Would you REMOVE GOOD working filter caps on 1950s Fenders?

[Toppscore]

Question. I just received my 1954 5D6 4x10 Bassman out of the shop.
A couple of filter caps went bad.

The pro amp repair replaced all six with Sprague Atoms.
I asked him if all six needed replacing as my forum friends
all tend to claim only replace what is needed.
He responded it was all six or nothing as he did not want to do a "half" job.
These filter caps are nearly 60 years old and the set worked until Feb/2013.
He always returns the originals.

My thinking is that removing the two bad filter caps and removing
the four working caps does have positives ~ I'll not have to keep
checking and worrying about the old four caps failing.

But, FOUR ORIGINAL working filter capacitors WERE REMOVED!!!
What do you think?

Is your commitment towards replacing failed components
and leave working components, even if they are past their "prime"???

Would you remove all six filter caps if only two failed and four still performed?
Or, would you leave the four working caps installed?


Thanks ahead of time. Toppscore

BTW, the Bassman's sound/tone/volume is the best ever
I wanna AB it against a Holy Grail #2 ~ 1959 5F6A Bassmans



.

[cbass]

Depends on what you want a reliable amp you can play or a Museum peice to sit around and look at.

I would replace them all.

[billyz]

I would definitely replace all the power supply electrolytics as well as the Bias supply electrolytic. All others would be as needed. I would try to save every coupling/ tone cap as they are almost always good and there in lies a lot of the amp mojo. Usually the preamp tube cathode bypass electros are good too and I leave em be if they are good.

[Toppscore]

Depends on what you want a reliable amp you can play or a Museum peice to sit around and look at.
I would replace them all.

No dust collector. This is a player Fender.
Guess the amp tech's decision is best.
Thanks. I have a great amp tech, but he's Silicon Valley's
highest priced, but has a great reputation.

[Toppscore]

I would definitely replace all the power supply electrolytics as well as the Bias supply electrolytic. All others would be as needed. I would try to save every coupling/ tone cap as they are almost always good and there in lies a lot of the amp mojo. Usually the preamp tube cathode bypass electros are good too and I leave em be if they are good.

Guessing nothing else needs to be replaced until
the new Sprague Atoms wear out in the year 2040

Thanks, BillyZ.
Gotta stop by your Texas location

[mr_hankey]

If you're gonna be playing it, replace all the electrolytics! Besides reliability, it will improve the sound too.

[Toppscore]

If you're gonna be playing it, replace all the electrolytics! Besides reliability, it will improve the sound too.

Mr Hankey ~ definitely your are soooooooo right!

Sound/Tone/Volume/Responsiveness all improved.

Also, seems the 5D6 Presense control is so much more effective. Wow!

Thanks again.

[boots]

Definitely replacing the caps was the right thing to do - you want it to work right so you can use it and enjoy it!

But definitely keep the old caps in case you ever want to sell it for the collector's value.

[Zippy]

I have a great amp tech, but he's Silicon Valley's
highest priced, but has a great reputation.

Who's that?

[Toppscore]

I have a great amp tech, but he's Silicon Valley's
highest priced, but has a great reputation.

Who's that?

Hi, Zippy. I recommend Val King of King Amplification.
He has worked on eleven of my amps.
King Amp is down in the Silicon Valley near the San Jose Airport.
Good retail shop as well. Straight forward guy. Makes boutique amps.
Good results. Checks out more circuits and component values
than originally asked for during the initial consultation.
Returns all of the original parts in neat, clean packages.


Zippy. Are you ABOVE SoCal in NorCal?
Toppscore




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[Allynmey]

Replace them all!!!! Save them in a bag in case some corksniffer wants to buy it later.

[jjman]

If he replaced only the "bad" ones and another blew out later, and blew your OP tranny, you would be asking us if he should have insisted on changing all of them. He did the right thing.

[mr_hankey]

Replace them all!!!! Save them in a bag in case some corksniffer wants to buy it later.

Speaking of corksniffing, I love the smell of my old Astron minimites!

[rp]

If this was your main amp, it's gonna sound constipated at first, and so much punchier and dynamic that it might throw you as you were likely very comfortable with old softer sound and feel. Let the caps break in, the constipated will pass and you'll forget about the old soft sound and groove on the new liveliness.

[Reeltarded]

Replace them all!!!! Save them in a bag in case some corksniffer wants to buy it later.

Never mind.. heh