Mystery Mojo | Undatable 6G3 Deluxe Pt 1
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- After doing some research, it appears that while the output transformer has a 1960 date code, the A was only written on the tube chart (after the 6G3) from October '61 to June '62. And the A designated a new power transformer, which is not present in this amp now (see the video).
So we have a '61 or '62 Deluxe with a '60 OT and factory service in '64 (at least) and a power transformer from '65.
Confused yet?
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These are things I get asked about a lot :
Amp Tech Gear Used :
Hakko FX-951 soldering station
Weller SPG 80L soldering iron (chassis work)
Rigol DS1054Z digital oscilloscope
Thsinde 18B+ digital multimeters
Kester 60/40 solder
Techspray #4 No-Clean Desoldering Braid
Below are things that make this channel possible that people don’t usually think about. If any of these companies want to send me new and wonderful toys, I’m open to that. I can’t take free stuff when it comes to the amps I review, etc, but for the stuff below, bribe away!
Microphones/Audio Equipment :
Guitar Amps : Royer R-10 Hot Rod and/or Shure SM57 (noted in videos)
Voiceover Bench : sE Audio sE8 (small diaphragm condenser)
Voiceover Streaming : Shure SM57 with shockmount and windscreen
Voiceover Mic Arms : Elgato Wave Mic arms
Guitar Mic Stand : Gator Frameworks short weighted base stand with boom
Mic Cables and Guitar Cables : Mogami/Neutrik
Mic pre : MOTU M2
DAW : Logic Pro II on MacBook Pro 16 running Sonoma 14.5
Plugins : No effects other than level matching/normalization unless a recording
specifically has reverb etc added in post (rare, various Waves plugins)
Monitors : Yamaha HS7s
Monitor Stands : Gator Frameworks Desktop Clamp-On Stands
Monitor Isolation Mounts : IsoAcoustics Iso-Puck Minis
Headphones : Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (main)
Headphones : Sony MDR-7506 (alternate)
Video Equipment :
Camera : Sony ZVE-10 with SmallRig Cage (main)
Lens : Sigma f2.8 18-50mm (main)
Lens : Sony ZVE10 kit lens (rarely used)
B Camera : Apple iPhone 13 Pro (rarely used)
Tripod : SmallRig 71” with SmallRig Fluid Video Head
Streaming Mount : Elgato Master Mount S with SmallRig Ballhead
Bench Light : SmallRig RC 120D
Bench Light Diffusor : SmallRig Lantern Softbox
Bench C-Stands (light and overhead camera) : Neewer Pro SS Heavy Duty
Streaming Light : SmallRig RC 120B
Streaming Diffusor : SmallRig Parabolic Softbox
Streaming Light Mount : SmallRig 148CM Wall Mount Boom with Triangle Base
Various Other Lights : Neewer LED Panels with Neewer Softboxes
Video Software :
Davinci Resolve 19
Phantom LUTs
Paul Leeming LUTs
Adobe Illustrator 28
Adobe Photoshop 25
Ecamm Live (streaming software)
The lighting and time involved with selecting views to illustrate the concerns you are addressing clearly reflect great care in producing a high quality video. That effort does not go unnoticed.
They 100% do bring geeky joy to all of us. I dont think anyone would be here if we werent nerdy!
The Geeky joy abounds here and thank God, it's contagious. This amp, even though not totally original is a good example of the historic evolution of Fender Deluxe circuitry and just plain cool. Another gem from history gets to live well into the future for guitarists and geeks alike.
Sitting here with my morning coffee in a true state of Geeky Joy. Thanks for all you show us on this channel Lyle, always interesting.
"The physical heater, slash, filament...secondary center tap." Sure, easy for you to say. 😁 I don't know what that is, but I like hearing and seeing it anyway.
I have owned this amp for 30 years. I have never had a reason to open it up since it has never failed me. It's been used for recording and as a harp amp on the road for several years. No work has been done on it as long as I've owned it. I missed the "LA" on the date code chart indicating January '62 completion date. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be. The blue Ajax caps are a good thing!
The LA on the upper right corner of the tube chart is from January 1962. The chassis serial number puts it in the early part of’62. Great video as always.
Yeah, I missed the LA as it looked like a later stamp along with the ‘64 stamps. Serial numbers are occasionally relevant for dating, but not always. So I rarely rely on them.
But I think you’re right.
I am constantly dismayed at how much better the amps you work on are than the ones I've owned😮😢😂😂
What an interesting amp! I've got a big soft spot for those old brown Fenders. If only they could tell us the stories....
Man I wish I had an amp tech like you near where I live. I love watching you work, and you're integrity to your craft.
Happy happy geeky joy...very interesting trail you followed there.
every video of yours is VERY educational. I learn things every time I watch. Thanks!
Lots of joy in Geeksville 😎👍👍
What a beautiful mystery of an amp! Geeky joy, geeky joy!
Great to watch you work @ lunchtime . . . 😎👍
It could be a shop amp, or proto of some kind. Those caps may have started shipping in amps by 1962, but they existed in the world before then. Perhaps it was an amp used for tweaking/testing in Fender's shop. Just a thought. Who knows!
CAT SCRATCH FEVER AMP..... FANTASTIC OVERDRIVE TONE ( Brown Deluxe )
Before even hearing it, I am in love with its looks 😊
I have a clone of the 6G3 that I built several years ago. The voltages shown on the schematic are significantly lower (365V on the power tube plates) than what I was able to achieve with a Deluxe Reverb power transformer (it seems like this amp has the same issue). This leads me to think the brown Deluxe PT was different than the Deluxe Reverb PT in more ways than just the 50V bias tap. The amp just didn’t sound right at those higher voltages and I wasn’t happy with the other rectifier tubes I tried. I ended up putting a voltage dropping resistor on the B+ before the first filter cap and am MUCH happier with the tone of the amp at voltages closer to the schematic.
The owner’s played this for 30+ years and likes how it sounds, even if it’s not “original”.
Not saying you’re wrong, just that in this case we’re leaving in the ‘65 PT.
Good stuff, thank for posting.
I almost got one of those brown Deluxes many years ago. Back then they were under $1000 but I think it was supposed to be a trade. Oh well. Great video. I’m looking forward to seeing it after you spruce it up.
geeky joy received thanks Lyle
Solder joints that bubble when heated are indicative of some type of contaminant: capacitor or battery leakage, oil or grease, conductive glue, or even hot glue.
I have no idea what you’re talking about but it’s fascinates me
Another interesting video, thanks! FWIW, at 6:47, the tube chart is displayed. According to Fender amp date coding, the two-letter date code, LA (located upper right of the tube chart), would make it 1962 = L and January = A. Wouldn’t that provide the date the amp was produced, albeit with some older (then later updated with newer) components?
Not sure. It’s so not in the usual spot I thought it could be a later stamp like the ones from ’64. But Jan ‘62 is in line with my other clues so far.
Nice amp and sound.
Geeky joy to all!
Beautiful! I would love to play it before it leaves.........
Awesome! Thank you 🙏
Thank you Sir
Sure would be interesting to time travel along with this amp.
Fun excursion 😊
The Geeks of Geekville are abound with joyful glee...
I would love that sound in a 5wtt amp. Absolutely
Mahalo Lyle. Should be a great amp.
why is this thing so clean outside, and yet the guts are such a temporal basket case 😂
Very fun!
Love the brownies 😊
Just panicking at the ryobi 😂 all good. Have a ryobi handheld batt router and air comp. Seems to be alright
Geekie joy indeed! I didn’t know Fender ever put a copper shield in like that but it makes sense given the location of the Bright channel’s input jacks.
Is that bias vary tremolo or did I miss a roach somewhere on the board? Lyle knows this for sure, but adjustable bias is kind of essential with bias vary tremolo. Bias it too hot and no tremolo. It can be a bit fiddly getting it dialed in.
The geek in me gets beaten up by the jock in me, I'm a conflicted man...
🤣🤣🤣
Geeky Joy to all !!!
@4:43 I have a torque wrist that clicks at 20in.lbs. But after that, it's useless.
Well the mystery date amp does make for an interesting piece. I wondered if it had been made from parts, but too much of the work looks original to Fender. Nice amp regardless, despite questionable doghouse decisions having been made.
Can you specify what "fader lube" you use? Really appreciate your Tech Tips. Learning how to get the DC leakage off Fender style fiber boards is a game changer for me and my newbie soldering/amp building skills. Much thanks again!
Cannot wait to see and your results.
The numbers stamp into the metal near the inked, can they tell anything about the build year. Stamp #'s look to be D 01400 into the metal. Can Fender give you any answers?
I just noticed these say 'Tremolo' on the back...so Leo DID know the correct name, but chose to ignore it?
Geeky Joy for me. I love watching your videos as I learn about how amps work. One question. What is your opinion of the Fender Princeton II amplifier?
Thanks!
Avoid. More problems than they’re worth.
Yes Sir… Geeky Joy encountered….
Blue molded over leaky Astrons. Score.
Lyle.....since you don't think much of some of Fender's reissue Princeton amps, I hope someday you will have the opportunity to review the PRS DGT15 and the Victory V40 Deluxe.
I’ve had the DGT30 in and it was really very good. I’ve had two Victory lunchboxes in and they were quite good for the price point but would be artificially expensive to service due to the construction methods used.
I have never seen a Brown Deluxe with a single Astron film cap in it. I’ve looked through hundreds of images too.
I just don’t think Fender ever used them in the 6G3 through its entire production range.
I tried to clone how Fender built a 1960/61 Deluxe a few years ago. A lot of the other amps have mixed blues and yellows, so I wanted to do that. Nope, not a single one I could find had a mix.
Mojotone has 500v 16uf F&T’s btw. If the owner even cares about original component values anyways.
I’ve seen yellow Astrons in them but that was before I started the channel.
@@PsionicAudio It's pretty rare then. Being Fender, anything is possible.
I wonder if a fender employee found some unused parts and built it up for themselves?
I love these amps. Treasures for sure.
Lyle, when will parts 2and3 follow?
How does the trem work with no dummy plug on the footswitch jack?
Lovely amp, even if it is a mystery :) One thing: are those Ducati bypass caps? If yes, that would be an interesting choice. I've seen italian amps filled with almost 100% Ducati components but never a Fender one. Oh man, I wish I'd have that much Ducatis IRL that I replaced in those :)
Yes, ancient Ducatis.
@@PsionicAudio Thanks, i wouldn't expect those being used in the US.
Lyle, why do you favor Fader Lube over Deoxit?
Because it does what it says on the tin.
Hi Lyle. I have this exact amp and it is in dire need of a tune up. It makes a bunch of noises when starting up and has a high noise floor. Is there a way to contact you and possibly schedule servicing?
Why does the ground wire have to be longer than the hot and neutral wires? Specifically, other than "for safety reasons?" I'm worried because my Mojotone kit did not specify that technicality.
If the power cord were to get pulled out from the chassis the hot and neutral wires would/should stop the ground wire from being pulled loose. Your ground connection would be protected. Functionally there is no difference.
Well, a bit more than that. If the cable was pulled and the hot connection broke loose after the ground, the chassis could be electrically live. With the ground longer, the hot touching chassis would short out, tripping a circuit breaker.
Lyle when will you be publishing parts 2 and 3 next on the amp?
When some parts arrive.
Thanks, lyle, on the parts.
Did you look up that link I posted for you on the year/date info?
🤓👍👍👍
Warranty power transformer?
I imagine so.
Possibly. Remember, Fender amps at some point, used to have a 5-year factory warranty.
@@tjminasi1442 , One wonders how many, or more accurately how few devices have a 5 year factory warranty these days. (My Sebo vacuum cleaners which are 8 years old now had a 5 year warranty on the motor but a lifetime warranty on the belts. I've never needed to change anything on them other than filter bags and the prefilters).
Agreed, Lyle, many poor cold soldier joints... ugly looking. Still a nice amp
Vintage amp dating site
Deluxe 6G3, 6G3-A (brown)
D00100 to D00900 - 1961
D00800 to D03800 - 1962
D03800 to D04900 - 1963