Super Reverb rectifier question...

[TheMachine]

Anybody know how common it was for Fender to put solid state rectifiers on their pre-CBS amps (Super Reverb in particular)? My tech has checked mine out (1964 SR) and says that the parts are all period-correct for the amp - even has a metal cover over the rectifer tube/socket hole. I have just never heard of such before this. Any thoughts?

Gene

 

[Swarty]

Common? In a Super Reverb? I've never heard of it. I've learned to never say never with Fender but I'd find this very suspicious. There were certainly several other pre-CBS amps that had SS rectifiers.

 

[FlyingVBlues]

Super Reverbs made between 1963-1967 had a GZ34 rectifier. The earlier brown Super's made from 1960-1963 also used the GZ34, while the early silverface Super's used a 5U4GB.

FVB

 

[TheMachine]

In my brief and basic research, here's what I got...

It is my understanding that the Concert (along with the just-Super) "became" the Super Reverb, and the Concerts that I've seen were solid-state rectified. Also my understanding that the Concert went out and the SR introduced in '63. Maybe the overlapping in circuit design/production might explain it. Maybe the were out of rectifer sockets that day (just kidding). Or maybe, just maybe, the guy who sold it to me was full of sh*t (ya never know)... LOL If I can get a picture of the chassis, I'll post it. My tech swears it's factory (as the components match the rest of the ones in the amp), as unusual as it seems. You guys are much more knowledgeable about this than I am, so please don't take anything as argumentative. Just saying that it REALLY looks like a factory deal.

Amp sounds great. It's not a biggie. Just curious about it, that's all. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Blue Strat]

I worked on a Super (or other ~40 watt) Fender blackface a few months ago which SEEMED to have had factory stock diodes installed on the recto socket. Everything else about the amp was original.

As hard as I tried to convince myself that the diodes were an "after market" mod, I just couldn't do it.

 

[TheMachine]

Old Tele man-

Tube chart stamp reads "NL" - December of '64. Later in the year, which makes it even more unusual, if one follows the "overlap" theory.

I just found it rather interesting. Might be a "one off" or possibly a special request by the original owner of the amp, although I'm not nearly schooled enough in the company's history to know whether or not Fender did special orders in those days...

It worked out nicely for me in that I prefer a solid-state rectifier in these amps (the ones I've played, FWIW). Already plenty enough sag for me in the circuit. Besides, I run it "mostly" clean, anyway.

Blue Strat-

Did the Fender that you worked on have a metal perforrated cover for the rectifier hole?

Thanks guys,
Gene

 

[Wakarusa]

There is also the possibility that the amp shipped with a GZ34 and was professionally converted way back when (but not necessarily by Fender).

Too, and I'm not suggesting this is what has happened in your case, I have bags and bags of NOS diodes from that era laying around. Let's see... use an old diode and a mildly oxidized socket plug, solder the joints a tad cold so they look old...

Or maybe just steal the rectifier board from the burnt-out BF Bassman over there...

 

[TheMachine]

Todd,

I've considered those possibilities (the first, in particular). Regarding the second, I've gotta wonder... If you were gonna change it to affect value (presumably to make the sale price go up), wouldn't the sensible thing be to change it back to "factory", i.e. put a tube rectifier back in? Maybe they put the solid state one in to make some boob think he got a "special" amp... Now THAT would be my luck. LMAO BTW, the rectifier wasn't a selling point on the amp. Just playing devil's advocate.

It doesn't really matter, as it's mainly a point of curiousity as to whether anyone knew if "might" be factory. I know it affects the value if it's not original, but I'm not too concerned as I'm not planning on getting rid of it. I waited a long time to get one of these babies...

Oh, yeah... You make a sharp-looking amp, bro.

Thanks for the reply.

Gene

 

[Wakarusa]

Hey Gene,

I was just having fun. The BF Fenders have gotten expensive, but (for the most part) not far enough into the stratosphere to make this kind of thievery worthwhile (unlike solid-body electric guitars, ferinstance).

That said, there's also a helluva lot of fraud in the vintage amp market right now -- I've seen more than one amp pieced together with "correct" parts and sold as original. There are also scads of e-bay ads claiming "all original", though I'll be damned if I've ever seen a Sprague 715P cap from 1965

Anyhow, back to the topic... assuming the work is from the early 60's I'd cast my vote for either "Leo playing around" or an early mod. Like the others, I'm unaware of any BFSR shipping with a solid-state rectifier.

 

[Swarty]

"Also my understanding that the Concert went out and the SR introduced in '63. Maybe the overlapping in circuit design/production might explain it."


There were BF Concerts made until '65 or so.

 

[TheAmpNerd]

Originally posted by Old Tele man
...if it's got a REVERB and MID-tone control, it's a SR...

...but, it there's no REVERB and no MID-control, it might be a re-faceplated Concert...

...both used 4 x 10" in same cabinet...

AND FOLKS AS THE SAYING GOES...


... the plot thickens.

 

[TheMachine]

"There were BF Concerts made until '65 or so." I should have researched a little further. I stand corrected. Thanks, Swarty.

Old Tele - Yup; there's 'verb and mid on 'er. I'm gonna see if Mr. Gagliano might have an idea about this puppy. Thanks for the tip.

On a side note, does anyone know where I can go to look up numbers on the old Jensen speakers? I'm assuming that I can date them using these numbers...

 

[Wakarusa]

Jensens will have a number on 'em somewhere of the form 220-YWW where Y = the last digit of the year and WW is the week in that year. Thus 220-422 would be the 22nd week of 1962 (or 1972. By the 80's the form is usually YYWW)

 

[TheMachine]

Need help posting them. Can anyone help?

Todd - I'll try e-mailing them to you.

 

[Reeek]

Maybe Uncle Spot (Ron Veil) knows. Contact him via:

www.unclespot.com