Opinions needed for Fender amp purchase

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 10 Jul 2006 12:39 pm

Hi folks,
I'd like to get an idea if this sounds like a fair buy: a 1974 Fender Pro Reverb amp (like a small Twin Reverb) that needs to be retubed and biased (it currently has worn-out EL34 power tubes in it) for $500. I've not played one of these before: I would really like a Deluxe Reverb, and a Twin Reverb is over-kill for me, but maybe a Pro Reverb will work (bigger than a Deluxe, but smaller than a Twin

). Any thoughts on the price considering the need for a retube and bias? Any thoughts on these amps in general? I would be using it for my Strat and also for steel guitar (I've got an Evans FET500 for a loud steel amp). Any thing I should be concerned about if it's been set-up with EL34's? Can this mess anything up? Any thing you can offer on this will really help!

Thanks,
Cliff[This message was edited by Cliff Kane on 10 July 2006 at 01:41 PM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 10 Jul 2006 2:02 pm

Don't know anything about having EL34s in that amp. It was designed for two 6L6GC power tubes, and so is about half the power of a Twin of the same vintage. I have a silver face Pro Reverb from the late 70s with the standard 6L6GCs. I put a 4 ohm JBL D130F in it and it sounds beautiful for steel. With the 15 it is like a sliver face (cleaner) version Stevie Ray Vaughn's Vibroverb. It is also a great amp with the stock 2x12. It would also make a great amp for clean Tele. It basically sounds exactly like a Twin of the same vintage, but with less power (mine is rated at about 70 watts). The reverb is fantastic vintage Fender spring reverb. You do save a little weight over a Twin. Mine weighs about 60 lbs. with 1x15 and about 65 lbs. with 2x12. But you don't save as much weight as you might expect. A Twin of the same vintage and speaker configuration will weigh about 10 lbs. more.

I use mine mostly for moderate volumes for band practices at home in my basement. For pedal steel it is not quite loud enough for loud gigs, but I have used it when I knew the amps would be miked. It is a great studio amp for steel.

Anything less the $600 for these is pretty good these days. $500 is about right, considering the work that will have to be done to convert it back to stock 6L6GC. They often sell for more than Twins, because regular guitars can get up in that sweet top volume range at good club stage volume. Like a Twin they have tons of lush lows and sparkling highs. A Pro has much more power in the lows than a Deluxe.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 10 July 2006 at 03:05 PM.]

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 10 Jul 2006 3:26 pm

There is no telling what else is wrong with
it. You could have more money in it than
u can buy one already working.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 10 Jul 2006 4:58 pm

If someone put EL34's in it, they were probably trying to "Marshall-ize" it, which means they probably abused it pretty badly. It's possible that the power transformer could be on its last legs. Frankly, unless you're willing to just roll the dice, I'd avoid it.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 10 Jul 2006 8:40 pm

IMO - in general, $500 is a pretty good price for a 74 SF Pro Reverb in good condition. There's no intrinsic problem with running EL-34 tubes in Fender amps if they are properly set up and biased. I much prefer 6L6 tubes in any old Fender like this. Honestly, most any older amp I see needs a general going over - this often means at least power tubes and filter capacitors. But these are solidly built, point-to-point handwired amps - a comparable new amp usually sells for 2-4 times this. SF Fender amps have gone up dramatically in the last several years, and rightly so, IMO. They were the biggest bargain in amps for a long time.

That said, you should look over the amp carefully. Look for non-original equipment like replaced transformers, speakers, grill cloth, and so on - they reduce the value of the amp. Look for a lot of rust on the transformers - not good and a sign it was not taken care of well. Plug your guitar and steel in and crank it up - see what it sounds like. Look for rattling, cutting out, and ratty distortion sounds. But if it sounds clean and strong, there's nothing in these that can't be fixed. If you can have a service tech look at it before you buy, so much the better. But if it's all there and clean, this sounds like a good deal.

As to whether this is a good steel guitar amp, that's a matter of taste. These are nothing like a typical steel amp - unless you're playing in a fairly quiet band, this won't get up over the band cleanly. But it might be nice for dual guitar/steel duty in a band where you don't need a lot of stage volume. As always, my opinions and YMMV.

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 10 Jul 2006 8:47 pm

Thank you for all of the good advice. It sounds like it's worth at least checking out. Dave, thanks for all of those specifics, that really helps a lot.

Cliff[This message was edited by Cliff Kane on 10 July 2006 at 09:48 PM.]

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 10 Jul 2006 9:10 pm

Actually, converting a 2X6L6 Fender to run EL-34's is common. And once the conversion is done (properly) you can switch back to 6L6's with just a rebias. EL-34's will break up a bit earlier than 6L6''s and they aren't quite as flabby in the bottom when you push them. Danny Gatton had many of his amps converted to EL-34's. I run 2 Vibrolux Reverbs with '34's and one of my Super Reverb's runs '34's. That Super Reverb is a KILLER studio amp.
And, that $500 price is a great deal.
-andy-

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 12 Jul 2006 9:49 am

$500 is a nice deal on a 70's Pro... If you don't buy it, tell me where I can.. I'll be all over it at that price... bob

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 12 Jul 2006 10:55 am

I can't imagine anything being more practical than a Fender Twin~Reverb for an All-Tube Amplifier!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment
[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 12 July 2006 at 11:56 AM.]

Cliff Kane · Post by **Cliff Kane** » 12 Jul 2006 11:07 am

Folks, thanks again for the great info. It turns out that there are some problems, although not huge problems, with it. One of the power tubes is glowing cherry red, and it's not the tube.....I know the culprit is probably a bad resistor or tube socket. Also it's been modded with a USA/European voltage selector switch. Not a bad thing, but who knows what else. I figure that with the tech work to fix the problem with the tube glowing, plus tubes, etc., the amp's going to end up costing more than I really want to spend on it. The seller says that Red Rhodes did the work to convert it to EL34's, but nontheless I think I'm going to pass because I can't really test the amp and it's going to cost a lot to make right. Bob, if you want info on it, please send me an email.

Thanks again!
Cliff