Grateful Dead Music Forum

???

Ive seen many types - with the master vol, "drip edge." But in general which is the best era of silverfaces and which should you steer clear from?

caspersvapors wrote:???

Ive seen many types - with the master vol, "drip edge." But in general which is the best era of silverfaces and which should you steer clear from?

I dont know but here is a handy guide in case you need it.

http://www.ampwares.com/

yeah I came across that site, and while it gives me a lot of technical info, it doesnt give any info on when the silverface circuit changes were made

Late 60's/early 70's. I think the first silverfaces still had blackface circuits. But it doesn't really matter since you should upgrade parts and do the mods anyway.

Jim

caspersvapors wrote: it doesnt give any info on when the silverface circuit changes were made

1968 I believe.

mijknahs wrote:Late 60's/early 70's. I think the first silverfaces still had blackface circuits. But it doesn't really matter since you should upgrade parts and do the mods anyway.

Jim

yeah but when exactly is early 70s? would 73/74 still be considered early 70s?

Tennessee Jedi wrote:

caspersvapors wrote: it doesnt give any info on when the silverface circuit changes were made

1968 I believe.

i dont mean from BF to SF. I mean once they were already SF. for example in the princeton reverb they used 3 different silverface circuits, but it doesnt say the time periods for each


sorry if im geting pedantic, im kinda new to a lot of this shit

caspersvapors wrote:"drip edge"

IMO, that is the best era.

Tennessee Jedi wrote:

caspersvapors wrote: it doesnt give any info on when the silverface circuit changes were made

1968 I believe.

Not entirely true. Finding exactly when is a bit of a mystery for most, myself included. Here is the basic info:
- Big amps, like the Twin, were changed first
- Small amps, like the Princeton, were changed last

As early as my 1968 for my DSR. However as late as 72 to my buddy's PR (IIRC).

I prefer the 68s for the Drip Edge and also with an easy removal of the suppression caps & resistors and a bit of lead-dress work (very easy 1 hour on the bench) it's the same as 1965.

Every year further from1966 there are more and more changes.

strummin summed up a very confusing period, in a very clear concise manner. Great job.

I have a 68 drip edge twin. Nice amp, I want nuts trying to date it though as far as circuit changes.

strumminsix wrote:

caspersvapors wrote:"drip edge"

IMO, that is the best era.

Tennessee Jedi wrote:

caspersvapors wrote: it doesnt give any info on when the silverface circuit changes were made

1968 I believe.

Not entirely true. Finding exactly when is a bit of a mystery for most, myself included. Here is the basic info:
- Big amps, like the Twin, were changed first
- Small amps, like the Princeton, were changed last

As early as my 1968 for my DSR. However as late as 72 to my buddy's PR (IIRC).

I prefer the 68s for the Drip Edge and also with an easy removal of the suppression caps & resistors and a bit of lead-dress work (very easy 1 hour on the bench) it's the same as 1965.

Every year further from1966 there are more and more changes.

was there inconsistency in the circuitry for each amp as well? Like meaning a 72 PR may or may not have BF internals, which would blur the lines in determining just when certain circuits went into constant use?

or just in consistent in the fact that each amp got the changes made at different times?


i hope that made sense

caspersvapors wrote: was there inconsistency in the circuitry for each amp as well? Like meaning a 72 PR may or may not have BF internals, which would blur the lines in determining just when certain circuits went into constant use?

or just in consistent in the fact that each amp got the changes made at different times?


i hope that made sense

A bit deeper than my knowledge but I'll try and this is based on years on Fender vintage forums so you know and also know new information comes out semi-regularly... The "CBS changes" were phased in starting with the Twins and ending Princetons. Goal was more clean headroom and faster amp build time. So there wasn't any inconsistency per say regarding specs but the wiring went down hill, corners cut, etc.

Those suppression caps and resistors were used for both more headroom (makes amps sound still as a side-result) and also to remove some swirly sounding parasitic oscillation caused by shitty lead dress. This was pure crap, IMO. They shouldn't have cut that corner.

However they repeated that mistake with the Twin RI's with shitty lead dress and P.O.

I didn't read the whole thread, but it's been my experience that anything from '74 or prior is a real good canidate and can be or serviced to be a nice workingman's amp. There are exceptions of course.

I have a 73 version, I love that thing, Louder than any of my friend's Mesa Stack with out breaking up too! (As long as I keep the Volume at 5.5 and the Master 10)

jeffm725 wrote:strummin summed up a very confusing period, in a very clear concise manner. Great job.

I have a 68 drip edge twin. Nice amp, I want nuts trying to date it though as far as circuit changes.

Thank you very much, Jeff!

It's a bit of a passion of mine. Played as many older Fenders as I could and sought lots of advice.

My Fenders:
1974 Bandmaster Reverb = great rock and roll, blues, R&B (2x12 closed back with Eminence Cannabis Rex)
1968 Dual Showman Reverb = loud and proud with tone for days and articulate note definition (2x12 Weber Neo + 1x15 Weber Neo)
1964 Vibroverb with Jensen C15N or is it the P15N = totally freakin' awesome amp. Delicious tone that is clear as a Twin but with this added sweetness that is to die for. It would be my #1 gigging amp if it wasn't as valuable as it is.

My latest addition is an 82 Rivera era Concert. Truth be told I can't give it a review yet. I've had it for 6 weeks with half being in the ship then the holidays and finally today my Jensen 10" neo's came in and I have them installed and so far so good. Goal with this amp is a nice bar amp.