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Post subject: Changing tubes on 65' Super Reverb
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:11 pm
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Hi, i just got this jewel for cheap, it was stacked away by an old lady, still every tube is original, never changed, dusty as they only can get, im restoring it, sounds very nice, however i need instrucitons on how to change the tubes since i dont want to brake anything or do any wrong moves, please help.


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Post subject: 65 SR tube change
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:17 pm
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Hi jorgonzalez,

There may be tube retainers at the base of the output tubes (big tubes). Push and hold each half of the retainer towards the chassis (metal part that holds the tube socket), away from the tube base (black part), while pulling the tube away from the chassis. Pull the tubes by grasping the base, not the glass, and rocking in a circular motion, pull the tube from the socket. If there are no retainers, and for the smaller tubes, just pull out by rocking in a circular motion while pulling away from the chassis. You might want to mark the tubes location before pulling, as the smaller tubes are different, 12AX7 and 12AT7, should go in the right positions.

If the amp sounds good, no reason to replace the tubes, unless you just want to preserve them. The tubes don't go sour by just setting in a closet, they may be like new. If they are the original US tubes, you won't get much better than that. Most new tubes can't compete with the originals. :)

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Post subject: Re: 65 SR tube change
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:51 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
If they are the original US tubes, you won't get much better than that. Most new tubes can't compete with the originals. :)


+1

And as shimmilou mentioned, mark each of the smaller tubes with a label of masking tape as you remove them from the chassis, according to the type and array as shown on the tube chart inside the amp's cabinet. Old tubes tend to lose their inked nomenclatures over the years due to heat and age, to the point it's sometimes impossible to ascertain the type of tube. I just did a partial re-tube on a '68 Bandmaster this afternoon and had to discard a couple of preamp tubes that had no visible markings left.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:27 am
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Thanks a lot guys, so yeah the amp sounds very nice, i just thought that due to the tubes age they might lost some punch, the woman used it to announce bingo numbers, i guess she has no idea what she had, so yeah i managed to take off the metal covers from the preamps to check the tubes, they all seem to work just fine, but like i said i thought id get more kick with new tubes and yeah i dont want to mess the sound, everything is original, fender speakers...Wich leads me to another issue, two of the four speakers have holes in their cones, replacing them would affect the sound??


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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:58 am
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Congratulations on your new amp! I got my first Super Reverb about that year when I was in high school, when they were new. Here's what I do when ever I get a new amp. Test the tubes, you'll never know for sure if they are good or bad, without testing them. Age dosen't hurt a tube but does increase it's value; I wish I had kept all the NOS tubes my Dad had form his TV Repair Shop in the '60, I'd be a Millionare today, I did keep a few. Some of your tubes may be weak and others fine. if all it's ever been used for is Bingo Nite once a week the tubes may still be very good. The harder you push them the shorter the life. Most likely the preamp tubes (usually the Driver) the one next to the Power tubes goes bad first, it works the hardest. I think it's a 12AX7 in your amp but it may be a 12AT7 in some cases, you can use eigher if you want. Like the other poster said mark the tubes, I usually use a Sharpe and write the meter reading off my tube tester and the date tested, box them up, don't leave them loose to bounce around in a drawer. Save them. Don't throw any of them away even if they test on the weak side, rember the amp was working with them, right! I would save the full set for a vintage retube and find yourself a good set of "new tubes" I happen to like the Ruby 6L6GCMSTR tubes, they seem to be very good. Had some trouble with EH 6L6GC (Sovtech) tube quality a few years back, so I don't trust them, their preamp tubes seem okay.

Enjoy your new amp and rock on it for the next 30 years or longer. When you get to my age and it's too big to carry you can sell it for huge $$$ and get a nice little combo and pocket the cash. That's what I did with my Fender collection.

Oh, one last thing, when I sold my '75 Twin Reverb last year, I kept the original RCA 6L6 tubes (4), they tested good when I replaced them after about 10 years of service, playing almost every night. Thes tube seem to last for ever. I've had offers form some locals to buy the set, but I'll keep them for my next project, a rebuild on a '63 Showman amp head for a local Musician friend.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:51 am
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This is the correct tube layout for a Super Reverb amp......

Image

I prepared this repro chart for one of my clients -- thus, ignore the "Vibroverb" reference (it shares its tube complement with the SR though).

The GZ34 rectifier tube has been replaced in the modern era by the 5AR4. Likewise, the 7025 is no longer manufactured -- use a good quality 12AX7A in its stead. 6L6GC's should only be replaced as matched pairs, concurrent with a bias check (and adjustment if required). The 12AT7 phase inverter (fourth tube from the left) should have balanced transconductance between both halves for maximum efficiency.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:28 am
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Nice chart, looks original!


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:36 am
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I'm pretty diligent about my work, JZ.

Thanks for the kind words.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:00 am
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O.T.

Location:

Tombstone Territory

Do you mean Arizona?


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:02 am
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Indeed I do......about ten miles from the Mexican frontier.

Arjay

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:37 am
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Wow, thank you guys for the help, its been very useful, im gonna print the diagram since the one on the amp is very torn, also i would like to know about the cones on the speakers, the have holes, today i went to the carpenter to make a frame for the front grill nad i wanna fix it up befor the grill is installed.

Note: Im located in the Dominican Republic so i have to work via ebay or amazon or local craftsman.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:47 am
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I had friends that moved out there years ago, kind of lost track of them.

We all left LA at about the same time, early 70's. Couldn't wait to get out, I'll never return. Now I have a small ranch in Oregon.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:32 pm
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jorgonzalez wrote:
Wow, thank you guys for the help, its been very useful, im gonna print the diagram since the one on the amp is very torn, also i would like to know about the cones on the speakers, the have holes, today i went to the carpenter to make a frame for the front grill nad i wanna fix it up befor the grill is installed.

Note: Im located in the Dominican Republic so i have to work via ebay or amazon or local craftsman.


If you intend to restore your amp to authencity, a new front baffle should be fabricated using materials and techniques similar to this......

Image

For a blackface Super Reverb the baffle board itself should be ½-inch MDF. The grill surround is made using ¼-inch plank strip one inch in width of pine or poplar. Likewise the logo shelf in the upper left corner is ¼-inch stock of the same material. Use quality carpenter's glue and clamps to affix the frame and shelf to the baffle board. The front and back of the completed assembly should be painted black before attaching the grill cloth. Speakers in the Super Reverb will be installed using eight screws each. Mounting screws and the correct kep retaining nuts can be ordered from Mojotone.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:39 pm
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Yeah, i cant imagine how this amp got here, if it was new it came during the US occupation in 1965-69. Anyways its a very rare item here.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:59 pm
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If you need help with any other details, feel free to e-mail me direct.

<phantoms4ever(at)cox(dot)net>

Arjay

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