1974 Fender Deluxe Reverb Part 1: Disassembly and Evaluation 

Doug, you are an outstanding example of everything that is right with the human race, i really enjoyed this video, and every vid of yours i've watched, regards to Rusty.

We all Love all the educational videos you are so willing to share with us Tubers. I'm fortunate enough to have a 1 year old matchless that is my current baby. I wanted to snug up the mounting screws on the Power & Standby Switches. In doing so, I wanted to hold the switches on the inside, so nothing moved, which gave me the opportunity to peek inside. The craftsmanship internally looks immaculate. All is well at Matchless in Los Angeles and I'm excited to have the photos as I learn more and understand what it is I have. Thanks for all your videos Uncle Doug. . . . RodeDog !

Aw, Uncle Doug. You’re a genuine master. I have respect for your understanding and appreciation for Fender amplifiers. You’re my number 1 of all RU-vid. Take that from a guy who’s still working on tube amplifiers since 1978 in Ireland 🇮🇪

Great video Doug. So many thanks for sharing your skills with us.

Just found this channel so glad to see he just uploaded. New fan and subscriber for sure. We love uncle Doug

This is why i sent back my new Delux reverb. It never looked like this inside! Wonderful stuff!

This is pure education for me. Thanks for posting these.

Good advice, Kevin. Thanks for posting it.

Headed off to watch part 2 and just wanted to say how enjoyable your videos are. I wish I had gone down the electronics path when I was younger. I had a 1972 Deluxe silver face I played professionally for years. Great amps except when it would start "singing", but a good rap on top quieted it down! Thank you, Les

if it wasn't for you I would never know what a decoupling cap is or why AC and DC can mix one the same wire. now I even understand the operation of some basic guitar pedals. thanks!

Thanks for the video Doug, looking forward to the next video. Learning new stuff all the time. Take care to you and Rusty.

GREAT video. Thanks a ton for putting these out here.

I have stumbled upon several of your videos on youtube, and each are well thought out, entertaining, and educational. Thanks for taking the time to make them!

Nice find. you can hear the excitement in your voice. Congrats!

Love these 70's SF amps, and the Deluxe is my favorite flavor of Fender.

It's a real gem. I got the clean channel working today and the tone is spectacular. Next.....the tremolo and reverb.

You did very well in lucking out on this magnificent vintage piece. "Excellent"

Glad I stumbled here. I am looking forward to watching this series! :)

I purchased a beautiful 1967 Drip Edge PR.a few years ago. Everything except the speaker and AC plug seem to be correct. I'm not trained in electronics like you but I have an intrest in it and I'm skilled enough to do a good and proper job of swapping parts, if I have good instruction. Your videos are a God Send, thank you. I moved from my home of 60 years and now I know nobody I would trust to work on my gear. The guy that worked on my gear before I moved was a musician that had made a living in amp repair since 1940. This guy is a tube amp guru. There are too many unqualified people out there claiming they know what to do with guitar amps. Your detailed instruction gives me hope that I can keep my gear in great shape. Thank You Uncle Doug.Peace, Hutch

Thanks, Frank. It's been a while since I found an amp of this magnitude. Earlier in the week, I felt a strong inclination to go amp hunting an area (out of town) that I hadn't been to in several months.....and there it was. Nine times out of ten, these "hunches" lead nowhere, but once in a while they pay off...:)))

I don't know how I missed this one.I have the exact same amp 1974 all original.I love this amp I played a outdoor event with it 2 days ago.mine has the Utah speaker in it.This is a great amp.thanks for the video.

Thanks, Dan. I'm working feverishly to get it finished.....

What you have here sir is my bucket list of amps

Doug, you really are awesome. I love your videos and get totally drawn in watching them.

So many thanks for this and all your videos!

I once had s very nice collection of vintage Fender amps, with the majority of them being Deluxe Reverbs. Of all of them my most reliable and the one I loved the tone of the most is my '74. It's the only one I kept in my retirement.

Hi again Doug You were right. It was one of the smaller tubes that caused the intermittent buzz! One of the pins going into the socket what bent flat, so the tube was loose. I straightened the pin and it fits nicely into the socket now. Sorted!! (I am not a technician as you can tell). Thanks for the tip!

Great news, Daniel !! I'm glad you were able to repair the amp and are now enjoying a "buzz-free" playing experience. I think you may be more of a technician than you're willing to admit......:))

Thanks so much Doug.

Great video as always! One thing I might mention is you should make sure the heater wires to the 6v6's are consistent. In preamp tubes, it doesn't matter, but making sure the heater wire from the first 6v6 on pin 2 goes to pin 2 of the second 6v6, same for pin 7. This allows hum-canceling to occur. Fender never paid attention to this, so about half the time, they're wired out of phase. Just a tip. Looking forward to the next videos!

I believe that virtually all new tubes are being made by just one or two manufacturers, so there's not a lot of difference between them. These particular 6V6's tested with higher emission levels than I have ever seen, including NOS tubes. They pegged my Hickok tube tester.

I acquired a '74 Twin Reverb 15 years ago. When I first got it, it would randomly make big popping noises. Took the chassis out and found that a coupling cap broke and it was arcing. I replaced that and it worked fine after that. It also had no reverb, and I found that one of the little tiny wires inside had broke off. Soldered that back on and it sounded beautiful after that.

Awesome video Doug! I am hanging out for the next one.

Fantastic, love your videos.

Thanks so much !!

Hooray. Good for you. VERY much agree about that optowiggler ... weak and wimpy. Congrats (many years later!) on that Jensen. I have a '77 that has been messed with. I just got it two months ago (this is 16Sept2019), and it sounds like a small Super Reverb. I already have two of those, so I'm gonna find somebody who can turn it as close into a blackface Deluxe Reverb as possible ... We shall see ...

That's just a SWEET amplifier.

What a great find! I love the Fender Deluxe Reverb. My brother-in-law has a Twin Reverb and the rarer Fender Quad Reverb (both silver-face). But this Deluxe Reverb looks to be in better shape than either of his. 'Looking forward to seeing this one get the Uncle Doug "Deluxe" treatment!

I had one of these decades ago .. I sold it !!! It was a great blues amp ; just the right volume ;

This amp is a pretty nice find! :)

My main amp....to the year.... I love it. Fitted a 55hz Celestion Greenback...an English made one...Sounds amazing.

Thanks got a lot of great info out of this and subscribed.

My favourite amp......of all time.

Rusty also can also sniff out bad filter capacitors. I'd be lost without him :)

Thanks Doug! I will try.

Nice amplifier. Very good condition.

Bad Mann, your comment did not have a reply capability, so I'll reply up here. You're right, the speaker was replaced. This is discussed in the video at 4:55. Thanks for your input.

I have an 95% original Fender Super Six Reverb with the six 10 inch. 5 of 6 speakers are original.Dated somewhere between 1974 & 1976.. Still works great!

Great score! Looks like a 56 pulp cone. I haven't seen your follow up videos on this particular amplifier yet, but that speaker is going to break up very quickly and you will hear pure tube distortion at low volume. I don't believe that speaker would last long fully cranked up and would probably feedback, but would sound heavenly at lower volumes. I prefer the Jensen C12N/Q or clone equivalent in this amplifier or a more efficient modern alnico that can handle it. The ideal amplifier for that beautiful pulp cone old Jensen is in a lower wattage tweed era amplifier, 5 to 20 watts, if you like to crank them up like I do. I've pushed all of the vintage alnico "P" speaker's and they always sound best just before the spider freezes up, lol. I understand that this video is 7 years back, so I apologize if I'm preaching to the choir in the present, so to speak. I'll keep an eye out for your follow up videos on this Deluxe Reverb. I'm curious about the GZ34 and the voltages. The excitement in your voice is infectious my friend. Congratulations! ; )

Great vids! Makes me want to become a technician. I have a '72 with a few issues ( inermittent buzz that goes away when I tilt the amp?) and you give me the opportunity to try and sort the problems . Hope there is no difference with the '74

Hi there--I love your videos, as they are very informative. And of course the good humor is always appreciated. I just picked up a ~'78 Deluxe Reverb with the Push/Pull vibrato channel volume. Vibrato is not working, but everything else is great. Except when I tried to reduce hum by touching the ground switch--got a nice jolt last night. I thought the same thing: "Why does a stock grounded power cable amp have a ground switch??" I'm sure the "death cap" must've passed A/C to the chassis, and then me and my guitar. But I wonder if it may need another 12AX7 for renewed vibrato.

I loved your video, I learned a lot. I subscribed.

P.S. How the heck did I miss this video. Classic teaching, Uncle Doug…..👍

Nice. Well done. I would just mention that you are probably safe in this case (a 74 amp) but in my experience about half the tube charts I have seen on BF amps are not the correct ones so take them with a grain of salt. Thanks!!!

These are great amps. They get even better when they are moved into a MojoTone cabinet.

I've got a 1970 SFDR, that I bought while teaching at a music store locally in 1986 for $250.00.

As a novice and amplifier junkie I have really enjoyed expanding my knowledge watching your videos. I lucked out at a sale and picked up a '78 DR for a song (relatively speaking).... another successful story of finally "lucking" out. The only thing that was amiss was the tremolo, so I had my tech friend throw on a photocoupler/wiggler and bias supply and filter caps onto his large order from mouser or whoever he goes through. It is one heck of an amplifier---noticeably more powerful than the blackface amplifiers. All you have to do is leave the push/pull volume boost pot on the vibrato channel IN. I've never heard a more strident feature on an amp. What kind of procedure would one go through to supply tremolo oscillation from one of the oscillating 1/2 tubes?

I'm thinking of buying a Deluxe reissue and converting it to Point to point hand wired circuit board? UD "Decent" wow I'd die for that amp.

hi Doug wanted to say thanks for the knowledtge and sharing with us I have a fender ultra chorus I bought new back in the earlies 90s but all ways wished I got a tw in reverb tube amp.wood only witgive 150 for trade wants 700 for the 1978 twin reverb good deal Doug

Great video! I wish you would show how to check the output transformer and the reverb transducers thought

"Drunken Chimpanzees" I formally resemble that remark! I used to work for AAMCO transmissions, but now I fix amps.

I'd be glad to pick up an old broken Fender amp, nice and cheap and I have the skill to fix them. Might as well have handed me a working amp. ;)

Thanks, Daniel. What a strange malady.....I wonder if a wire or tube filament is "loose" and responding to changes in position? Have you tapped on the tubes to see if one is microphonic? Also, maybe try moving the speaker and reverb cables around while it buzzes to see if you can pin point the source. Good luck.

I'm actually rather amazed you don't have a solid answer for the outlet on back of the amp. I seem to remember trying to use one before and it caused hum in my signal chain. Regardless of what I did. The fan thing is a great idea, if I don't cause any noise issues. I wish I could run into a old Manuel telling use what fender had in mind. I've even thought about wrapping the power cord up then plugging it in the outlet for storage. Lol. Anyhow, if you ever nail down a answer let me know. Thanks Doug.

I have a great name for your band: “The White Spots.” Nice to see Rusty, by the way. I miss him. That dog had very good sense.

We were talking about building a tremolo pedal the other day and I think your right. For me just buying a pedal would be the best idea. Thanks and sorry for being such a pest. I do like the videos tho and hope to see lots more

"worked on by drunken chimpanzees", haha hilarious. informative and entertaining, way to go, uncle doug.

These power tubes (GT 6V6HD) are actually Russian 6Pi3C. Groove tubes marketed in the 90s. Its consumption is 900mA instead of 450mA. (as a 6L6). Care with them...

Rusty ROCKS!

cool

Doug wanted to know how to replace a speaker baffle in a Fender Super Reverb, my original baffle is let into the sides of the cabinet. Thanks

Doug, How do you "divide and conquer" to find out where those popping noises are coming from? I know you can usually identify a problem before or after the volume by seeing if it goes up or down with volume, but I've got an amp with a hiss on top of the note and some popping sounds, and I haven't been able to find where it's coming from. Do you start replacing plate resistors ,first, coupling caps? grid leaks? I've swapped tubes and I'm sure the hiss on top of the note is not tube-related. The pops might be, but the old mullard 12ax7 that it pops worst with is dead quiet in another amp of mine. Thanks!

My deluxe reverb is a '72 and is in almost similar condition. The difference is the speaker. My speakers have a Fender logo sticker on them.

This video was worth the price of admission when Uncle Doug says the words "Drunken chimpanzees"

My 69 Bassman head I just scored had white paint splatter on top! You're right!

Beautiful amp. I’m interested (at 44 years old) in learning about electronics (specifically amp circuits and design), what would be a good place to start from the beginning? Any books, videos, or other resources you can recommend? This would be a hobby, not necessarily a career. Thank you for any direction you can provide.

Thanks Uncle Doug and Jack: I have a DRRI with a 16 ohm Greenback Speaker. I am looking to bias this amp for early breakup irrespective of output tube life for killer blues tone. Where should my output plate dissipations be set for these 6v6’s for this type of tone?

Hello, I did something pretty stupid today and I think I killed my Twin reverb reissue... I plugged the footswitch into the external speaker jack and practiced with it like that until it died. There was a lot of heat, but the amp was on the other side of the room so I dIdn't notice until it was too late. I notice that it was not nearly as loud as usual but thought something else in the chain was causing the volume drop. It is dead now and wont turn on. Have I really killed my amp? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Uncle Doug you have inspired me to make a tweed cabinet for my deluxe reverb. Do I need that heat shield that snags the control panel or can I can I get away without it? If I need it where can I get it? I'm also going to use an old Fender 022954 speaker that I have been saving for like 30 years, what do you think about that? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks for you great videos.

Rusty taught me how to sniff them out :)))

hi bro thanks for ur vids, i got a silverface deluxe but i want change to blackface circuits so u think that modifications can be done well and can make sf sound like a bf ?

You should play more on your videos or if you feel too shy get someone else to play -- though your playing is fine. We the public want to hear those lovely sounds!

I think I remember that a 12AU7 is a better tube to drive the reverb, as it makes it much less sensitive.

tis a top of the line 70...looks like mine...the ex sold it when I went to Nam...

Hey Doug, Can you tell me what the right material is to use for a speaker baffle on a Princeton Reverb cabinet? Would that be 5/8ths ply?

I meant, it would be nice for it to be used again.

Very informative! Thank you! Do you have any videos for blackface Twin or Deluxe Reverbs? Is there much difference between Blackface and Silverface?

Thanks, 2005, and (unlike the 6:00 news).....no politics or dreary economic forecasts :)

How do you calculate which fuses to use? Which of the transformer winding are the most important to protect?

I worked at Fender Santa Ana. Alot of stoners. Quit got my contracters license and ended up working on Corona plant. The deal with a Fender is we can fix. But once a lemon always a lemon

NIce.

Uncle Doug, I've a couple of questions concerning amp wattage. On a few tube data sheets, plate wattage (for instance 16w) and output wattage (for instance 4.5w). Would an amp built using one of these tubes be rated at 16w or 4.5w? Another question is how wattage rating relates to volume, db? You run all of the amps you work on mostly through the same speaker and the volume sounds the same. Could be the balance on your camera but I am very curious. Thank you. Love the videos.

I would not ever think that Uncle Dog would take it in the shorts over an amp. The years of time here on you tube determines that you can manipulate the give and take of amplifiers and users, abusers and legendary artistry

Hi Doug, I've one 73 and I changed the PT and put to 240V (blackfacing with 5U4 for now). Should I switch the 2 amp fuse?

"And you see some spiderweb action going on its halloween" great sense of humor right there! Love it! But as an Arachniphobe EEKS!!! great vid greatful I subscribed! I'm a audiophile so that explains it I guess.

Uncle Doug, you mentioned a fix For the hum coming from this amp but I didn't understand what you did exactly. Would you please explain to me exactly what you added to the circuit and where please? Thank you Uncle Doug

Is that the bright cap that tan capacitor connected to the volume pot?

Whenever I come to restore something, I'm always going to add a spray of white emulsion in your honor 😅

If you disconnect the reverb tank, can you blow your reverb OT, like you do with the SpeakerT, if no speaker load is connected?

Uncle Doug,I really enjoy all your videos. I have a Fender '65 Deluxe (re-issue) and the 6v6's area extremely HOT. I believe that Fender did this for some unknown reason. I have not taken the chassis from the cabinet yet. ATM, I'm working on a 5F2A amp and 6G15 reverb unit and all left is building the cabinet(s) and tolex, which I watched your video(s) on the tolex installation..My issue is the problem of the 6V6's getting HOT. I don't want to have replacing the 6V6's as they are not cheap. Is there a way to reduce the heat on the 6V6's (bias adjustment ?).Thanks, Tom...