How to repair 1962 Fender Vibrolux Brown face tube guitar amp Smoked transformer blows fuses

Yep another amp with a shorted power transformer. Once again from Hawaii. Yes, the main power transformer had a shorted HV secondary. I purchased a drop in Classic Tone unit. Worked perfect, plus allowed for addition of variable negative bias. After changing a few caps, the amp sprang to life, sounding wonderful! Ready for another few decades of service!

[@joelaughlin2815]

Terry is a treasure, great sense of humor, also!

[@bobboyle7629]

Love These old Fender amp Videos! I too am a ham radio op since 1982 and love anything with tubes. I've done repairs before but I'm amazed at how much I've learned from your channel, and I'm 73 yrs old. THANK YOU so much for doing these vids. They're a joy to watch, for sure. 73 de VA3IF

[@telefunkian]

I am going to add my vote to to those in favour of the longer format, the overhead camera and of course, your sharing anecdotes and ancillary experiences from your past. They world needs more Terry so please keep it coming! I bought myself an old 'SNOZ' recently, now I need to find a name for it... 'Son of SNOZ'?

[@Finom1]

God Bless and Protect you and your wonderful family Terry!!! Bless you for sharing your wisdom with us!!!

[@Tonetwisters]

Amen.

[@harbselectronicslab3551]

I too have moved from Fluke to Hioki ....DT4282's.....they are just awesome......I still have my Fluke's but boy oh boy the Hioki's is just awesome

[@daveogarf]

Tony KILLS it again! Excellent work, Terry and Tony!

[@darylsuess8990]

Drink all you want Terry, It's helping me get through these weird times. Cheers!!

[@greggaieck4808]

D_lAB ELECTRONICS I like hearing the Guitar

[@davidlemnah4938]

Hi Tony, What I found helpful, when cleaning out a solder joint of a socket, is have a curved dental pick and push it through the opening, after I heated it.

[@mpirron1]

I got a nutjobber Air Force story, too. In basic training at Lackland, during a Sunday cleaning a bat got inside the dorm, because Texas Hill Country gots caves, ya know. That night a couple of guys and the night duty woke me up and said a dude in their bay had gone crazy and I needed to do something cause the dorm chief wouldn't wake up and they weren't about to get yelled at for waking up the T.I. So this dude had freaked out, somehow got on top of his wall locker, scrunched up there making squeaking and clicking noises. I grabbed the light from the guard and shined it on him and he screeches "squawk, I'm a bat!" I just looked at the two dudes and said well you're just going to have to go get him down here and restrain him, before he bites somebody. Then walked off preparing for the screaming ass-chewing I was about to suffer when reporting this to the T.I. No one ever saw that guy again, but his face and that screech haunt me occasionally still, over 30 years later because after being yelled at to get his crazy f'n bat-ass down here immediately by a super-pissed off SSgt. he screeched he was a bat again and I swear it seemed like he flew over the T.I.s head and landed on his bunk holding the same damn scrounging chicken position the whole time looking all around at us with glassy all-black eyes, making clicking noises as the 2 knuckleheads I jokingly told to restrain the guy grabbed him and asked me where they should take him. I looked at the T.I. and he said, "well?" I just said "infirmary" and went back to my bunk. And that dorm chief kid never woke up, the whole time? His ass got sent to the baby flight, recycled 2 weeks and I was made dorm chief, and he never quite understood what happened.

[@boco1951]

62 was a good year for Fender. I like em!

[@Tonetwisters]

I am blessed to have a '62 Bandmaster which I really love.

[@pauldavis6356]

I'm envious of your steady soldering hand. I hadn't soldered anything in years when I tried to replace an output cable on a small Boss wall wart transformer. My hand shook more than I expected, which created a bridge between to points on the PCB. Needless to say it produced no power. I un-soldered the connection, removed the excess solder and forced my hand to be steady, and was successful. Very good video. Keep 'em coming.

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

Another amp that sounds better than new! Credit to the guitar man too!

[@Theoobovril]

I could be wrong here, Terry, but I feel this is the best sounding amp you have ever had to repair/modify, then to have Keith Richards..he-he, then play through it.

[@mymessylab]

Please send the cabinet and speaker ASAP 🤣🤣🤣 ...fantastic. Great job as ever 👍👍

[@GertjanRoossien]

This is absolute the best amptestguitarplayer ever!!!!!!!

[@gatekeeper65]

Another nice old Fender saved. I love the AB-763 circuit, it's the one I always base my builds on. People always love the result. Happy new year sir, and the same to all your viewers everywhere. Stay healthy.

[@rodrigobortoloti2830]

Tery, thank you for passing on your knowledge to us who are passionate about tube equipment. Greetings from Brazil.I am a fan and admirer of your work.

[@greggaieck4808]

D_lAB ELECTRONICS the 1962 Fender viboxbrolux brown face tube guitar amplifier is cool my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license me and my cousin are going to a Swap meet June 5th 2022 Sunday morning at 8 am in Milwaukee

[@greggaieck4808]

D_lAB ELECTRONICS my other hobbys are lining to music records and CDs and fmstreo on my Yamaha reciver

[@chowderheadreynolds7325]

My dream has come true! I also have a brownface Vibrolux of the same vintage. I got it from Manny's Music on 48 Street in Manhattan in 1970. Thanks for giving so many tips on what to check.

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Would you consider making a video on what components you use and trust for replacement. Like resistors or capacitors and transformers. Those coupling caps that feed the output tubes. One needs to know what to look out for and what to avoid. You mention the kinds you use all the time, but a single video for reverence would be great! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@simocampo344]

Great vid Tezza! I’m liking the longer format vids on the amp repairs/maintenance. That overhead camera is great.

[@jbrobertson2758]

Snip-a-dee-doo-dah, snip-a-dee-ay, My, oh, my, what a D-Lab day! Plenty of sinewaves headin' our way Kudos to Terry! "Let's Get Down Today" * *any future song played on this amp!

[@theRodofwar]

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELCOME 2021 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alphabeets]

I enjoyed this video watching you work. I hope you do more like this format.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

I sincerely hope you occasionally run a fume extractor....we want you around for a long time, dude...

[@Tonetwisters]

NO complaints, with a '62 Vibrolux!! Whoo-hoo!!! Good score on the Classic Tone. Those are history. Interesting that all the "stories" stopped after your Air Force days ... probably got married in there soon after ... heh-heh.

[@MikeGervasi]

I was an Electronics Tech in the Navy. I always wondered if Navy or Air Force had the better electronics training. I can't complain about what I got.

[@matthewf1979]

I really like these longer videos! Such a shame. I think it’s worth having these old transformers rewound. Mercury Magnetics does a fantastic job with Fender Triad and Schumacher iron. I’m still sad about Magnetic Components/Classictone shutting down.

[@DeadKoby]

I don't see any indication that they shut down.

[@matthewf1979]

@@DeadKoby There’s a blog post on the Classictone website. They’ve been permanently shut down since November 1st.

[@Tonetwisters]

Right there with you. I'm just a player, and I appreciated their products greatly ...

[@kbkman7742]

If it was my amp I would install the new transformer but also have the old one rewound. That way the amp is fixed, I am not in a rush to have the transformer done and then I end up with a good spare down the track when it does get fixed.

[@DeadKoby]

@@matthewf1979 I can view their website right now, and I don't see any blog.

[@TheStimpy60]

I’d like to hear more on what exactly you worked on on the USAF. I was trained at Keesler AFB on soldering, tube theory, and the radio gear I worked on. Ground NavAids - TACAN,VOR, Localizer, Glideslope, and marker beacon transmitters.

[@d-labelectronics]

I was 31650G Missile systems analysist specialist, Ground equipment Minuteman, then e-lab, then Tech engineering

[@TheStimpy60]

@@d-labelectronics awesome ! From Keesler, I spent 3 years at Minot AFB 🥶 Love your videos, thanks so much

[@66g0yy]

Great video, this one super clean ,straight forward, great camera, thank you so much .

[@MrMeik1970]

Nice repair Terry 👍🏻Tony has a lot of fun too 😃

[@lljsullins9181]

I think Fender did the 6.3v wiring to the pilot light because of wiring reasons. It's closer than going to the tube socket, also a little cleaner! In my builds I've only done the wiring to the 6.3v to the lamp.

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Great Video I enjoyed your bias adjustment addition. It might extend the life of amp. Very clever.

[@williambock1821]

I kinda know how your friend in the service felt. I worry about cutting too short and leaving too long as well.Especially on expensive parts like a tranny. I don’t get paralyzed from fear or anything but I can empathize with the guy! 😁

[@ianbanhamamprepair9457]

Some amps have outstanding tone, this is one of them.

[@greendragon2471]

Fuckin joe walsh with a tele cranked up all the way. Pretty sure that's what made funk #49 which is one of the hottest tones I think.

[@rciancia]

Very very cool sweet sounding amp... and Cusinator makes it even sweeter :)

[@Retro.Studio]

Like the way Terry enjoys the play of Tony Macaroni 😁

[@tomk1tl39]

I think Tony is a really great guy to 'test' all the guitar amps that Terry works on...........plus, Tony is a 'Tele Man' . . .

[@Mauitaoist]

Thanks, I like the no-wine Terry

[@Germinalx]

I am sitting here trying to remember if I have ever looked at my RIGHT hand when playing. 🤔🤔 Cusinator!!

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Great fix, fab explanation and information during your work..Nice test with the Tele..Love it..! Thank you so much for sharing... Ed..u.k..😀

[@IndianaDoug]

This is bar none your best video to date imo. Just wanted to jump on here and let you know my thoughts. Keep up the great work my friend👍🏻

[@yusdiy]

Beep means good or bad sign, so its good to have it. Great multimeter sir.

[@lowheadroom]

Hey man I love these videos. I’ve recently started my own repair service and am trying to learn what an acceptable hourly rate is. I feel I’m undercharging.

[@glenndavis6793]

Awesome job as usual 🎫🥇

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

Maybe the guy who was afraid of cutting wires was experiencing Analysis Paralysis. It's common in neurodivergent people (autism, ADHD, etc), where making a choice can be too overwhelming, because they often think ahead about the outcomes before making decisions. Something as simple as saying "add an inch if you think it might be too short" or simply saying "you can always cut it right before making the connection to the joint" helps a lot in most cases. Pressuring them only increases anxiety and makes the paralysis worse.

[@jpalberthoward9]

How's that option anxiety doing? You can tell me now, or you can wait and tell me later.

[@greggaieck4808]

D_lAB ELECTRONICS that man nos how to play Guitar that's awesome

[@johnkohlhauff9061]

Tony, you sure like those nineth cards. Guess you majored in blues. How about some good ole rock and roll? I only do covers. Keep on picking Tony. Enjoy watching you play. Now maybe teach Terry c &d chords then Terry could play a song instead of strumming an open G. Keep the awesome videos coming please. Really enjoy D lab!!

[@markvincent522]

Terry rules!

[@fuzzprobe]

Great video! Thank you.

[@DoItYourselfMusician]

Press the FILTER button when you turn it on and it should disable the beeper but I believe it will also disable your continuity beeper too if you care.

[@SIXSTRING63]

What # heating element is on your Snozeramus iron? I bought 5 old Ungar Irons with multiple tips and elements off eBay for dirt cheap. Biggest I have is a 45-55 watt element but has screw on tips. Doesn’t seem hot enough for chassis work. Bought an old 300 watt American Beauty iron that definitely gets it done, just so damn big. You’re a bad influence, I bought 5 old Beckman multimeters non working in great shape with probes in original boxes. 3 just had corroded battery clips and one had a bad LCD, I used the worst for a donor meter. 4 out 5 work great for $30 investment. I have about 10 auto range meters, 3 VTVM’s, 1FETVM and 5 AVM(4 Triplett meters and one Simpson) thought the old Beckman meters would be cool restoration projects. They were. Great video by the way, I do a lot of the same work for local customers.

[@blues61]

Bottle of wine. Fruit of the vine. When you gonna let me get sober... :-) Thanks Terry.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Surprized you didn't do the twist job on the red leads to the rectumfier socket.

[@electrolytics]

Rock and Roll!!

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Clippity Do Dah. Love it.

[@BebetaYoPapaniKoka]

Press and hold FILTER knob while powering up your HIOKI multimeter to turn off the BEEP. :)

[@Tonetwisters]

Thank you.

[@KleyDeJong]

Not all heroes wear capes.

[@Tonetwisters]

@@KleyDeJong But some of us still wear glasses!

[@jdmccorful]

Good deal!

[@StoneShards]

"Ob-1"? hehehe..."May the Force be with you!"

[@dughuff8825]

Another great video and sweet sounding amp Terry! Just a question - would you consider heat shrink on those screen resistors to reduce the likelihood of shorts?

[@dougtaylor7724]

Hard to say what’s the most irritating, the beeping or the flashing 6000. Bring back the B and K!

[@Retro.Studio]

Burger King 🍔? 😁

[@GregsGarage]

I love hearing them when they are done. This one is classic fender tone all the way! Do you have time for a question? I am going to build my first tube pre-amp. The schematic shows a power transformer with a 120V primary, then a 12v and 120v secondary. The author has pics that show a transformer, but when I put the model number into google, it comes up empty handed. The pics show 20VA. It has 2 pair of wires for 12v and 2 pair of wires for 117v. I would ask the author but his website no longer exists. Thanks if you can help point me in the right direction.

[@randyheath8566]

Do you use a fan blowing the Solder away from your face? Oh crap, you cut the wire to short lol🤜🤛👍✌👊🎸👏✔your videos are the 💣💯%AWESOME..... I can't cut the wires

[@1inDnile]

Have you ever repaired a Selmer 50watt Trebl\Bass guitar amp? The one I have I believe is called a Bue face...All Valve

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Hey Terry, I forgot what wattage the big iron you use is. 100 watt or 200 watt. I need one for just the purpose you use him for. These mods will make this amp modern with vintage tone. Genius! Happy New Year and am looking forward to a whole year of D-Lab projects! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@khalidjankhalidjanzehri6697]

v nice sir

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Terry, would it prevent heat destruction on those 1.5 k grid resistors to be mounted up and to the side of the tube socket like you did with the 470 ohm grid resistors? Are those metal oxide resistors able to take the heat? I know I ask a lot of questions, but you are the man who would know! Love from NW Colorado. Thanxz

[@alecooper2650]

The best

[@BadToad1963]

How can you set the bias without measuring the plate voltage?

[@perrydela-hamaide8353]

Its 5 o’clock somewhere

[@tommyvvirs1731]

Could I put those resistors in my amp on the 6l6 tube? I have a 1987 Fender Champ 12 red knob 1 6l6 and two 12ax7s, thanks

[@kxmrock]

i Want a SNOZARAMUS too

[@TheMasterofsparks]

When you test at the shunt resistor are you hooking your meter between the chassis and resistor or between pin 8 and the resistor?

[@umajunkcollector]

Seeereeet!

[@williamcastleberry7338]

Hello Terry I have a question and I hope you don't mind (sort of off subject). I have a Fender Champion 100. It's a good sounding amp. The only thing I would change is the Tap tempo button for the effects. My question is can the Tap button be replaced with a pot and knob (it would make resetting the tempo for effects a lot easier) Thanks in advance. Ray C

[@bluedot6933]

why solder plug to chassis? what's wrong with it on the lug?

[@DustInTheWindAZ]

While watching this, I'm wondering why you didn't twist the wires coming out of the new power transformer, like they were on the old one. I see a couple of twists in the yellow and green wires, but not as much as the old. Doesn't that reduce the shielding and increase the potential for noise?

[@kbkman7742]

When I was rebuilding an early 70s one I tidied up the lead dress including the transformer wiring... didn't hear a difference although it does look much neater

[@bigbud144]

It sounds good, and I’m probably missing something, but doesn’t adding a variable bias supply compromise the stock bias shifting trem of the 6G11?

[@d-labelectronics]

Nope, the bias routing is the same, thru the Intensity pot.

[@kennethlung3371]

I'm curious....what squadron were you in while in the USAF? I myself started out as a pneudralic fixer, then x-trained into flight simulators. That's where I learned my electronics. Keep up the good vids!!! See you. Kenny KD4HQQ

[@f.k.burnham8491]

Note on electronics from areas where they have cockroaches, aka "Palmetto Bugs" (Like Florida, Hawaii, California, etc .) The cockroaches tend to like to crawl into electronics, especially something that generates heat. They eat insulation, and their urine & feces really stink up the equipment and cause corrosion. Also they can crawl into places and cause shorts.

[@AntonioCavicchioni]

D-Lab DIY tube amp kits? Maybe?

[@sandraledger2612]

What model Telecaster is he using?

[@alanhoggard4554]

What tip do you use in Snozaramous?

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

Unfortunately Classic Tone Transformers have recently closed their business. I'm also the kind of guy that is scared of cutting the wires, in case I cut them too short!

[@darylsuess8990]

Me too, always too much slack!

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

@@newscotlandtv - I received an email from Magnetic Components on 31 October 2020 advising that they are closing their factory permanently (COVID triggered)! There may be some existing stock remaining with on sellers!

[@tomk1tl39]

@@bernhardnizynski4403 OMG, now we will be at the 'mercy' of imports from that Far Eastern entity !

[@jdmccorful]

Or, you could learn to make your own.

[@Matan2222222]

Hey Terry! what is the wattage of Snozoramous?(Im sure im wrong here :)

[@jbrobertson2758]

If you change your overhead view 180 degrees?

[@d-labelectronics]

Yes, I agree, will do on the next one

[@Tonetwisters]

Only way to repair a "short" is to make it "long" my older brother used to say ...

[@lucancherby]

Can you still buy those Classic Tone transformers I thought they went out of business?

[@d-labelectronics]

Some distributers still have stock

[@tracyc7813]

Are you talking about SIPT school? I went through that at Griffiss AFB. I was in the 485th EIG back then. :o) Oh yeah BTW, Brownface amps are opposite of Blackface amps about the tremolo on/off function. :o)

[@d-labelectronics]

Tech school at Chanute AFB, Rantoul , IL. Closed in 1993

[@tracyc7813]

@@d-labelectronics My tech school was Sheppard AFB near Wichita Falls Texas. SIPT school was additional training the 485th EIG required. :o)

[@randyheath8566]

More stories to. I cut the wrong wire. Wine 🍷is Fine

[@CarlosHernandez-yk7zp]

Hey what's up

[@moses1202]

Hioki pronounces Hee-oki. Which Hee means sun, oki means put.

[@jpalberthoward9]

I'm proud to be a Hioki from Muscogee

[@OnlyDansMusic2112]

I will give buddy 100$ for it

[@benlogan430]

Isn’t it measure twice cut once? No turning back if you miss the mark! Lol

[@jpalberthoward9]

I've cut it 4 times and it's still too short!

[@TheRoiderien]

BTW, in Japanese, 'i' is pronounced like a long 'e'. So, the brand of your meter would be pronounced hee-oh-kee.

[@d-labelectronics]

I just call it Meter-X

[@bradconklin2878]

Lotta commercials, Terry.

[@billyrey9679]

Another hair cut?

[@d-labelectronics]

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