Fender PA135 on the way, how would you rebuild it?

[mhartman]

I picked up a Fender PA135 on ebay the other day (it was too cheap to pass up). It works, but I really don't have a use for a PA or a twin/showman reverb (I've got my Fender amp needs covered). I'm thinking about gutting it and rebuilding it dumble style. If it were yours, what dumble platform would you base it on and what options would you include (being a PA, it has a ton of room for jacks, knobs and switches)?

Would you go with ultralinear operation in the power amp or convert it to push/pull?

I'm in the brainstorming stage right now, so any ideas are welcome.

[IMG388]http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk12 ... 5Panel.jpg[/img]

It has 6 12ax7/12at7 tubes and 4 6L6s

[boldaslove6789]

How about both an HRM and NON-HRM amp (2 seperate OD's) Skyliner Stack, built in 2 tube Verb or Dumbleator. Put the HRM TMB & Verb controls on regular pots on the front. That's 1 ax7 for Clean, 2 for OD, 2 for Verb (or 1 for D-lator), and one for PI (6 total Ax7's)

How many preamp tube holes are there? Should be enough for all that right?

[mhartman]

That's a cool idea. I wonder if it would be possible to use the ODs separatly or stacked on top of each other for an additional boost?

It has 6 preamp tubes, so it would probably work.

It already has reverb, so I would probably just go with reverb instead of a built in d'lator (I really only use a loop for reverb anyway).

[FUCHSAUDIO]

You can always do something like this...tons of room in there too. Lots of options.

[mhartman]

You can always do something like this...tons of room in there too. Lots of options.

That looks pretty awesome Andy. That pic definitely gives me some ideas. If you don't mind me asking, do you stick with the ultralinear power section, or do you go push-pull?

Thanks,
Mike

[FUCHSAUDIO]

I usually add a choke (if one is not present), and convert to normal style screen supply. New filter caps, the 100's have chokes, the 135's usually not. Bridge rectify the bias (why not ?), I add a little transformer to run the relays with a regulator IC. With all the sockets and room, a loop, a very cool multi-tube reverb can easily be done.

I do half power and triode pentode switches, so you can have 100-two kinds of 50, and 25 watts. Love the platform, so much room !

[amplifiednation]

I usually add a choke (if one is not present), and convert to normal style screen supply. New filter caps, the 100's have chokes, the 135's usually not. Bridge rectify the bias (why not ?), I add a little transformer to run the relays with a regulator IC. With all the sockets and room, a loop, a very cool multi-tube reverb can easily be done.

I do half power and triode pentode switches, so you can have 100-two kinds of 50, and 25 watts. Love the platform, so much room !

I'm surprised there is any PA's left that you haven't got to!!

[echuta13]

I just picked up a PA 100 the other day too. Still trying to figure out where I'd like to take it.

[amplifiednation]

I would go with Andy's advice, I know he has some very happy customers with the PA conversions

[FUCHSAUDIO]

I'm surprised there is any PA's left that you haven't got to!!

It's a sleeper but like any of the better mod platforms, I end up chasing my own tail. People start realizing that, and then prices go up. It's Twin iron in a great big chassis. Not everyone likes the size, but it's got the room for almost anything in there. If you had to buy the iron and a chassis, it's pretty close to these prices, but not vintage iron.

I would bet you could do Hrm, Non HRM, separate dedicated clean, I did one with a Marshall and Dumble front end ! It all depends on how much you want to drill, punch and wire.

Not sure how many Fender made, but they seem to keep popping up and usually reasonable. Bassman-100 and Super Bassmans are good too. Twin sized, just need more 9-pin holes added.

[M Fowler]

I'm cleaning up a Bassman 100 as we speak. It's going back on duty for bass guitar, no mods.

Mark

[echuta13]

Well I figured minimum that I would blackface the PI, bias section, and make channel one more akin to a twin (heh). I like the idea of having one channel mostly stock for a bass guitar/clean guitar sound. Rest is fair game though (3 triode's to play with I think). One of the few times I've been a bit undecided on what to do.

Maybe add an overdrive channel, or tweed channel, add presence control, or maybe a pentode preamp? Probably need to make up a new thread for this in general forum unless I aim towards a something more down the Dumble realm.

[mhartman]

I'm torn, do I go for a ODS style amp, or do I go for a 135W Ultralinear Clean King type amp. Hmmm.

There is so much room in this chassis, I'm wondering if I should build it out with separate boards for preamp, reverb, pi and power so I can change out sections easily to experiment?

Andy is right, it is a nice, big chassis to work in -- lots of options.