Why you need a Fender Silverface 'Black Line' Amp- 1968 Fender Super Reverb
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- Опубліковано 29 січ 2021
- So called "black line" Fender Silverface Amps are the best deal out there if you seek the legendary "blackface" 60's sound. These early '68 amps still have the unmodified blackface circuit. See how I fixed this amp up to run for another 50 years!
I noticed that the previous tech had replaced just one resistor in the phase inverter circuit with a metal film resistor (it's blue). Probably would be a good idea to measure all the resistors in that area for drift and replace any that are out of spec (modern carbon film resistors would be fine; no reason to use metal film there and some people claim they don't like the tone). I also noticed that the main B+ ground, bias supply ground, and earth ground connections are all made with ring terminals hald down by the transformer bolts. These connections tend to loosen up with expansion and contraction of heat and cooling down, and especially if the amp is transported to gigs. If you lose the bias ground you will blow up the amplifier and if you lose the earth ground it won't be safe for you to play through. The best technique is to solder those wires directly to the chassis, as Fender did in the 50's. (But don't just take my word for it; watch a few Psionic Audio videos).
That's an interesting looking Danelectro you got there!
i just got a 68 with the blackface circuit today ...it is heaven sounding
Congrats!!🎉 best amp I’ve ever played through
Very cool amp! I have a 68 also and have been running my Les Paul through the low sensitivity input. Been really enjoying the break up that it gives
Thanks, great to hear you have one to! Yes I’ve done that in the past, thanks for the reminder about humbuckers through the low input 👍
I just picked up a dead mint “closet queen” black line early ‘68 from the original owner who bought it in college in ‘68, never gigged with it, never did anything with it. It has been in his closet all these years. It looks like it just left the factory. Not even any dust. I didn’t learn about the ‘black line’ status (the paint shop cosmetics on the dashboard) until I got it home and started talking to amp techs in different sites. Yes, it’s an AB763 blackface amp in silverface clothing. My matching transformer date codes are all from 1967, and the chassis code is early ‘68. Mine has all original RCA and Telefunken tubes. Everything works perfectly. It’s at my tech’s shop as I write this, to get a proper 3-prong power cord, as well as general ‘health & safety” checkup.
That’s awesome, enjoy! Best amp ever
Playing my '68 right now. Don't know the date on the chassis. Mine's a bit rough with chipped lower corners, so I have to semi carry/roll it on the casters. It was definitely rode hard, probably all here in Austin and surrounding area.
Two stock speakers, two replacements. Good for me because it dropped the price so I could swing the deal back around '03. My friend said he 'blackfaced' the few things that needed it. Apparently, it amounted to just simple cap replacement as needed to bring pot values back to OG specs. The pots are stock, and only the vol on the vibrato channel crackles, but only when I'm twisting them. All I know is that it sounds absolutely phenomenal. It's also the perfect driver for my '68 Leslie model 10. The crossover just sends the mids to the Leslie, while the SR handles all the rest. Leslie is awesome, but it would be better with a more robust speaker in it. Supposedly, you can drop a 12" into it without touching the baffle for the 10". Apparently it's the same one as the model 16 that came with a 12".
Very nice video. Oh, and Laurel is awesome. She LUVS her daddy! Lol
Oh wow, just saw that I posted on this thread over a year ago! 😅
FYI the T22 in the ink stamp that you pointed out (for the date the chassis was wired) stands for "Technician #22". I have a Blackline Drip Edge late 1968 Bassman and it does have the hybrid fixed/cathode bias circuit. When I recapped it, I left it as is, as it sounds good. However, on my 1969 Super Reverb, someone converted it to AB763, but did not replace any of the electrolytics, so that was the first order of business for me.
Very cool Silvertone and Super Reverb. You are right, the 68 SF amps are great deals, especially if they still have the blue Mallory caps in them. Great playing! Love the R&B arpeggiated work and double stops. Those Danos are such tone machines, and the Super is a great partner for it. Funky.
Thanks, Zac! Yes, I was thrilled that this amp had the blue Mallory caps and the blackface circuit. The original blue label Fender alnico speakers are really sweet and allow you to get some breakup without cranking the amp volume. The Danelectro has quickly become one of my favorite guitars, especially after I added the bridge pickup (an original Dano lipstick pup). This was originally a U1 with a single neck pickup. This guitar sounds amazing for funk and Americana!
@@kylebollendorf4856, I love the sound of Dano's and lipstick pickups. There are numerous videos on UA-cam of David Lindley (R.I.P., 3/3/23) playing a Dano on big stages with his reggae/rock band ElRayo-X (the two-pickup "amp in a case" model), such as the Reggae on the River festival where he is playing the song "Quarter of a Man" (presumably playing it through a Fender amp because I don't think he plugs it into a Dumble like he does with his lap steel 😉). The guitarist from Southern Culture on the Skids also plays Danelectros exclusively.....
Damn you! Stop telling everyone this secret! Now I'll have to do a video on how the Drip Edge Fender amps are crap so the price comes down again. Until then I will keep playing my '68 Vibrolux which has inspired at least 3 other friends to go get one (not one of them sounded even close to mine). I'm in the middle of bringing a '69 SR back to original. Someone had replaced power XFR and other parts and it sounded like crap. Hopefully bringing it back to AB763 spec will improve it. I'm hoping to get the SR to sound like a louder version of my Vibrolux.
Thanks for showing us your beauties. Nice tasty playing and nice tones in those fingers. The little of the rest is your amps and guitars.
I have a 69 super. Label says ab763 but it had hum/balance instead of bias. Also had mixed bias on output tubes. It would only cold bias so I did what I had to do; convert it to ab763. It took very little to make the change. Beyond removing the cathode bias resistors, I changed 1 resistor (I think) to get the bias circuit to work. It is now a killer sounding amplifier. It even gets awesome crunch turned up with a les Paul. Also, it is a great pedal platform for those who get their sound from pedals.
I just got one yesterday blackface circuit and all. Going to bring it to a tech for a checkup and for the grounded power plug.
Made me grab my old Dano I just got a few months ago and haven't run through my '68. My trem circuit was slowly disappearing. As usual with mine, a few stomps on the pedal and lotsa knob twisting, gets everything back in working order!
I've had mine for about 16-17 years now. I'll never part with it.
I've had a 66, 68, 70, 71 and 79 - My favorite was the '71 to be honest. Personally I think the drip edge is a bit of a red herring, the amps didn't really change all that much until 73-74 and I didn't notice any difference at all between the 68,70 or 71. After '74 they are certainly stiffer sounding and louder/less dynamic and the ultra linear models from the late 70's are like a completely different amp.
Are ALL the 78-79's the super linear version? & What is the real difference?
Plus, the boost switch, like from 75-78, what does that do?
I think from mid '78 on, they are all ultra linear, the boost is a push pull on the master volume dial of these amps. It added a preamp distortion that some people don't like but I though it was kind of cool sounding@@bricebowlin8834
You got a new sub.,.. Im eye balling this 1968 on market place. The Owner claims its a "black and Silver" SR. Im worried that he's going solely on the tube diagram... Id gladly pay what he's asking if it has the AB763 wiring, because to be honest, Im not a collector (just a player), but obviously I don't want to pay a any premium for no reason... Either way, I doubt there are any nefarious intentions, it's kind of a convoluted subject.... Ive never played either amp (hardwired Silver or black), and Im sure that Im going to be dazzled but either... Cheers
Ya never really know till you look at the circuit. I have a 68 drip edge Bassman and it had the AB165 tube chart but the circuit was actually AC568. The biggest difference is the bios circuit and neg feedback. My tech recapped mine and blackfaced it sounds killer. Apparently Fender was using up old tube charts that said AB165
Yes, you're right...some of the models underwent more changes than others, the bassman is a prime example. I had a '65 Bassman with the AB165 circuit at one time, great amp!
Good video. I'm looking at 69 silverface super reverb. it was framed grill. the seller says it is AA769. Do you think I modify like blackface circuit?
A guy brought me a '68 drip edge Bandmaster that had been left in the shed for about 25 years. He wanted it serviced. He dropped it off and told me
"do whatever it needs, just get it going again" I looked inside, and sure enough, AB 763, through and through.
it didn't work at all. I gave it new tubes, caps, a few resistors, a new 3 wire power cord, a good thorough cleaning and it was fine. The bill was $450. He never came to get it, and when I called his number, they told me he had died. Nobody wanted to pay me, and nobody cared about the amp, so I was "stuck with it" and I just kind of "inherited" it for $100 worth of parts and about 6 hours of labor, mostly troubleshooting and cleaning. It has a clean bill of health now, and it sounds like God shouting from the mountain top. It's connected to a Tweed Peavy 4x10 cab, and I've basically got a holy grail for around 1/3 of what it cost new in 1968. I will be eternally grateful to grandpa for teaching me the first principles of tubes and electronic circuits when I was a kid. Grandpa was an old time radio guy who went all the way back to the 1920s with the radio stuff. Amplifiers are child's play to a good radio man. I learned a lot from him. it's served me well and saved me thousands of dollars during my life. I owe him a lot.
Amazing story, thanks for sharing!
@@kylebollendorf4856 It was one of those little victories that come along in life on rare occasions. I am truly sorry that the guy died and never got the chance to hear it or play through it, but if he had taken it and then died, his kids probably would have put it back out in the shed to rot all over again or sold it to a store for $50. At least this way it's in the house, out of the weather, it has a good home, and it gets played every day.
Please elaborate on the "black line" reference. Are you saying that a Fender amp displaying the black line markings on the face plate is any different in circuit design than Fender amps of similar vintage but without the black line?
Yes, the early silverface amps had the black lines, and they are more likely to have the original black face circuit. Somewhere around May 1968 there were circuit changes in some of the amps like the super reverb and they switch to using plastic wire. so basically if you want to get the black face circuit for a slightly cheaper price although this secret is out of the bag, you can get an early silverface with the black lines and there’s a good chance that that will still have the black face circuit. No lines present it is definitely not going to have the cloth, covered wire, and older, black face components. Depending on the model of amp will determine whether or not there are circuit changes or not. The Princeton, for example, changed very little in the silverface era, while the super reverb changed in some more noticeable ways
What’s the circuits I should look for?
Cool Video. What are the main differences between BF and SF Circuits? Thanks and greetz ✌🏼
Thanks, half way through 68 they switched to cheaper components and wiring.
BF = cloth covered wires and the blue molded caps(which many consider a key factor in the tone of the BF amps)
SF = plastic covered wires and blue and brown turd caps. Also, sloppier wiring and depending on the amp, changes to the actual circuit.
@@kylebollendorf4856 Interesting. Thanks. How would you describe the main sound differences then? I have a 1974 Non-Master.
@@kylebollendorf4856 maybe a little harsh as there are loads of awesome sounding 70s SRs and they're easily modded as/if needed.
@@stratolestele7611 I wasn’t putting those 70s Supers down, just stating the facts. I didn’t say they sound bad, I love fender silverface amps as well but anyone who works on them would agree that the wiring quality and components declined to cut costs
Another question, so not all 68's are blackface, only until spring of 1968? Im looking at a photo of the one I might buy, the last number on the chassis is kind of hard to make out. Looks more defined on the transformer. To me it looks like a 7. Do you have an email I can send u the pic to see what you think? Also they said the cord was replaced, does that mean death cap is nil at this point? You can probably tell if its still there or not. Im no tech lol
Sure, I’d be happy to look at it for you. Can you forward any pics you have? My email is kylebollendorf1 at gmail dot com
I have that same guitar
Can you play this amp at bedroom volume levels and still sound sweet? Im in the middle of dealing with a guy who is selling one, 1968, all original. Thanks!
Yes, they sound good even on three which is a decent volume level that won’t blow you away. Just use a good overdrive pedal like a Timmy, or a Nobles and it will sound great at the lower volumes. The biggest drawback is the weight of the amp… not very fun to carry it around
@@kylebollendorf4856 Awesome! Thanks! Sounds fantastic by the way 👍
will you please stop telling people!! lol
Seriously though, these are the best; i have all the 10"combo models - Princeton R/Vlx R/ Super R- all 68 backlines (although i think my vlxR might even be a 67- i need to look at the chassis number)
I have a 68 or 69 im in the process of restoring. I was curious on how this would sound with a heavy metal distortion pedal. (Blasphemy I know) but just curious as a mostly metal player.
this guy is totally wrong- don't believe it- silverfaces are bad amps