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Post subject: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:52 pm
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Some weeks ago I bought this old Fender Reverb unit. When it arrived I was surprised to see that it was in very bad shape. Woodworms had eaten away huge pieces of wood underneath the tolex. I debated building a new cabinet for the reverb unit, but in the end I decided to restore the original cabinet and keep the original tolex.
I also needed to replace the original 110V US power transformer with a 230V European transformer.
Now here's, just for the fun of it, a photo report of the restoration of this wonderful peacy of Fender history.

Starting with the tolex coming loose because of the woodworm-damage underneath.

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So I took off all the tolex in order to clean it and restore the wooden cabinet.

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Then I treated the cabinet with an anti-woodworm product.

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Cleaning both sides of the tolex to get rid of the glue and other dirt. I wanted to keep the original tolex because it was still in acceptable condition and it adds to the authentic vibe of the unit.

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Then it was time for the biggest part of the work: restoring the wooden cabinet with wood filler. Especially the rounded corners where a challenge, because they were almost gone so I had to kind of 'rebuild' the wood with wood filler as if it was clay. I had to do this in different stages, wait for every layer to get dry and sand with sandpaper in between the stages. Quite time-consuming...

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Finished, all sanded and now ready to glue on the original and cleaned tolex! Check out the corners, quite happy with the results.

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After gluing the tolex the unit looks wonderful and still has the authentic looks! Really happy with it!

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The original 110V US power transformer.

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Now with a TAD power 230V EU transformer. These transformers don't have a central tap, so I had to make an artificial central tap by soldering two 100R resistors from the filament wires to ground. Also, this original unit still uses a half-wave rectifier, so there's only one HV lead that goes to the rectifier, the other HV lead goes to ground.

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Still housing all the original components!

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And the best thing is, it works! Sounds wonderful and very quiet.


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:45 pm
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Cool rebuild! Most people would not have preserved history given the amount of work, looks like it paid off and turned out very well. Nice job and thanks for posting the rebuild process.

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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:50 pm
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wow I can't believe you got that cabinet back. :shock:

To clean the tolex, looks like you used this stuff (or similar):

Image

Was that all you used?

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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:02 pm
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Wonderful refinish job!

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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:05 pm
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My hat is off to you, Sir!

And if you take the time to ask around here, you'll learn that I seldom do that.

RAWK ON!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:50 pm
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Thanks guys. Me too I'm very happy that all my time and effort paid off in this beautiful result.

@strings10927 - yes, that cockpit cleaner was all I used to clean the very dirty tolex. It turned out to be a magical product, as I also tried ethanol to get rid of the white paint-like haze that was all over the tolex, but no good results with that. Cockpit spray and cockpit spray only did the job! Should check whether I can get some credits to do a commercial on this product 8)


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 4:59 pm
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That one rates a HUGE Holy Schmokes on the T2 Scale! Helluva job! Thanks for sharing.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:00 pm
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bram9206, what a great restoration! Bet that cab weighs a bit more than before. :D

I have a 6G15 reverb unit, too. Same year. I found that dropping the cathode-tied resistor on the 6K6GT to 820-ohms helps put the 6K6GT into a more linear idle region. And be sure to insert a grid-to-ground resistor (1 meg, 1/2 watt will do fine) from pin 2 of the 7025 (12AX7) to ground. This helps keeps the 7025 from runaway.

You can see the 1-meg I tied from the 7025 (12AX7) to the ground lug of the foot pedal jack. I like the Sylvania tall black plate 6K6GT bottle. A bit more sparkle than the RCA. IMHO.


Good luck with that unit. Bet it sounds great!


1-meg ohm grid-to-ground resistor (blue shrink insulation on lead):


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820-ohm cathode resistor off the 6K6GT:



Image


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 2:54 am
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Very nice job , congrat.


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:39 am
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Great work - truly bringing something back from the dead :-)

So Where does this go in the signal chain? What is the typical method it is used?

Chris


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:39 am
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Great work - truly bringing something back from the dead :-)

So Where does this go in the signal chain? What is the typical method it is used?

Chris


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:24 am
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taskerc wrote:
Great work - truly bringing something back from the dead :-)

So Where does this go in the signal chain? What is the typical method it is used?

Chris



Guitar , Fender Reverb , amp

Or

Guitar , amp ( effect loop out , Fender Reverb , effect loop in )


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:06 am
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Thanks!,

So does that (Guitar > Fender Reverb > Amp) replicate the same position in the signal chain that the reverb would occupy in, for example, a Super Reverb? In the SR or similar, does the reverb sit before or after the tone stack? And does this mean that the Fender Reverb is the way to get the magical, tube-driven, reverb in a non-reverb amp?

Chris

stratele52 wrote:
taskerc wrote:
Great work - truly bringing something back from the dead :-)

So Where does this go in the signal chain? What is the typical method it is used?

Chris



Guitar , Fender Reverb , amp

Or

Guitar , amp ( effect loop out , Fender Reverb , effect loop in )


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:19 am
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taskerc wrote:
Thanks!,

So does that (Guitar > Fender Reverb > Amp) replicate the same position in the signal chain that the reverb would occupy in, for example, a Super Reverb?
No

In the SR or similar, does the reverb sit before or after the tone stack?
After

And does this mean that the Fender Reverb is the way to get the magical, tube-driven, reverb in a non-reverb amp?
It is a matter of taste

Chris

]


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Post subject: Re: Restoring a blackface 6G15 Fender Reverb Unit
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:22 am
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bram9206 wrote:
@strings10927 - yes, that cockpit cleaner was all I used to clean the very dirty tolex.

Thanks for confirming that. I must pick some up!

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