My #102 Review

[lovetone]

Regarding the PIHER resistors does it make a difference if you use 1 Watt and not 0,5 watt?

In the signal positions a 0.5 watt will be fine with regards to the wattage required.

[sonicmojo]

Great job Tony! This entire thread has me breaking out some fine tuning mods on one of my amps and looking for that special NOS OT to maybe enhance things a little. I'm dying for a clip!

[talbany]

Max
Right now I am on the road with no access to my data base and typing this out on my iPhone which I hate or I would research this further by comparing date codes and examining some amps with spliced leads or any other possible clues that would provide us with a more accurate assessment of which amps might have used seasoned iron and which might have been unused iron. As Martian points out and if memory serves me 124 did indeed have spliced leads on both power and output. This to me would lead me to believe that has been used in another amp. Perhaps someone who has access to these pictures can verify this for me..I will also check out some other shots of SSS and ODSR's as well which i believe did have these spliced leads...Can you do the same..Thanks
Btw..another possible clue could be why HAD labled the Fender CTS pots only and the OPT on 124 to make sure these possibly used parts were still in tolerance... I know I would!!

Tony

[boldaslove6789]

From the ODSR and SSS pics I have I don't see spliced trafo leads. They look to be new iron when the amps were built.

[martin manning]

For the 124 amp the EIA codes are:
PT 606312
Choke 606725
OT 606404
So, a variety of production years represented there. The OT has a mixture of vinyl and cloth insulated leads, with what looks like at least one splice.

[Max]

From the ODSR and SSS pics I have I don't see spliced trafo leads. They look to be new iron when the amps were built.

Greg, indeed.

And, Tony, of course you'll find older date codes on brand new replacement parts:

AFAIK replacement parts aren't produced when needed but together with the others and then just wait on some shelf until ordered by a tech. So it's IMO no "proof" for this "used OT theory" that of course you'll find some date codes from even the mid and early seventies on the Twin or Bassman OTs in a late seveneties or early eighties Dumble ODS.

And what would be evidenced if the OT in #124 should really be one of the rare exceptions with perhaps indeed a used OT?

Cheers,

Max

[talbany]

From a common sense point of view
Back in the late 70's early 80's there were a bounty of Twins/ Showman's to be had for dirt cheap. One could only imagine how many of the 150/200.00 Fender deals HAD ran across especially in LA at the time being an amp tech. So my question is for a few more dollars why not buy that amp get both transformers choke, pots, jacks, switches ,tubes if they were still useable and anything else you pull from it. Although he is Howard I can make anything sound great Dumble right!!
This to me makes far better sense than going through a certified Fender dealer and pay a premium to get Fender transformers turn around and use Formica for a circuit board.. I don't see any real proof that he used new iron on every ODS yet!

Tony

[groovtubin]

From a common sense point of view
Back in the late 70's early 80's there were a bounty of Twins/ Showman's to be had for dirt cheap. One could only imagine how many of the 150/200.00 Fender deals HAD ran across especially in LA at the time being an amp tech. So my question is for a few more dollars why not buy that amp get both transformers choke, pots, jacks, switches ,tubes if they were still useable and anything else you pull from it. Although he is Howard I can make anything sound great Dumble right!!
This to me makes far better sense than going through a certified Fender dealer and pay a premium to get Fender transformers turn around and use Formica for a circuit board.. I don't see any real proof that he used new iron on every ODS yet!

Tony

Amen brother!

[Max]

This to me makes far better sense than going through a certified Fender dealer and pay a premium to get Fender transformers turn around and use Formica for a circuit board..

Tony, please understand, that I don't feel free to tell here who this tech was, who ordered these new Fender replacement transformers and then sold them to Alexander Dumble. So I admit, that because of my respect for confidentiality I can't prove, that my information concerning this topic is correct. So of course I respect your personal opinion, that my information, that Alexander Dumble usually just bought new Fender replacement transformers for most of his seventies and early eighties ODS amps from a tech, isn't trustworthy. And because of this I of course also respect, that you prefer the conclusions of your personal speculations concerning this topic.

The OT has a mixture of vinyl and cloth insulated leads, with what looks like at least one splice.

As I couldn't find a #124 picture with spliced OT cables: Could perhaps someone post such a #124 picture here?

Cheers,

Max

[ayan]

As I couldn't find a #124 picture with spliced OT cables: Could perhaps someone post such a #124 picture here?

Cheers,

Max

I think this would be one in which you can see what looks like a splice. Never would have thought my pictures would be eventually used for this kind of discussion, which I don't mind at all.

Gil

[Structo]

Isn't that wire from the Relay Power transformer?

It was probably too short to reach the power switch so he extended it.

Here is a wider shot.

[martin manning]

Here's a spliced OT primary lead with cloth insulation and a vinyl insulated OT primary lead.

[Max]

As I couldn't find a #124 picture with spliced OT cables: Could perhaps someone post such a #124 picture here?

Cheers,

Max

I think this would be one in which you can see what looks like a splice.

Hi Gil,

1.This isn't a picture of the #124 OT but of the PT!

2. I don't see spliced PT cables but only spliced relais transformer cables on this pictures. But of course I may be wrong. If you thinks so, please explain.

Cheers,

Max

[ayan]

Point already made by Martin on behalf of my original picture.

Gil

[boldaslove6789]

Regardless if HAD spliced some leads or not on the transformers that he used does not necessarily mean that some of the transformers weren't of "Used" or "Seasoned" condition.

I mean it makes sence, amps with brand new Iron can sound very unappealing and downright stiff. Throw some nicely aged trafo's on a newly built amp and it'll sound like it's been played for years. That squashy, fat, singing lead tone we all know and love comes out like butta....