice. I'm thinking of a Super Reverb AB763
I have lots of parts, transformers, caps......waiting for.

I built few amps from scratch over years.

The only question is wich one ?


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:53 am
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cool, sounds like a great way to spend the winter.

2x12, 4x10 or SR head w/ multiple ohm tapped OT?

I like the idea of a SR as a head.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 9:59 am
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Part of the magic of the Super is the 4-speaker system. A large cabinet and 4 speakers makes this an expensive project.
The tone stack is unusual for most Fenders. The .1 and .047 are replaced with .02, .02. This gives less of the Fender shimmer and cleaner leads.
Overall, it is a lead amp. If this is the kind of music you want it for, its a great idea.
However, the output transformer is also different. Several different ones have been used in Supers with different inductance, primary resistance and output impedance. The 6-8 Henry transformers are used in the originals and reissues.
Only the original will give you the authentic characteristics at power tube distortion levels. Multi taps should be avoided if high level play is desired.
But the OTs that you have in stock may be able to direct your efforts if you want to use parts in hand. If you can identify what they went to, you may want to recreate that power stage.
Have fun


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:27 pm
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Thank you for your feedback.
I will surely go to a combo amp. I like the combos. I have made several. Yes it is more expensive with the speakers but it will be the only expensive parts that I will have to buy.

TimAudio, I'm not looking for the sound of an original Fender Super Reverb. I know what it takes. I have several Vintage at home,

When finish,I'm sure it will be a very good amp.
The cabinet itself will probably not be a copy of a fender. In this project creativity is also what attracts me. How many speaker ? I don't know yet. Probably one or two 10 or 12 inches.

Two months ago I remade for a client, a professional musician, from scrap ELK ProSonic amp, a Deluxe Reverb AB763. I have retained the power transformer, output transformer, EL84 tubes, sommes filters caps and most pots. I build my own ( Fender lcopy ) photoresistor for tremolo.
I added an extra tube for the tremolo.
I used the cheapest parts at the request of the customer. My cost $60.
The sound is just fantastic. A AB763 with 2 X EL84 !!!

First and second picture; this is the EKL / Deluxe Reverb ; I built my own turet board.
Customer change knobs and put Fender logo
The last picture show my first two amp I built, I kept them as souvenirs. I built everything, steel chassis , wood cab and glue the tolex.

Image

Image
Image


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:32 pm
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That blonde thing looks pretty damn cool!

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:12 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Hi,
I want to built a Fender amp from scratch.
I think a amp with reverb is the best choice. I'm thinking of a Super Reverb AB763
I have lots of parts, transformers, caps......waiting for.

I built few amps from scratch over years.

The only question is wich one ?


Will this amp be for you or client? Where will it be primarily used? If mostly at home for noodling and recording, I go with a nice 15 watt combo. Maybe, even less power.

I really like my Matchless Hurricane. Very nice irons and well laid-out circuit. Maybe go for a Lightning clone (with 'verb)?

http://www.turretboards.com/images/prod ... ing-sm.jpg


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:55 pm
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2x12 Configuration with a Super Reverb certainly produces different tones. Loses a bit of the high end but gets a bit bigger bottom end with a nice looseness to it.

When I did my '69 Super Reverb refurb and went with this speaker config I needed to wire the speakers in parallel to get to a 4 ohm load (8 ohm speakers), the Super Reverb's transformers are very stout and can handle the 100% mismatch. Looking forward to you documenting your build whichever way you go, ought to be fun!

T2

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:48 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
That blonde thing looks pretty damn cool!

8)

Arjay


Thank you, it is more Yellow than blonde like Fender amps.

I built those amps than 12 years ago.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:54 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:


Will this amp be for you or client? Where will it be primarily used? If mostly at home for noodling and recording, I go with a nice 15 watt combo. Maybe, even less power.



That is for me, the used ? Just for fun to built and I have some big Iron,

I have lots of low power amps


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 9:14 am
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I like that dark green one.
But it looks like whatever you build, it will be beautiful.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 2:17 pm
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TimsAudio wrote:
Multi taps should be avoided if high level play is desired.



Can you explain why, because Marshall amps use multi taps for their 50-100 watts amps.

Thank you TimsAudio


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:13 am
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Amps designed for multitap use are fine. Fitting a multi tap into a clone transformer that did not originally have one is not.
If yoy want 16 0hms out of an original 8 ohm design, you have to use smaller wire in the primary and secondary to fit in the same physical space. This is because you need twice as mant secondary winds for 16 over 8ohm.
This causes two problems.
First, the additional resistance of the primary reduces power output. It is in series with the tubes and limits current.
Second, the inductance of the OT will be lower and the smaller coil cannot saturate out the low bass at overdrive levels, leading to muddy tone.
The resistance of the primaries is available in most OT literature for comparison.
The inductance is not published. High inductance for clean tones and high efficiency. Use low inductance for R+R. If you don't have an inductance meter, examine the laminations, The thinner lams indicate higher inductance, usually.
Marshall has finely tuned transformers. They use staggered windings. That is, they wind a little primary, then a little secondary, then a little more primary. This increases the efficiency and brightness of the transformer. I have also seen this in some Fender transformers.
The aftermarket products I have used connot compare to the original factory stuff.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 12:02 pm
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Thank's for your answer.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:07 pm
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TimsAudio wrote:
Multi taps should be avoided if high level play is desired.


I believe these are more prone to failure, IIRC.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender amp should I built ?
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 2:40 am
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The big Iron I'ill use have this date / EIA code ; R201-41D
It is so heavy and so big with 4.5 square inches and have multitaps

And I'll built a mod Super Reverb, not a copy.
I'll think built it single channel, the reverb- vibrato one.


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