Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help guide me to some basic maintenance and repair of a family heirloom.
My dad bought a Fender P bass and Bassman amp new in 1962 which he used in bands through about 1968/1969. I dusted it off and played punk rock out of it from 1991-1994 until I got a modern solid state bass amp. My dad, having saved up and bought the bass and amp with paper route money, took good care of it. I however treated it like a kid in a sometimes touring punk rock band who was given the equipment. That's not to say I didn't care for or respect the equipment but it was subjected to a hard life and it was turned way, way up all the time. (but I could have been more careful).
It sounds absolutely amazing but I believe the pots need to be replaced, whenever I touch the volumes on either channel I hear that loud thunder crackle sound. Given how much it was used there has been some extensive repair from things wearing out including new tubes, new power cable and I remember blowing it out during our "CD Release Party" in 1994 and my dad saying the speakers need to be re-coned. When we first dug it out in the 90's he also said he thinks the capacitors dried out so maybe new caps.
When I plugged it in, aside from the crackle of the volume knob, it was really beautiful sounding. Is that a repair a competent electrical engineer can do or should I see a specialist?
Also I would love to clean it, it's really seen some craziness. Is there recommendation on what to use? I figure the fabric wear and stain is for good but the rest of the amp seems like it's a plastic linoleum type cleanable surface.
Attached are some photos of when it was new, it's 90's punk days and what it looks like today plus the inner amp graphic with the tube configuration and all the model number and batch number. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Happy New Year!
Jared
I'm hoping someone can help guide me to some basic maintenance and repair of a family heirloom.
My dad bought a Fender P bass and Bassman amp new in 1962 which he used in bands through about 1968/1969. I dusted it off and played punk rock out of it from 1991-1994 until I got a modern solid state bass amp. My dad, having saved up and bought the bass and amp with paper route money, took good care of it. I however treated it like a kid in a sometimes touring punk rock band who was given the equipment. That's not to say I didn't care for or respect the equipment but it was subjected to a hard life and it was turned way, way up all the time. (but I could have been more careful).
It sounds absolutely amazing but I believe the pots need to be replaced, whenever I touch the volumes on either channel I hear that loud thunder crackle sound. Given how much it was used there has been some extensive repair from things wearing out including new tubes, new power cable and I remember blowing it out during our "CD Release Party" in 1994 and my dad saying the speakers need to be re-coned. When we first dug it out in the 90's he also said he thinks the capacitors dried out so maybe new caps.
When I plugged it in, aside from the crackle of the volume knob, it was really beautiful sounding. Is that a repair a competent electrical engineer can do or should I see a specialist?
Also I would love to clean it, it's really seen some craziness. Is there recommendation on what to use? I figure the fabric wear and stain is for good but the rest of the amp seems like it's a plastic linoleum type cleanable surface.
Attached are some photos of when it was new, it's 90's punk days and what it looks like today plus the inner amp graphic with the tube configuration and all the model number and batch number. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Happy New Year!
Jared
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