How to Un-Mod Fender Tube Guitar amps Showman 6L6 D-lab electronics

[@goodun6081]

"Vi-bray-toe"? Have you been taking diction lessons from Brad the guitologist? Hmm, "you say Vibraytoe, I say Vuh-brah-toe, let's turn the whole amp off...." and discharged the caps and get to work!

[@Tonetwisters]

:-). I say, "Trem-O-lo"!

[@matiasdg]

Vibratoramus Snip-a-dee-doo-dah

[@timmooney7528]

Great work! The best way to fix these issues is to bring them back to stock rather than redesign them to make them work. On other channels I've seen nighrmare amps with mismatched transformer swaps, and the methodology the tech used to "redesign" the circuit to work was highly questionable.

[@TheRadioShop]

Great job bring this classic back to it's former gory Terry.

[@kosmicwizard]

Bizarre to me that the owner wouldn't have gotten the original pots and caps back from the first mod. Also, why wouldn't he get the same tech (possibly local) to do the unmod?

[@pauldavis6356]

"Lights are dimmed, gonna flip her on" FIRE ONE !!!

[@donstewart368]

Too many people think they know more than Leo did. They work best if left like Leo designed them.

[@woodworking3815]

I don't think the AC hum is gone. Using 0.5ms/div as timebase, the scope trace is too fast to show a complete cycle of a 60Hz hum. The trace is jumping up and down which is an indication that there is still a low frequency signal present.

[@embreesmith7613]

that's in fantastic shape for an early 60's amp ..!

[@robertl.fallin7062]

you very brave in not using a variable ac supply . Catching a little wisp of smoke befor it flashes into fire can save a techs day.

[@umajunkcollector]

I've heard, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but with Fender, "if it is broke, don't fix it"!

[@harryconover289]

Very interesting stock or not ? Now you are on the stock is best side this is the easy way out check performance using the old published spec and it’s as good as new now there are a few that are great stock the super reverberate cones to mind it’s a good amp and is often rented out to fourfold a equipment rider so for played can travel and know a good amp is waiting for him and list of amp on that pre approved list is short so used just retiring a unit to sock is not desired by the owner brad the gatelagest is on the other side fence his only test gear is a fluke 87 it’s a great meter I have one this and a small variable ac and that once I did see him use a old precision checker gave of too also I have six more needed to cover the range I need I wish I could sell them ale and get one like yours much better in all ways but with real basic test he her in and changes stuff even adding tubes and controls now there are few deigns for a tube guitar amp and he knows them all this is shown by his parts he has two small parts bins and that’s is I have six big ones and two six foot parts bins it’s much harder to do real electronics being able fix any thing Ham refs test gear fm alinement and cassette decks good ones Nacamichi Tamburg and Revox but the best was the Anpex Atr 100 my point is there’s room for both I an a speck guy used to wool at Hp in Loveland co then had a shop that worked on high end audio levenson audio research and some weird and wonderful like Beverages direct tube driven electrostatics one of the best I have ever heard !

[@jimaquilano9137]

Great videos. I wish I could find someone like you in my area to repair my Ampeg Gemini II. It scream when I turn on the reverb.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Wish I could send in my 1969 Kustom K-100 combo! I lose 20 percent of volume and treble when trem-vib kicks on ...

[@mfowler8808]

I hate that type of master volume, glad this great amp was unmodded. Mark

[@johnmccabe7645]

great vid here, don't forget to mention that in dating pre CBS blackface amps, the knobs have the set screw at 10, post CBS this is at 1 on the knob. Also, the 8 is called a snowman 8 because as you can see here, the upper half is smaller than the lower half, hence snowman. later knobs have both circles of the 8 the same size.

[@ntuncer]

Hello, I have a question to re-cap Fender Showman, which brands should I buy to keep the authentication if it is necessary?

[@tucsonsoccor4952]

What in Gods name is the purpose of that mod?? I am so confused. Is there anyone who has done this successfully that can tell us what you stand to gain by combining the channels like that

[@Bbendfender]

Terry, I have a 1963 Bandmaster head that was in a fire and damaged by indirect heat. Lots of bad components and I have replaced lots of stuff. When I can afford it, I may talk to you about doing some work on it. I have built a new cabinet and covered it with cream tolex. It looks good but doesn't work.

[@bluesbondsman]

Thankfully they didn't drill a bunch of extra holes in the chassis !!! I won't touch one that was trashed by a drill happy modder

[@kenwinston2245]

That ripple pattern at the beginning looked a bit like a phase interaction I would think from cap mods. Now they're gone and not ganged, ripple is gone

[@walnutman1962]

in the video at 14:14 there is some component flashing?what is that a diode?

[@kornami8678]

That is a neon bulb with a photo-resistor inside heat shrink tubing to keep out extraneous light. It's for the vibrato function. Terry talks about it in another video.

[@deuteronimus750]

I was fortunate enough to hear Peter Green play guitar through a Fender Bandmaster for a couple of hours in 1970 and he sounded glorious.

[@WillemvanLonden]

Have you been watching Stefan Gotteswinter?

[@charlesshaw9090]

Before and after with a guitar would be good. Would be nice to know if the customer will hear any difference or whether it was more cosmetic.

[@bbmade]

I have a 60’s Fender Blackface Super Reverb chassis that was “modded”. It actually looks like a crime scene butcher job beyond anything I could comprehend. I plan to do a video just to document how hideous this thing is courtesy of it’s previous owner. I would encourage anyone who wants to tinker with tube amps to get a kit from Mojo Tone or somewhere else, learn the proper safety precautions and learn to wire one up properly before trying to modify something based one something you heard about or read in some online guitar forum. This amp is such an incredible waste currently.

[@d-labelectronics]

Bummer man, I look forward to seeing the video. I would also like the opportunity to UN-Mod it

[@bbmade]

Yes it is a bummer especially since they drilled extra holes in the chassis. Makes my stomach turn. Hoping the transformers are all okay. One of many, many projects piled up!

[@josephmartinez3851]

First, Happy father's day... Tomorrow...

[@billdyke9745]

Am I right in thinking that the vibrato was actually tremolo? Looked like amplitude not frequency to me. Just learning this black (faced) magic...

[@tonekilltech]

Yes. Leo Fender didn't have a formal music education or background, so it was likely purely a misunderstanding. He named his Stratocaster bridge design a "synchronized tremolo", although it was vibrato (frequency/pitch variation), and he named the tremolo (amplitude/volume variation) circuits in his amps "vibrato". This has caused ongoing confusion, as people often still refer to them this way.

[@Tonetwisters]

Get 'em out!!! I have a '66 Showman that someone air conditioned with many more orifices than it originally needed. I use 5881's in it, which are a bit wimpy for an amp with a what ... 500 plate volts, or something like that (like I know what I'm talking about). But the 5881's work just fine unless I really get after it, and since I know better than to do that, I DON'T! And I get by with a bit less watts, for a bedroom amp and an old man what needs to have his hears reconed. I love my Showman (complete with a 1X12 tone ring LBJ speaker cab!).

[@kenhancock8931]

yep happy poppy day 2nd :-)

[@tomfoolery2082]

I hav a 70s bassman its always been very quite , i lucked out i kno . Rumor is a showman is a twin reverb in head form . Woukd u kno if theres any truth to that thx

[@kosmicwizard]

They are pretty similar. But it depends on years as well, the gear page is a great resource to search

[@elliotbradley]

Just curious - do you happen to know what the blue color coming from the vacuum tubes is indicative of? In other words why would they have the blue color, what causes it and what effects could it have on the amplifier?

The blue color is how your eyes decode the wavelength I have read it's exactly perfect ionization/the gas used in the vacuum/high voltage Either way Maybe some genius will take those old tubes,rebuild them with LED's and put them into Solid State amps for nostalgia.

[@pinterelectric]

Great tip on cleaning out the old sockets

[@daveogarf]

WAIT, Terry… "VibrATEo"?? I've NEVER heard it pronounced that way; it's always "Vi-BRAH-to". Or is that related to 'circus board' and 'snozzeramus'? Happy Father's day, and thanks so much for the peek over your shoulder.

[@jimmusson]

Yea snozeramus. What a word!

[@preiter20]

Love the snozzeramus and meteroid

[@audiotechlabs4650]

That language comes from being in USA service. Army, Navy, Air Force and Mariners. I was taught electronics from retired Navy instructors, and that is exactly the way they talked! It also carried over for me in my repair life such as, San-sucky, or, Pain-A-Sonic. Terry's' vernacular is wonderful and fun! I dig it! Thanxz

[@umajunkcollector]

not to forget rectumfier. PanaSony comes from MAD Magazine. Do they use MAD in the military?

[@audiotechlabs4650]

umajunkcollector I spent a small fortune back in the day on Mad magazines. Talk about sick humor! I love um! I guess that makes me sick! Ha Ha! Oh Well! Thanxz

[@TempoDrift1480]

This is some of the most important shit to mankind Bless you for spending time to teach us this stuff. I'm Shure the logistics are spendy, and I'd give you every penny I had to contribute but I sweep them up and throw them away.

[@preiter20]

Brilliant as always Terry. Happy Fathers day!

[@HBSuccess]

Another fine job by D-Lab !! And definitely DO NOT mod your blackface Fenders people !! Buy something else to experiment with... Maybe a vintage Marshall LOL. JUST KIDDING don't do that either.

[@timothylawrence707]

Forgive my ignorance but what is the flashing little black thing at the 14:00 mark?

[@d-labelectronics]

Im guessing your seeing the optoisolator, used for the Tremolo function

[@remley8877]

Love your videos. Just curious though, did the Simpson's writers base their Ned Flanders character on you, or is it just total coincidence? If not, you'd make an awesome cartoon character.

[@d-labelectronics]

Funny, I have not watched that show, but looked up Ned and see the resemblance. Maybe I should do a spoof on that character and see if people catch on?

[@remley8877]

D-lab Electronics you should totally do that 😁

[@umajunkcollector]

yes indeedilly doodlely

[@sam127001]

Great video - really enjoyed it !

[@judeconig9324]

Man your the BEST !

[@scole901]

what does the blue mean?

[@RobertKohut]

Un-believable!!

[@johnsimms3957]

Good job Terry!

[@ferraridinoman]

Nice one Young Tel!

[@bobbarcus8310]

A vintage Fender Does NOT need a master volume

[@dhpbear2]

1:56 - The ground connection on that terminal strip looks iffy! 12:48 - I believe the ripple is still there; just slow down the timebase a bit!

[@Tonetwisters]

I own one of these amps. As original, they are SPECTACULAR amplifiers ... unless you want racket distortion to come out of them. And if you do, I would recommend you buy a Marshall. I run my ES-355 through this and plug up two cabs, one, a 2X12 loaded with D-120's and one, loaded with one D-120 ... You cannot imagine how good that sounds.