Tube guitar amp. Fender Deluxe Reverb

If the noise you hear is a rustling/crackling sound, it has nothing to do with static. I suspect an anode load resistor in one of the early preamp stages has gone noisy. It's a common fault and easily recified - just replace the resistor.
 
^ This is exactly what it sounds like. That sound is always present, even without a guitar plugged in and the volume all the way down. It does get louder as I turn the volume up.


BC3D43F9-2650-4C04-A0F3-05E0C63ED1C7.png

Here’s another amp Dad has. My eldest son is using it at the moment. Supposed to be another decent amp from what I’ve read.
 
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You should try cleaning the sockets and then replace the 100k plate resistors. As previously mentioned when they start to break down they become noise generators. I like to replace them with metal film but the purists say to use carbon comp. This will also reduce the background hiss significantly.

Those Music Man amps are usually hydrids. SS in the front and power tubes in the output IIRC. VERY high plate voltages.
 
JohnT123 said:
You should try cleaning the sockets and then replace the 100k plate resistors. As previously mentioned when they start to break down they become noise generators. I like to replace them with metal film but the purists say to use carbon comp. This will also reduce the background hiss significantly.

Those Music Man amps are usually hydrids. SS in the front and power tubes in the output IIRC. VERY high plate voltages.
Click to expand...


Use good metal oxide resistors on the plates. Then, you'll never need to worry about replacing them, again. :)
 
That Music Man is a great amp. As you've no doubt already noticed, it's heavy like it's bolted to the floor. Beautiful clean tones, even when very loud. The Deluxe Reverb is one of the best sounding mid-power amps ever made, with more warmth and break up at reasonable volume than the MM.
 
Would an unmolested ‘64 Mustang convertible “work” to get a teenaged kid through drivers ed? Sure. Is it a good idea? No.

There’s no need to use a tube amp for acoustic guitar; even less need to use a very nice, somewhat valuable, possibly somewhat brittle, vintage tube amp. If your daughter gets to the point of public performance on acoustic guitar and needing some kind of amplification setup, it’s not going to be a problem to get her equipped with modern gear that will be reliable, lighter, and not terribly expensive.
 
It will work to some extent but higher volumes will cause feedback issues. Some acoustics will work better than others in terms of feedback rejection. This is usually a combination of the guitar and the guitars electronics. I know a guy that uses a deluxe reverb on stage with his acoustic and a pedal board, so it will work.
 
By the way, here is a link to Doug Hoffman’s guide to servicing vintage Fender amps: https://el34world.com/schematics.htm#Servicing fender amps

Note the discussion at the bottom of the first page about resistors - these are what several of the above comments are referring to.

Please be aware, if you’re not already, that amplifiers can have dangerous levels of electricity present even if they are switched off and unplugged from the wall. If you don’t know what you’re doing, educate yourself, or get someone more knowledgeable to help you or do the work for you.
 
playittwice said:
^ This is exactly what it sounds like. That sound is always present, even without a guitar plugged in and the volume all the way down. It does get louder as I turn the volume up.


View attachment 2080014

Here’s another amp Dad has. My eldest son is using it at the moment. Supposed to be another decent amp from what I’ve read.
Click to expand...

This a LOUD amp. Has even more cajones than a blackface Twin Reverb. JohnT123 is correct. You need heavy-duty old school EL34 tubes. Like original GEC/MOV KT-77. Their 6L6GC amps work best with 7581A mil spec or STR-415 tubes.
 
JonL said:
The Deluxe Reverb is one of the best sounding mid-power amps ever made, with more warmth and break up at reasonable volume than the MM.
Click to expand...

With an efficient speaker or through a cab, the DR can get pretty darn loud. I've resorted to going through a Princeton or Vibro-Champ, for home practice. You can get into that wonderful 6V6GT overdrive and harmonics, without driving everyone in the house crazy. And making the dogs howl outside. :)
 
In my limited understanding the Twin Reverb had way more cajones. Different versions were made, but the wimpiest was still 80 Watts or so. 2 x 12" speakers. A Twin Reverb can kill people, which is a big reason why the Deluxe is a way better amp. It's volume 'wheelhouse' is considerably less lethal. According to my understanding. Heck....of all the guitar amps I have seen in the various bands I have played in, the one I think is the overall winner was a Music Man 112RD. Size of a small suitcase. Two output tubes that can be swapped without biasing. Foot switch. Distort and reverb. Perfect. Guitarists often use amps which are unnecessarily big.

I'd keep them both if I did not need the money. I am a musician and a hoarder of gear. Those amps are unsuitable for bass, though they can be used at low volumes I suppose. For bass, get a bass amp. Lots of very good bass amp/speaker gear is readily available these days.
 
Superman541 said:
In my limited understanding the Twin Reverb had way more cajones.
Click to expand...

Agree about the TR versus the DR. But, I was comparing the MM 212-HD to the TR. The 212 is KILLER volume maker. Pure clean to ear bleeding levels (and I'm not exaggerating). The one I heard had JBL D120F speakers loaded in it. And it killed my TR, which has JBL K120 & 7581A tubes in it. :)

TRRI with JBL K120.jpg
 
These are very nice sounding amps...and very forgiving...
I have repaired alot of these and it bigger brother the Twin in the 80/90... most of them needed tube swaps, reverb tanks.
They have those "cardboard" mallory caps in the supply...almost never fail...but they can fail...

To your problem... It sounds to me that you done this amp right so far... Cleaning pots, Cleaning tube sockets etc... and now also probably resolderd the Power caps...That was really good advice from previous posts.

First of al... the circuit diagram
5i6kyCcS1zg_WM6nVWgn_V3GaI2_-kOUhPglGsxyTMgImRcnwqcoa2Bj9W-tucaRLg9uWjuFs5j_RXEfoizbkg7O4CjXJPVYwiZ-8QYtJwtWTWlGOzUf_VnV11pHSQ


The hum you might experience can be a few things, but most likely and inbalance between the two 6v6 tubes... This inbalance usaly means "Swap Tubes" and they beter be good new ones... go for JJ or Groove Tubes of Sylvania if can find them..They need to be a balanced set... meaning Same inside vacuum and Bias current

After replacing they need to balanced... since this is a Two tube pwer amp it is simpel.... adjust the Balance potention meter on chasis near the power tubes..
Before replacing the tubes....make sure your caps are empty...let them bleed and adjust the tube socket connection pins a bit tighter of that 6v6 tubes

The GZ34 is your rectifier... If you change the power tubes... why not change the the Rectifier... so do it...same goes for the phase splitter... 12AT7 near the 6v6...
done all that?
Now your power amp and supply is trusted....

You also might want to clean theinputs sincethey have switching jacks witch can foul up as easy as a potentiometer...

Al this should take care of the humm..If not, send me PB...

You might want to concider buying a fresh set of tubes al the way... will cost a few bucks but never underestimate the georgious sound a new tubes set gives....
 
Again, what I’m experiencing is static/crackling/ rustling, as noted above, NOT hum. There is no hum. It is there right after power up, with or without guitar plugged in.
 
Again... start checking/replacing your Tubes... GZ34 6v6 12At7... resolder joints on those big caps and reset the Tube socket tension..

You even might want to kill the light (yes make it dark) and see if you see small lighting in your tubes of at the sockets...
 
Ok will do. I just wanted to reiterate it’s not a hum issue, maybe it doesn’t matter for this diagnosis, but wanted to mention that.

Thanks
 
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