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Post subject: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:18 am
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Hello everyone. I'll begin by saying I don't know much at all about amp maintenance in general, aside from knowing that tubes need to be replaced and biased every so often. Some years ago, I acquired a 1966 Fender Tremolux head. I'm posting because there seem to be different schools of thought about replacing capacitors. The guy who I bought it from thought it necessary to replace the caps that were in it (probably the original caps) with some newer blue ones. There was nothing wrong with the amp; apparently this was just a bit of precautionary maintenance. My question: Was this necessary and/or advisable? I'm not sure it did much to improve the sound of the amp. He seemed to think it would improve the sound. My gut feeling (after reading up) is that the vintage caps should have been left alone, but what do I know? Any input on this is welcome; I'm interested to learn more about this.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 12:05 pm
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Yes it is perfectly normal to change the caps under the dog house. Those caps dry out over time. Nothing lasts forever, at 50+ years old those caps were well past their service life.

If you are talking about the blue tone caps, then I would agree no reason to change them unless they have drifted way out of tolerance.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:10 am
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Only electrolytics caps ( may dry) and may need to be replace. Not all of them are filter caps and not all the time.
Some are in the "doghouse",some are on the circuit board and they are bypass caps.

New good quality filter caps may tightened bass at high volume.
Use Only Mallory or F & T filter caps.

If your amp play good and you don't gig with it or if you don't know a good amp tech, leave amp as it.
Always keep original old parts in safe place.

Most important is to use the right fuse on fuse holder; Look at it !


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:59 pm
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Sounds like he replaced these and that's a good thing. If they weren't completely failing they were on their way.

GW

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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:41 pm
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upnorth2 wrote:
Sounds like he replaced these and that's a good thing. If they weren't completely failing they were on their way.

GW

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I read he did not replace yet.


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 12:57 pm
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I appreciate all of the replies here. The caps in just one of the two channels were replaced. If I had the amp with me, I'd open it and refresh my memory as to which side (clean or dirty) it was. And I wish I could say for sure if the ones that were replaced were in the "doghouse" or not. (I seem to recall them just being on the board, but could very well be wrong about that.)

I'm not really sure what is meant by "drifted out of tolerance," but the ones that were replaced were definitely old and were replaced with some type of blue caps.


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 3:18 pm
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Yeah, a picture of the guts would tell..........."the rest of the story."

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UN


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:13 am
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upnorth2 wrote:
Yeah, a picture of the guts would tell..........."the rest of the story."

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:lol:


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:22 am
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I finally retrieved the amp. It sounded fine playing it the other day, although I played it through the 2x12 cab I'd been using. (I don't have its original 2x10 cabinet) As I recall, the caps on the clean channel were the ones that were changed.

Anyway, now my question is how much should someone expect to get for a 1966 Tremolux head in fair to good cosmetic condition, that plays fine. I was offered 300 for it, which seems kind of low from what I've gathered looking around...? Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:46 pm
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Current EBay prices for head, alone... is in $500-750+ range. Have a photo of the amp?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Change Original Caps in a Tremolux?
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:50 pm
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thanks for the reply! No photo right now, but i can tell you it's in decent shape.. no rips in tolex.. not too much rust on the hardware..


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