Fender Pro Reverb 1980

This is my restored and overhauled Fender Pro Reverb amp. It's an export model from 1980, 70W with push/pull Master Volume. I go through the different things I had to replace or repair and give a sound demo.
UPDATE
I have a new video up after doing more work on this amp: • Fender Pro Reverb 70W ...
I replaced all the film caps, most of the carbon comp resistors and the speakers, it's much quieter and sounds great!

[@user-rd1om2wx1e]

Your amps sounds great. I beat it took a long time get get it to look that good. I enjoyed your knowledge of the amp. Super job.😊

[@Turboy65]

I have the same model and version. I've been into Pro Reverbs since 1984. They are possibly the most underrated Fender amp of them all. They have more clarity than a Twin but a Deluxe doesn't have the power. A healthy Pro Reverb is a wonderful amp with no peers. And, yes, while the later silverface ones do not distort musically (70 watt versions), they have the best clean tone on earth. Appreciate them for what they are best at, not for what they are not.

[@mrtb7676]

Yeah, the complaint I see the most about the 70s Pro Reverbs is the lack of breakup, but that's one of the things I like about them.

[@lorenzoblum868]

A friend just bought this heavy beast (70w). How much does it weight?

[@jonbon7219]

id say 60 pounds i currently have 1 too, i like the clean so much.​@lorenzoblum868

[@kevinshea4776]

I restored mine too with new chrome parts. For the Tolex, I used Auto Magic 38 Black Vinyl Dye applied with a foam brush to cover up faded tolex that gave a uniform look! When dry, I then gave a small bit of armor all water-based silicone. Wipe in so not wet look.

[@ratta2006]

Hi.nice Video...I didn't realize that the silverface amps they had Transistor rectifier. ..I just bought a 1981 Black face Silver cloth cause I wanted more clean head room...I know most of the 70s Supers and Pro Reverbs had the Tube rectifier that makes for easier break up which I dont like even thought at low volumes their clean is beautiful. ..But I need more clean volume...Rockabilly is what I play and I hust sold an amazing FENDER 78 Super Twin reverb which was idea but weight 90lbs (42 kgs)!...So This pro at 26 kgs is easier to move around. ..my Hot Rod while even lighter at 19 kgs is just to gritty at loud volumes where these Fender 70s tube amplifiers are amazingly clean and give what I call the true Fender clean sound eithout adulteration! ...Thanks for you video...gonna go and check my Hum balance now...Cheers Frank THE MEMPHIS SUNS!

[@SwirlyWhirlyXYZ]

Awesome vid, thanks. Helped me pull the trigger on one of these for a great deal when I wasn’t too sure. Output tube matching and hum balance via your method worked really well. Love my Pro Reverb for guitar and Bass VI with strangle switch on.

[@S19NALC14AIN]

You've put in some work on this one. Very impressive! You know your stuff.

[@ArsonComplex]

Very nice, thanks for posting. I have the same model and year shipping to me tomorrow.

[@bobc.5698]

Do you have a link to that phase inverter box you built? I just bought a 1980 model so thinks the guitar center people. I called the salesman and he said the rectifier tube was missing in the slot but I thought 1980 was solid state. We'll see what's up when it gets here.

[@SignalCheyne]

Yeah, it's here: www.signalcheyne.com/product-page/abby Independent buffers for each output and a phase inverter on OUT B to use with both channels at the same time :) The price on my website includes France's 20% sales tax so I can deduct that for export to the US. There are no rectifier tubes in the 1980 models, he probably just misnamed one of the other tubes. Maybe one of the power tubes if he saw one of the bigger ones was missing...

[@bobc.5698]

@@SignalCheyne Hi I just ordered the ABBY pedal for my Pro Reverb.

[@SignalCheyne]

@@bobc.5698 Sent! I hope you'll like it with the Pro Reverb :) Just remember to switch OUT B out of phase (switch down) to get both channels working together.

[@timeltdme4355]

sounds start 8:26

[@1mespud]

TIP: Because of it's weight, I added an amp handle on the "bottom" of my twin reverb to help ease loading it onto my SUV. I also stuff the inner cabinet with thick foam rubber (cut to dimension) to shock absorb and to help keep the tubes and speakers from rocking loose when traveling..

[@jonbon7219]

how close os the 79 to the 1980?

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

What advantage to by pass tremolo circut when you have two channels one without already .

[@SignalCheyne]

The magic happens in the vibrato channel :) I hardly ever use the Normal channel to be honest. The Vibrato channel has reverb and a little more bite with the extra gain stage. Bypassing the Tremolo circuit (which I still haven't done on mine) gives you more preamp gain and more volume to drive the phase inverter and output tubes.

[@kingcobtroy]

I just got a well preserved 1981 Silverface on a trade but only works good on my p90s. Waay to chimey if i use my tele and strat on it. Thinking of selling them..

[@SaMmYbOyLAUGH]

Was that a ‘only ones who know’ by arctic monkeys tease at 9:28 ? ;)

[@jonmartinez5482]

Thanks for posting. Very informative. Where did you find the chrome pieces? Mine are rusty like yours were.

[@SignalCheyne]

I bought all the parts from Tube Amp Doctor in Germany! They had everything in stock- legs, corners, handle... The corners were the only parts that weren't 100% like the originals but its' no problem.

[@jroobz]

Hi Brian, great video! I have this same amp but a ‘79. What do the output tubes matching and hum jacks/pots actually do? Are to bias the amp?

[@cgavin1]

The bias balance pot allows you to balance the voltage between the power tubes. This allows you to use un-matched power tubes (thats a modern thing) without having a ton of noise. The amp circuit really relies on you to balance the power tubes in this way as otherwise it can get real noisy. The hum balance pot is your heater voltage. Again it just helps eliminate noise.

[@stephanguisseppi]

My '78 Pro reverb is beat to crap...Looks great

[@univox_guitar]

Your old pedal had character, not rust.

[@sloanchampion85]

Did you try a light gauge steel wool and WD40 ? A dremel tool would be way too abrasive

[@Slovy_]

It’s amazing how people treat their stuff like crap

[@bobc.5698]

What would be a sweet pedal to get some breakup------distortion---dirt...etc... Whatever they're calling it these days?

[@SignalCheyne]

Honestly I just use mine as a clean "pedal platform" and get all my distortion/overdrive from pedals. In my apartment I wouldn't be able to push it hard enough for natural breakup, it's just way too loud. It can be done with a clean boost in front to get some breakup out of the pre amp tubes and turning down the master vol. The best sound, in my opinion, is cranking the MV and really working the amp... but my neighbors complain and it's just ridiculously loud

[@johns1139]

I'm thinking of selling mine but I'm not sure how to price it. How much did you get yours for?

[@cgavin1]

$4-600 depending on condition and if its been serviced (filter caps and electroltics changed, modern speakers etc).

[@ourclarioncall]

I read this model was the least desirable of the pro reverbs What’s your thoughts on this ?

[@SignalCheyne]

I have also read that it is the least desirable and I can understand why- it's really hard to push into the sweet spot. If you look at the schematic it's the same as the 135W Twin from the same era, only 2 output tubes instead of the 4. At "only" 70W it's still too loud for my use in an apartment although I'm lucky enough to have neighbors that are never home so I can play loud with no issues. If I wanted to really get it hot and get the output tubes to saturate I think I'd blow out my windows and do damage to my hearing... The older 40W versions were more desirable because they could be pushed easier, and had the tube power rectifier that sagged a lot easier than the giant transformer that my model has. A few weeks ago I finished restoring it- replaced all the caps and most out of spec carbon comp resistors and replaced the old speakers with a pair of Jensen C12 to stay close to the original. It really sings now. I'll post a video this week.

[@ourclarioncall]

@@SignalCheyne look forward to the video I did wonder if these models could be tweaked Pro reverbs are hard to come by over here in the U.K. I envy my American friends having access to all those great amps at lower prices 😄

[@SignalCheyne]

@@ourclarioncall Hey I published the video! Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3_NaaCph9V9mtU I'm located in France! I actually stumbled across the amp by luck :) I wasn't looking for a new amp at the time but when my old boss had friend looking to sell he showed it to me and I took it. I'm really glad I did because it's a real jewel.

[@internetselling]

Still have the rusty parts. I’d like to buy them from you...

[@TonyUrryMakes]

How do you switch the phase of the channel? What does that mean?

[@SignalCheyne]

The Vibrato channel is out of phase with Normal channel. It has an extra gain stage (1/2 of the reverb recovery tube) that inverts the phase 180°. That means when you use both channels at the same time there's phase cancellation- like how +1 and -1 = 0. Here's an image to make it easier to see: ledgernote.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/phase-cancellation-visual-examples.jpg. The same thing can also happen when you use 2 amps at the same time that are out of phase, or try to blend 2 pedals in parallel. Sometimes it's not obvious but in the case of this amp where the EQ is so similar and the 2 signals are leaving the same source it's really apparent and almost totally kills the sound (+1 and -1 =0). To solve the problem I made an active ABY splitter pedal with a phase inverter to flip 1 side 180° to use both channels at the same time. I now have it for sale on my website: www.signalcheyne.com/product-page/abby. You can use it with any pair of amps, or single amp with 2 channels. The phase toggle switch flips the phase on OUT B to solve the phase cancelation problem. I hope I was able to answer your question!

[@kwoods1960]

@@SignalCheyne Bought a pristine '78 Pro Reverb today. I know your pedal is sold, but do you know of another on the market? Great video and thanks for the invaluable info!

[@freddymclain4955]

i have one from 1968...