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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:26 pm
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FenderBluesMan wrote:
Just recently started reading topics here again as I was interested the new 68 custom vintage models. Have to say after reading all the negativity here I was skeptical about buying one to say the least. I figured we were only hearing from the folks with problems and decided to buy a 68 custom deluxe reverb anyway. UPS delivered it today. no issues at all.
sounds pretty darn good right out of the box. I will say I think my 05 65 DRRI with the pulled V1 probably sounds a little better. but its been played 10 hrs a week for the past 8 years. I only notice a little more gain in the " custom " channel. But I do like having reverb and vibrato in both channels. the reverb sounds great (probably a litte better than the DRRI) typical lush fender tube reverb! The vibrato sounds very similar to my DRRI and certainly I would not classify it as great. --- But I'm probably biased as I have a '63 vibroverb as well.
now THATS VIBRATO!!! :P


Now, this is good news. And yes, I have two Mexican guitars that are awesome instruments and had near perfect setups out of the box. I believe my HRDlx III was also assembled in Mexico and that has been trouble free (knock on wood.) And like Arjay stated, a large part of Leo's staff, and the current Fender staff in California are first and second generation Mexican/Americans. Hard workers all of them.

What I would like to know, is which retailer the OP got his two amps from so the rest of us can avoid them especially if other discolored amps show up from the same retailer...

Art


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:11 pm
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FenderBluesMan wrote:
But I do like having reverb and vibrato in both channels. the reverb sounds great (probably a litte better than the DRRI) typical lush fender tube reverb! The vibrato sounds very similar to my DRRI and certainly I would not classify it as great. --- But I'm probably biased as I have a '63 vibroverb as well.
now THATS VIBRATO!!! :P


Functionally there's little difference between the 6G16's tremolo circuit and that of the Princeton and Princeton Reverb amps. All three circuits create the effect by modulating the bias voltage of the power tubes. Generally, it's more pleasing to the ear than the opto-isolator type as used in most of Leo's later designs but pales in comparsion to the 3-tube "harmonic trem" of the other "professional series" brownfaces.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:45 pm
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additional note ... there was some discoloration on the corners when I un-crated the amp.
apparently residue from the styrofoam packing. wiped it with a damp cloth and all is good.

as for the vibrato-- I'm just saying that in my opinion the vibrato in my vibroverb is sonically superior to any blackface or silverface amps, original or reissued that I have heard.

just my opinion--- YMMV

Frank


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:35 pm
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Her Wanna wrote:
the problem is probably that they are made in Mexico.

All of the Fender Chinese-made stuff is great. Those people work hard.

They might have substandard components so they start with a handicap, but the build quality and quality control is 100% perfect.

See, eg, the Mustang amps and the Modern Player guitars.

My prettiest, best made guitar is my $300 modern player tele.

much much nicer neck and everything else than my 3 american fenders.

tied, actually, with my 2 japanese-made mustangs

don't own any MIM stuff and likely never will

I'm flat out serious I would take something made in China over Mexico any day. Those people work hard for fear of the gallows or a whipping....and they don't be takin' no smoke breaks all day or coming to work hungover either.

Cue everybody to tell me how great their MIM strat is.

If you believe this, then it speaks volumes about you and the fact that you would buy anything from a company that would treat their workers in such a fashion. What a maroon. :roll:


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:44 am
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Her Wanna wrote:
Cue everybody to tell me how great their MIM strat is.


No problem, my MIM FSR not only plays great but feels and sounds just as great as any guitar I've played. Compared to my Amer. Dlx Ash strat, I actually prefer the neck on the MIM. The radius on the MIM just suits my hands better. I'm not saying the neck is superior in craftsmanship to the MIA, just that it feels better. That's also the opinion of the other guitarist in our band who also owns a MIA Dlx. Strat.

As for the '68 series of amps, I look forward to one day owning one. Everyone knows that for every one bad review given, at least ten good reviews go unwritten. One of these days I'll drop into a GC and try one out for myself.... :D

Edit:
Forgot to mention this but as long as I keep finding vintage silverfaces for half the price, that '68 is gonna have to wait.

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:56 pm
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Here's a question for for those who are technically proficient in these AB763 circuits.

I have the following simple tube mods to my DRRI with favorable results.

Pull the V1 tube-- no signal leakage between channels resulting in increased gain in the vibrato chanel


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:59 pm
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So what's the question?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:01 pm
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Toronado wrote:
Her Wanna wrote:
the problem is probably that they are made in Mexico.

All of the Fender Chinese-made stuff is great. Those people work hard.

They might have substandard components so they start with a handicap, but the build quality and quality control is 100% perfect.

See, eg, the Mustang amps and the Modern Player guitars.

My prettiest, best made guitar is my $300 modern player tele.

much much nicer neck and everything else than my 3 american fenders.

tied, actually, with my 2 japanese-made mustangs

don't own any MIM stuff and likely never will

I'm flat out serious I would take something made in China over Mexico any day. Those people work hard for fear of the gallows or a whipping....and they don't be takin' no smoke breaks all day or coming to work hungover either.

Cue everybody to tell me how great their MIM strat is.


You just made a whole slew of dangerous generalizations. I don't even want to get into this argument. :roll:


That's just about the most ridiculous statement I've ever read. And I won't get into that argument either. I've seen some bad stuff come from the USA, China, Mexico, Korea, England, India..... Get my drift. Bad stuff can come from anywhere. So can good stuff. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:06 pm
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sorry about the incomplete post above

Here's a question for for those who are technically proficient in these AB763 circuits.

I have made the following simple tube mods to my DRRI with favorable results.

Pull the V1 tube-- no signal leakage between channels resulting in increased gain in the vibrato channel

replace the V6 phase inverter tube from a 12AT7 with a 12ax7------ earlier breakup and compression,smoother attack

I wouldn't pull the V1 in the 68 custom deluxe reverb because i plan to use both channels but do you think I could expect similar results with the V6 change?

do you think with the modified circuitry it would hurt the amp?

Thanks for any input.


Frank


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:44 pm
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I would try subbing 12AT7's in the V1 and V2 positions before diddling with the phase-inverter stage.

But that's just me.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 1:58 pm
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" Replace the V6 phase inverter tube from a 12AT7 with a 12ax7. "

Please be very careful when swapping out ANY circuit that uses a 12AT7 or 12AU7 with a 12AX7 or 5751. The AB763 draws much more current through its 12AT7 phase inverter. That's why Fender went to the 12AT7 in the first place. It can handle 15mA draw. The 12AX7 shouldn't "see" more than 5mA RMS. Really to stay within linear range, the current should be around 1-2mA.

This is why a lot of these "12AX7 for 12AT7 switches" end up with a noisy amp. Or 12AX7 tubes that quickly goes weak or microphonic.

Check the schematic (and cathode voltage reading points) of a 12AT7 PI and 12AX7 (7025) PI circuit:

http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... _schem.pdf

http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... _schem.pdf


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:21 pm
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Minnesotastrats wrote:
Her Wanna wrote:
the problem is probably that they are made in Mexico.

All of the Fender Chinese-made stuff is great. Those people work hard.

They might have substandard components so they start with a handicap, but the build quality and quality control is 100% perfect.

See, eg, the Mustang amps and the Modern Player guitars.

My prettiest, best made guitar is my $300 modern player tele.

much much nicer neck and everything else than my 3 american fenders.

tied, actually, with my 2 japanese-made mustangs

don't own any MIM stuff and likely never will

I'm flat out serious I would take something made in China over Mexico any day. Those people work hard for fear of the gallows or a whipping....and they don't be takin' no smoke breaks all day or coming to work hungover either.

Cue everybody to tell me how great their MIM strat is.

If you believe this, then it speaks volumes about you and the fact that you would buy anything from a company that would treat their workers in such a fashion. What a maroon. :roll:


Yeah I know it's Mexicans in the US plant too. The US guitars I've seen also come with lots of noticeable defects (like chips in the fretboard, ugly grain on the neck, not even close to set up)--one per instrument is apparently allowed and it passes inspection. This has been covered here. I'm not kidding. I wish it weren't so but we are a society in decline and I have significant disappointment with all 3 of my American-made Fenders. The two american standards have weird weird necks that are distracting and I gave up on getting one without a chip in the rosewood on the sides, and the Corgan Strat has a terrible nut cut (could be fixed, but it should have been right the first time). I can visibly see the rough edges that snag--it looks like a toy.

The flawless stuff I've seen was made in Asia--too bad they start out with cheap internal components. My 3 Asian-made guitars BLOW AWAY (for real, by a mile) my 3 American-made guitars in BUILD QUALITY. Even the cheapest one, the Chinese-made modern player tele. I look forward to the day when I can put good pickups etc inside that one and it will be my best guitar--best body and best neck, by far. My 2 japanese mustangs are flawless too, in terms of neck and body.

The mustang amp is what it is and you can talk about how it doesn't sound like a real tube amp, but the plant that made it made it perfectly as it was intended to be. No missing screws (lzolzozllo lololol) as I've read about repeatedly with DRRIs. Flat out missing a screw where a screw should be?? Are you kidding me? That is completely unacceptable. Would have to be an American factory to allow that kind of laziness and sloppiness.


Last edited by Her Wanna on Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:37 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:24 pm
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tbazzone wrote:
Her Wanna wrote:
the problem is probably that they are made in Mexico.

All of the Fender Chinese-made stuff is great. Those people work hard.

They might have substandard components so they start with a handicap, but the build quality and quality control is 100% perfect.

See, eg, the Mustang amps and the Modern Player guitars.

My prettiest, best made guitar is my $300 modern player tele.

much much nicer neck and everything else than my 3 american fenders.

tied, actually, with my 2 japanese-made mustangs

don't own any MIM stuff and likely never will

I'm flat out serious I would take something made in China over Mexico any day. Those people work hard for fear of the gallows or a whipping....and they don't be takin' no smoke breaks all day or coming to work hungover either.

Cue everybody to tell me how great their MIM strat is.

This is outright laughable. Maybe you should move to china and just find out how wonderful it is.


Can y'all read? I didn't say it's wonderful for them or that I would want to be them. I simply stated they churn out products with zero flaws. That's wonderful for me when I buy one.


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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:46 pm
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Her Wanna wrote:
Can y'all read? I didn't say it's wonderful for them or that I would want to be them. I simply stated they churn out products with zero flaws. That's wonderful for me when I buy one.


When you lose your job and your home because the parent corporation you work for moved all its facilities to Shanghai to become the "Peoples' Liberation Army Widget Company", let everyone know how wonderful that feels, pilgrim.

:roll:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: are '68 amps lemons?
Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:29 pm
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[/quote]Can y'all read? I didn't say it's wonderful for them or that I would want to be them. I simply stated they churn out products with zero flaws. That's wonderful for me when I buy one.[/quote]
If they were made in a concentration camp, I suspect that would be OK by you too, as long as you got a good deal. Right? :roll:


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