[thesteve]

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

Ohhh. Interesting. So what's the outlet used for?

They were used to power other devices. I have an aux power jack on my Acoustic 150 head. Depending on where power outlets are located when I use that amp, I will use the aux power jack to power my pedal board.

[Major Tom]

Looks original to me. Older Fender amps (well, not smaller ones like Champs, and maybe Princetons) did come with those auxiliary power outlets as a "convenience" feature, and they did NOT have the removable style power cords like so many amps today have. I hate those removable cords ! They're usually short (like 5' long, as opposed to a more real-word usable 8') and tend to work their way out.

You can also use WD-40 to clean those pots. I have not run into any pots (yet) that WD40 would not restore. Given the age of the amp (and therefore, the amount of oxidation on the wipers of the pots), it may take a couple cleanings.

I'd buy that amp in a New York minute at that price, and I don't even care much for Fender amps. Vintage amps like that continue to go up in price as time goes on; its an investment. Buying that amp at that price is like getting the chance to buy a 1 ounce gold coin at half or 2/3rds price - no, better, since you can't crank up a gold coin and wake yer neighbors.

[Gustin]

My concern was more about it's true owner than it's originality. As a victim of gear theft and resell, I'm leary of anyone selling expensive gear significantly below the used market.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by Gustin

My concern was more about it's true owner than it's originality. As a victim of gear theft and resell, I'm leary of anyone selling expensive gear significantly below the used market.

From what it sounds like, the store offered to give him the price. It wasn't the price he was asking. I could be misunderstanding the story though.

I know most stores, when they purchase something used, offer 40-50% of what they view as market value. IIRC MJ works at the store and as such would have the inside track on getting the "deal" price vs. having to pay the store mark-up. I know when I bought my Fender Jazz V, this was how I scored it for $300. I happened to run into an acquaintance in a guitar shop when he had it in for appraisal. They told him it was worth $275. I pulled him aside and told him I could give him $300 as soon as I could find an ATM. I'd guess I could've gone onto Craigslist that evening and found a buyer in the $700-$900 range.

[Gustin]

Originally Posted by thesteve

From what it sounds like, the store offered to give him the price. It wasn't the price he was asking. I could be misunderstanding the story though.

I know most stores, when they purchase something used, offer 40-50% of what they view as market value. IIRC MJ works at the store and as such would have the inside track on getting the "deal" price vs. having to pay the store mark-up. I know when I bought my Fender Jazz V, this was how I scored it for $300. I happened to run into an acquaintance in a guitar shop when he had it in for appraisal. They told him it was worth $275. I pulled him aside and told him I could give him $300 as soon as I could find an ATM. I'd guess I could've gone onto Craigslist that evening and found a buyer in the $700-$900 range.

Yeah.. sorry I wasn't trying to push the subject any further, just clarify my original post.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by Gustin

Yeah.. sorry I wasn't trying to push the subject any further, just clarify my original post.

Totally understand. If I was working at a shop and a guy came in with an amp like that and said, "I'll sell this to you for $375" I'd definitely think it was sketchy.

[MJ_Avalanche]

Alright guys, thanks for all the help and thoughts. I bought it last week. Works like a charm! Going to take it in to work tomorrow and clean out the pots.

Question about maintenance. I heard over the years that a good rule of thumb is to the replace the tubes when buying a used amp. How much of a (if any) tone difference would I see if I put different brands of tubes in besides what's already in it? It currently has Electro-Harmonix for the power tubes. I haven't looked at what the preamp tubes are yet. Should I be at all concerned with the branding or will it sound basically the same as long as I'm using 6V6 when it's 6V6 and so on?

[Stratopastor]

You don't need to be 'concerned about branding' on 6V6s but there are some differences and people do have preferences, so I expect other folks will chime in here. For present-day production I don't think you can go wrong with Tung-Sols. JJs have the reputation of sounding more like 6L6s, but I haven't tried them and don't know what that means anyway. For old-production, people swear by GE and RCA; I haven't afforded them, but I love Mazda and Brimar (Brimar have more bass).

IMO if you're not going to push the power tubes into distortion then you're probably going to get a likeable tone out of even the cheapest Russian 6n6c tubes .

Rebiasing rules apply.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

Alright guys, thanks for all the help and thoughts. I bought it last week. Works like a charm! Going to take it in to work tomorrow and clean out the pots.

Question about maintenance. I heard over the years that a good rule of thumb is to the replace the tubes when buying a used amp. How much of a (if any) tone difference would I see if I put different brands of tubes in besides what's already in it? It currently has Electro-Harmonix for the power tubes. I haven't looked at what the preamp tubes are yet. Should I be at all concerned with the branding or will it sound basically the same as long as I'm using 6V6 when it's 6V6 and so on?

IMO, unless the tubes are defective, differences will be very subtle. Also, they tend to show up more in the tube's distortion characteristics, once again, IMO.

[Major Tom]

I heard over the years that a good rule of thumb is to the replace the tubes when buying a used amp.

That does not make any sense. That's like saying "when you buy a used car, you should always put new tires on " The real answer would be to replace the tires when the tread is almost all gone. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to determine the condition of tubes.

I

MO, unless the tubes are defective, differences will be very subtle. Also, they tend to show up more in the tube's distortion characteristics, once again, IMO.

This.

IMO, there are differences in tubes, assuming we are talking about tubes that are "in spec"; i.e, 100% functional. The difference can be so subtle that you can't tell at all, other times it can be significant. In my experience, which I have seen confirmed by a couple of "tube gurus", there is a more significant difference in the distortion characteristics of different tubes, than their clean characteristics. I also believe that differences can be more apparent in some "contexts"; such as the individual amp, which position in a given amp (preamp tubes - V1, V2, V3, etc.), the signal level fed into the amp, gain, amp eq settings, even the guitar - due to the frequency content / timbre.

[MJ_Avalanche]

Originally Posted by Major Tom

That does not make any sense. That's like saying "when you buy a used car, you should always put new tires on " The real answer would be to replace the tires when the tread is almost all gone. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to determine the condition of tubes.

Fair enough. I suppose your last statement is probably one of the reasons why I've heard people say that. That said, I did make it through a gig last week without changing tubes.

Originally Posted by Major Tom

This.

IMO, there are differences in tubes, assuming we are talking about tubes that are "in spec"; i.e, 100% functional. The difference can be so subtle that you can't tell at all, other times it can be significant. In my experience, which I have seen confirmed by a couple of "tube gurus", there is a more significant difference in the distortion characteristics of different tubes, than their clean characteristics. I also believe that differences can be more apparent in some "contexts"; such as the individual amp, which position in a given amp (preamp tubes - V1, V2, V3, etc.), the signal level fed into the amp, gain, amp eq settings, even the guitar - due to the frequency content / timbre.

So generally speaking, then. For a Deluxe that I'm primarily going to be using as a clean Jazz amp with a one humbucker hollowbody, I'm more than likely not going to hear much, if any, difference if I put in Mesa tubes versus GrooveTubes or EH or what have you.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by MJ_Avalanche

Fair enough. I suppose your last statement is probably one of the reasons why I've heard people say that. That said, I did make it through a gig last week without changing tubes.



So generally speaking, then. For a Deluxe that I'm primarily going to be using as a clean Jazz amp with a one humbucker hollowbody, I'm more than likely not going to hear much, if any, difference if I put in Mesa tubes versus GrooveTubes or EH or what have you.

IMO, if the tubes are going, you might hear one. Typically though in my experience, bad tubes versus good effect first volume and then frequency response. The drastic changes I have heard are when the tube loses bass or high frequencies as it goes. So as long as it produces a pleasing sound to your ears that is about the right volume, consistently, I think you are good.