Dual layer eyelet boards

[Structo]

Isn't this a problem with some of the older Fender amps that used the "fish paper" type boards?

That they absorbed moisture over time and would become conductive causing issues between components?

Isn't their a nickname for that? (escapes me at the moment)

[ampdork]

Tweed disease?

[BobW]

Ampeg used blocks of wood(literally) for 20 years with no problems, fender boards have absorbed moisture from the envorinment since day one and are still going strong. There's 50 years of data to support the choice and that's enough for me. Of course I don't pour water in my amps and the chassis isn't fab'd out of screen door material al'a the polish submarine joke. To each his own.

I agree.
This amp sounds great w/ 1/8" basswood boards. No issues w/ moisture, since I keep it inside the house (air conditioner w/ lower humidity). The internal heat generated inside an amp, for the most part, mitigates any moisture issues, in particular on a very porous material such as wood.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... light=sano

[Structo]

Tweed disease?

Yes I think it is that or something similar.

[collinsamps]

Ampeg used blocks of wood(literally) for 20 years with no problems, fender boards have absorbed moisture from the envorinment since day one and are still going strong. There's 50 years of data to support the choice and that's enough for me. Of course I don't pour water in my amps and the chassis isn't fab'd out of screen door material al'a the polish submarine joke. To each his own.

I agree.
This amp sounds great w/ 1/8" basswood boards. No issues w/ moisture, since I keep it inside the house (air conditioner w/ lower humidity). The internal heat generated inside an amp, for the most part, mitigates any moisture issues, in particular on a very porous material such as wood.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... light=sano

Very cool gut shot of the boards & layout. A great example of what can be done on the cheap for some great tone.

[collinsamps]

Isn't this a problem with some of the older Fender amps that used the "fish paper" type boards?

That they absorbed moisture over time and would become conductive causing issues between components?

Isn't their a nickname for that? (escapes me at the moment)

Just because I've never seen one in the hundreds of originals I've repaired dating back to 49' doesn't mean they don't exist, but I believe it to be more internet hoopla than fact.

[BobW]

Ampeg used blocks of wood(literally) for 20 years with no problems, fender boards have absorbed moisture from the envorinment since day one and are still going strong. There's 50 years of data to support the choice and that's enough for me. Of course I don't pour water in my amps and the chassis isn't fab'd out of screen door material al'a the polish submarine joke. To each his own.

I agree.
This amp sounds great w/ 1/8" basswood boards. No issues w/ moisture, since I keep it inside the house (air conditioner w/ lower humidity). The internal heat generated inside an amp, for the most part, mitigates any moisture issues, in particular on a very porous material such as wood.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... light=sano

Very cool gut shot of the boards & layout. A great example of what can be done on the cheap for some great tone.

Thanks Craig. This amp build was mostly a novelity, but do occasionally gig w/ it.

[Sonny ReVerb]

That is a cool rebuild, Bob. Is that grill cloth original? I wonder if you can still find that anywhere?

I can see the wood/fiber boards being a problem if the amp is stored in a damp environment. Otherwise, no moisture - no problem.

Anyone have any views on wires routed through holes in the board? Is it to maintain position, relieve stress on the solder joint, or are there other benefits?

[Structo]

I would think the holes in the circuit board serves a couple purposes.
One would be to provide stress relief and the other would be to hold the wire in place when soldering a component on to the eyelet or turret.
If the flying leads are soldered into the bottom of a turret, then heat is applied to solder something to the top of the turret, then the wire could possibly fall out.

[BobW]

That is a cool rebuild, Bob. Is that grill cloth original? I wonder if you can still find that anywhere?

I can see the wood/fiber boards being a problem if the amp is stored in a damp environment. Otherwise, no moisture - no problem.

Anyone have any views on wires routed through holes in the board? Is it to maintain position, relieve stress on the solder joint, or are there other benefits?

The grill cloth is original, and reminds me of the original groove tube Soul O amp. Check this radio site, they may have something close to what you want:

http://www.grillecloth.com/

[M Fowler]

I think RadioDaze has that cloth.

[Sonny ReVerb]

The grill cloth is original, and reminds me of the original groove tube Soul O amp.

I knew I'd seen that type of cloth before. I found this reference in the Aspen Pittman "The Tube Amp Book":

The Soul-O cabs were available with an optional 1950s style painted swirl 'graffiti' design. I had made a custom amp for the NAMM show using some original 1950s grille cloth I got from an old cabinet shop; these grilles were also on some more interesting 1950s amps made by Danelectro. Well, I only had enough for a few amps and naturally we got dozens of orders... so I eventually figured out how to hand-paint these designs onto each grille... Thankfully, we discontinued graffiti grilles several years ago...

I don't see it offered by either of the radio sites. Maybe I could take a stab at DIY with a little paint

[M Fowler]

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

This site has 2 pages of radio grill cloth but not the same as pictured, sorry.

[dreric]

The grill cloth on the old Sano's and some student Magnatones was made at the factory rather than by the fabric maker. It's regular cloth laid flat with a thick (most likely oil based enamel) drizzled over it.

I restored a few Sano's and I've always thought that the grill cloth was stretched over the frame and then the paint drizzled. It would be easy to do with the liquid fabric paint they have for custom tee shirts etc.

Eric