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Post subject: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:32 am
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When buying a vintage amp that may be 30 to 50 years old, what is the expected maintenance needed on average to get the amp up to standard? I'm assuming re coning the speakers must be something to deal with? This is never mentioned. How about re capping etc? What's the cost to restore say, a deluxe reverb from the 60's?


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:46 am
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Using your paradigm 1960's-era Deluxe Reverb, two to three hundred dollars. And this assumes an amp that has never been serviced but never been modded or abused.

For amps that have been played and treated with at least the minimum of respect, that dollar amount might be reduced by 25% if only the barest modicum of maintence has been performed.

In all candor, speakers are usually the least of a vintage amp's problems. Period-correct replacements are available from a variety of sources or the originals can be re-coned to spec.

It's when you consider true "basket cases" that require either big money and/or sweat equity that the cost begins to become prohibitive. Cosmetic restorations are often the most difficult and challenging to accomplish correctly.

HTH

Arjay (with nothing but vintage amps in "the herd")

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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: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:57 am
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Thanks for the info. That doesn't sound too bad.


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:28 am
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No, it really isn't IMO. Once a vintage amp has been reconditioned to spec using quality parts, it's generally ready to rock for another decade or even longer. The other guitarist in my band has been through eight amps in the five years I've known him -- five of those failed catastrophically while onstage. They were all contemporary models: Marshall (2), Fender (3), Crate (2), and one Peavey. Such a calamity has never befallen me and I play vintage Fenders exclusively.

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: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:34 pm
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Concur with Arjay!!! Once the initial rehab is done, these older amps are very reliable. Like Arjay, I've never experienced a failure on stage with my 45+yr old amps. Seems to me, a little normal maintenance, keeps these guys tickin' & kickin'. Art

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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:23 am
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aclempoppi wrote:
Concur with Arjay!!! Once the initial rehab is done, these older amps are very reliable. Like Arjay, I've never experienced a failure on stage with my 45+yr old amps. Seems to me, a little normal maintenance, keeps these guys tickin' & kickin'. Art

Naturally count me in too!
The only failure I've had onstage while using vintage amps for 20 years now,happened this year,I bought a 1967 Vibrolux Reverb and replaced the electrolytics and added a three prong cord,but left the unoriginal '69 CTS alinico speakers in it,I blew both out halfway through the first song we did...I quickly plugged in my '66 Deluxe Reverb and never missed another song.
Now the amp has Weber speakers in it and is my #1 favorite.


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:47 pm
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The legend is that Leo was a fanatic about reliability. I'm not a professional and haven't gigged near as often as some of the folks on here but I do not recall ever seeing a vintage fender fail during recording, practice, or performance.

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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:19 pm
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Leo was a radio repairman,and a very practical man,back in those days pro musicians usually didn't travel with a multitude of guitars and amps,most of the gigging musicians had a guitar and amp and that's what they made their money with,Leo understood that their instruments and amps had to hold up to the rigors of the road or hazzards of the stage,and the working players know what I mean by that... :lol:
....and when something needed to be repaired,it had to be simple,practical and easy to replace parts for and to get it back in the hands of the musician...that's why we're still able to gig with 50 year old amps.


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:25 pm
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Rebelsoul wrote:
that's why we're still able to gig with 50 year old amps.


Well stated, Rick.

Hand salute!

8) 8) 8)

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: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:56 am
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What's amazing is you're basic BF Pro-line amp wasn't diddled or modded a whole lot during production life. And look at those great guitars of that era. How many old-timer Strat, Tele, or Gibson is still being used today? What a remarkable era for both guitars and amps.

Sadly, one which we may never see again. :(

We sure were lucky to be part of it all. :D


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:18 am
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AMEN...BMW!!!
we will never see the likes of that time again,for instruments or music. :D


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 12:44 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
We sure were lucky to be part of it all.


Indeed!

And fortunate enough to now help to restore and preserve these marvelous relics......superior products of their time (or any time for that matter).

My modest 14-amp collection of vintage Fenders has always served me in good stead and my widow will likely pocket a small fortune when she lists them on Ebay.

:lol:

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: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 4:52 am
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Fender's biggest competitor is not Marshall, Mesa etc.

It is itself. Fender amps from the 50's to the early 70's.


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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:00 am
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That's good business practice.

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Post subject: Re: Maintenance for old amps
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:17 am
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davest wrote:
Fender's biggest competitor is not Marshall, Mesa etc.

It is itself. Fender amps from the 50's to the early 70's.


+1000!

And in my case, they're losing that contest.

:mrgreen:

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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