Vintage Fender Vibrolux Tube guitar amp repair Part 2 operating again!

[@johnnymcquinn6025]

The blooper proves...Marsha is the one who keeps D Lab straight! Wanted to wish you a great Veterans Day as well. I am a veteran learning amp repair, I thank you for all you have done & all you do!

[@Tonetwisters]

Thank you for your OWN service, and for becoming a nother needed amp tech!

[@chrisbarrett5132]

I love eyelet boards too - I make them from 4mm nickel plate eyelets on Paxolin boards. Really cheap, easy to make, look great, and great to use.

[@joelmahan]

Maybe it’s called the potato masher because it looks like an old German handgrenade?😎

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Top job Terry...Well resurrected and bargain for the owner. Awesome video, thanks for sharing your knowledge...Ed..U.K..😀

[@kevinhess9245]

Well I have to say that I have enjoyed Watching the vannage amplifiers brought back to life not to be forgotten

[@BurtonBoyz715]

NICE WORK AS ALWAYS...GOOD EYE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. BOTTOMS UP. CHEERS....

[@Finom1]

Thank you for another amazing educational video. Bless you for sharing your wisdom with us.

[@Tonetwisters]

I'm just a player, and I enjoy watching these things!

[@georgethomas9436]

Well fun at the ole lab tonight. Glad you invited us.

[@doncollins9331]

Good stuff. Really enjoy your videos.

[@bobboyle7629]

Man... you got the best channel EVER. Absolutely LOVE it. 73 de VA3IF

[@sworgan1]

Nice to see Aussie wines in the videos D Lab i think that is Michael Harrington on the bottle so must be the cabernet sauvignon cant go wrong with that Terry! Cheers from down under keep up the good work with the videos

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Good haircut. Good to see you are back in compliance with AFR 35-10. Wouldn't want to get a 341 on Vets day. Cheers

[@evananderson8452]

You are great at what you do. Very informative with your repairs. There are only a few others as good as you with the technical side of repairs. Thanks for your Service to the country.

[@ringostarr4520]

Would love to see a video on repairing your Tektronix scope. I have that same one as a backup for Hitachi and recently I decided it was time to recap the power supply section on the Tektronix scope. Please consider showing repair video of the scope. Also if possible please include steps taken to calibrate the scope. BTW really enjoyed this video and I have been enjoying watching the restoration videos on the Viking transmitters. I am not really a HAM guy but I should learn. My grandfather left behind a really nice old transmitter and I should fix it up. This might motivate me to give it a go. Keep on keeping on with the good ole D-Lab videos. They are very much appreciated!!

[@kerryg4119]

By the way Terry....Thank you for your service to our country in the military.

[@LiveMusicOntario]

I get it. I spent many a Christmas Eve on my own in the basement while the rest of the family went out visiting. That was my time to solder or desolder old chassis to scavenge them or patch up stuff like you caught; cracked resistors, cold joints, etc. Put on some old rock or R&B. It was very relaxing. The moment i wasn't enjoying the time passing by, I'd stop.

[@donaldfilbert4832]

Excellent comprehensive restoration video. More than your usual detail. Thanks for all the great videos !!!

[@thomasplooij9795]

Dont worry about it D-Lab, I have like an inch of horizontal sweep as well...

[@martinchamberlain8948]

Sisters of Mercy...great choice, Terry!!!!!!

[@sleekslush]

This one really resonated with me. I'm in software tech and over the past year or two I've gotten into guitar again. I modified guitar circuits and this year finally built a tube amp (5F1). Really appreciate your content and learning a lot. Thanks!

[@guitarsandampsrock7306]

Happy Veterans Day "D-Lab".

[@joelaughlin5532]

Veeerrryyy cool video! If you n Marsha will come to west Texas I’ll give you a couple of guitar lessons n we have a cool winery here, also! You, unka Doug, Brad, mr Carlson. Treasures to us ole ampaholics!

[@keithclark1197]

Another great video, Terry! I really enjoyed watching you doing the work while explaining it. Most people watch TV at night. I watch this. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@fiddlix]

Great video Terri. You are %100 dead right about replacing the grid coupling caps on the output. Should be standard procedure but unfortunately there are a lot of techs that don’t.

[@isoguy.]

Awesome video, also really good to see how you deal with some of the issues. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@drewmello6462]

Thank you for your service Terry!! We love D-Lab!!!!

[@TheKeenej]

First off, thanks for showing the j=hook method. I have used this for years, not ever a problem. It's always nice to decompress using your repair prowess. 19 Crimes help more than you realize. More evident when you said gunnnerator that proved you had some help. Hope Marsha takes your keys. LOL

[@Bigjoedo66]

Another great video Terry!!

[@dyamariv3628]

Awesome Vid Terry, thanks for showing us the actual soldering process and the tricks to replacing the components..Too many guys skip over that stuff. More of these amp videos please :)

[@waynewayne3709]

I brought a epiphone so cal 50..the seller said all working... Once on the bench, I found broken power switch and loose stand by switch.. And the best part.. All ecc83s tubes not reading and a questionable el34 out of the pair. All new tubes went in.. As d lab Terry shows its best to check things over before powering up and you never know what is hiding in there..

[@vegaslimoguy2376]

Hey Terry, any luck with that property next door? I was really hoping you would get that place at a steal to expand D Lab! 💥💣💥💣. And also, Happy Veteran's Day!! Thank you for your service!

[@pablov1973]

Thanks for your videos, they are always very instructive and interesting.

[@ericheder777]

You've just gone up a couple cool points with the wife...... She loves Sisters of Mercy and 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon. And I love Vibrolux Reverbs.

[@robertporter2447]

Setting next to me is that exact amp! It quit years ago caps are popped and it has no speakers! I guess I better get to it! Nice video Thanks, Bob Porter

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Robert Porter Please fix up your Vibrolux! some consider it the best overall tone amp of its era... I have had mine 50 years and never had any desire to move on to a different one.

[@akachurak]

Wish I had your knowledge! Great video!

[@geemac7267]

Always entertaining and informative, Terry!

[@williamscaliarini8201]

Good video. Love the shirt.

[@Retro.Studio]

Love your work Terry it is a mix of knowledge and entertainment. To bad good ol Snozzaramus came by this time, but your Colt45 did it well

[@PelDaddy]

Another nice video. I have learned a lot from your vids (esp. Johnson stuff). 19 Crimes is a really nice wine for a decent price. Been enjoying that for a while. Keep it up! Thanks.

[@repairfreak]

Nice video, your enthusiasm makes me want to fire up my Techtronix scope and probe around in the 100W Marshall 1968 Super Lead Plexi I have on my repair bench. Must find the source of the 120Hz hum, going after the B+ filter caps first. 😁👍

[@daleburrell6273]

THAT WOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING-!!

[@tomk1tl]

Great job Terry.....that guy sure was lucky to get that amp for "FREE". I've always wanted a Vibrolux but settled for a Fender Deluxe RI (got a good deal on it tho).

[@danhorton6182]

Hey Terry, just wanted to say great video! I like this style of video much more, where you actually show yourself going in and doing the work/soldering. Not many people show the actual soldering. They’ll state the repair to be done, explain the process and cut back once the repair has been done. Thanks!

[@motooilermotooiler9597]

You love IT. Cheers mate!

[@suomi35]

Another nice one...cheers!

[@boboala1]

Oh yeah, D-lab! Finally caught on to how cool you really are! (I knew from watching previous videos that you were a meticulous and knowledgable electronic technician, but this is a concise repair masterpiece/restoration!) Subscribed.

[@michaelalbro6856]

I’ve found that if you file the solder gun tips where they make contact in the gun they work much better.

[@Spentelectrons]

Turrets are better in my opinion. Don't bother wrapping the turret unless their a lot of connections on a single turret. Just feed them into the hole in top the same as an eyelet. This also raises the component off the board and allows air to flow on all sides.

[@daleburrell6273]

...THATS ASSUMING THAT THE TURRET TERMINAL HAS A CENTER HOLE IN IT-!!

[@Spentelectrons]

@@daleburrell6273 I use nothing but. I like them. As far as repairs it is what it is but that is all I use for my builds. I'm not sure what your point is but if it's got turrets with no holes your not going to switch out the board. I would rather repair eyelets then turrets with no holes, yes. That's true

[@curtisprice9806]

What? No hole in the turret? I don't get what you are saying....maybe you bought a board with turrets installed and one or more didn't have a hole in it?

[@daleburrell6273]

@@curtisprice9806 Practically all the turret terminals I have seen, have had no holes in them. I'll have to admit that I have never worked on a guitar amplifier- so you probably know a lot more about the subject than I do.

[@Spentelectrons]

@@goodun2974 great info! I haven't really struggled with many of those issues as I have soldered far more new build turrets then vintage repairs.

[@rodeo11]

When you were checking for microphonics at 18:40, you weren’t connected to the scope were you?

[@DeadKoby]

On some of these Fenders where they wax coat the eyelet board, J-hooks are much less of a pain to do for a re-cap.

[@curtisprice9806]

Buy the book INSIDE TUBE AMPS by Dan Torres. It explains and gives a chart on the relationship between plate load resistors and the cathode resistors. You can bias the preamp tubes for more gain. The magic in some old tube amps are from electrical parts like resistors and capacitors being off specifications. You could get a brighter or darker amp.etc....

[@curtisprice9806]

Sorry...this was supposed to be a reply to pneumatic100.....not for d lab!

[@panther289]

Great video, lucky owner and as for "the look" I would have to say Link Wray beat them both. To you and yours have a great Veterans Day.

[@JasonTHutchinson]

Can you do a demonstration of measuring the bias using the 1 ohm shunt to ground method?

[@elwrongo]

Love the Vibrolux. I was going fine until those laughs at the end at which point I got a bit scared....;)

[@ensaerodynamics8615]

Hi Terry. Can you please tell me the exact test point for setting the negative voltage? I see the red alligator clip on something but don't know the exact test point to ground for setting the negative voltage on pot. Thanks. GREAT VIDEO!!! I just bought a 1965 Vibrolux and will follow this video to a T. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rciancia]

Good Job Terry as usual... I have my 59 Bassman ready when you are :) Happy Veterans Day Terry - thank you for your service !! I think Marcia runs the show.. you may have to rebrand to M-Lab... :P

[@glenndavis6793]

Please never give up make videos awesome

[@curtisprice9806]

It's great having someone who tells the truth and knows exactly what they are doing...but.....get a great guitar player on afterwards so we can "hear what we just saw"!!!!

[@peterfoust4671]

i love it !

[@marknash7113]

Shall we call the Weller Groundasaurus? The Snoz is just to big and hot for this job. Scope gremlins are out and about I just lost sweep on my favorite Tek 265. Crap.

[@tracyc7813]

BTW, I received my electronics training in the Air Force as well. In training I lost count of how many times they told us a good electrical connection starts with a good mechanical connection. :o)

[@simonspeaker]

Hey Tierry, buy the Hakko T15-D52 tip ! You will no longer need this old crap weller gun because its a big chassis tip made for this job! Take a look a it, you will love it!

[@sundogaudio851]

So how do you probe the shunt resisters to check bias? That seems like a much more accurate way to go!

[@1badpete999]

Nice work like usual , i just wonder what's under the cardboard phenolite eyelid board do you have a dismantled one to show what they look on the other side i never dared to take one apart to check the underpart can the components going through the holes short on on the chassis ? I heard when humidity get to them they get all distorted and twisted !

[@MichaelSmith-rn1qw]

There is another solid board that goes under the eyelet board. It can usually be slipped out from either end for inspection/cleaning. Just a few screws to remove.

[@tracyc7813]

I still say you need a theremin. LOL... I was wondering if a digital scope would work for for this kind of stuff.

[@izzyauna8814]

I think I would’ve kept the old tubes in. Or test them and keep the good.

[@ztechrepairs]

At 14 34 you can see some sort of spark or light towards the top of the amp. What was that. Just the light from the tube?

[@ringostarr4520]

To me it looks like that flash came from the tremolo roach. I know you typically can't see the bulb in the roach but maybe a tiny bit. In this case we might see the roach bulb flash as it gets hit with incoming rush current as he flips the standby switch.

[@Paqqqman]

Bang on Ringo!

[@DennisMurphey]

Well done i wanted to ask just when did this fibraboard come out. If wanted to build a larger Amp similar to this would you suggest Point to Point, Fibraboard of real PC Boards. I have seen them all offered in Kit form. K+Just seems like something to do. If i mess it up i could send it to you to find the unsoldered joints, missing wired and miss wires, that was a joke. Great series, Thanks Dennis

[@facum1353]

Hello very good videos, I wanted to consult you, I have a fender bandamster amp and the potentiometers are broken, can I replace them with generics? or have some special requirement regarding voltage? thanks for every thing

[@8xlaxx]

I dig how you love and find joy in fixing the older gear. Question: How do you chuck or dispose of the wasted resistors/caps/tubes? Trash 'em, recycle 'em some how, or...?

[@edmundooliver7584]

they called a germen hand grenade a potato masher it does look close, the plastic part.

[@BurtonBoyz715]

Believe you to be CORRECT..! The right era for that analogy...

[@jamesschroeder3313]

Avast Mr. D-Lab, I see you finally took a break from repairing that abused Johnson and continued with the important work.

[@gbowne1]

I learned how to solder with one of them

[@richardpayne5101]

What power is your soldering iron please?

[@danielsaturnino5715]

What's the *scope* of this video again? :)

[@sa8die]

1959 is my fav SOM,.,.

[@simonkormendy849]

If you think your old scopes are cool, you should check out my old Telequipment D33R 15Mhz Dual Trace Tube Scope, it's not going at the moment cause I need to order a replacement GEC 924F Cathode Ray Tube, the original one has a great big hole in the front of it and needs replacing.

[@seanhershey3390]

never took you as a Sisters of Mercy fan....:)

[@itchybrother3476]

Terry, think about Patreon for funding the growth of D Lab in the future.

[@alecooper2650]

Great

[@rocanrola]

How do you check that the Ajax blue molded caps are leaking?

[@Tonetwisters]

BTW: I'm STILL waiting for you to send this amp back to me!! What's the holdup!!?

[@TheStimpy60]

Potato masher tube nickname could be a reference to a German WWII grenade, sometimes referred to as a potato masher ??

[@luthiervandros]

Dude we are in the same boat. Corporate goons with piles of amps to fix for fun.

[@scotthewitt6047]

I am just starting to use a Scope to view audio signal in Guitar Pedals. What Frequency do you think is the best I have been using 800 Hz at 200mv.

[@sauljewhebrewberg3147]

On a Fender DRRI is it safe to tap into 6.3 Volt heater filament to run a 12v muffin fan to cool the chassis?

[@Tonetwisters]

IIRC ... those 5881's put out less power these days, than do the 6L6's ... so this amp should not be a full 35 watts ... which is actually a good thing!

[@wadehicks9270]

What model Weller soldering gun were you using ?

[@daleburrell6273]

...looked like an 8200(?)

[@bobbarcus8310]

Yeah Gerald Weber of Kendrick Amps ripped me off for over $1000 and all that was wrong was one of those ground wires and corroded under the Solder he shotgunned all my blue caps So I learned how important the ground wires are

[@UBOOFTB]

Lucky customer, like someone gave him $3500.00. Nice work!

[@pneumatic00]

Now that you have done all the other things in a Fender hose-out, this is your chance to blow $2 and change out the old 100K plate resistors for 2W metal films, Terry. You WILL hear the difference.

[@curtisprice9806]

And you could go for higher headroom or a larger voltage drop by using a ....say....110k resistor for more distortion when the 12ax7's are cranked.

[@pneumatic00]

@@curtisprice9806 That's a very interesting idea, I've never tried that. I could see making that switchable between 100K and 110K. I'm not sure you'd want that on all the 12AX7s. My suggestion is to squash the noise floor, because those old carbon comp plate R's make hiss and rat noises in the worst case. On an older Fender refurb (probably more used than Terry's Vlux here) they make a dramatic difference and they're just about the cheapest thing you can do, just shotgun replacing all the 100Ks with MFs.

[@curtisprice9806]

Sorry....my reply came up in the main comment section!

[@billb7735]

many people put the lead down the tops of turrets though, which acts like using an eyelet. i prefer turrets and wrapping them, b/c i sometimes end up with solder dripping down the turret; and the connection relies on the solder. with wrapping around a turret, i feel like there's a better chance of a physical connection.

[@ferraridinoman]

Very Nice Young Tel! but lets be honest here!.....Your no Eli!!! ha ha!

[@ojjenkins7110]

HAPPY VETERANS DAY TERRY.

[@sundogaudio851]

Ive heard it said that the Potato masher name comes from foreign hand grenades nicknamed mashed potatos...fwiw

[@umajunkcollector]

The infamous Weller Colt 45 1911

[@tomk1tl]

LMFAO........great one ! ! ! !

[@ringostarr4520]

Whoever gave this video the 1 thumbs down 👎 must have been dyslexic.

[@RedArwBus]

You're scope gave you the"Flying Fickle Finger Of Fate"

[@WApnj]

?? Says "get yourself a good mechanical connection" then solders a connection that's loose as a goose..... do as I say not as I do. 3:08

[@michaelsorenson3887]

Looked fine to me. These parts aren't going into a wind tunnel. It was a proper amount of solder and a physical connection between them. Pretty much text book 🤷‍♂️

[@WApnj]

@@michaelsorenson3887 LOL that is not a mechanically sound connection.. what are you looking at? Would hate to have you repairing things.

[@waynethompson8416]

Hey Terry, Have you tried the Morse Code wine yet? www.w4ava.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo.jpg If you do let me know what you think of it. I am going to have to purchase another one myself because I just can't bring myself to open the one and only one that I do have. Good video by the way. My playback of this particular video refuses to go to the end, but I do appreciate what part I did see. Good thing that you replaced those resistors...that cracked one would have given you grief ! I am so very happy that your daughter found you! It is even better that her husband gets along with you so well too. Any news on the expansion of the D-Lab site?

[@MidnightVisions]

Since no one answered the question, Michael Jackson was around in the mid 1970's, while the Sisters of Mercy formed in 1980. While Jackson isn't around anymore, the sisters still are.

[@Old-Skull.]

I thought he was referring to the look ,not who was in the music business, cause of course all we know was Michael in the Jackson's five