Replacing Electrolytic Capacitors on a Fender Bassman

I'm a newb at amp repair but I've been learning a lot and here I tackle replacing the electrolytic caps in my Silverface Bassman.

[@itsstillfriday]

I have a bassman just like that! ... cool to see the inner-workings of that beast!! Great video!!

[@alorenger]

Nice job Mr Humbucker ! Chico

[@eugeneeaton7262]

Great video, A tip that you probably all ready know is to take your negative ends of your small caps and twist them together. Leave one lead a little longer then it won’t be so hard to put into the eyelet. But I enjoyed the video .

[@humbucker1414]

Thanks!

[@lesclepper]

great video!

[@ibanezgrind]

Great video! I am a newb at amp repair/building as well but I would like to let you know to maybe use a wooden chopstick when pointing out /prodding around an amp like this. I know you were safe in this video but I cringed a little when you were using the metal pilers. Just a friendly fyi :-)

[@SisuLife]

Nice job. One thing I would point out is something that an amp builder shared with me. Get out of the habit of using a pencil when working in the amp. If you forget and power up the amp and use the pencil to probe, that could be disastrous since the graphite in the pencil conducts electricity. Use a chop stick or dowel instead.

[@musterionsurly]

:) at the bloopers at the end of the vid. i wished you had an attenuator so you could crank that amp into overdrive, it sure sounded nice clean tho.

[@Allenbass7]

21:10 on the bias electrolytic capacitor. positive goes to ground. negative goes to bias circuit. bias is a negative voltage. to work correctly, ground is a more positive voltage than the bias circuit. (positive lead goes through the board to be soldered to the chasis)

[@rogerdaniels3115]

Really nice video on something that every vintage amp should have done if it hasn’t already - some recommend replacing the electrolytic caps every ten years or so but I ‘m wondering if today’s caps last longer than the older ones. Certainly if you find a 60’s or 70’s amp with it’s original caps they should be replaced. I did find it strange that he left the tubes in while working on the “dog house” caps - seems like asking for trouble to me. And then he put them back in later upside down. Why not flip the amp so you can see what you’re doing? I’ve also heard (and do) that after replacing the electrolytic caps you should bring the voltage up slowly when you first plug the amp in. Several ways to do that but if you’re going to be doing it a lot it’s worth it to get a variac - you can sometimes pick one up on eBay fairly cheaply. I just wish that the Bassman I’m about to attack was as clean as his! Glad I watched this before I start just as a confidence builder! Thanks.

[@mrshiney2]

I got a bunch of these old fender amps. Always wanted to go after the service work myself but just to scared. My amp guy gives me a good price, we get to sit around and BS about old amps and guitars , plus he can solder way better than me.

[@KapetJoseph]

Great video! Very informative. Helped me solve my problem. Can you provide a link where I may source one of those recap kits please? One or two of my 500V caps have spewed their guts. The amp still works though, but I've gotta get those caps and the 10K and 4.7K resistors that are out of spec around it replaced.

[@Bbendfender]

I think most of us have learned this by just doing it. I have a '68 Twin Reverb that has never been touched by a tech.

[@djefferson5669]

Next time you're inside the amp, you might consider replacing those .01 disc capacitors with some orange drops. Those old disc caps can be a source of noise and/or microphonics.

[@DustInTheWindAZ]

It would be helpful to provide the link to where you got your recap hit here. You go through that part rather quickly in the video.

[@Tonetwisters]

"Humbucking"!

[@igorsuv]

what if i put double the values for filter caps? will it change the sound for more brutal?

[@roberthurless4615]

'the reason for the 500 volt caps is because of todays higher line voltages. You probably wouldn't notice any difference in tone anyway.

[@TerryConspiracy]

fyi..... "It can kill you long after its been unplugged."....lol

[@BruceNitroxpro]

As a neophyte at repair, you did a workmanlike job of it. If you studied a bit and listened and watched Mr Carlson's Lab on KZbin, you might do things a lot differently... understand more and make fewer mistakes. Yes, you made a few... but I think you will figure out what you did eventually. You might wonder why I mentioned this to you. I hope that no one else makes them, also. You need more test gear and knowledge than you have right now to do things correctly. God bless. de KQ2E

[@humbucker1414]

Bruce Nitroxpro Thanks for the recommendation. Were there any specific mistakes you'd like to point out for the benefit of others in the future?

[@ocduff]

Bruce drives a Dodge Stratus, clearly.