CBS Fender output stage wiring.

[Mark]

I noticed that the wiring in the output stage of a CBS Fender Twin is significantly thicker than the wire in the preamp stage.

As shown the top of a lug on the octal socket mysteriously snapped and was randomly hitting the heaters.
Firstly, I’m amazed there is as much carbon on the socket as there is. The 1.5K and the 470 ohm resistors still measured good but were junked, as was the socket. As it turned out the hum balance pot was still good and the valve in the socket wasn’t destroyed. The wiring around socket was somewhat burnt and is being replaced.

I can’t but help think the 22ga wire is fine, though I have no idea why Fender would have used the heavier gauge, the only thing I can think of is the thicker wire has a better voltage spec.

Any thoughts?

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[Stevem]

Anything used in Fender amp construction during the silverface CBS era was purely because they use a lot of it and got a good price on it.

If it happened to be a upgrade it was purely coincidence!

Part of the oscillation problem these amps have is because the cut back on the labor involved in twisting the big wire bundle that runs up to the control panel.

This was now hard to do because of the thicker rainbow colored wire they where now using.

[Mark]

Thanks for your reply Steve, I appreciate your input. It seemed odd that Fender would have bought thicker wire instead of using the whole gauge throughout the amp.

I’m going to use the 22 gauge in this amp.

Again thanks for your assistance.