CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (PT 4) - Board Building

[@dyamariv3628]

Yes Yes Yes, thanks for making it its own series!! Very cool to watch over the holidays, thank you for this Chris! PS. Don't dip the chassis, I'd clean it up a bit by hand but it's very cool to keep some of the age showing. Love me some real patina to show where it's been!

[@greg3030]

No acid dip, just clean as you go, keep a mixture. I’d love a go at straightening out the metal, but I’m in the US.

[@robnic52]

I think, straighten out the bent and wobbly areas on the chassis. Keep all the original marks. Research a clear metal sealer like beeswax or a paste wax to apply to keep it from rusting or corroding for years. Something that won't interfere with soldering and making good earth connections. Build yourself a great silver face bassman. 👍

[@Bigjoedo66]

Really enjoying this series, bringing the Bassman back to life!!

[@jonathanduffett3668]

I restored an old 1962 Brown face Super a few years ago. I cleaned up the chassis with vinegar and rubbing with aluminium foil. It got rid of the corrosion really well. The aluminium foil is softer than the chassis so doesn't scratch it but still has an abrasive effect that gets off the corrosion. The late 70s Bassmans sound great with bass or guitar. I have a Late '70s Bassman Ten with those same side vents. It's just a solid straightforward giggable amp.

[@michaelknight4041]

I got an old bassman 10. Great for modding or just rocking stock.

[@James-Customs]

So cool going to continue as it's own series, been very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@mrarlo9034]

That seems to be an often unloved era of Fender amps. I ended up with two ‘79 UltraLinear Pro Reverbs, not as bad as your Bassman, but certainly subjected to neglect & both suffered water-damage to varying degrees as each had been stored in a leaky outbuilding. But got them both cheap… After a full rebuild, the first one worked as it should, but I could not get rid of all the conductive board issues that caused noise beyond a tolerable level. I have not yet finished all the connections to the new board to put it back in service. Promised myself not to start the second until the first one was done. That one is in worse shape & also requires some work on the cabinet as well.

[@theonlysaminoman]

I would not bother with acid dipping the chasis...Keep it authentic and remove as much solder as possible and scour with a green scouring pad (carefully not to over do it and remove the plating), then flatten out....

[@TwangThang57]

Oh man, that poor dishwasher!!

[@mattpearce79]

I like the format of sticking with one amp restoration/build and seeing it through from start to finish..albeit over a possible longer period of time.

[@johnpierson8398]

I vote for acid dip and re-plating. The beautiful turret board you designed and fabricated would be more visually fitting with a cleaner chassis.

[@dyamariv3628]

No way, love me some old school patina! Shows where the amp has been ;)

[@Strumbum01]

Fun watch! I’d skip the acid dip idea and just clean it up as best as possible.

[@joelkaplan8435]

I’m loving these episodes. I would go acid dip if not cost prohibitive. You’ve already documented it so who cares if the markings are gone

[@RadioDeadAir]

Shame you couldn't rescue those old blue caps, but I suppose some concessions have to be made for the sake of sanity.

[@tgvettes]

If you didn't want to keep it looking fairly original would there be any benefit to either split the main board in 2 separate pieces or like you hinted at maybe putting the filter caps in the open space on the board?

[@alvagoldbook2]

Pretty cool that you're using FR4/G10 instead of those awful fiber board Fender used. The much bigger issue is how bent out of shape that chassis is. I haven't had to do this much, but I saw Lyle from Psionic Audio press a chassis back into shape using blocks of wood and clamps.

[@davidlovellbass4761]

What the advantages of relocating the tone stack to under the doghouse?

[@johnburns5783]

Coming along Chris 👍👍

[@watkinscopicat]

none of the old blue caps? were they all drifted?

[@RiftAmps]

Unlike the blue Ajax caps found in black panel amps, these later blue blobs aren’t anything special and as these ones are marinated in urine, I wasn’t keen to reinstall them 😂

[@watkinscopicat]

@@RiftAmpsfair enough

[@steveennever9905]

Acid bath it. You know you want to.

[@henryhunter5026]

The new eyelet board looks great, what is it made of? It doesn’t look like the same material that Fender used, it looks quite like the old brown Bakelite material that was used a lot in the electrical/electronics industry.

[@RiftAmps]

FR4 👍

[@rogb3199]

It's not really Bakelite but vulcanised fibreboard. It can get conductive with age. The fibreglass boards are way better and fire resistant hence FR4

[@smalcolmbrown]

Thanks and Weil's disease is well worth avoiding