Fender Deville Moding!

[dnic]

Really cool that you're getting into amp repair since you don't have the wood shop any longer. I feel the same way about amps as I do about winding pick ups. I don't need to get really good at another thing. Not to sound egotistical but I am all ready really good at quite a few things and not wanting to put the energy into another. I know that still sounds egotistical but I don't know another way to say it. Anyway guys like John who have put years into figuring out how to get the best results at winding pups. He does a great job so why reinvent the wheel. Now it sounds like I'm putting you down for branching out but I'm not at all. You can't build guitars anymore and you like to stay busy. I get it and I think it's cool. Never stop learning.

Also cool that we can upload pics again.

[Deleted]

I got in to amp repair because the 2 guys up here (where I live) are so undependable. Even the 3 music stores up here have quit using them. So that means they go to Phoenix to get amp work done. That is like 2 to 2 1/2 hrs away from us.

One of those guys likes to pick up an amp, then he goes off the grid, won't return phone calls and will keep your stuff for months, and half the time he charges you for work he did not do,

So, just like guitars, and since I can't build guitars anymore, out of a need, I decided to at least learn how to do some things on tube amps. Mostly for myself. So I started buying or trading for tube amps that needed some work done to them. The Deville and the blues Deluxe were the deepest I had gone into amps. Most of the time I have bought Peavey Classics and Delta Blues amps. But the last 4 or 5 amps have been Fender.

I always wanted to be a surgeon, so I guess this is the closet thing I can do that is like a surgeon. HA! But the nice thing about working on amps is I can work on them as I can, and inside my cool house.

I still work on guitars, people are always bringing me guitars that need work. Just did an old bass that had never had any work done to it for a long, long time. Did 4 acoustics and a Ukulele, with in the last 2 weeks. I have another acoustic that just came in. So I am still dealing with guitars.

I have built a pretty good rep here in my town, if I advertise I would get more, but It's a hobby, and it supports its self, so that's good.

So up to date I have fix like 10 tube amps and one solid state. Out of the 11 amps I have kept 3 for me. I have sold or traded the others off. I have 2 right now on CL for sale or trade.

So everything I do with guitars and amp is only a hobby for me. It's better than doing nothing. And like guitars if I can save an amp or two and learned something along the way, it was worth it to me.

I can remember when I first got started in making guitars and how many told me or asked me why? Why do that when you can buy them? Will, since that time I learned a lot about what make a guitar tick. I not have my custom built guitars all over the USA. I miss building guitars a lot. I still have the Night Hawk To finish up on someday. I also have a cigar box bass I want to build as well, I have all the parts now, now I just need to get started on it.

But the amps like I said is something I can do in my house in the cool and not my hot shed. And as long as I do them for myself I can work on them as I can. I have already had people ask me to work on their amps, But so far I keep turning them away. I don't have all the equipment I need to work on them all. I really don't plan on getting the equipment. So I am picky about what amps I work on. If it's something I think I can work on, I buy or trade for them.

EB

[antares]

Surgery is a good career EB- lots of openings.

e&oe

[Deleted]

Well I have to say I love my Fender Blues Deluxe. It sounds better and better all the time. So I am going to keep this one for a long while. Even my guitar buddy's like it. So much better than stock. WOW!
EB