BTR#43 1961 Tremolux 6G9: The Amazing History of the Rarest Vintage Fender Amplifier

[@Brian-cc3kh]

I serviced my friend’s 6G9 tremolux and it is is an amazing amp. I put in a 5R4 rectifier to lower the b+ Voltage and added a bias pot. It’s stable and sounds great. I love how at below 4 on the volume it sounds like a brown face fender, but as you drive it into overdrive, it adds this British texture to the sound. Just a killer amp all around and one I wish fender and boutique makers would start making.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for sharing your experience Brian, looks like you did a great job!

[@tommyindelaware]

I’m an owner an el84 tremolux. It’s tremolo is so beautiful. It pulses or throbs. I was so lucky to find it. Super clean condition. Even has the original covers.

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you so much for reaching out to me Tommy! Yes the tremolo of that amplifier is the most amazing tremolo I ever came across! If I can make some spoiling, it's the subject of the next episode BTR#47, out in a few days. Tommy I would really LOVE to see some pictures of your amplifier, do you think it would be possible?

[@tommyindelaware]

@@BobsToneReview I’ll try. Leaving on tour in a few days.

[@BobsToneReview]

@@tommyindelaware thank you so much for that! ....There's no hurry of course!

[@tommyindelaware]

More soon 🙃

[@redalertcavy]

I came across an all original a few years ago in Michigan in the United States. I've never powered it up due to obvious reasons. Deciding on whether to get it up and running in a reliable manner or sell it to a collector the way it sits. 10" speaker, original grill cloth, original pedal switch, all electronics original. I bought it from the original owner who actually used it to play accordion when she was a little girl. One day I need to decide what to do with it.

[@Soundchain101]

Hey, many thanks for sharing some history on these cool amps!

[@BobsToneReview]

You're welcome soundchain, I'm happy that you liked the video... please feel free to browse through the other content of the channel!

[@liviaontheroad]

another exciting tale, among all there is to learn...grazie Bob!! I love the story of the Tremolux 6G9, and I sure love its sound, coming from the fingers of Don Diego!

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for the nice words and feedback Livia!

[@fabriziomattioli6783]

Grande Bob fantastico come sempre!!! Grazie x questa storia!!!

[@BobsToneReview]

Grazie a te Fabrizio per il tuo costante supporto!!

[@stefanosala8186]

Fantastico Bob: il controspionaggio che fai tu, sui nostri "giocattoli" preferiti, è degno di una serie TV... Pensaci!!! Passione ed esperienza sono a livelli "STRATOsferici"... Complimenti sinceri, come sempre, e grazie infinite!!!

[@BobsToneReview]

Grazie Stefano, le tue parole sono davvero gentilissime e apprezzatissime! Felice che anche questo episodio ti sia piaciuto.

[@alessandrovanotti5360]

Video interessante come sempre, grazie Bob!!!

[@BobsToneReview]

Grazie a te per il feedback Alessandro!

[@jpalberthoward9]

Leo Fender should get the Nobel prize for amp design.

[@BobsToneReview]

I agree Albert! Better late than never 😄

[@BobsToneReview]

Maybe they did't award him after their 6G9 cought fire 😀😀

[@Tonetwisters]

Leo was just teaching Jim Marshall how to keep their players warm up there in chilly England! 🙂@@BobsToneReview

[@BobsToneReview]

@@Tonetwisters Ha! Ha! Effective heater indeed! 😀

[@whimpypatrol5503]

So, do I want a 1961 6G9 with 6BQ5s, a 1962 6G9 conversion to 6L6s, or a later 6G9-A if I want both great tone and reliability so I can play it?

[@BobsToneReview]

@whimpypatrol5503, in my opinion a very rare 1961 6G9 in original conditions with 6BQ5's is better suited to a collector, a conversion 6G9 with 6L6's or a later 6G9-A with 2-speaker cabinet will do an excellent job for the player.

[@JEmilioJNava]

I'm new to this channel and I'm a Surf Guitar player Fender addict ... cool stuff! Greetings from Mexico City.

[@BobsToneReview]

Welcome J. Emilio, great to have you onboard! Thank you for your kind feedback, greetings right back from Italy!

[@Tonetwisters]

Those EL-84's didn't last long, and soon moved to 5881's ... I am blessed to own a '62 Bandmaster head ... thing sounds fabulous and I am so thankful to finally have a brownface amp after cutting my teeth on my brother's 1960 PRO back in 1961!

[@BobsToneReview]

Congratulations on your awesome amplifier Tonetwisters. "Those EL-84's didn't last long, and soon moved to 5881's" That's explained in detail in the video : ) Please feel free to browse among the other content of the channel

[@Tonetwisters]

@@BobsToneReview Yessir. I like to comment prior to viewing ... I knew good and well you were going to get there!

[@leighiansonmusic9688]

Great review Bob, I really enjoy the history of these classics. I have to disagree about the 6G9 with EL84s being the rarest fender amp. I think the Fender Tweed Harvard 6G10 deserves that title

[@BobsToneReview]

Thank you for your kind Feedback Leigh! I'm really happy that you enjoyed the video! As for the Harvard 6G10, seems that you are right; it's difficult to esteem exact shipping quantities. The early tweed Double Professional could be another candidate, even though it remained in production 1 year as opposed to 3 months, so supposedly more than 220 units were produced.

[@vadenk4433]

Ive been keeping my eyes on a tweed Harvard that resides in my hometown. It’s literally being used as decoration in an shop, and isn’t for sale. I ask the owner every time I go in there if he wants to get rid of that old wall hanger. Not sure he knows what he has or not. It’s like 9 feet in the air on a shelf and has been sitting there for at least 20 years. I always wait until no one else is around when I ask about it cause I don’t want to draw attention to it lol. It’s easy to miss it way up in the air surrounded by other old stuff

[@recycledsound]

I've got 00348 in my shop today! Original 6BQ5s and board caps.....

[@BobsToneReview]

Hello Recycledsound, thank you for checking in. Really? Does it have the Bright channel on the left and the Standby switch? Mimeographed (or missing) tube chart? This would make it the latest known example of a 6G9 Tremolux head in the world!

[@recycledsound]

@@BobsToneReview yup!! Brite on left and a huge mimeographed tube chat, stamped KE

[@BobsToneReview]

@@recycledsound That is really interesting! Please send me some pics if you can, my email address is bobcilloonguitar @ gmail .com. In particular I would love to see serial number and tube chart. Thank you!

[@Rhythmicons]

Does the reverb suck any of the tone from the guitar? I have a 6g6b that needs some classic reverb but almost anytime I run my guitar through any other pedal, even with true bypass, it seems different than going direct.

[@BobsToneReview]

Hello Rhythmicons, are you referring to the Surfy Industries Surfybear Classic? I've also used it in studio and I confirm that it's an effective modern rendition of the original Fender 6G15 unit; no quality loss, highly recommended! The "Metal" model is also great: thmn.to/thoprod/511408?offid=1&affid=2034

[@druwk]

This is the one that got away! Had this amp, a 1x10” cabinet with a tone “ring”, which ended up being replaced by a 1x12”. Sold it 😫

[@BobsToneReview]

Too bad.... we all make mistakes.

[@druwk]

@@BobsToneReview it’s all good. Bought it for $600 in 1998, and sold it for $2000+ of Bass guitar gear in 2004. It served me well when I was fronting band on guitar and set me up with Pro gear, when I gigged out on Bass! Still, now as more of a hobbyist and a better guitar player I wouldn’t be mad being able to fire it up again. Magical sounding Tremelo, bell like tone! Enjoy yours!

[@BobsToneReview]

Good point@@druwk . Thank you and good luck with your search! I'm sure that a good 6G9-B model could serve you just as well.

[@rockandrollguitar]

My 64 Tremolux has a black inside. I don't believe it's caused by burning. Looks painted. My 64 Bandmaster is not black on the inside.

[@BobsToneReview]

Maybe you are right, who knows: my Tremolux cab doesn't look painted but rather unevenly blackened by heat or smoke....

[@claudiocolombini8541]

Certo che amplificatori che prendevano fuoco 🔥 erano mooolto Rock 😁 Non vedo l’ora di sentire il tremolo , chissà che goduria. Grazie Bob

[@BobsToneReview]

Ha! Ha! Certo Claudio, effetti scenici alla Deep Purple! : )) Grazie a te per il commento!

[@Caziolin]

Grazie Bob!!!! Hai ancora i reni dopo aver acquistato l ampli?😂grande video come sempre!!!

[@BobsToneReview]

Grazie Lorenzo caro, sono felice che il video ti piaccia!! In realtà, se posso rispondere in modo serioso al tuo scherzo, considera che la cassa contiene 2 coni da 10" e la testata ha sezione di potenza di soli 35/40W, quindi non parliamo di pesi massimi. Per di più, avere il carico di peso suddiviso tra testata e cassa è decisamente positivo per la schiena. Quello che veramente mi ammazza sono gli AC-30 anni '60, mi sa che devo decidermi a non trasportarli più senza il valido aiuto dei compagni di band : )

[@Caziolin]

@@BobsToneReview caro Bob,i tuoi contenuti sono sempre eccelsi,è impossibile non rimanere colpiti dalla passione e competenza. Detto ciò,spero che tutto sta confusione del covid finisca,così spero di vederti in giro con la tua band,e apprezzare tutti i suoni che hai! Keep on rockin!

[@BobsToneReview]

@@Caziolin Grazie di cuore, speriamo davvero, sarei felicissimo di incontrarti di persona mentre sono in tour con la band!

[@mjrlormans]

The Brown Vibrolux & Blonde Tremolux are the best Fender amps ever made…

[@BobsToneReview]

I really love them as well!

[@lorenzosurferjoe]

Yes I agree - apart from the Showman 6G14-A

[@BobsToneReview]

@@lorenzosurferjoe Ha! Ha! I know you would not ever part from it!

[@lorenzosurferjoe]

@@BobsToneReview You know I cannot play with less than 100W behind my ass! :D

[@BobsToneReview]

@@lorenzosurferjoe Ha! Ha! Lucky man! Promoters, bandmates, audience and soundmen usually find that I'm too loud with 30 Watts!

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Please take this video off the tube. I don't want this information to get around!

[@BobsToneReview]

@whimpypatrol5503 Ha! Ha! Good point! : )