Maintenance Tips

Resistor Color Codes

Posted by Mike Pascale on

This chart shows you how to read the color codes on resistors.  It also includes “samples” of many of the resistors typically found in vintage Fender amps.  It’s in PDF format for free viewing or download.  Enjoy! Download Resistor Guide  

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A Word on Cap Jobs

Posted by Mike Pascale on

We’d like to make a quick statement about the term “cap job” and what it really means!Performing a “cap job” should NOT mean indiscriminately replacing ALL of the capacitors in your amp!! We have seen way too many vintage tweed & blackface Fenders come through my shop that have suffered this terrible fate.First of all there are basically TWO DIFFERENT types of capacitors in your vintage Fender amp. The first are the electrolytic caps, which perform two different duties in your vintage Fender. The main power filters literally filter the high voltage in your amplifier. The electrolytic chemical inside of these...

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Cleaning Tube Sockets

Posted by Mike Pascale on

Cleaning the tube sockets in your vintage Fender amp is important basic maintenance. Dirty tube sockets are often the cause of intermittent noises such as snaps, crackles & “fizzles”. You will be amazed at how much background noise might go away after cleaning the tube sockets. Cleaning the tube sockets is very delicate work. To avoid damage to your tube socket and tube pins, this must be carefully done! Remove the tube from the socket to be cleaned. Apply a little bit of red “De-Oxit” or other high quality contact cleaner (must be safe for plastics) to the pins of...

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Safety

Posted by Mike Pascale on

WARNING!!!! EVEN THE SMALLEST TUBE AMP CONTAINS DEADLY VOLTAGES!!! BEFORE WORKING ON ANY TUBE AMP BE SURE THAT THE AMP IS UNPLUGGED AND THE FILTER CAPS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY DISCHARGED!!! TUBE AMPLIFIERS CONTAIN VOLTAGES HIGH ENOUGH TO KILL YOU, EVEN IF THE AMP HAS BEEN OFF & UNPLUGGED FOR DAYS!!!! Safe discharge in vintage Fender amps can usually be accomplished by turning the amp off, unplugging it, & flipping the standby switch to the “play” mode.   If your amp has no standby switch, just unplug it & leave it “on” for several minutes. After a few minutes, your amp should...

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