DRRI rebuild

[Smokebreak]

A buddy wants me to to put in a hand wired AB763 in his reissue, utilizing the trannies. Seems pretty straightforward. Anyone ever done this? Any pitfalls?

Thanks, Jeremy

[mhartman]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231220398918

This might help.

[Phil_S]

You really should read this. Mikey, who did the job is here in Baltimore!
Interesting discussion on the choice of replacement iron.
http://waynereno.com/Deluxe_Reverb.html

[xtian]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231220398918

This might help.

Wow! A $1600, drop-in replacement!

Oh, you mean the photos? Sure, those are helpful, too.

[tele_player]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231220398918

This might help.

Wow! A $1600, drop-in replacement!

Oh, you mean the photos? Sure, those are helpful, too.

Considering it starts with a new $1000 amp, $600 for Allesandro's parts and labor doesn't seem bad. Unfortunately, I don't like the quality of the current Fender cabinet, Tolex, chassis.

-robert

[mhartman]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231220398918

This might help.

Wow! A $1600, drop-in replacement!

Oh, you mean the photos? Sure, those are helpful, too.

Considering it starts with a new $1000 amp, $600 for Allesandro's parts and labor doesn't seem bad. Unfortunately, I don't like the quality of the current Fender cabinet, Tolex, chassis.

-robert

$1600 is more than I paid for my '67 Deluxe Reverb just a few years ago. The pictures are nice though.

[Smokebreak]

Thanks guys. I'm wondering if those of you who have a lot of experience with these have any insight along the lines of "the stock filter caps are awful" or "don't use the stock bias pot"...I'll be looking to use as much pre-existing stuff as I can, to keep cost down.

[Phil_S]

Save yourself some grief and time. Get a proper layout turret board. Salvage what you can and put it on the board. For the rest, you don't need the best of everything. Just don't go real cheap. Those transformers are just so-so, meaning you won't overcome their limitations by using high end caps. Plan on spending about $150. For that you should be able to get everything you can't salvage. Good luck with it.

[Smokebreak]

Save yourself some grief and time. Get a proper layout turret board. Salvage what you can and put it on the board. For the rest, you don't need the best of everything. Just don't go real cheap. Those transformers are just so-so, meaning you won't overcome their limitations by using high end caps. Plan on spending about $150. For that you should be able to get everything you can't salvage. Good luck with it.

Good advice. I'm definitely getting a prefab board. I see Watts offers them with eyelets, my fave.

[tele_player]

Save yourself some grief and time. Get a proper layout turret board. Salvage what you can and put it on the board. For the rest, you don't need the best of everything. Just don't go real cheap. Those transformers are just so-so, meaning you won't overcome their limitations by using high end caps. Plan on spending about $150. For that you should be able to get everything you can't salvage. Good luck with it.

Good advice. I'm definitely getting a prefab board. I see Watts offers them with eyelets, my fave.

I doubt you'll find much on the board which can be used in a rebuild, and the parts on the board don't cost much anyway.

I don't think this it's worth doing on the cheap, it's a lot of work, for little or no return.

I'd replace all but the chassis, faceplate and trannies.

I gutted a silverface Super Reverb once. It's a big job. I reused the pots, they're still good.

Robert

[Reeltarded]

1600 is about the price of a really good original one right now if you can find a buyer

Catch a falling hammer.

[Smokebreak]

I don't think this it's worth doing on the cheap, it's a lot of work, for little or no return.

I'd replace all but the chassis, faceplate and trannies.

And this is a good point. The only improvement in sound is going to come from selection of components, as, at a glance, the RI circuit seems to be identical to AB763. I just always assumed they had changed it a bit.

I was planning on using 6PS caps and carbon film, but maybe I'll go all carbon comps. If I wanted to do something a little special with the caps, what would you guys do? I think the Ajax blues are out of the question/budget.

Is there a "cap guy" like Gregg Levy is to tubes?

[Firestorm]

1600 is about the price of a really good original one right now if you can find a buyer

Catch a falling hammer.

That's depressing. These used to be Desert Island amps: you could get more for a 65 DR than a 65 Twin. Like $2500 and up.

[tubeswell]

I recently priced parts for a h.w. rewiring of a DRRI leaving the trannies, tube sockets and tubes, fuse holder, lamp holder, but replacing the pots, jacks and the guts - US$300 in parts. Then there's the labour

[Leo_Gnardo]

If I wanted to do something a little special with the caps, what would you guys do?

Mallory 150 film caps, decidedly unfancy. Get fancy on the treble caps, silver mica 250 pF, the pair will cost you less than a cup of Starbucks swill. Clear straightforward tone on the cheap. Works for me.