It is really unfortunate the wires they used back in the day, unknowingly, turned out to be faulty over time. I use a different cloth covered wire, and the video is eye opening. Same as Fender CBS waxed the boards to stop the voltage drift. Needless to say, I will be using my Teflon wire from now on. Thanks for your efforts and the video.
There is real, important value in preserving the history of things that represent moments of our social and technological history. I embrace dearly the need to keep some examples of that history. That said, we don't need to preserve every, single, possible example of every particular version of every single item. I don't have a problem with some people willing to do what it takes to enact that preservation. But for examples of such units that are usable, but not working, or not working their best - and - really don't have a hope of being a museum piece, there is not a single reason I can think of (nor that anyone has been able to convince me of) to get upset about replacing/upgrading/servicing - AS NEEDED to make them usable and enjoyable for what they are, not what they once were. And we must stop being fooled by the word "vintage". It is nothing more than a 'sales' word that really only means "old". Vintage = Old. That's it. But no one wants to spend scads of money for an 'old' amp or guitar (or table, chair, etc.). But that exact same piece marketed with the word 'vintage' replacing 'old' in the advertisement, and the perceived value goes up radically. ex: 10 years ago, the Fender Bronco was just a small, used, practice amp. Old. Not expensive. Once people started cluing in that it actually an old Champ (referred to as 'vintage') with different badging, now it was suddenly 'vintage' too. People are so silly. 🙂
One of the longest debates raging on a FB tube amp forum today (again) about preserving mojo in old caps in a ‘55 Tweed Deluxe went on an on about tonnnzzz in old radio parts. I tried to invoke Leo’s radio background and pragmatism and ease of service and got shouted down as a solder jockey 😆
I enjoy your videos so much I binge watch wires drying. Yes, I’m retired. Your videos fascinate me due to your knowledge and attention to detail. Thanks for sharing.
I would never be brave enough to soak those wires in alcohol, let alone rub it on the circuit board, without your demonstration. Thanks for sharing your experience.
It's always informative to observe your attention to detail in action; I've learned a great deal already. Early on in this video, you mentioned 're-tensioning sockets', and I'd like to ask (humbly) if you would be willing to film a tutorial on this at some point in the near future. I've often found that I have an old amp with a socket or two which have a couple of pins each which need re-tensioning, but I don't have enough confidence in my technique, and so I end up replacing those sockets...my box full of ancient sockets has been a Godsend, but it's getting smaller all the time...
Thanks man.. I've tried to film it and I can't get the camera positioned so it can see the work (unless it blocks me from seeing the work). It's just two dental picks and a small jeweler's screwdriver slightly compressing the two sides of the U together. Just a little bit does the trick.
You should try a glass bottle with an eye dropper for putting isopropyl alcohol in those tube sockets. I have some left over from some bitters I used up. ;)
the "collector" mentality and the perceived need to serve it first over common sense drives me crazy! it's one thing to insist on original condition if you're curating a museum exhibit, but in high voltage amplifiers that are intended to be used in gigging situations, sticking stubbornly to antiquated techniques and inferior materials is complete lunacy! nostalgia is a stupid stupid reason for keeping an amp potentially lethally dangerous or prone to catastrophic failure. and i say that as someone who firmly believes in the magic of certain materials and techniques for the best possible sound. what i see happening is, people seem to confuse rotting, foul components and materials with "vintage sound", which is the height of false economy. the mojo is in the components and their interacting EM fields; not the flimsy cardstock circuit boards or cloth covered wire. i encourage any detractors of what i say here, to try wiring up something new like guitar electronics with crappy old cloth covered wire and waxed cardstock boards and see if it sounds magically vintage. hopefully the mere suggestion of this will cause a small smirk. the real damnable irony of this nonsense is, we're taught to go to all this extra trouble and effort to "preserve" something collectable, ultimately for collectors who will put it in a box somewhere and never ever really use it for its intended purpose, which is to make awesome sounds. personally, i think that the way out of this maladaptive way of thinking is to do more experimenting. believe your own ears. proceeding wisely with self-doubt does not mean entirely disregarding what you can directly sense. i meet so many musicians and audio cats who refuse to give credence to what their own good senses tell them, and i think they do themselves a great disservice for it. there's nothing in the world like the confidence that's born of first-hand experience. it's a treasure most of us unfortunately seem compelled to squander.
Just re-watching this series. The more I learn the more I appreciate your content. Hugely grateful for your sharing all of this.
This level of detail is what made me a fan. Love your work.
It is really unfortunate the wires they used back in the day, unknowingly, turned out to be faulty over time. I use a different cloth covered wire, and the video is eye opening. Same as Fender CBS waxed the boards to stop the voltage drift. Needless to say, I will be using my Teflon wire from now on.
Thanks for your efforts and the video.
There is real, important value in preserving the history of things that represent moments of our social and technological history. I embrace dearly the need to keep some examples of that history.
That said, we don't need to preserve every, single, possible example of every particular version of every single item.
I don't have a problem with some people willing to do what it takes to enact that preservation. But for examples of such units that are usable, but not working, or not working their best - and - really don't have a hope of being a museum piece, there is not a single reason I can think of (nor that anyone has been able to convince me of) to get upset about replacing/upgrading/servicing - AS NEEDED to make them usable and enjoyable for what they are, not what they once were.
And we must stop being fooled by the word "vintage". It is nothing more than a 'sales' word that really only means "old". Vintage = Old. That's it.
But no one wants to spend scads of money for an 'old' amp or guitar (or table, chair, etc.). But that exact same piece marketed with the word 'vintage' replacing 'old' in the advertisement,
and the perceived value goes up radically.
ex: 10 years ago, the Fender Bronco was just a small, used, practice amp. Old. Not expensive.
Once people started cluing in that it actually an old Champ (referred to as 'vintage') with different badging, now it was suddenly 'vintage' too.
People are so silly. 🙂
One of the longest debates raging on a FB tube amp forum today (again) about preserving mojo in old caps in a ‘55 Tweed Deluxe went on an on about tonnnzzz in old radio parts. I tried to invoke Leo’s radio background and pragmatism and ease of service and got shouted down as a solder jockey 😆
I enjoy your videos so much I binge watch wires drying. Yes, I’m retired. Your videos fascinate me due to your knowledge and attention to detail. Thanks for sharing.
I would never be brave enough to soak those wires in alcohol, let alone rub it on the circuit board, without your demonstration. Thanks for sharing your experience.
It's always informative to observe your attention to detail in action; I've learned a great deal already. Early on in this video, you mentioned 're-tensioning sockets', and I'd like to ask (humbly) if you would be willing to film a tutorial on this at some point in the near future. I've often found that I have an old amp with a socket or two which have a couple of pins each which need re-tensioning, but I don't have enough confidence in my technique, and so I end up replacing those sockets...my box full of ancient sockets has been a Godsend, but it's getting smaller all the time...
Thanks man.. I've tried to film it and I can't get the camera positioned so it can see the work (unless it blocks me from seeing the work). It's just two dental picks and a small jeweler's screwdriver slightly compressing the two sides of the U together. Just a little bit does the trick.
Lots of good info in this one!
You should try a glass bottle with an eye dropper for putting isopropyl alcohol in those tube sockets. I have some left over from some bitters I used up. ;)
"The alcohol did good last night"
Well you don't hear that said very often. lol
Nice one I will have to keep the iso trick in mind if this ever happens to me
I find it handy to use 99% alcohol and a Aerosol Refillable Spray Can (100psi) to clean boards.
Hello! Should I replace 220k resistors on phase inverter input if they read 260k each?
Very interesting video!
What is the original cloth wire gauge that fender uses here?
22AWG
@@PsionicAudio Thank you for all the help! Much appreciated!!
the "collector" mentality and the perceived need to serve it first over common sense drives me crazy! it's one thing to insist on original condition if you're curating a museum exhibit, but in high voltage amplifiers that are intended to be used in gigging situations, sticking stubbornly to antiquated techniques and inferior materials is complete lunacy! nostalgia is a stupid stupid reason for keeping an amp potentially lethally dangerous or prone to catastrophic failure. and i say that as someone who firmly believes in the magic of certain materials and techniques for the best possible sound. what i see happening is, people seem to confuse rotting, foul components and materials with "vintage sound", which is the height of false economy. the mojo is in the components and their interacting EM fields; not the flimsy cardstock circuit boards or cloth covered wire.
i encourage any detractors of what i say here, to try wiring up something new like guitar electronics with crappy old cloth covered wire and waxed cardstock boards and see if it sounds magically vintage. hopefully the mere suggestion of this will cause a small smirk. the real damnable irony of this nonsense is, we're taught to go to all this extra trouble and effort to "preserve" something collectable, ultimately for collectors who will put it in a box somewhere and never ever really use it for its intended purpose, which is to make awesome sounds.
personally, i think that the way out of this maladaptive way of thinking is to do more experimenting. believe your own ears. proceeding wisely with self-doubt does not mean entirely disregarding what you can directly sense. i meet so many musicians and audio cats who refuse to give credence to what their own good senses tell them, and i think they do themselves a great disservice for it. there's nothing in the world like the confidence that's born of first-hand experience. it's a treasure most of us unfortunately seem compelled to squander.