The Fender Deluxe Reverb - the G.O.A.T?

[Any Name You Wish]

Because the electrolytics are 40+ years past their expiration date.
As far as posterity AND tone are concerned, a vintage amp with replaced caps is much more desirable than one with replaced caps AND output transformer because a filter cap blew and took the OT with it. Then the amp will always have an aftermarket OT.
The techs who think it's OK to run old caps must either have a large parts stash or don't realize that you can no longer call Fender and order proper parts for old amplifiers.
You usually can't tell caps are bad by looking at them.
When we say they are leaking, that means they are no longer doing their job and DC current is leaking out the negative side, not that there is a physical substance oozing out of them.

40 years of misunderstanding "leaking caps" down the drain.

 

[charliechitlins]

Which is why I always run it through a light bulb...

But point noted.

I need to find someone I can REALLY trust to do the stuff you are talking aboot.

Yup.
A lightbulb limiter can tell you id there are immediate problems but can give you the thumbs-up 10 seconds before a cap firecrackers.

 

[Grand Funk fan]

I have the 65 RI , and I have had a twin reverb, a hot rod DeVille, a bassman, a Princeton, and a blues Jr. I'd say the deluxe is the best Fender amp , but I have 2 Peavey amps that have better cleans and take over drive better. I think people mistake brightness for clean. The deluxe is brighter than my peaveys but they lack the complexity and color of the peaveys clean tones. The deluxe is a great amp, but I think Fender does a much better job with their marketing than Peavey. As far as RIs are concerned, there's been a lot of research and development that's gone into amps since the originals were produced. For example, the biggest draw back to my 65 RI is the lack of a control for mids. Im not knocking the amp, it's as good an amp.as any of us really need, it's just not the last word on a good tube amp.

 

[renderit]

Yup.
A lightbulb limiter can tell you id there are immediate problems but can give you the thumbs-up 10 seconds before a cap firecrackers.

Hence the reason why MOST of my money has been spent on Boutique amps.

Any peeps you would trust for these surgeries?

 

[charliechitlins]

Hence the reason why MOST of my money has been spent on Boutique amps.

Any peeps you would trust for these surgeries?

Well...even your boutique amps will need a service after 15 or so years.
Any competent tech can do it.
It's minor surgery.
About the equivalent of putting new pads and rotors on your car.
It's not rocket science, but you need the right tools and know-how.
I, for instance, am not good enough to follow a signal chain, diagnose and repair problems, but if an amp is working and it's electrolytics (and some resistors that live a hard life because of their job) are hitting their shelf life, I can identify which ones need changing and change them.
I have an amp that I've had for so long, it's soon going to be getting it's 3rd re-cap during my ownership.

 

[LeonC]

Hence the reason why MOST of my money has been spent on Boutique amps.

Any peeps you would trust for these surgeries?

Agree with Charlie - replacing old/worn-out electrolytic filter caps is a very straight-forward and routine job. Any competent tech should be able to do it. That said, find someone who will REMOVE the old parts completely, clean up the rivets and put the new ones in properly, not just snip the legs off the old caps and "tack" the new ones in. (I'd directly ask them to do this.) Amazing how often I'd see "tack jobs" on old amps I've worked on. I'd do it for you if you were out this way (Los Angeles) but not sure where you're located...I suspect it's not nearby...

 

[renderit]

Tejas, soon to be Wyoming.

Where you might have to use a veterinarian instead of a doctor.

Not even sure soldering irons have made it up there yet.

 

[Patrick Ginnaty]

Has anyone had this done?

Alessandro High-End Products Hand-wired Service for Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue | eBay

Custom proprietary Alessandro epoxy/glass laminate, mill spec. Alessandro High-End Products Hand-wired Service for 1- Alessandro Foil Capacitors. Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue Amplifiers. Check out our website.

www.ebay.com

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Tejas, soon to be Wyoming.

Where you might have to use a veterinarian instead of a doctor.

Not even sure soldering irons have made it up there yet.

Removing the amp head from the cab and shipping the head to a well-regarded tech is an option.

This is the level of craftsmanship you might want to look for:

Beyond Recapping: getting the last noise and buzz out of vintage Fender amplifiers

 

[Bluespower]

Here's one of my favorite videos of my Deluxe Reverb in action at the Belly Up! tavern in Solana Beach. I'm playing a bursted 1968 Les Paul with 1961 PAFs

no OD or boost pedal?

 

[Wilko]

no OD or boost pedal?

for the solo there's an old MXR microamp set about halfway.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

'65 Fender Deluxe Reverb

 

[charliechitlins]

Has anyone had this done?

Alessandro High-End Products Hand-wired Service for Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue | eBay

Custom proprietary Alessandro epoxy/glass laminate, mill spec. Alessandro High-End Products Hand-wired Service for 1- Alessandro Foil Capacitors. Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue Amplifiers. Check out our website.

www.ebay.com

Well...George Alessandro certainly knows his stuff.
I wouldnt think the amp would sound any better, but reliability a ease of service will go up.
I'd call it a good move if the amp is a keeper.

 

[SG Std]

Here's one of my favorite videos of my Deluxe Reverb in action at the Belly Up! tavern in Solana Beach. I'm playing a bursted 1968 Les Paul with 1961 PAFs

Very nice guitar playing!

 

[Any Name You Wish]

So I was at a music store last week playing some new guitars and they happen to have a DRRI sitting there in the room so I thought I would give it another try because there just has to be something I am missing right? After dicking around with it for an hour I have to say I've changed my mind about the Deluxe. At about 4.5 on the volume going through the regular channel (playing an R9 and an R0) it had a real nice Fender clean blackface sound. Big and airy compared to what I remember. The Vibrato/Reverb channel was not quite as impressive for some reason. The reverb got way out there in brain cell destruction territory very quickly, so had to go easy on that. The others I played (including an Allen kit clone) really sucked, but who knows what tubes/speakers they had going on. This one was bone stock and mint condition and I really liked it. It is not going to replace my '59 Bassman in a full-on rock band setting, but dang it is cool So, I was wrong, again. Like my wife says: "Add it to the list"

 

[charliechitlins]

Here's one of my favorite videos of my Deluxe Reverb in action at the Belly Up! tavern in Solana Beach. I'm playing a bursted 1968 Les Paul with 1961 PAFs

Nice

 

[renderit]

So I was at a music store last week playing some new guitars and they happen to have a DRRI sitting there in the room so I thought I would give it another try because there just has to be something I am missing right? After dicking around with it for an hour I have to say I've changed my mind about the Deluxe. At about 4.5 on the volume going through the regular channel (playing an R9 and an R0) it had a real nice Fender clean blackface sound. Big and airy compared to what I remember. The Vibrato/Reverb channel was not quite as impressive for some reason. The reverb got way out there in brain cell destruction territory very quickly, so had to go easy on that. The others I played (including an Allen kit clone) really sucked, but who knows what tubes/speakers they had going on. This one was bone stock and mint condition and I really liked it. It is not going to replace my '59 Bassman in a full-on rock band setting, but dang it is cool So, I was wrong, again. Like my wife says: "Add it to the list"

Nothing will replace that.

 

[Xpensive Wino]

​

 

[poor man's burst]

When we say they are leaking, that means they are no longer doing their job and DC current is leaking out the negative side, not that there is a physical substance oozing out of them.

As a matter of fact, old electrolytic capacitors DO leak and ooze a physical substance (in addition to let pass electrical current). Le liquid electrolite inside dries with age , taking more space. It then beggins to push through the safety hole under the sealing rubbery seal at the positive side of the cap, causing a bubble, which finally blows up, letting a (often whitish, but not allways) powder to come out.

1974 Fender Twin Reverb Original Mallory Electrolytic 70s capacitors | Reverb Italia

Set of original electrolytic capacitors from a 1974 fender Silverface guitar amplifier.It's a full set of five filter caps , all that are in the 'dog house' of the amp.One of the 20MFD cover is a bit peeled, it's ok on the other side as it can be seen in the picturesThese are vintage *non functio...

reverb.com

 

[charliechitlins]

​

YES!
Back when the crabby bartender would let us play loud, everybody knew this setting.