Dr. Frankenstein emerged out of his "Hole" ,

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 4 Apr 2004 6:57 am

called his work shop with my 18 year old son's '63 B/F Deluxe Reverb, and with an evil little smirk on his face, said "Kid, go git your Tele and plug into this creature now, I think you will be quite pleased with my latest creation!!!" as he wrung his dirty wrinkled "electronic fixing" hands in anticipation to our forth coming reactions. Dr. Frankenstein is really Jim Roluti from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and he started his career in tube electronics in the very early 1960's. He has hotrodded tube amps from the git-go. Anyways, one day he asked me if I was interested in a Deluxe Reverb that he knew was just a sleeper---stached in somebody's shed. He said it's rough, but I can bring it back to life. I figure the $275 for it would be worth the chance, so I said go get it. When he called me to tell me he had acquired it, he said this thing is really rough---when he tried to opened up the chassis, it was stuck. The problem was the chassis was LOADED with dirt dabbers and spiders! The original 12' jensen was so dry and brittle--it would need a recone job. SOOO long story shorter, when Jim finally called us and told us it was ready, the amp looks nearly new with the original tolex. The grill cloth it replaced with new(the original cloth is stored), the baffle had to be replaced for the EV 12L to fit with the "big" transformer that has been installed.(he built a bracket for the new transformer in order to not alter the chassis). This amp is recapped and reconfigured---it now has a mid control. So this amp is hotrodded to 100 watts now, packing 6L6 Grove Tubes, And the EV 12L--WOW what tone!!(Thanx to Ken Fox on his encouragement to use the EV 12L--your right, we are NOT disappointed!!) Incredible Tele Punch!! It now weighs 60 lbs. My son loves this amp so much that he handcuffs himself to it like a high security government briefcase and sleeps with it!! My son and I play in the same traditional country band, and my pleasure comes every time he takes a lead ride, and the look on his face of pure tonal enjoyment (tone stoned???). This is truly the finest Tele amp I've heard yet!!!Anyways, ALL the original parts to this amp are safely stored, incase we want to recone the Jensen and put it back to factory.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 4 Apr 2004 10:49 am

I would like to take that one for a test ride! Sounds like a winner. A Deluxe or Deluxe Reverb with an efficient speaker is a little monster! I use a 1966 Deluxe with a D-120F JBL (older grayframde Fender/JBL). I use a Webber Copper cap tube rectifier, NOS RCA 6V6GT tubes and NOS RCA preamp tubes. This amp is a sleeper as well. I can keep up with a Super and most Twins pretty easy.
I just put together a Custom Shop Dual Professional from parts I bought here and there. I was going for the "clone" of the EVM12L speaker. It is the Delta-Pro12A by Eminence. Got two in, but they were 12.5 inches wide and would not fit in the amp! I have three monitors I built with EV Force 12 speakers, custom crossovers and 100 watt Emilar drivers (had to use 100 watt L-Pad on the drivers, they were way too efficient for monitors). I took two of the EV Force twelves and put in the Dual and loaded the Delta Pros back in the monitors. Killer tone! I may pull the Delta Pro speakers out in the future for a Twin.
I am curious, did your tech go with 4-6L6GC tubes and a new OT as well as a new power transformer!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 4 Apr 2004 6:20 pm

No Ken, This deluxe still only has two 6L6's. I am not good with electronics to explain what he did to this amp, but we sure can see the difference!! He didn't do anything to permanantly alter the amp. He can put it back to original WITH the original parts if my son should decide he wants to sell it.>>>> What differences do you see between the EV 12L's and the JBL D 120F's?

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 4 Apr 2004 8:41 pm

I don't see how only 2 6l6s will get you 100 watts. Better do some checking.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 4 Apr 2004 9:21 pm

I find the EV produce lows better, moves a lot more air. It is not a shallow basket like the JBL, allowing it to move further and produce low notes. The EVM12-L and EVM15-L are actually listed as woofers, if I am not mistaken. To my ear they are warmer than a JBL. I have a friend with a 1967 Fender Twin and EVM-12L speakers. It had a terrific tone with his double neck Sierra.
I agree with Bill, a 6L6GC is a 30 watt max per tube. You have an amp now with the power of a Super Reverb, Vibroverb or Pro reverb. Still, that's a lot of power from that amp! Sounds like he put in a bigger output transformer, too.
[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 04 April 2004 at 10:23 PM.][This message was edited by Ken Fox on 04 April 2004 at 10:26 PM.]

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Apr 2004 5:04 am

It's easy Bill, 30 watts X 30 watts= 90 watts!! (Just kidding!!) My amp guy has his ways. I will ask him why he feels it's pushing 100 watt's. It may be able to push close to that, but you sure don't want to run it that hard steady. I do know this little bugger is extremly efficient. He installed a much bigger output transformer, big enough to have to rebaffle to fit the speaker in.>>> Ken, sounds like you like the EV's a little better? I have a pair of EVM 12L's in my Super Twin---Great tone!! I have not tried the D 120's yet--I have a trade cooking that involves a pair of JBL's---so should be able to AB those speakers soon. soon.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 5 Apr 2004 6:41 am

I did a "quickie" conversion on my old '65
Deluxe Reverb. Just went with some diodes
instead of the tube rectifier and 2 Tung Sol 5881 tubes (resetting the bias to accomdate them). Man...what a difference! I didn't
bother swapping the output transformer, but
I've got one from an old early 60's Bandmaster
that I could put in there. Only thing is
that's really for a 4 ohm load.

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Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 5 Apr 2004 5:44 pm

I like the JBL's for guitar, but am impressed with the fullness of the EV speakers. I am hoping to find an EVM15L that is blown, have it reconed to 4 ohms and put it in a Twin Reverb. The experiment never ends!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 5 Apr 2004 6:41 pm

I have a EVM 15L in each of my Webb amps.
Terrific speakers for sure.

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 5 Apr 2004 8:08 pm

Having never used one yet (the EVM15L), I was guessing they were pretty good because of the sound I heard from the EVM12L. That's good to hear, Jay! I hope I can find one to re-cone to 4 ohms. I am not usre if they ever came in a 4 ohm version.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 5 Apr 2004 8:08 pm

Ken, I have a '71 twin with a reconed EVM 15L that is 4 ohmes. It's killer!!

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 5 Apr 2004 8:32 pm

If you hear of one for sale, let me know! I can't wait to get this one going.

Should be like your Deluxe Reverb, on steroids!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 6 Apr 2004 6:52 am

Ken, Try Freeman Tule Speaker Service in Dallas, occasionally they will have one one the shelf. (214)-324-1132

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 Apr 2004 5:34 am

Bill, I did some checking. My amp tech says that this amp is pushing over 500 volts, above the 300 volts normal for this amp, and he brought the ohmage way up as well. He also says that the tubes are actually rated at 18.5 watts up to 30 watts. This is really representing the tubes "comfort zone". They can be "pushed" further. Also, I didn't state which system of wattage whether RMS or other means of measurement, as you never asked either, Bill. I'm satisfied that my amp tech knows his stuff and if he says this amp is hottroded up to 100 watts, what ever method of measuring, that's good enough for me. My point is this is a great little amp with a HUGE TELE ATTITUDE. Sorry if there is a misunderstanding. You may e-mail me privately and I will give you his shop # if you want to crunch numbers with him. He is willing to certify the wattage for me if I'm willing to pay the labor for him to do it. His word is good enough for me. Hope this explains. I just playem', he makes 'em!!