1946 Fender Princeton "Woodie" Amp.....Rare, Valuable, and Really Nice !!

Talk about a historic amp......this 1946 Princeton represents the very first of Leo's masterpieces. Although quite simple in design, the excellent quality and tone that made Fender a legend are already evident. We thoroughly inspect the little guy inside and out, then repair what needs repairing, including a discussion of circuit variations and design, then proceed to an audio demo using both the 6V6 indicated by the schematic and a 6K6, which came in the amp from the owner. In addition, we will open a viewer gift that promises to provide a video of its own, see Jack in action, and have a brief historical review of the three different models of Fender "Woodie" amps.
If you enjoy videos like this please SUBSCRIBE and consider becoming a Patreon patron of our channel at this site: / uncledougsvintageamps or making a contribution of support for our channel via PayPal account [e-mail]. Thanks !!

[@charlesreibold2883]

Thank you Uncle Doug for your thorough and humorous review and repair of my old Fender Princeton. When I proudly tell people that I have a "woodie" I get very mixed responses. What's up with that? The schematic that I sent to you was the earliest that I could find and was from Radiomuseum. They dated it from 1948 as the 5B2 circuit with a duo triode 6SL7 preamp tube and 6V6 output. The next iteration, the 5C2 from 1948 , uses a 6SC7 and a 6v6. I have found several model 26 pictures that show the tube designations written in pencil on the chassis. This leads me to believe that this amp originally did have a 6SJ7, a 6K6 and a 5Y3 as the chassis markings suggest. Until other research proves it different, let's call this the "5A2" circuit. Some his later amps had Leo's name penciled on the bottom of the chassis which he probably would have only done unless he had other employees wiring amps as a method of QC. Since Lily and Lupe were not yet his employees, he likely hand soldered this thing himself. Simply amazing. Radiomusiums.

[@brianhanson9367]

You own a real jewel. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your very interesting and informative comments, Charles.....and thanks for sharing this very rare and historic gem with all of us.

[@paulcowart3174]

Love to see and hear you get your hands on an old Woodie Pro Amp to end all amps vintage wise

[@kennyh5083]

@@UncleDoug I want to donate some amps to you! FREE FOR YOU TO PROFIT ON! How can I contact you and where are you located so I know where to ship them to? are you in NM? How can I contact and acquire your address? And the amps are old Baldwins, Newcombs, Maasco, etc. (I'm retiring to the tropics)

[@UncleDoug]

@@kennyh5083 I appreciate your generous offer, Kenny. I have some local guys who are learning amp repair and these could be very helpful. Please message me on my FB page Uncle Doug's Vintage Amps.

[@marlobreding7402]

I love seeing the Heathkit capacitor tester. My dad bought a Heathkit tachometer dwell meter kit from Heathkit in early 1960s. I learned a bunch of really colorful words from my dad when he was putting it together. Mom didn't appreciate it much.

[@UncleDoug]

Our fathers sound quite similar, Marlo ;)

[@imannonymous7707]

My grandfather had a few choice words building his heathkit hi fi amplifier

[@Nicko30able]

I admit that after playing nearly 50 years, most of this shoots straight over my head...but your presentation and character are infectious....and I never miss an installment. Thank you for the effort it takes to put all this together. Much peace to you and your moggies!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for the nice comments, Nick. Likewise :)

[@stevenclarke5606]

I’ve never seen one of these amps before, it’s amazing to think that it was built a few months after the end of WW II .

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Steven.

[@toddmcintosh83]

Uncle Doug, you are the most talented and entertaining host on U-tube! Thanks for the sharp and creative wit and the detailed repairs you cover! Your understanding and historical information about each device you cover in your presentations! Your client this time surely was inspired by your sense of humor, and I thoroughly enjoyed this episode! This is a beautiful old amp! Thumbs up!👍😄

[@UncleDoug]

Wow....thanks so much, Todd. We really appreciate it :)

[@jorgemellooliveira9611]

Palavras verdadeiras de insentivo que faz a diferença

[@vintagetubeamplifiers]

When life gets me down I just watch the newest Uncle Doug video and everything's just a little better.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, VTA :)

[@kaosmediapresents]

Just subscribed after putting my infant to sleep with your voice. I know nothing about amps or electrical---but your manner of speaking is so engaging, I'd listen to you talk about anything. My husband is the guitar and amp guy in the family and has been watching your videos for months. Like it or not, you are a part of our family now, Uncle Doug!

[@UncleDoug]

I am honored to be included, Kaye. Thanks so much and best regards from Ollie, Jack, KC, and your old Uncle :)

[@sykoproduction]

Finally a demo with the amp cranked all the way up. ;) we need more of those

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you liked it, SP.

[@RyanOfTheRocks]

I wish there were more creators sharing this kind of content. A simple and honest look into the garage of an analog circuit wizard. This made my day, doug. I cant thank you enough.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Ryan. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@andrewwilliams5042]

Went from watching videos of current world events to this one, the humor and knowledge drop is much appreciated.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Andrew.

[@MrPnew1]

Bowel and bladder orientated :) You crack me up Uncle Doug and I haven't even seen the amp yet

[@UncleDoug]

We cover all the bases, Pedro.

[@ima640]

Another great video. Thanks for sharing, and putting smiles on our faces.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ima.

[@tomstiel7576]

What could possibly be any better than the first day of spring ,on a sunny sunday morning and new Uncle Doug ? makes my day complete !!!!!

[@UncleDoug]

We hope you enjoy the video, Tom :)

[@tommyd.2002]

Wow, historics and hysterics combine again with Uncle Doug! Loved this one... great to see the humble beginnings of the Fender dynasty.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Tommy :)

[@leonardpeters3266]

That Heathkit capacitor checker is a wonderful piece of gear. I have one and I love it. It is actually used in that video I asked you to critique. I used it to reform some capacitors in a 59 tweed deluxe, then I replaced the capacitors anyway because 'I don't trust reforming capacitors. Ha. Great video as usual.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your input, Leonard.

[@zyadnob5449]

Uncle Doug, thanks loads for your contents..we enjoy your reviews a lot.. please post more..nice job (Y)

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, ZN. Will do :)

[@jjsant3250]

6K6 also wants a different impedance/load possibly explaining some of the lower output. It also wants lower voltage but that amp is already there. I added a switch on my 6v6 project amp to also allow for 6k6. Terry at D-lab mentioned how cheap they are so I scored 6 Sylvanias for about $9 each. They all appear NOS and bias within 2ma of each other. Glad to see than Uncle can still get a woodie.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for the info, JJ.

[@pauldavis6356]

"Glad to see than Uncle can still get a woodie." 🤣

[@UncleDoug]

@@pauldavis6356 Yes, indeed, Paul.....and no Russian pole dancers were harmed in the process.

[@fichambawelby2632]

Hello and welcome again, Doug. Nice to see you here once more. It is always a pleasure. And what a nice amp!. Never saw nothing like it. I love those times when things were made to last...almost forever!. Lucky you for having the opportunity to put your hands over it. And luckiest for receiving such an extraordinary piece like the Heathkit cap meter. Thanks for being here, and best regards from Spain.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, FW. It's always good to hear from you.

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Hey Doug, what a delightful little amp....Never seen one of those before. Sheltered life..! Looks great and such a simple build...Thanks as usual for the tech info and tips..Ed..uk..😀

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ed.

[@bertrodriguez3087]

Another absolutely wonderful video Doug. I was blown away by the difference in bass response between the 6V6 and 6K6. Learned something new. Thank you.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Bert......glad you enjoyed it :)

[@jcool0122]

Those stickers remind me of the old peechee folders they used to sell.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for sharing, Jeremy.

[@davidshutt2273]

That's the coolest Fender amp I've ever seen. Keep up the great work, Uncle D

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, David. Will do :)

[@nickolaspts-kzn]

I really enjoy your humor and sharp descriptions you make Uncle Doug 👌👍👋😊

[@UncleDoug]

Glad to hear it, Nick :)

[@Angelum_Band]

I second and a half that!

[@justgary4342]

I love a good amp repair extravaganza and this does not disappoint. Thank you Uncle Doug!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, JG.

[@lauratanner8475]

Guitar history right there! Very cool! 😎 Great video as always Uncle!

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Laura.

[@BurnleyNuts]

What a surprise and rare treat Uncle Doug. Wonderful stuff. Imagine 'finding' this on Ebay.

[@UncleDoug]

No kidding, BN.....the stuff dreams are made of :)

[@edrushbrook]

Thanks again, Doug! This was an unexpected treat for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Best wishes!

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ed.

[@RajagopalaRaoS]

Been occupied with work and health the better part of 2022. Just remembered hadn't seen a new video of yours in a while and it made me smile to be back here. Wonderful to see the video as always :D Good health and luck to you :)

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, RR. We're glad you enjoy our little productions.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

Turned out a great Sunday having this vid to watch. As always, fantastic!!

[@UncleDoug]

I hope you enjoy it, Richard.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

@@UncleDoug I certainly did as always.

[@amoruzz]

Another amazing video from Uncle Doug. Wow, what a classic amplifier and it looks so cool. Then the Healthkit cap checker with adjustable voltage. Incredible package combo of vintage electronics. Congratulations!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Amo :)

[@southboundsuarez9832]

Hey Unkie! I will try to keep this one short,,, Yeah right! The peanut gallery is never short of word count. I already probably exceeded my word allocation replying to other comments. (Amazing how fast these comment sections fill up. I don't know how possible you seem to read 'em all! Another reason you're so Great!) Yes these Woodies are awesome piece of history and it would seem as though they are built as strong as a Tank! I don't know where the heck one would find that type of velour grill cloth but it certainly was a fabric built to last. Every Woodie I have seen (not more than half a doz or so) all have immaculate grill cloth. Even the the dyes used have seldom faded much. They have been seen in variety of colors from red, blue and gold. Gold seems most subject to fading. Also it has been rumoured that after his split with Kaufman and no longer building the K&F amps, Leo originally started building Woodies in his spare time on his kitchen table... Not sure to the accuracy of this trivia but I love the thought of that grass roots effort! Regardless, I have seen both published and first hand his actual initials penciled underneath the chassis of a Deluxe #26. Much similar to the often found masking tape "Lupe" that you have discovered on later amps. Man, I loved the back story of how this amp was obtained by it's owner. A misidentified or incorrectly described vintage speaker on E'bay! Those are the type of rare finds that folks hope for at garage sales and such. I came across similar situation when I was bidding on items from an online amateur radio estate sale auction. Buried down below many listings of very desirable ham radio gear was a listing for two old tube audio chassis for parts. An original and pristine unmolested 5F6a and an old Allen Organ Amplifier Chassis ! Very few knew or cared about what audio stuff was offered. Towards the last hour of the auction, I did encounter a bidding war. After two or three go around's, I said "F" it and went all in. I quit screwing around and threw an outrageous bid and after testing the waters a few more go around's my opponent gave up. My final price ended up being only being 1/5th my max bid. I got the 5f6a and was pleased to later learn that the Allen Organ amp is a highly prized monobloc by a cult of DIY audiophiles. It was worth double my winning bid ! NICE!!! Congrats to the Woody owner for similar great fortunes. Also kudos for a nice job stuffing those caps! I am looking very forward to viewing your upcoming videos of the Heathkit Cap tester! What an excellent machine that must be! I have often been very critical of measuring caps and what useful or often useless info may be derived from often meaningless test procedures and equipment. At least for our own specific applications in vacuum tube technologies. Same goes much the same for much the world of tube testing devices. So often we never measure at the application voltages and we miss much of the story of how our component performs in actual dynamic action! Short of custom or specialized laboratory measurement instrumentation, we don't get much useful data with standard low voltage static measuring tools. The gold standard for caps seems to be the Sencore analyzers. But oh so expensive! I am very interested in seeing how Heathkit fares in your videos, as well as your take on testing caps and the great advice and practical hints you usually provide and share with your audience. Thanks for letting me share and throw my two cents into the forum!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for all your comments and observations, SS.

[@rpar2009]

From an Aussie, I'm pretty sure that Tip Top (which is still an Australian Bread Company) released comemorative stickers to celebrate the 1956 Olympic Games that were held in Melbourne. Very Cool. They may have been water transfers.

[@UncleDoug]

Several other viewers said the same thing, Rod, and it sounds quite plausible to me.

[@chrisk3754]

Vintage of this era just looks so cool-thanks for your efforts to preserve these types amplifiers as close as possible.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you like them, Chris.

[@daveling676]

Doug, what a great a sense of humor you have! And absolutely great work. Thank you!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Dave. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@PLINKER]

Very nice old amp and great job of bringing her back to as near perfection as possible!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Tom.

[@googleboy7]

Wow, watching you work on that amp I can smell the components and it takes me back to a very happy time in my life. Thanks! Shalom/gw

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, GA.

[@timothyb1559]

220614 - The war was over and all the soldiers were back in the states with their woodies. They had steel in their laps. Their eight inch Jensens had no shielding on the tubes. The resistance was low and the leakage was high. The house was a rockin' and the stork came a knockin'. That is the true origin of the baby boomers. Now you know....... the rest of the story! Awesome video, Uncle Doug! Can't wait for your next goodie.

[@UncleDoug]

A fabulous historical review, Tim, especially the stork part :) :) Actually I was probably spawned under the conditions you described......thus my interest in tube amps :)

[@CraigHollabaugh]

There was a recession in late 1948 through 1949. It affected manufacturing and I heard also Fender production. This is why those early amps had many versions because parts were scarce.

[@UncleDoug]

@@CraigHollabaugh That makes sense, Craig. Use what you have, not what the schematic says.

[@yisraels4555]

@@CraigHollabaugh I think the changing parts list was more a result of war surplus availability. Lots of electronics parts were available and cheap from surplus at the time. But of course supply of any specific part may vary.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@yisraels4555 sure, that makes sense too

[@brianbinck6101]

I watched your videos and built a great 57 champ circuit. Thank you for teaching me enough to do this.

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Brian. That's great to hear :)

[@adenihil]

Thank you U.D… Nice to see you again Buddy! ;•)

[@UncleDoug]

Likewise, Adrien :)

[@calmmusicforsleep]

Great review! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day! 👍👍👍

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, CM. Likewise :)

[@Rod_Knee]

Doug, your videos are a great source of education and entertainment. Thanks once again.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you like them, Rod.

[@gdownz1044]

Love watching you Uncle Doug! 👍 Always learn something new. ✌️

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Greg. That's great to hear.

[@wlogue]

Thanks Unc. we had the old willys jeep out in the bush today! Cheers bud!

[@UncleDoug]

I'm jealous, 682.

[@OIE82]

What a beautiful amp. And can't wait for the capacitor tester video. Just look at all those knobs and switches! So cool. Thanks Uncle Doug.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Luther.

[@OIE82]

I found this video that , if you haven't seen it and want to learn a bunch of Fender history, you should check out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGjXkIVjoLyepMU

[@LitesLAB]

Thank you for Sharing this Uncle Doug, have never seen one of these before. Very cool early circuit!

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, LL.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Haven’t even watched yet but I already know the next 51 minutes is gonna be the best of the day!

[@UncleDoug]

I hope you're right, Ryan :)

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@UncleDoug Lol! I definitely was, what an amazing piece of history! Love the stickers!

[@UncleDoug]

@@ryanfulldark2775 Glad you liked it, Ryan.

[@jasonkirkham550]

Iam so glad to see another Uncle Doug video.

[@UncleDoug]

Hope you enjoyed it, Jason.

[@400_billion_suns]

I love your channel! What a cool amp, and your humor is hilarious and appreciated as always :)

[@UncleDoug]

Glad to hear it, 400. Thanks !!!

[@HDYaqui]

Very informative Video! Love the way you explain circuits and point out differences in the Amps. Thank you! 🎶🥰🎶

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Francisco.

[@tacmason]

Another great video-Uncle Doug-you are the Man !!!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, David.

[@bluemule3891]

Big D, as usual, great stuff and thanks. Heathkit, wow what memories, my Dad built a pair of Walkie Talkies with one of their kits, I remember looking at the catalogs, they even had Color TV kits. It is funny how for so many years kids had no interest in "building" ('80s-90s) anything, but now being a "maker" means you are looked at in awe. I really am looking forward to seeing the Cap demo. Now if I could just see you fix up a Leslie 125, 144, or 147, I could die a happy man 😁 Leslies Rule BlueMule

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Mr. Mule ;)

[@larrydering1598]

What a rare and great amp. Very cool Doug. Enjoyed it beyond legal limits.

[@UncleDoug]

That's really good to hear, Larry. Thanks !!

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Won-der-ful! UD! Sunday morning with the “Woodie” Princeton and multiple cups of hot dark roast! You are truly the tube amp “GURU”! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, ATL. We share the same taste in coffee :)

[@trevorclarey3336]

Another good one Uncle Doug please keep them coming.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Trevor. Will do :)

[@curtismuma1931]

Great work as always!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Curtis.

[@l6srob990]

Great video as always interesting history of this amp glad to be able to learn about it

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Rob :)

[@joepalooka2145]

Wow, what a treasure. Your video is extremely interesting to me as a huge fan of Leo Fender. Is this amp also in the Smithsonian as a shining example of American technological ingenuity and creativity? I've read a lot about Leo, and I never cease to be amazed at how he accomplished all that he did. Not just in amplifier design and construction, but in guitar design and innovation and high-quality mass production---- and on top of all that, having the genius business sense to market and sell his products to the whole world. And to this very day, almost everyone else --- except a few other legendary names---- is following in his footsteps.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for sharing your observations with us, Joe. Bear in mind that Leo sold Fender to CBS before it became a really large, profitable company....toward the end of the Blackface era. He got the ball rolling, with his brilliant designs and technical skills, then handed it off to businessmen who initially screwed things up, but eventually found a way to combine quality with profit.

[@WhippJunior]

Uncle D....Not sure if anyone posted this yet but growing up in '60's NY Tip Top bread was all over the place. Right up there with Wonder Bread. Excellent video.

[@UncleDoug]

Quite a few viewers have expressed similar memories regarding this product, WJ. Thanks for sharing.

[@howardrose8481]

Greetings Uncle Doug, One of my clients acquired the inventory of a local technician/enthusiast recently. Along with roughly 30 antique mixer-amplifiers was a large container of tubes. We haven’t finished counting or testing them yet, but I imagine 50+ lbs of tubes is a pretty big number. Amongst them are a dozen or so 6K6 pentodes. After watching this episode, I’m now looking forward to swapping them into a Deluxe 5e3 clone I’ve owned for a while. Depending on the outcome of this test, who knows what will happen next. Thanks as always for sharing. Howard Rose

[@UncleDoug]

In light of today's tube shortage, your acquisition could not have come at a better time, Howard. Good luck with your experimentation.

[@highpath4776]

Looks like the 6K6 has a lower output, but , given the high output of the 6V6 that is no bad thing, going from loud to overbearing is no good from your input source, so from moderate to nicely increased vol is better ( all controlled from the instrument volume)

[@Eddy63]

Well that was one of the funniest unpacking's I've seen in a while ... I'm surprised there wasn't 2 or 3 bottles of Milk of Magnesia in there as well ...Lol ... Great vid as usual ...

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Eddy.

[@southboundsuarez9832]

Ha! milk of magnesia! Q? Vodka & Orange juice? Screwdriver , correct? Next Q? Vodka & Orange juice & Milk if Magnesia ? A. PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER!

[@robinosborne266]

HI Doug, as usual another great video. Sorry that I haven’t commented on your last video but we have had a family illness and unfortunately my sister passed away a couple of weeks ago. She hadn’t been well for a while but her death was unexpected. All the best to you and your family (both human and feline).

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Robin. Sorry to hear of your loss.

[@williamwatson8766]

Another great video, thanks, Uncle Doug!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, William :)

[@JohnAdams-or9xw]

Hi Doug that was just a wonderful video of the woody. As I have took an interest in to building a 5e3 tweed circuit I wish I was half as talented as you are. Thank you for sharing.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, John. By all means build the 5E3.

[@dalerobinson3091]

Very nicely done! Thanks for your work.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you liked it, Dale.

[@charleslambiase5670]

Uncle Doug yet another entertaining yet educational Sunday and opportunity thank you!!!;

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Charles.

[@KeritechElectronics]

Lovely amp, so well kept. I love every one of your episodes. It was a great idea to use the outer shells of old caps stuffing them with new ones - preserving the old aesthetic with perfectly functional components. These power cords sure as hell were expensive, but they are quite the lookers. Pity that the conductors' insulation got cut through. I'd redo it until I get good result. Yes, I'm a damn perfectionist :D I'd also consider modding the amp a little bit by ditching the death cap and rewiring the heaters (with cotton-clad wire, of course) for symmetrical AC, grounding the center tap. The Heathkit is a thing of beauty and a joy for ever in itself. Hope it's so nice on the inside as well. Waiting for the video of you goinh through its insides and correcting possible bugs, because you never know. Will definitely come in handy in your work - I already feel bad that I do quite some old amp and radio servicing, and still don't have a proper cap tester, relying on an ohmmeter or even a voltmeter, testing them in circuit. It ooks like IT28 has an EM84 eye rather than the old 6E1. I'll be building a capacitor leak tester / reforming device inspired by these Heahkits. Always appreciating Jack :)

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your input and observations, Keri.

[@y00h0011]

That is a method that Uncle Doug has used many times and has even given a detailed How To explanation. Indeed.. it is a preferred choice.

[@UncleDoug]

@@y00h0011 Thanks so much, Y.

[@LukeAdrianOfficial]

Hey man I don't know if anyone has answered this but I love your videos and I'm from New Zealand. New ply plymouth to be more specific. Anyway tip top is a brand of bread here in nz. So I will imagine that he went to New Zealand or lived there for some time! Full respect to you uncle doug. You are a legend. From aotearoa with love ❤️

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your input, Luke. Likewise from the hinterlands of West Texas, USA.

[@nickdevriese]

That is a beautiful amp. Much history to that old wood.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Nick. Old wood is always the best ;)

[@hestheMaster]

Those lamp cords at Grand Brass are nice Uncle. On flee-bay one would have to buy a polarized plug and the wire separately for my two wire repaired vintage radios. Their plugs look vintage but not for grounded plugs like yours. Excellent go around on this beauty of a rare find $$$ vintage amp. Thank you for sharing it.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for the info, HM.

[@oldguy5381]

Doug your wit is unsurpassed, march wind is a good sign. I love the old amps. Stay well my friend.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, OG. Will do :)

[@rodrigobortoloti2830]

Doug, what a wonderful job. I am se fa here in Brazil. Congratulations on your talent and sharing your knowledge.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Rodrigo. We appreciate it :)

[@matthewf1979]

The owner found a rare gem for sure. I don’t really like how the “Woodie” amps sound but I’d jump at the chance to own one in a heartbeat. I’ve been looking for a high voltage capacitor tester in good working order for a while now. They are a great tool to have around. Ol’ Jackie is as handsome and silly as ever.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for all the nice comments, Matt.

[@rakentrail]

Doug, I grew up in southern New England and we had Tip Top bread. In the sixties Tip Top was the only bread mom would buy!

[@UncleDoug]

What a popular brand name.....it was used all over the world.

[@bluesingmusic3443]

What a beauty. Liked the comparison at the end as well.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, BiG.

[@tomw9875]

Thanks Uncle Doug, great video. I am so happy fellow Americans are regularly shipping their amps well-packed.

[@UncleDoug]

So am I, Tom. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@andylucas1175]

Great video, I understood very little of the electronics gobbledygook but you narrated it so well that you kept my interest throughout.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Andy. Keep watching and listening and eventually it will begin to "sink in" :)

[@bullthrush]

A real jewel. The comparison chart is a nice overview.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Andrew :)

[@marcuscarrozza732]

That amp was made the same year my mom was born. 😲. Thanks uncle Doug for the vid.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Marcus.

[@christopherallen5603]

@Uncle Doug that amp is beautiful and the owner was wise to send it to you for work.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Chris :)

[@stevieraysantana6159]

Mr.Do Right ( do it right ) lol . Man I’m glad to see your videos !!!! Thanks a million uncle Doug .

[@UncleDoug]

Glad to hear it, SR :)

[@theguitaramptech]

That is hilarious. Its great to see your customers with the same sense of humour as you, Uncle Doug.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, GAT. I agree, our viewers are the best !!!

[@drrobert2120]

Excellent...thanks for the reference chart.. Can't wait for capacitance tester video.. 👍👍👍

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you enjoyed it, Doc.

[@arthurvandelay7677]

I learn something new each time you post a video, Uncle! Jerry and the gang say hi, and that they think Jack is really starting to sound good on the guitar. Next time someone asks what they should use for packing material when shipping an amp, you can say, "Depends...".

[@UncleDoug]

That's great to hear, Art. Thanks so much :) Will do.

[@curtvincent3355]

Southwest? I was stationed at Ft Huachuca, AZ for many years! Loved the desert, hated the wind! But I adore your videos, even if I am approaching the Depends phase of life myself! Thanks for your incredible teaching Uncle Doug!

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, Curt. I'm in El Paso, and we are now suffering the wind you hated. It's the one downside to this area.

[@curtvincent3355]

@@UncleDoug Heh, I have moved 23 times in my career and I have learned that no place is perfect. Even moving internationally. They all have trade offs. Doing my 24th and final move in 2 weeks. Then I can get my shop set back up and apply some of what you are teaching us. I have a broken HP 200CD oscillator I need to fix and I have learned a tremendous amount from your videos. Eternally grateful.

[@UncleDoug]

@@curtvincent3355 Glad to hear it, Curt. Best of luck with your final move :)

[@RF944]

Thanks Uncle Doug👍👍

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, RF.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Another great job Doug. Sometimes the extra power cord length becomes useful when touring and a plug is farther away. Using an extension cord does come to mind though.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Jeremiah. I doubt that this amp will be doing much touring ;)

[@jeffm8122]

Doug, I am a little envious that you get to work on older amps like this Fender and the Oahu. The good thing is, I get to see them on your channel. There is something about the early forays into guitar amp construction that I really like. The last repair I did was on a Marshall JCM 800 2204, I think they use the sound of the 'High' channel on those amps to cut diamonds. That relatively recent high price of toilet paper has been overtaken, at least here in Australia, by petrol at $2.20 a litre. Occasionally you see a car that would double in price if you put a full tank of fuel in it. Looking forward to Heathkit capacitor tester video. Stay healthy. Regards, Jeff.

[@UncleDoug]

Greetings, Jeff. I guess the JCM has a lot in common with the mid-60's Gibson amps......like fingernails on a blackboard. Wow, that adds up to $8.80 a metric gallon (?) Incredible !!

[@twintriode]

OMG kudos to the guy who packed that amp. Soo funny. When my wife and I first met she had a membership to one of those bulk type grocery stores. While we were there shopping she said she needed to use the restroom. As it was the adult diapers were right by the bathrooms. While she was in there I filled the shopping cart with them, and when she came out I yelled I got those Depends you wanted. Decades later we still laugh about it. So as you might guess I can relate to this.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for sharing, TT :)

[@justovision]

Adorable little amp. My girlfriend would like to see more cat updates. Say "hi" to Jackie for us! Just for giggles I ordered a NOS 6K6 to try in a champ clone I use as a practice amp.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Justin. I'm glad you both enjoyed the video. Good luck with the 6K6.....I hope it works out well for you.

[@eugeneeaton7262]

Great video as always!

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, Eugene :)

[@georgeescaped6035]

another one this month!!! NICE !! THANKS UNCLE DOUG !!!!

[@UncleDoug]

We hope you enjoy it, George :)

[@renegade44040]

Sounds like that app is back in the game. Uncle Doug good job.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks, JJ :)

[@whiterose7055]

Hey Uncle Doug, thanks for that really great video. I just wanted to say that as a child growing up in the very early 50's in Chicago, IL. I ate a considerable amount of "Tip Top" Bread, so I think that although it is still available in Australia that it was widely variable in Chicago back around 1951 or so. I have no idea if it was owned by the Australian company or if they were competing as I was just a kid. Keep up the good work !!!

[@nicko6710]

Being Australian , Any reference to Baseball in the 50-90's would not be from Tip Top Australia. also we run 240 volts.

[@whiterose7055]

@@nicko6710 Thanks for verifying my suspician !!!

[@UncleDoug]

@@nicko6710 Thanks for your input, WR and Nick. The amp's owner thought the stickers came from an Australian company......not the amp. The Chicago connection definitely makes sense.

[@billmiller7138]

The sticker on the back of the chassis is Wards Tip Top which was out of New York City and eventually evolved into Continental Baking of Wonder Bread and Hostess Twinkie fame.

[@nicko6710]

@@whiterose7055 yep Cricket not Baseball, nice historical work.

[@alexdeleon7135]

Indeed an extravaganza! This episode answered every curiosity I've ever had with Fender's premier model; the legendary "woodie" amp. Thanks very much for this complete instructional guide of this early circuit, proper restoration, and demonstration of tonal characteristics of the 6V6, and 6K6 tubes respectively. I await the next video installment with the same prolepsis with any Uncle Doug feature. Enjy what's left of the weekend, dear uncle. Cheers!

[@patriottothecore6215]

Doug, you made me laugh so hard, I could have really used some of that novel packing material surrounding that anal-ogue wonder.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much for your very well-written comments, Alex. Likewise on the good wishes.

[@UncleDoug]

Glad to hear it, PtC......nowadays a little levity is definitely in order.

[@r.w.7470]

A thousand thanks Unc...This is simply a splendid video. Thanks to Charles?..? ..Was it that sent it to you...FYI, I enjoy these over, and over sometimes, they are that good.🙂

[@UncleDoug]

You're welcome, RW. Yes, he sent it to me. Thanks for the nice comments.

[@luthravin4774]

What an awesome lesson and video Doug!! Such a jewel to see..46’ wow pure delight!! Thanks again I’m learning so much.. Hopefully you won’t be needing those adult diapers before me!! 😅

[@UncleDoug]

Glad you liked it, Luth. Amen :)

[@SELKCOMM]

I am honored to be a fellow El Pasoan with you.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks so much, Tom :)

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

What a great survivor! Even though it would be a difference from how it was delivered, I would re-wired the filament supply to center tap ground. No transformer change needed, and it is authentic to only slightly later period. It would be interesting to see a sine wave test on your scope, to see electronic clipping characteristics tapped at the voice coil.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your input and suggestions, Jennifer. It's always good to hear from you.

[@fairenoughthenwhat]

Great as always. As an Aussie I can confirm the Tip Top history. Interesting the stickers focused on gridiron and baseball, rather than rugby league and cricket.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for the info, FE :)

[@nevillegoddard4966]

"Bowel & bladder oriented packaging" 😅😂🤣! You're a funny bugger uncle Doug! I can confirm 'TipTop' as being a major Aussie bread bakery. I never knew of them giving away promotional decals, but then again I wasn't around til the early 60's. Might this amp have been wired up by Leo himself then, as suggested? That would make this amp almost priceless, or four figures worth anyway.

[@UncleDoug]

Thanks for your input, Neville. There is no telling who actually wired this jewel. Leo was certainly capable, but probably dealt more with prototypes than line items.