Early 60's Fender Concert, Brown

[sunvalleylaw]

Hi Tung, I was hoping you would chime in. It is the 6G12-A version with the 6 pre-amp tubes, which is the author of the PG article's favorite (Jeff Bober). Sounds nice to me so far at the very low volume we were able to test with yesterday, and I hope to have some more time with it later to learn more. I will also get some cell phone pics up at least so I can show it a bit.

I agree that the collectors may not like the change of the OT, but have heard already that the Mercury Mag upgrade makes for a good player. It also has had a three prong cord attached. As with my old Alfa that I drive, I like to keep things stock enough, but my Alfa is a driver, not a trailer queen useful only for sitting on lawns on sundays. If I keep it, that is how I would view the amph too. I suppose it may have some effect on resale value, but it seems most have had cap work done, a lot have had the cords replaced and as you say, the OT is really an upgrade for most players I would think.

[tunghaichuan***]

Brownface amps are cool, no doubt about it. I know of a pro amp builder who thinks the Brownface Princeton (2 x 6V6) is one of the best rock 'n roll machines ever.

Congrats, you're amp is the most desirable Brownface Concerts. I bet it sounds great, but you might have to open it up a bit and that means loud

Also, a vintage amp like that deserves NOS tubes. The schematic shows real Tung-sol 5881 tubes, which are high dollar these days. The 5881 was the stock tube that came with the legendary Fender Bassman amp. The schematic shows about 450v on the 5881, which was okay back in '61 as the 5881 was cheap and plentiful. These days, you'd want to run a pair of 6L6GC tubes in it. 6L6GC tubes are cleaner sounding and have a slightly scooped midrange and they'll take more voltage. The 5881 has a pronounced midrange and sound great when pushed into distortion but the downside is that they won't take as much voltage as a 6L6GC. Some tubes like the 7581A and Sylvania STR-387 are even cleaner sounding of you're leaning that way.

Great score, and a great amp.

Hi Tung, I was hoping you would chime in. It is the 6G12-A version with the 6 pre-amp tubes, which is the author of the PG article's favorite (Jeff Bober). Sounds nice to me so far at the very low volume we were able to test with yesterday, and I hope to have some more time with it later to learn more. I will also get some cell phone pics up at least so I can show it a bit.

I agree that the collectors may not like the change of the OT, but have heard already that the Mercury Mag upgrade makes for a good player. It also has had a three prong cord attached. As with my old Alfa that I drive, I like to keep things stock enough, but my Alfa is a driver, not a trailer queen useful only for sitting on lawns on sundays. If I keep it, that is how I would view the amph too. I suppose it may have some effect on resale value, but it seems most have had cap work done, a lot have had the cords replaced and as you say, the OT is really an upgrade for most players I would think.