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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:21 am
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I replaced the plastic pcb mounted jacks with metal switchcrafts and the pots with CTS pots, made that amp a new animal. A lot more usable volume, also stuck a 12ay7 in the v1 installed 2 - Eminence Rajun Cajun's and 2 Eminence Legends.

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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 9:04 am
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All of the '68 Custom models have reduced negative feedback, which means more noise. The claim is earlier breakup. The '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb I owned also had low-rated (#3) Groove Tubes 6V6's. Again, the idea is more clipping and softer edges.
Cleans suffer.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:10 pm
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Well after two weeks at the shop on drip IV, maybe they finally got it sorted out..

It is much less hissy and the hum is intermittent now..
It seems to hum sometimes with the reverb pedal plugged in.. I unplug it and the hum goes away instantly.

I have tried my DRRI reverb pedal with it and it does the same thing. The 68 Custom Twin pedal works fine in the DRRI, so pretty sure it is not a pedal issue.. Like it has a ground loop or something that builds up a charge, if I hit the standby switch and then unplug and plug the reverb pedal all is good.. So what I have been doing is leaving the reverb pedal unplugged when I first fire it up, then plug it in before I take it off of standby..

This amp has come very close to being tossed in the fire pit out back or taken to the target range..
But, as of now I have managed to get it much more tolerable to the headphones when miked up in my DAW..

The past few days is actually the longest I have gotten to play this amp since I got the replacement several months ago..
I am liking what I am hearing in the Custom channel, now that the noise floor has dropped considerably, I can actually hear the clear Fender tone coming out of it...

I just bought a 50's Tribute Les Paul with P90's and it is really a good match for that amp..
I have not plugged in my strats yet, that Les Paul is spoiling my $@!..

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:57 pm
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Why was the amp returned claiming it was fixed when it was not. I would have thought the tech would have tested the amp before releasing it. A hum is not too hard to detect.
Kenny V


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:49 am
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My 2nd hand '68 Custom Twin is noisy, too!

Being the European version, I read that the opto-bug was replaced by a digital circuit(a stomp box inside the amp...) to emulate the Tremolo effect. Someone in Europe is going to modify the amp to restore it to the original specs...


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:40 am
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To me, it seems unlikely that the tremolo would be replaced with a solid state version. That would require another low voltage tap in the power transformer and a low voltage filter circuit.
You can simply count the number of preamp tubes to verify this. There will be one less than other versions. It would be uncharacteristic for Fender to depart from the tube Tremolo.

A noisy amp is different than a humming amp. I wouldn't be surprised if it was noisier. They are higher gain than the vintage models and noise comes along with the higher gain.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:45 am
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There is no "digital tremolo" circuit, but a digital emulation of the opti roach: the primary cable goes to these two boards beside the main PCB.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:54 am
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TimsAudio wrote:
To me, it seems unlikely that the tremolo would be replaced with a solid state version.


It has been and this is what it looks like......

Image

The operational circuit board is to the left and its auxiliary power supply is mounted on the right. You can plainly see the vacant slot on the main PCB where the opto-isolator once resided.

This is a late-model DRRI but the current TRRI looks quite similar.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:08 am
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Thanks for the pics Arjay. Being a repair outfit, I don't get to see this stuff until I have a broken one on my bench.

Fender...WTF. Did we complain about the tremolo tick so much that you had to do this?
I can't believe that the cost of two auxilary boards, an extra tap in the PT and time to assemble is less than the cost of the standard tube tremolo.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:51 am
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I had a hum that decreased with volume several years ago, I found some questionable soders on the input jack and power switch. When I redid them it was much improved.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:55 am
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Well I have not posted in awhile about this amp, but I did something this morning that totally took out all hum from this amp.. I switched it off..

Just kidding, I took out the reverb tank and turned it all the way around so the little reverb transformer part is under the preamp tubes now, the hum magically went away. Much more playable now and it is now almost as good as my 1973 Twin Reverb Silverface..

Maybe with the reverb transformer being under the power tubes and tranny was doing it? Not sure,but it does not hum at all now. As much as I have hated on this amp, it actually sounds pretty good now..

_________________
In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 3:14 pm
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Great news. I was watching this issue to see if you got it resolved. I have the 68 Vibrolux and my reverb unit was kind of thrown in there (plugged in, but secured by packing paper up by the speakers). I put it at the base using the Velcro.

I hope the amp grows on you. I would love to try it.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 3:46 am
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I've disconnected the vibrato circuit on my 68CVR, dont use it and its beefed up the tone on both channels considerably with it off. if you dont use vibrato on your 68's then def worth pulling the V5 tube out.


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:49 pm
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So I replaced all of the preamp tubes today with electro harmonix tubes. 12ay7's in v1 and v2, 2 12at7's and 2 12ax7's. Quieted it down a bit and it sounds pretty good. Got my eyes on some russian power tubes and a bias setup next..

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: 2014 Fender 68' Custom Twin Reverb Hum Issues
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:17 pm
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You might also try an NOS 5751 in V1 and/or V2. The gain factor for this dual-triode is about midway between a standard 12AX7 and the 12AY7 but they generally idle quieter, much like a 7025.

Arjay

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