Who knows about the Fender Tremolux?

[kgmessier]

I've been reading Dave Hunter's "Guitar Rigs" book -- very interesting and informative -- and listening to the accompanying CD with various rig examples. One of the tracks features a Tele (?) into a cranked tweed (?) Fender Tremolux. I know nothing about this amp other than what I heard on that track, but I can tell you the sound was to die for.

What can y'all tell me about this gem?

- Keith

[Greg]

I have one - it's a '58 or '59 with a replaced OT. I don't know much about electronics, but I understand that the first version of the Tremolux (5E9) was a tweed Deluxe with a tremolo, but the subsequent versions (5G9 and 5G9A, which is what I have) are different. Something about the phase inverter and tremolo. I do know that it sounds great with all the guitars I've ever played through, though!:AOK

Let me know if you have specific questions.

[kanderson]

I used to own a 65' Blackface Tremolux head. It's basically a Deluxe with a tremelo. I think they quit making them around 66'. I didn't have the piggy back cab that went with it, I used it with an old Fender 2x12 (big oversized heavy cab) and the sound was so smooth! Man I could kick myself for selling that head years ago. Anyway, it didn't have reverb, but the tremelo more than made up for it. It's 35 watts so it's plenty loud enough to cut through a band or play a small club. If you get a chance to try one or buy one, definately do it... great amps!

[fabiomayo]

Greg is right. There are a number of different versions of it. The very first tweeds were actually almost the same as the Deluxe 5E3 with a PI bias-vary tremolo. That's the 5E9. I just ordered a 5E9-A clone which is the same circuit but featuring a 5U4 rectifier instead of the 5Y3 that comes with the Deluxe 5E3. Never played any Tremolux yet. Still one month to get my amp.... Take a look at the Fender Amp Field Guide (or something like that...)

[Robert1950]

Nice amp. Bought one in '72 and sold it to my brother in '76. I'm not sure what version is was - '55-60 tweed model.

[kgmessier]

Man, from all the positive responses on this amp it seems to be something of a sleeper.

[doctorx]

More like a Vibroverb without the reverb, in head form. The Deluxe uses 6V6's, the Vibroverb and Tremolux use 6L6's.

Vibroverb Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/vibroverb_aa763_schem.gif)

Tremolux Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/tremolux_aa763_schem.gif)

[mad dog]

The few lucky souls I know who have these (the later tweed version) rave about the tone. One guy in particular claims that the bigger box gives a distinct sound. Sure wish I had the bucks to find out for myself.

[fabiomayo]

More like a Vibroverb without the reverb, in head form. The Deluxe uses 6V6's, the Vibroverb and Tremolux use 6L6's.

Vibroverb Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/vibroverb_aa763_schem.gif)

Tremolux Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/tremolux_aa763_schem.gif)

I believe that's the later blackface circuits, right? Early tweed Tremolux use a pair of 6V6 just like Deluxe 5E3. Also like the Deluxe is the four input, normal and bright volume and a master tone.

This BF Tremolux also make me wonder a bit....

[doctorx]

I believe that's the later blackface circuits, right? Early tweed Tremolux use a pair of 6V6 just like Deluxe 5E3. Also like the Deluxe is the four input, normal and bright volume and a master tone.

This BF Tremolux also make me wonder a bit....

Yes, those links are the BF versions. I should have read the earlier posts and realized you were talking about the tweed versions. All the tremolux models are rare, though, and all of them great amps.

[Ogre]

I have had two. The tweed version, which was pretty cool. The early 60s blonde head/cabinet was my favorite.

[myles111]

Isn't it a Deluxe with tremelo?


No.

The Deluxe is a 6V6 based amp and this amp is 6L6 based but about 30 watts or so. There was a short lived EL84 version but it was around for a very short time.

I am talking about the blackface head version here by the way.

The blonde ones:

Year:
1961-1963Model:
TremoluxModel No:
6G9, 6G9-A, 6G9-BConfig:
Piggy-backControl Panel:
Brown forward facing w/ white labels, controls numbered 1 - 10Front Conrol Layout:
Bright: In, In, Vol, Treb, Bass - Normal: In, In, Vol, Treb, Bass - Speed, Intensity - Pilot LampRear Conrol Layout:
Ground Sw, Fuse (2A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker Jack, Ex. Speaker Jack, Tremolo JackKnobs:
White round, unnumberedHead:
8" x 23" x 8 3/8" (20.3 x 58.4 x 21.3 cm)Head Hardware:
Brown plastic "Fender" or black strap (63) handle, 4½" chassis straps, corner protectors, cab hooksCabinet:
17½" x 27" x 11½" (44.5 x 68.6 x 29.2 cm)Cab Hardware:
Brown Plastic "Fender" or black strap (63) handle, 14" tilt-back legs, corner protectors, knurled studs, glidesHead/Cab Covering:
White TolexHead/Cab Grille:
Maroon (61-62) or wheat (62-63) grille clothLogo:
Grille mounted, flat, chrome & black, script "Fender" (head and cab)Weight:
Head & Cab: 61 lbs. (27.7 Kg)Weight:
?Speakers/Load:
6G9, 6G9-A: ported "tone ring", 1 x 10"/8 ohms
6G9-B: sealed, 2 x 10/4 ohms (8 ohms each in parallel)Speaker Model:
Jensen P10Q or Oxford 10K5Effects:
TremoloOutput:
30-35 WattsPreamp:
Bright: 7025
Normal: 7025Power:
6G9: 2 x 6BQ5
6G9-A, 6G9-B: 2 x 6L6GCBias:
Fixed Bias, nonadjustableRectifier:
GZ34Phase Inverter:
12AX7 (long-tailed)Other:
Tremolo: 12AX7 (bias vary)Comments:
Some early Tremolux cabs were fitted with a 1 x 12" baffle





The Black face ones:

Year:
1963-1966Model:
TremoluxCircuit:
AA763Config:
Piggy-backControl Panel:
Black forward facing w/ white labels, unnumberedFront Conrol Layout:
Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass - Vibrato: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass, Speed, Intensity - Pilot LampRear Conrol Layout:
AC Outlet, Ground Sw, Fuse (2A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker Jack, Ex. Speaker Jack, Vibrato JackKnobs:
Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 - 10Head:
8" x 23" x 8½" (20.3 x 58.4 x 21.6 cm)Head Hardware:
Black strap handle, 4½" chassis straps, corner protectors, cab hooksCabinet:
17½" x 28" x 11½" (44.5 x 71.1 x 29.2 cm)Cab Hardware:
Black strap handle, 14" tilt-back legs, corner protectors, knurled studs, glidesHead/Cab Covering:
White (63-64) or black (64-66) TolexHead/Cab Grille:
Gold (63-64) or silver (64-66) sparkle grille clothLogo:
Grille mounted, flat (63) or raised, chrome & black, script "Fender" (head and cab)Weight:
Head & cab: 63 lbs. (28.6 Kg)Speakers/Load:
Sealed, 2 x 10"/4 ohms (8 ohms each in parallel)Speaker Model:
Oxford 10K5 or CTS 10" ceramicEffects:
TremoloOutput:
35 WattsPreamp:
Bright: 7025
Normal: 7025Power:
2 x 6L6GCBias:
Fixed Bias, adjustment potRectifier:
GZ34Phase Inverter:
12AT7 (long-tailed)Other:
Tremolo: 12AX7 (photoresistor)Comments:
The Tremolux was discontinued in 1966.

[dudleys100]

I have a 1962 Tremolux head. It has a very similar sound to my vibro king but slightly smaller sounding. I have been using it through a Marshall 4-12 cab so it definitly has not been used in the normal situations especially since it is a 16 ohm cab. But either way, this amp sounds wonderful. I have had two 67 blackface Bassman heads, a super reverb, vibrolux, Devilles, and many other boogies and marshalls and while this one has its own sound, I would say it is one of my favorites. My vibrolux custom reverb was similar but this is quieter and fuller sounding. It is kind of like a bassman but breaks up earlier and has more of a smooth overdrive when pushed in comparison.

Not a ton of clean headroom, but definitly enough for most purposes.

I am currently re-tolexing it and redoing the grill cloth as some bonehead had replaced the tolex with grey and PAINTED the original wheat grill cloth black!!! Sad I know. I put in some JJ 6L6's and it sings.

[Craftmatic]

Time to dig that '64 Tremolux out from behind the row of main gigging amps and put it through its paces. It's been a while and this thread"s made me curious.

[bluesjuke]

The Victoria Trem de la Trem is the 5E9-A circuit.
Victoria puts a 15" in a Pro sized cab but will do a 12" like the original 5E9-A if you request one.

[shakeyjakey]

I have a 59 Deluxe and 59 Tremolux

VERY different amps..I had a friends original 59 Bassman here for a few weeks and I liken my 5g9 Tremolux to a 'baby' Bassman.

Combined with an original Jenson P12Q it is a wonderful amp, beautiful tweed cleans.
Much tighter sounding than the Deluxe.

I usually stick my White Falcon through it but last night I tried my Firebird.
WOW.. Bird was tuned to open F...that baby was singing like a summer bird.

Pretty rare I understand.

[Ryan07]

So everything I have read claims the blackface Tremolux uses 6l6 tubes. Even few shops across the country that I had called said they all had 6l6's.

I just recently picked one up and the tube chart reads :

Deluxe-Amp AA763
L- GZ34
6v6
6v6
12at7
12ax7
7025
R-7025

Why does mine have 6v6's? Any one else ever see a 6v6's tremolux? If my tube chart was actually just a typo, will having a 6v6's in there hurt the amp? The original owner just bought a new set of Tung-Sol gv's and threw them in..no re-bias. Is the amp safe?

Also, the Trem doesn't work. It did, briefly, at an incredibly low volume. Now I can't hear it at all. Easy fix?

Thanks!

[billyguitar]

I have a tweed one, from '56 or '57. I had a tech work on it about 15 years ago, recap etc.. He said he couldn't find a scematic that matched it so he did the best he could. Apparently it's one of the transition models we always hear about. Soundwise it's like a Deluxe but tighter and not quite as much gain, also a bit louder. I attribute the volume difference to th bigger box, same size as a Pro, and the fixed bias instead of cathode bias. The tremolo sounds great but it thumps, the tech couldn't stop that. This amp came with a Mojo Tone 12" but I didn't like it. I tried an alnico Tone Tubby with it last night and that's what I'm going to go with for a while at least. TT's are awesome! I think it would also sound great with a neo Jensen. I have one of those in a tweed Deluxe and it's very nice, loud and light.

[Craftmatic]

So everything I have read claims the blackface Tremolux uses 6l6 tubes. Even few shops across the country that I had called said they all had 6l6's.

I just recently picked one up and the tube chart reads :

AA763
L- GZ34
6v6
6v6
12at7
12ax7
7025
R-7025

Why does mine have 6v6's? Any one else ever see a 6v6's tremolux? If my tube chart was actually just a typo, will having a 6v6's in there hurt the amp? The original owner just bought a new set of Tung-Sol gv's and threw them in..no re-bias. Is the amp safe?

Also, the Trem doesn't work. It did, briefly, at an incredibly low volume. Now I can't hear it at all. Easy fix?

Thanks!

Date the amp with the two letter code on the tube chart. There is a site to help do that; I don't remember what the URL is. I have a BF Tremolux head and cab and the code dates it at Dec. 1964. I never heard of a BF mid-sixties Tremolux that didn't take 6L6's. Instead of taking a chance with 6V6's and not biasing it I would strongly suggest you take it to a qualified tech.

[Ryan07]

Date the amp with the two letter code on the tube chart.

NI- September '64, Production: "5". Has anyone seen a "transitional" Tremolux that takes 6v6's? Or perhaps my tube chart is a typo? Shouldn't my tube chart read "Tremolux AA763"? Instead it reads "Deluxe-Amp AB763"

My Blonde Bassman was apparently from the Same year...NB. February of '64 seemed to still be a time of the Blonde..

[jcs]

I would be taking pics of the chassis and posting them!

With Fender amps, lots of variations and folks fitting in different chassis are pretty common.

[Sirloin]

The tweed Tremolux is very different from the BF version. I used to have a 65 BF tremolux. Meh... Would love to try an earlier Tweed though

[vibrasonic]

NI- September '64, Production: "5". Has anyone seen a "transitional" Tremolux that takes 6v6's? Or perhaps my tube chart is a typo? Shouldn't my tube chart read "Tremolux AA763"? Instead it reads "Deluxe-Amp AB763"

My Blonde Bassman was apparently from the Same year...NB. February of '64 seemed to still be a time of the Blonde..

The very first head cab tremolux's used 6bq5 (el84) tubes. They are quite rare
very few were made.

It's not that uncommon to have the wrong tube chart put in by factory workers.
your is obviously one of those. Get those 6v6's out of there

[billyguitar]

I hooked up my Tweed Tremolux last night. Wow! That's a great sounding amp. It even "Meows" like a cathode bias amp. I've decided to put a grounded cord on it and gig it. For some reason Leo left off the polarity switch on my Tremolux.

[Sirloin]

So everything I have read claims the blackface Tremolux uses 6l6 tubes. Even few shops across the country that I had called said they all had 6l6's.

I just recently picked one up and the tube chart reads :

Deluxe-Amp AA763
L- GZ34
6v6
6v6
12at7
12ax7
7025
R-7025

Why does mine have 6v6's? Any one else ever see a 6v6's tremolux? If my tube chart was actually just a typo, will having a 6v6's in there hurt the amp? The original owner just bought a new set of Tung-Sol gv's and threw them in..no re-bias. Is the amp safe?

Also, the Trem doesn't work. It did, briefly, at an incredibly low volume. Now I can't hear it at all. Easy fix?

Thanks!

Must be the incorrect Tube Chart. BF Tremolux Heads had 6L6s. You say the Tube Chart says "Deluxe". My guess is somebody took a tube chart off a Fender BF Deluxe and transplanted it on your Tremolux. Hence the 6v6s on that chart...

[GrungeMan]

More like a Vibroverb without the reverb, in head form. The Deluxe uses 6V6's, the Vibroverb and Tremolux use 6L6's.

Vibroverb Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/vibroverb_aa763_schem.gif)

Tremolux Schematic (http://www.cnjradio.net/fenderamps/tremolux_aa763_schem.gif)

I think the OP is referring to a Tweed Tremolux which is 6V6.

Grungy :D

[ES350]

Later 5E9A and 5G9 are 6V6s in fixed bias and a LTP phase inverter...the 5G9 also had a choke. More similar to a 5F6A than a 5E3...

[Sirloin]

To the OP...pics of your amp would help

[hawkeyeinexile]

had a '59-'60 narrow panel transition one for many years. brother got a '65 new w/cab, so i had a lot of experience with that. nice amps. didn't particularly grab me, but i can imagine if they were well-tuned & had nice speakers they would be real enjoyable.

:cool:

[korby]

I bought a used tweed one from a bluegrass guy for $50 bucks in the early 70's , some Dutch guitarist heard me playing it in my garage and offered me $100 , I took it .
The tremolo is super heavy and makes you dizzy . Power tubes would last about 3 months .
I have a tweed vibrolux it's much more user friendly and I love the tremolo on it .

[b2sc]

I've got a '60 model tweed T'lux that's the cat's meow. I liken it to the tweed Deluxe of the same era but bigger sounding due to it's larger cabinet size. The swampy tremolo is the best I've ever heard. I typically run mine though an old Gibson outboard reverb untit my Gretsch and the tone is heavenly...

[decisiondecision]

Debating between Blond tremolux 1963 and blackface 63 tremolux heads. any recomendations? am planning on using them through marshall cabs as Rich Robinson

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/archive/index.php/t-1088734.html

Any recommendations?

Thanks

[Rockerduck]

My first amp was a Tremolux head and 210 cab.

[add4]

I bought a January 62 blonde Tremolux (with white knobs) 12 years ago. I still love its sound now. I played rock, blues, and jazz with it.

+:
Tone!
Dynamic is great
precision

-:
I'm dreaming about a lighter combo that would sound the same
No a lot of control over the EQ
I WISH i had reverb on it.. it has a VERY direct sound
I also wish it was a bit less loud so i could push it up a bit more without waking up the neighbors


A very good amp tech here told me that it is the exact same circuit as the deluxe, with 6L6s.

All in all, i love it, but i wish it was a little more practical.
I'm defaintely keeping it

[rmconner80]

I've owned the blonde and the blackface. Still own the blonde. Both really really great amps, possibly my favorite fenders; both awesome for slightly different reasons. The BF is actually more aggressive sounding than the Blonde. I run USA Tung Sol 5881s in the blonde and ran JAN 6L6WGBs in the BF. BF has more headroom, more power, later breakup, but does get nasty in a more aggressive way with the channels jumpered on about 7, compared to the blonde. The BF Tremolux is the ONLY BF Fender amp I've owned and played (out of probably two dozen including all the piggybacks, and multiple combos) where I didn't feel I was fighting to be heard in the mix (with the obvious exception of the super reverb and bassman head; however those were far too loud to get into any semblance of sweetness to be practical; and it's worth mentioning that I have not tried a Vibrolux but it's on my shortlist).

The blonde has better tremelo, breaks up sooner, and has more midrange and decidedly softer attack; not as loud, definitely splits the tweed / BF right down the middle in an oh so seductive way. Both killer amps. Wish I still had the BF one but I figure one incredible Tremolux is enough for me to own at any one time and the blonde stayed for the cool factor although I'm not convinced that it is the better amp :)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a398/rmconner80/IMG_0525.jpg