FDP - Forum

FDP Home Page / FDP Forum / Classifieds / FAQ's / Links / Cookbook

The FDP is made possible by the following companies and individual members like you.
Please use the links below to show them we value their sponsorship.

TTS Music
WD Music
Jensen Loudspeakers
www.thetubestore.com

Guitar Center
Sweetwater
The Music Zoo
Musician's Friend

Antique Electronics Supply
Contact Us!
Bill Lawrence Pickups
Amplified Parts

MOD KITS DIY
Amazon

* God bless America and our men and women in uniform *
* Illegitimi non carborundum! *
If you benefit and learn from the FDP and enjoy our site, please help support us and become a Contributing Member or make a Donation today! The FDP counts on YOU to help keep the site going with an annual contribution. It's quick and easy with PayPal. Please do it TODAY!
Chris Greene, Host & Founder
Registered Members: 64,000+
LOST YOUR PASSWORD?
......................................................................

IF YOU CANNOT LOG IN, RESET YOUR PASSWORD.

For Sale/Wanted Classifieds

FDP Jam
Calendar

Find musicians
in your area!

Search the Forums

FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / '50 Pro tweed goodness

anteriorl5

USA

Feb 19th, 2012 01:57 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Oh Lord, what an amp I just blundered into. Check out completed listings on Ebay. I will be getting in the car for this one as it's just a few hours away. This one is beyond clean...cover too.

kblues

NYC Area

Feb 19th, 2012 10:09 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Yowza. Congrats Ant. Seems like a fair price for both parties. Now, where can I find some feet and a back panel???

Have fun!!

KB
Your Auction Link

anteriorl5

USA

Feb 19th, 2012 10:38 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The back panel is a basic rectangle and can be replicated with old ply I have and some redwood stain. What I need is a tweed artist to match the new tweed to the old.

dannyz

USA

Feb 19th, 2012 11:09 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I was watching that one too. I think that's a really fair price and am officially jealous ;)

carsten

on the rhine

Feb 19th, 2012 04:53 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
stunnig!

enjoy it - i´m sure you will ;)

- C.

plexi69

U.S.A.

HEY THERE, HI THERE, HO THERE
Feb 22nd, 2012 09:55 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
These are great sounding and fun to play amps. Now you need a P90 loaded Switchmaster.

Charlie Macon
Contributing Member
**********
**

Texas

Yeeeehaaaa!
Feb 24th, 2012 08:01 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I test drove a Nocaster through a '51 Pro once. Pure heaven. Have fun man!

BbendFender
Contributing Member
*****

Texas

Throw in a pick and you've got a deal!
Feb 25th, 2012 01:04 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
That is a nice one. Contrats.

anteriorl5

USA

Feb 26th, 2012 09:06 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Drove about 150 miles yesterday to pick up the amp. The seller is a harp player, a real nice fellow. The amp works well at low volumes, but just like the '51 I had for a while, there is a lot of DC leakage apparent as you turn up the volume: pots get very noisy and volume actually drops. If it's just one or two of the old wax-sealed caps at fault, I'd do the work, but I suspect they're all bad.
So, is it best to leave it alone, call it a collector amp, or think about wholesale replacement of parts? The only changes to this amp are the handle and the one power-supply cap. Probably worth a lot more left alone; fabricate a new back panel using old tweed from a clean '50s suitcase, and put on an original handle (I've got a few stashed). I've never seen a cleaner TV Pro, and we are talking about Fender history here. Sad to think of it as something to look at and not hear. What do you all think about this one?

anteriorl5

USA

Mar 5th, 2012 08:10 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Things are getting strange with this amp. If you look closely at the link pics, you'll notice the 2nd filter cap is missing, clipped out of the circuit. Also, look at the direction of the tweed. In all but the bottom and lower back panel, the tweed direction is reversed. I've looked this thing over very closely and it's not a re-tweed. Chassis number matches tube chart serial number. Pencil marking on back panel and cab bottom match, and the tweed on the back panel exactly matches rest of amp.

SoK66
Contributing Member
****

USA

We had the hit but Van got the money
Mar 6th, 2012 07:02 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Check it against the layout & schematic and you'll be able to determine what's been done to it. "Why" is another matter, of course.

Just my opinion of course, but since it has already been fiddled with I'd go completely through it and make it a player. (Who wants an amp that's a substitute for a door stop?) Some of the old caps are likely drifted to the Moon, along with many of the the resistors. You can still get Allen Bradleys to fix the latter, and you can use the (pricey) red Jupiter caps & F&Ts on the board. Leo wouldn't hesitate a moment to get it to spec. Photograph it completely before you replace anything ad mark where the particular part came from. Save the old parts. Again, JMHO.

anteriorl5

USA

Mar 6th, 2012 10:33 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I took a soldering iron to it last night. 2 of the filters had crud piling up outside the + end, same for the bypass caps. Clearly shot. They have been replaced. I am heading downstairs to test the coupling caps individually and have 5 blue-molded Mallory "death caps" from blackface amps for replacements. They all test good. The power cord is next, then I'll have a listen.
Thanks for the help!
Back from the shop: All the coupling caps were leaking huge amounts of DC. The Mallorys are in and it sounds fantastic.
(This message was last edited by anteriorl5 at 01:02 PM, Mar 6th, 2012)

SoK66
Contributing Member
****

USA

We had the hit but Van got the money
Mar 7th, 2012 05:06 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
No matter what anyone has ever told me about vintage amps, I always find the amps sound best when the parts work. ;-)

anteriorl5

USA

Mar 7th, 2012 09:24 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
This thing has great tone. Makes the neck pickup on my Tele sound huge - damn speaker appears barely broken in. Told the wife I was going to sell this thing, but I can see that's just not going to happen any time soon.

mojohen

New York

"Time to get ready for the storm"
Mar 12th, 2012 06:37 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Can we hear it? Maybe post something?
Absolutely gorgeous amp, and really, what a deal.
Been tracking a tweed pro for some time, and that one is by far the best all around package I've seen..

anteriorl5

USA

Mar 12th, 2012 12:04 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I can have my daughter record something to utube. She's a wiz at that and I have no skills at all in that department. Maybe 3 short clips with a Tele, Strat, and 335. Based on that '51 I had, I never would have bought this amp. I didn't think they had a good clean tone, and was just thinking about the collectible appeal.

6L6
Contributing Member
**********
***

Lago, CA

Kick the tires, Light the fires!
Mar 28th, 2012 09:43 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Back in '97 I had the opportunity to play my '92 Strat '57 VRI through Norman Petty's '52 Pro.

I'll never forget that experience for as long as I live. Those amps are just PURE TONE!!!

6

FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / '50 Pro tweed goodness

Reply to this Topic
	Display my email address Lost your password?
Your Message:
Link Address (URL):
Link Title:

TTS Music	WD Music	Jensen Loudspeakers	www.thetubestore.com
Guitar Center	Sweetwater	The Music Zoo	Musician's Friend
Antique Electronics Supply	Contact Us!	Bill Lawrence Pickups	Amplified Parts
MOD KITS DIY	Amazon

	For Sale/Wanted Classifieds
FDP Jam Calendar		Find musicians in your area!
	Search the Forums