Checking out a BF bassman - now w/ photos!

[blacktiger]

let's see a close-up pic of those caps to read the manufacture date... or... let's take this outside!!!  i'll see you behind the cafeteria at 12. *crunch crunch*

Pat.

Simmer down now, I 'll take your word for it.  I'm used to brownfaces, which usually just have the orange caps.

[luau]

I'd replace them and save the originals.

+1

That might help a bit with your headroom problems a little too. When I did my Champ it went from sloppy and loose to nice and tight. It probably still breaks up at about the same place, but it's not so ragged.

[oakst8]

dropped it off with the tech this weekend after two successful days of recording. he's going to open it up and get back to  me. at a minimum i think we'll replace caps and tubes.

i get the sense he's going to recommend a mod to go from ab165 to something closer to aa864. i like the tone as is, but depending on the cost, i may be tempted given the near-unanimous preference for aa864 in the online world. sounds like it's a reversible mod for whatever that's worth.

also of some interest is that the tech implied that cap replacement, while probably a good idea at this point, isn't the ticking bomb that some think it is. he said that a damaged cap would start making noise and render the amp unplayable long before it damaged any other parts. i have no opinion on this point, but thought it was interesting.

[oakst8]

now that's a post. thanks for the guidance...i will most certainly heed your advice.

interestingly, i may have the original power tubes at home. the tubes in the amp are replacement mesa svetlanas of an unknown age.  the seller gave me the box the mesa's came in with two older tubes in there. i don't recall seeing "RCA" but i do recall the label being some american company (i'm presently at work and can't check).

i mentioned this to my tech and he actually suggested that i could get a load of cash for the old ones on ebay. he also offered to test them for me. of course, i'd rather keep them if they're good...

no idea about the preamp tubes, but i'll make sure the tech knows that i'd like all parts back.

[stevejamsecono]

That's a wonderful looking old girl you've got there, I love the bigass 2x12 cabs, the resonance they seem to have makes you not miss reverb. So nice

I almost bought a very similar amp myself, but ended up getting a better deal on a 70s one with a 2x15, also tasty, but i wouldn't mind both

-Steve