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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:00 pm
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atolleter, the VLR in photo has an AA270 circuit. The SR has a AB763. Both are loaded with the CTS alnico 10-inch (two in VLR and four in SR). Both run GZ34 rectifiers and have RCA 6L6GC output tubes. Biased to around 20 watts per tube.

The tonal diferrence between the two is remarkable. The VLR sags a bit more than the SR. And has a more midrange based, browner tone. Both have good bass. The SR has a more shimmering high note. And those four 10's project better.

Both amps are very sensitive to player & guitar settings input. And handle a range of pedals well. But, you really don't need a lot of extra effects. The built-in vibrato/tremolo and reverb, plus the nature of the tube arrangement produces a pretty wide range of tones, all by themselves.

The VLR is like a big brother Deluxe Reverb. A more potent 6V6GT sound. The SR can really sound big. The VLR is more fun at home settings. If you run a Tube Screamer or some such pedal you can get the amp to OD, without the neighbors loading their shotguns.

The SR sounds best in a bigger room. Lots of harmonic tones, when you start to OD it. The four 10-inch really brings out that rich flavor.

Both are great amps. I really don't think the OP would be dissatisfied with any of the three amps. But, if you are going to do outdoor gigs. Or be in a big Church. It would be hard to beat that SR.


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:25 pm
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atolleter wrote:
Isnt the Vibro AA270 circuit?


Probably. But that specific post-Leo circuit will be a revision of the basic AA864 Vibrolux Reverb configuration albeit with some alterations (snubber caps on the output bottles, some weird coupling caps at the phase inverter, other CBS "improvements"). As such, it'll still retain much of the sonic character that Leo designed into it -- just as he did with all of his distinctly different platforms. Many uninformed folks regard any Fender blackface as an "AB763" without truly understanding Fender's philosophy about amp design and his penchant for tinkering. Thus were born the myriad circuit designations that reflected the man's quest to build an amp for virtually every specific application (and price point). All to and for our collective benefit, I might add.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:06 pm
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As such, a deciding factor in the purchase may be which one is easiest to blackface if wanted.


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:53 pm
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To an extent, true.

However, not all silverfaces are sonic turds. Some sound mighty tasty just as they were designed. And the Super Reverb that the OP mentioned previously may in fact already be a "blackface", depending on what month in 1968 it was made. Hopefully he'll let us know.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:47 pm
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atolleter, you know I agree with Arjay.

I was going to backdate that VLR to AB964 from the AA270 circuit. But, I just redid the power supply caps. And put in some CTS Alnicos. Both RCA 6L6GC bias to a rock steady 40mA.

Ramped up the amp & took it for a test drive. The tone is one of the best of all my Fender amps. And that is saying a lot (IMHO). A heck of a lot of fun to play.


Image

[IMG]http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z461/BMW2002Ti/Preamptubes_VLR72.jpg

Image

[/IMG]Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:55 pm
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True, I remember that some of those Twin SF can be killer amps, pre 72 no master volume.

Hey, those 2 brown caps in the picture have a bubble too :)


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:55 pm
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Looks like you're missin' some nuts there, Steve.

:lol:

Those F&T's are beautiful -- likewise with the glass.

It doesn't get any better than blackplates "Nippers".

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 4:36 pm
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Took that first CTS photo while I was installing. See the entire set of nuts in tube photos.

Yeah, I plopped the OEM cap into the sockets to show those nasty middle-aged "pimples." :D

F&T caps are wonderful things!


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 4:56 pm
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Should be set for another 40 years :)


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:45 pm
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atolleter wrote:
Should be set for another 40 years :)


At least twenty, anyway.

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:27 am
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I am checking out the Super on Monday, I may bring it home if it's all there. I'll let you guys know what the serial # is when I do. It looks like it's in nice shape from the photos.


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:43 am
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Can you get some numbers?

Tranny ID's would be most helpful to pin down the amp's build date.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:02 pm
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Just a taste of what to expect in a good working vintage SR. I love this test drive YT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjGivYXWS58


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 8:45 pm
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Well there's nothing not to like about that juicy tone.


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Post subject: Re: Please Help me I am shopping SF Fenders
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:53 pm
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http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/ms ... 27336.html

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