Fender Hot Rod Deluxe PTP Tweed Rebuild
In a previous blog entry, I chronicled the modifications I've done to my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Well, it's been a long time since then, and not being satisfied with just modifying an existing design, I went to the next level and did the ultimate Hot Rod Deluxe mod.
Take a look...
"Okay, that's cool...but why?"
Let's face it...the Hot Rod and Blues Series amps aren't built like amps were back in the day. But, how could they be while remaining affordable? All debates aside, the Fender Hot Rod and Blues series of amps are popular and, unfortunately, not engineered as well as they could have been. The PCBs burn, the traces corrode, and as a result, they just stop working right or straight-up die. It's not that infrequent; this is from a Blues Deluxe:
Anyway, mine was on the way out, as the PCB just wouldn't handle another repair. Now I had some choices...I fix it up to sell it, and hope to get a decent price out of it to put into a new amp, or buy and build a kit.
I also looked around to see if there were any Hot Rod Deluxe PTP (point-to-point wiring; like the classic amps were built) kits of any kind, and aside from a couple of shops offering rebuild services (at prices that aren't reasonable considering the amp it's going in, IMO), there wasn't anything out there.
Never one to give in, I pursued the idea to try and re-use everything possible this amp still had and make my own 'kit'. After all, the part that failed is the not-so-sturdy circuit board. So what about the transformers, pilot light, switches, tubes, and everything else in there? They have to be worth something...and they are. It took a couple of prototypes, but I ended up with a Hot Rod Deluxe PTP, or point-to-point (technically it's "hand-wired"), Tweed-era clone amp for a fraction of the cost of a kit. The Fender Tweed Pro (5E5A) kits, that this rebuild is based on, goes for over $600, for example. I ended up doing this for about $200 or so in parts alone. And those are high quality and upgraded parts with a custom control faceplate.
How did I do this? Click 'more' to read on.
MORE...
First, I start by disassembling the amp. This includes clipping all transformer leads and reverb cables. Once it's disassembled, there's no going back! It's actually a good feeling.
Now that the amp is broken down to it's components, I get to work on the chassis modification.
I also fabricate my circuit board at this time. I use 1/8 inch G10 Garolite and turrets. The mounting holes are designed around the chassis and I re-use the mounting spacers that held up the original circuit:
I prefer turrets, because wiring the jumpers around the base of the turrets keeps everything on top for visibility, maintenance and troubleshooting:
The circuitry is built out:
The circuit is wired into the chassis with the rest of the tube sockets, control pots, transformers, etc.:
The filament heaters were wired prior to the circuit board installation:
Eventually, everything gets finished:
Finally time for testing, and installation of the faceplate I designed:
Interested in having this done to your Hot Rod or Blues Deluxe? Drop me a line! tj@tjadamowicz.com
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