It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:52 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:58 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Hi,
I recently purchased a 1977 Twin Reverb. I'm not interested in changing it to a blackface circuit, but I would like to know if there are easy ways to tell if it has been modded. What would I look for on the circuit board? Is there an obvious tell-tale externally? I'd ideally like to keep it stock.

Also, is there anything I can do that isn't permanent that are known "improvements" to the ultra-linear years? I heard of juming the MV, etc... of course I just said I did'nt want to mod... oy vey...

Thanks,

CB


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:00 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Do you have photos of the amp's circuit? There are tell-tale clues to certain "BF" mods, within the bias/balance supply and the grid-to-ground resistors of the output tubes.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:40 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
I do not. I'll open her up after this weekend though and post some pics.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 2:59 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26416
Location: Tombstone Territory
cbilliau wrote:
I'm not interested in changing it to a blackface circuit......I'd ideally like to keep it stock......is there anything I can do that isn't permanent that are known "improvements" to the ultra-linear years?


I've owned a '78 ULTR for the last 36 years and aside from swapping speakers, there's really not much in the way of practical "improvements" to be had. The best advice I offer is, ignore both the pull-boost switch along with the master-volume knob and just play the amp conventionally. Use pedals up front for tone-shaping, overdrive development, and compression management.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:42 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Thanks,
I just played with it for the first time, for any length of time, and the tone controls are quite sensitive which I was not expecting. Lots of flexibility. I am coming from an HRDX that I modified to try to get a better fender sound. I finally realized I just need a twin. Glad I did.

The speakers are original. Serial num.has them as Utahs. They seem "tired" sounding. I really liked the wgs g12c/s I had in my HRDX so maybe I'll get another one and switch out the speakers. I preferred a toned down treble and the c/s really pacify the highs. I'm sure a good tune up would do wonders too. Fortunately the tubes are newer so I'll be able to save some money there.

So far, I'm happy. Oh, and I find it funny how soooo many people poo-poo the ultra linear transformer. I didn't realize soooo many people were experts on fenders from 74-82. Haters gonna hate I guess. As a jazz guitarist, give me cleans all day!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 6:52 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26416
Location: Tombstone Territory
The WGS speaker would be an excellent choice for replacements -- the OEM Utah's are singularly unremarkable in tone, much like the Oxfords which they replaced as Fender's standard Twin Reverb driver. Two other speakers worthy of consideration are the Eminence Texas Heat and Celestion's V30 (the latter will require removal of half the baffle-board mounting screws). My '78 model has the extra-cost factory JBL's which add about twenty-five extra pounds to an already-hefty amp. They do sound great though.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 1:53 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:41 pm
Posts: 764
Location: Sydney. Australia
As a jazz guitarist, give me cleans all day!

I have started playing jazz more seriously a year ago ..

Here is my combo these days:
Image

.. and I can recommend these speakers for the tone:
Image

:mrgreen:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:20 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Just played an afternoon show at the marina with my '77 SFTR and a Gretch 6120 with dynas going straight into the amp playing Ventures, Shadows, and Duane tunes. No pedals. Wow! Fender nirvana, Even with the stock Utah's! I don't think I'm changing a thing. There's nothing wrong with these amps at all.

I wonder how many people have passed up a $500 used twin in mint condition just because it had an ultra linear transformer. Glad I didn't.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:55 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26416
Location: Tombstone Territory
It isn't the OT per se that makes these amps less than desirable -- it's the fact that few people find need for a 135-watt amp anymore. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the platform.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:58 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Nikola Tesla wrote:
As a jazz guitarist, give me cleans all day!

I have started playing jazz more seriously a year ago ..

Here is my combo these days:
Image

:mrgreen:


Love that guitar! Bet you can get some wicked feedback from that puppy. You do Wes & Larry riffs? :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:54 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:41 pm
Posts: 764
Location: Sydney. Australia
Not much feedback b4 Vol 7 :mrgreen:

Wes M. yes, but I'm dying for that early Pat Martino style & tone. :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 4:12 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
What is this? Is this a clue to a mod or was this standard? It's an unlabelled dial to the right of the reverb return inside a 1/4" jack. Any idea?

URL=http://s377.photobucket.com/user/seabilliau/media/imagejpg2_zps56507e8d.jpg.html]Image[/URL]


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 5:31 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:53 am
Posts: 10
Location: Connecticut Shoreline
Disregard, disregard. Hun balance. Thanks google.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:25 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Not sure that is the balance/hum pot. BTW... that is one awesome Gretsch.


Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: How to tell if SFTR has been "blackfaced"
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 10:50 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26416
Location: Tombstone Territory
Your amp is not an ultra-linear model and that pot on the right-side rear of the chassis is an add-on mod.

This is an ultra-linear Twin Reverb (mine)......

Image

Note the additional rear-panel details: line-out recording jack, output tubes matching pot, hum-balance control (everything clearly marked by the factory for identification).

You have the earlier 100-watt platform.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: