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FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / Pre-CBS Pilot Lamp Jewels
FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / Pre-CBS Pilot Lamp Jewels
VKeith
USAApr 7th, 2012 11:42 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I was just wondering if any of you pre-CBS blackface amp owners have amps with completely stock pilot lamp jewels that are other than red in color.
I bought a one owner completely stock '64 blackface Super Reverb last year and the pilot lamp jewel was turquoise. I was also wondering how rare, or common these other than red original lamp jewels might be.
amphead4
Cincinnati, USAApr 7th, 2012 03:25 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I believe red to be the factory stock color and non-red jewels to be replacements.
6 Cylinder Slim
New England
Shoes for IndustryApr 9th, 2012 03:02 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Replacement jewels of different colors have been around a long time. I can remember seeing different colored jewel lights on amps back in the early 70s. Not sure if they were marketed especially for guitar amps like they are today or if people got them from electrical supply stores or off old equipment. Lots of old time electrical equipment used them, they were common.
vibrasonic
canadaApr 9th, 2012 12:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Anything other than red in old fender amp just looks wrong to me.
Roger Ball
Contributing Member
*********
Canada
New guitars and old amps!Apr 9th, 2012 02:29 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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"Anything other than red in old fender amp just looks wrong to me."
I agree 100%.
At one time I thought a blue jewel looked cool on a SF amp because of the faceplate lettering and grill cloth. That only lasted a couple of weeks!
6 Cylinder Slim
New England
Shoes for IndustryApr 9th, 2012 03:29 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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+1. In fact, I don't even like the modern plastic ones. Might be foolish, but I bought a whole new Fender lamp and a $12 red glass jewel for my Princeton kit amp just cause I like the way the real glass glitters just like the old amps I remember from being a kid who couldn't afford a real Fender amp back in the day. But then...there is the tone advantage ;)
les-strat
BAMA
"Upon us all, a little rain must fall.."Apr 9th, 2012 07:44 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I look for used ones on ebay. I have an old glass smooth dome one, but that is pre-BF era. I have a glass green one on my BFVR, but it has been re-tolexed in tan with brown cloth. Looks cool with the green jewel.
MLC
Contributing Member
**********
It's not just good..
...it's good enough.Apr 10th, 2012 07:10 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
Topic
"But then...there is the tone advantage ;)"
The blue jewel in my '68 DR sounds sooooo much better than the stock red. It's scary, really.
Sorry, Roger, I still like mine.
Steve Dallman
Contributing Member
*****
Merrill, Wisconsin
Ain't turned 60, but I got my blinker onApr 11th, 2012 07:32 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
Topic
Back in the day, I'd often see bands with a purple jewel...stolen off a tuck 'n' roll Kustom amp.
Not uncommon to see other colored jewels. I have a tray full of them. They just accumulated over the years. I've had a lot of old tube stuff with them in ...radios, stereos, lab equipment, etc.
BBQ Gord
CANADA
Didn't chew kill my bruvah?Apr 12th, 2012 10:03 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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You'd have to talk to someone named "Fender" to get any of the family jewels...
barry.b
Contributing Member
*
australiaApr 23rd, 2012 06:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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my 66 external reverb tank has a yellow jewel...
I'm thinking: why would anyone replace the original (if the yellow is not original)?
6 Cylinder Slim
New England
Shoes for IndustryApr 27th, 2012 06:21 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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As an old fart, I think I can offer a possible explanation. Today, electrical equipment from the days of glass jewel lights would be found in antique shops and flea markets, but in 1963 they were just garbage. I can see someone running across something on it's way to the dump and removing the jewel and thinking, this will fit the reverb unit, yellow, cool. That wouldn't happen today. One would have to have the idea first and hunt down a yellow jewel. Far less likely to happen.
roadhog96
USA / CT.Apr 27th, 2012 09:26 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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As another old fart I can say without doubt, this is all nothing but hogwash. Fender amps only came with red jewel pilot lights from the factory. There was a lot of time invested in testing many different types of tubes before they settled on what was to be the tubes of choice to be used in their amps. Same thing goes for the jewels, the color red was chosen for a reason. It didn't effect night vision like other colors do. If anyone thinks their amp sounds better with any color other than the original red then you need your hearing checked. Red is what gives fender amps their magic in more ways than one.
Rickplayer
USAApr 27th, 2012 10:37 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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Why would someone rout a 50's stratocaster for a humbucker? Well, that really is for a different sound, but still it was common in the day.
catnineblue
LA , CalifFeb 13th, 2013 09:09 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I tried a few different colors sort of liked the green ones on a BF or the blue ones. Mine are back to red. I don't even know who makes them I got mine from AES the red ones I got even one I got 6 years ago the red jewel stick out of the chrome bezel like a bugs eye all the others I have are normal looking .
Paul Boudreau
Contributing Member
**********
*
Washington, D.C.
"Surely not to live in pain and fear..."Feb 15th, 2013 10:06 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search
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I tried several replacements on my '66 Vibrolux Reverb, just for fun. The strangest looking was the opaque white one. Like a zombie eyeball or something.
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