This channel is now the measurement on which I get new amps. Thank you. I have the unfortunate black and blue ht mk 2 blackstar and I found out I made a bad choice here.
I like the end result which isn’t always a fix. Sometimes it’s just solid advice and getting what you “need” vs the perception of what you thought you “needed” and really was just a want.
I recently purchased a ‘68 Custom Pro Reverb amp as a “gigging” amp so I don’t have to take my ‘64 Custom Deluxe Reverb outside my home (too expensive to take it to a gig and run the risk of some moronic or intoxicated jerk damaging it or spilling a drink on it🤨). Life is too short for that!😂. Note - I love MIM Teles but am cautious about MIM Fender amps, and I had to try out several of these Pro Reverbs until I found one that was totally noise/hiss free (but they are out there😉). Extraneous noise is particularly noticeable when using the tremolo effect. However, I was able to find a good one and really do like this unit. Particularly like that it is only one channel, has 40 watts, and has a great speaker - really cuts through the mix. If this amp was stolen or suffered some bizarre damage like being run over by a truck, I’d definitely get another one!😎
I had one of these for a little bit. Ok amp, didn’t have a lot of noise. Mostly the whole random notes glass rattle at any volume low to high on specific notes. Went to a Fender Goldstar Tech that went through 5 pairs of tubes. Then told me the power tube holders were just cheap. Said if you want to keep it, suggested getting those replaced, some rewiring and basic stuff your doing here. He told me to return the amp, and look at something better was his opinion. But the selling point of the amp was clean pedal board headroom to 5-6(single coil/humbuckers) And after 5-6 classic Fender breakup. So you can go loud enough to be clean on pedals….but still hit the distorted sound around 5-6. That’s how it was sold to me at least from the reviews. But ok amp, light and needed the ole, Fender tech look over that every reissue needs imo. That’s why I say buy these used for $800 vs new $1400, and use that extra money on a tech. You’ll get a better amp than the factory and cheaper! Will last a lot longer as well. That’s why any reissue I touch is used price, and tech day 1 if I’m going to record or travel with it.
Me also he could be explaining the internal workings in Swahili and it would still just be as bamboozling to me as in English but it's great to know what the possible pitfalls are when considering buying an amp especially at the prices they go for new
Hmm mine is not noisey at all! I got a killer deal on this and the form factor is perfect for me. The speaker is a great pairing and the light weight has been a life saver as I’ve been doing 3-5 practices/gigs a week lately. Did some sessions with it and had both engineers comment on how good the tone was! Now I do get some tube rattle when I’m loud. I’m yet to try to replace the culprit tube. I’m sure the light weight and small size of the amp makes this thing vibrate much more than a comparable wattage amp. Also whatever the light weight wood they are using - it may also be more resonant and add to that vibration. I worry that, as a majority of reviews of this amp mention tube/chassis rattle, that it may be almost inescapable.
hi lyle ,great video as always. ive accidently found a solution to the 68 hiss, a dr z break lite attenuator! you take down 2 db and the hiss is gone. attenuators down side is that they lose highs i guess the hiss is in a frequency that this attenuator loses. i don't know if it will work with other attenuators but a used brake lite is 150$.
I think the 47 ohm resister in the tail of the PI is normal for blackface/silverface Fender amps that have an 8 ohm speaker output, and the value is not related to whether the output tubes are 6L6 or 6V6. So you'll find a 47 ohm value resistor in Deluxe Reverbs as well as the much rarer Vibroverb with the single 15" speaker. The lower value (compared to 100 ohms) compensates for the higher voltage NFB signal coming off the 8 ohm secondary of the OT.
This is a fender I've had my eye on since they introduced it. I was hoping this would be a 40 watt Princeton reverb and would love to get one of these if I could have it modded to (essentially) be a black face 40 watt Princeton Reverb.
I've got one of these 68 Custom Pro Reverbs powering a 2x12 loaded with vintage JBL D120s and it's Jerry Garcia heaven. Dead ringer for the 1969 Live/Dead album guitar sound. But you're right, I wasn't expecting the breakup to start so early on the dial. Great video. Did you have a chance to test the Neo Creamback on any other amps?
@@blueskiedanclear-1 I bought the 68 Princeton for rehearsals and I hear myself well. Deluxe Reverb is loud enough for gigs, most of my gigs I am not even miked. When it comes to hearing yourself it is really about EQ. I’ve read that the difference in volume isn’t that big between Deluxe and Pro. One thing that I would like to hear is the difference in what amp has the highest clean headroom. So for that reason I am gonna buy a second hand Pro Reverb when it shows up at the right price.
There are variants of the single channel ab763. I’ve built the ones based on vibroverbs but with 6v6s and trem deleted. In a Princeton chassis they’re my favorite. 100% accurate on the mixing resistor emulation. I hate the reissues, resorted to building my own 😂
@@MoonshineDelight rob Robinette has a great site for the evolution of fender amplifiers and he describes the circuit differences. You can find my one channel builds on el34 world forums under vampwizzard
Our rehearsal hall has a new Pro Reverb with 1 12” that I’ve played through with several different types of guitars. 😊Maybe it’s one of these. Anyway I use the amp as a pedal platform and I’ve been happy with it. The amp is bright.
Will you be doing another video about good amps to purchase within a certain price range? The first two videos were excellent. I think it finished on good amps to purchase under 1k. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Very helpful when someone who knows what they are talking about can guide you away from potential disasters.
Great info. Thanks for sharing. I am in the market. I played one of these last night at GC and loved it. It did not seem noisy at all, but I don't know much about amps. It was very sparkly and had very detailed cleans. Would you suggest I get a 65' Reissue instead? I play very low volumes, like just where it turns on around 2. I have ringing tinnitus so if I go higher (as I love to do), I pay a steep price (no sleep, buzzing louder, etc. Not fun.) So for lower volume, noise free at home playing, is the 65' the way to go? To get some dirt, would you recommend a Blues Driver or a Tube Screamer in front of it? Anyone? Thanks!
I have two of these amps, I have changed the speaker and used them both on countless gigs. No noise, a bit of his which is typical of most amps these days ( ever listed to a boogie? ) While the old “ they don’t build em like they used to “ gets tired. I am selling one because I found an Alessandro I can afford. I also have an Alessandro 65 Hand wired deluxe. These reissues, The Pro specifically is an incredible amp for the money. Personally I prefer the solid state rectifier. Great amps for any level of player, and it sounds like a fender should. The second channel is useless and adds nothing but weight IMHO. Also to mention that the 65 reissue is a good amp, all I can say is not at all in my experience. My 65 Deluxe had none of the pleasant characteristics of a classic deluxe, until I had George modify and hand wire it, and also change the speaker
i suppose the reverb noise thing might be related to the fact that the grid is a higher impedance node than the plate, and thus more sensitive to induced noise? so having a shorter and non loopy path should help? in any case an invaluable tip as always, so thanks!
I’ve been waiting / hoping you would get one of these in to review. I have an opportunity to get a real ‘68 drip-edge pro reverb (original except power tubes, power cord, and new filter caps), and am often wondering how it compares to these newer 1x12 ‘pro’ models.
I had the 68 Princeton with same issues. Really noisy at idle, problematic groove tubes, fuzzy Celestion speaker. Trying to give this amp some grit and crunch at lower volumes for home players on a budget didn’t make it better. I sold it within a year. It was nice looking though.
Just a quick question if you have time: Where is "noon" on a Hot Rod Deluxe 1st gen? I know a HRD is it's own thing but is there a generally agreed-upon "noon" setting on the tone stack? Thanks.
I saw the other reissue videos where you cut the PCB trace on the master volume knob circuits and wired directly to tube socket. Would that have helped to reduce the hiss on this amp?
Aloha Lyle, On more than a few occasions I've heard you mention how bad the C12K speaker is. My question is regarding if the speaker is structurally bad or does it sound really bad? Is it your opinion based on that? Please explain why it's bad thank you. I love watching/listening to your offerings.
I just bought a used one of these amps and since, took it to a tech for a loud metallic rattling sound. So loud that you can clearly hear it when playing and when recording. I asked you what it could be on the last stream because the tech said it was a bad tube. Replaced the tube which we thought it was but when I got the amp back home, the sound was still there.
My Fender tech says the power tube holders were just crap. I could put some really fat tube rings around, then try to get them to touch the cage. But he said no matter what those sockets are just not great…he suggested I replace them. Watch him swap 5 pairs of tubes, and still same thing. It would rattle even on volume 1 which sucked for recording. But it ended up being the power tube holders, just not being tight enough. Some techs didn’t catch it, and just said tube. Till I had two duplicates..my first and an exchange brought to a really good tech. We could duplicate it with both. I watched the entire process while he was working, and he walked me through. I didn’t hold onto in the end, but I really loved it. I just was against doing that work on a $1,400 new price tag. $900 used, sure why not! I would of kept it then.
Can anyone help me with this question: if I replace the power tubes in this amp (same tube type, different brand) do I absolutely have to get it rebiased, or am I probably good to go?
10:28 plate conection is a high impedance point, any wire/track connecting that point to others is prone to crosstalk. Maybe it has to do with that, when the high impedance loop is moved to the other side
I used to borrow my friends dad had a late 70's pro reverb it had the push pull switch. 2-12's 2 channel. Tremolo. Ive played twins since then and I didnt like the twin like I did the pro reverb. Am I a dummy?
In terms of form-factor this thing is killer - for most people the second channel on a Fender is more or less useless. Only 35lbs to lug around, but with enough headroom to get up cleanly over a heavy handed drummer. I reckon it'd be a great second hand pickup in a few years if you don't mind the NFB or if you've got the skills/cash to have it changed.
Many people say channel one on the fenders sound better. But it's true everybody uses Channel 2 because of the Reverb. People say channel one sounds better because it doesn't go through the Reverb.
is it worth buying it? or better still glued to my Marshall JCM 2000 🇬🇧 and My early 70s ss Kustom? or maybe get a Vox AC15 or a Roland JC40/120? I'm looking for a big clean sound. And maybe "surfy" sound .
Did you get a chance to hook up the Neo speaker to other amps? I have a Fender Rivera era Deluxe ll with a 100 watt Celestion G12H. It sounds great but too heavy. Considering getting the Neo Creamback. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance and I love your videos!!!!!!’😊
Is the magnet strength of 'Neo' speakers an issue for amps with physical spring reverb tanks? Thinking of swapping to one in my 65 DRRI so would appreciate any experiences/thoughts
Those gray ribbon cables connecting the boards are definitely a future point of failure. Those types of push-in wire connectors make poor contact to begin with, and over time, especially in something that gets moved around like an amp, they will work their way looser and looser, resulting in intermittent connections.
This has bias trem. In another video he said he didn't think they used the roach because it might have some chemical that couldn't be used in the EU. So that's another thing that they changed from the original. Not saying it's better or worse.
I can appreciate your perspective as an electronics service professional, but my opinion is, if the sound is what one likes, one should play it and enjoy it. We guitar players spend way too much time (and money) chasing tone. Millions of records, literally millions have been recorded these vintage type tube amps. Almost all things you mentioned are lost in the mix once the band kicks in full gear. No one in the audience or gig is going to be saying "man that guy's amp sucks. How dare he bring a '68 model that sounds like a hot rod deville, what a poser/loser" lol. ALL tube amps turned up loud enough in a dead silent room or RU-vid recording have some annoying noise of some kind. I personally own the amp and love it. The NEO Creamback speakers are great and I love the Mid control knob. No one dimes all three of the bass, middle and treble knobs on this amp, especially at 40 watts. So if one "needs" to limit the mid to "4 max", so be it. But we all play different guitars/pickups and I can tell you if one plays a SSS Strat or Tele, you want a little extra mid / bottom end on this bad boy. Calling the owner and telling him to sell it... just seems like an overreach. All Fender vintage tube amps have the same problems/speaker cables you described... so should we all just stop buying all of these vintage tube amp models, or sell them if we already own them? Just my two cents.
What is your opinion on the 68 reissue twin and the ML Deville I am seriously thinking about getting one of these amps, I don't want to get anything that is going to be constantly in the repair shop? The reviews say that the Fender ML Deville is one hell of an amp but is it reliable?
Both bad choices. All the 68 Custom series is crazy noisy - get the 65 instead. All Blues and Hot Rod and ML amps share the same core self-burning design. Avoid.
But Lyle, you didn't provide an opinion on the Neo-Creamback! I've been waiting for someone with some experience to give their subjective opinion on if it sounds any good.
I enjoy your videos, but in reality this amp (which I own) sounds amazing. Tightening a screw or changing a solder joint doesn't make for a better amp. It's terrific that you highlight some of the shortcomings of amp design, but at some point you just have to say "this sounds great". And leave it at that.
Lol, I got one too and it became a test of will to get the racket out of it. A buzz, hum & hiss special, to a degree one may wonder if the engineering team that designed the thing wasn’t mad at management.
I swore I’d never buy another fender reissue amp. I really like the sound and design of them but the quality just sucks compared to what you can get with only a bit more money.
Sales / Marketing hype. There is a few gut shots of the amp online. Still built with the same low cost low quality parts as the deluxe reverb reissues. Just happens to be on a board similar to a handwired board.
@@luamano5913 They just want to make another product to sell to the masses, and if they can make a handwired version and sell it for almost 3 times what it cost to make it. Why not profit? As for the Jensen C12K I'm not sure what is the negatives about that speaker. Personally I like the speaker, but I know Lyle doesn't care for it much at all. And he has a much more experience with way more amplifiers than I have. Maybe someday he'll make a video talking about that speaker or maybe he already has one uploaded. Comparing it to other speakers with the same amplifier.
There are other options beyond making it yourself, but those options will be a lot more expensive than a modern Fender amp and in some cases more expensive than an older Fender amp.
@@mark5150ty I’m well aware that it’s significantly cheaper to do it yourself. I was just saying that there is another option beyond building it yourself.
Anyone else see the burnt wire at 10:30?????, looks like Fenders soldering gun got to close to the white wire on the tube socket. This is poor quality control, especially on a reissue model which demands a premium over the standard ones.
The build quality and supplied tubes of the Mexican made amps are poor. Had to replace the tubes after four months. $320 AU .Noisy and microphonic. Now it rattles acoustically in my studio. Meaning not being used, just in proximity of my monitors. Haven't checked out the problem yet. The control panel's finish isn't as good as the earlier silver faces. The supplied cover is no better than a cheap shower curtain. It's light and sounds great. Don't know if it will last long enough to become vintage.
Didn't see any Real noise level numbers from your test equipment, so it's difficult to get a feel for where the noise level really is compared to where it should be typically. Another thing the musician sometimes forgets is you Do Not check the amplifier noise with your instrument/effects plugged in.
Sounds like some radically differences from reissue to reissue. I do not have the deluxe, but I have the pro reverb and it is quiet. Don’t start to have any hum until around 5 and even then it’s not loud.
