This is a weird one...
A customer comes in with a (new to him) blackface bassman head. The amp was demonstrating quite a bit of noise, but he also wanted us to go through it, and perform any maintenance necessary and asks us to find out what we could about in - ie. if we can date it, and what version it was, etc.
I told him I'd check out the date codes and see if I can give him a general idea of when the amp was made. After opening up the chassis, I noticed that there were several resistors and film caps that had been replaced and it looked as if the much of the wiring had been redone recently.
But the weird thing was all of the bypass and filter electrolytics were still the original paper covered mallorys. I'm thinking "who the hell makes that kind of overhaul, and leaves in the components which will need to be replaced in the course of routine maintenance at some point anyway?"
After resolving the primary noise issue (due to poor lead dress), I called the customer and gave him the rundown on the amp. I let him know about the electrolytics and gave him the option of having us replace them while the amp was on the bench, or he could bring it back at a later time if he they became problematic and left it up to him. They weren't showing any obvious sign of laying down or causing any instability to me. He opted to have us replace them and here is when it gets interesting. I took care of the preamp first and began removing the main filter caps from the board. When I lifted the very last 8µF cap, the paper cover slipped off and exposed a shiny black case underneath with the familiar label "F & T".
This is what I saw:
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I was like, "...the hell? Oh cute, they saved the original cover to match... wait a minute...."
Then I grabbed one of the other caps and took a closer look
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Are you f-ing kidding me? Why would someone go through the trouble of...
Then I grabbed the cathode bypass caps.
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you guys see it? I didn't at first, but I was able to slide the leads in and out of the case a half an inch. I removed the paper and here is the point I began to move from amusement to highly suspicious.
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So, I ask, is this just a case of some cultist going for vintage chic? Or was this someone trying to fraudulently claim the amp was in all original condition at some point and hoping the subterfuge would pass under quick inspection. After checking the date codes there is a gap of several years between the dates of manufacturer between the PT and OT and the choke.
A customer comes in with a (new to him) blackface bassman head. The amp was demonstrating quite a bit of noise, but he also wanted us to go through it, and perform any maintenance necessary and asks us to find out what we could about in - ie. if we can date it, and what version it was, etc.
I told him I'd check out the date codes and see if I can give him a general idea of when the amp was made. After opening up the chassis, I noticed that there were several resistors and film caps that had been replaced and it looked as if the much of the wiring had been redone recently.
But the weird thing was all of the bypass and filter electrolytics were still the original paper covered mallorys. I'm thinking "who the hell makes that kind of overhaul, and leaves in the components which will need to be replaced in the course of routine maintenance at some point anyway?"
After resolving the primary noise issue (due to poor lead dress), I called the customer and gave him the rundown on the amp. I let him know about the electrolytics and gave him the option of having us replace them while the amp was on the bench, or he could bring it back at a later time if he they became problematic and left it up to him. They weren't showing any obvious sign of laying down or causing any instability to me. He opted to have us replace them and here is when it gets interesting. I took care of the preamp first and began removing the main filter caps from the board. When I lifted the very last 8µF cap, the paper cover slipped off and exposed a shiny black case underneath with the familiar label "F & T".
This is what I saw:
-
-
I was like, "...the hell? Oh cute, they saved the original cover to match... wait a minute...."
Then I grabbed one of the other caps and took a closer look
-
-
-
-
Are you f-ing kidding me? Why would someone go through the trouble of...
Then I grabbed the cathode bypass caps.
-
-
-
-
you guys see it? I didn't at first, but I was able to slide the leads in and out of the case a half an inch. I removed the paper and here is the point I began to move from amusement to highly suspicious.
-
-
-
-
So, I ask, is this just a case of some cultist going for vintage chic? Or was this someone trying to fraudulently claim the amp was in all original condition at some point and hoping the subterfuge would pass under quick inspection. After checking the date codes there is a gap of several years between the dates of manufacturer between the PT and OT and the choke.
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