NAD - 1966 Fender Bassman! UPDATED 5/26/12 A Final Portrait

scootercaster · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:24 pm

This is going to be fun.

A totally ROACHED old Bassman. Let's see what we can do for her...

Serial number....

Output Transformer Number...

Choke...

Power Transformer...

Original Large Electrolytics...

More to come.....

gtrplaya101 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:29 pm

subscribed! Lookin forward to this

scootercaster · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:47 pm

I've already gutted the chassis and tossed almost all the old components.

Next we will clean the chassis thoroughly and send off the transformers to our friends at Mercury Magnetics for evaluation and possible rewind.

http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/mainframe.htm

I am considering making a new turret board by hand from Rosewood (see : Alexander Dumble) but I'm not sure about putting that much time into it.
I have some lovely rosewood from our friends at the Collings factory that would work great.
We shall see...

culturejam · **Joined:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:48 am **Posts:** 10332

Damn!

I have a few of those old paper-cased electros if you want them. They test very accurately (the last time I checked them).

scootercaster · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:28 pm

culturejam wrote:

Damn!

I have a few of those old paper-cased electros if you want them. They test very accurately (the last time I checked them).

Thanks for the very generous offer CJ, but no cap that old can be used in a high voltage power supply.
This little guy will be getting nice new F&T and TAD caps all through.

TNblueshawk · **Posted:** Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:52 am

Holy sitting around and rusting!

Can you say how it came to you or any cool story?

saxoftenest · **Posted:** Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:41 am

TNblueshawk wrote:

Can you say how it came to you or any cool story?

+1. Did it even work when it hit your bench?! What's the story with the plugged inputs and the modding on the inside?

scootercaster · **Posted:** Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:27 am

TNblueshawk wrote:

Holy sitting around and rusting!

Can you say how it came to you or any cool story?

Well, clearly it has spent some time getting alternately smacked around and neglected.
And possibly getting left in the surf for a year or two.

The PT is more rusted than any other I've ever seen.
I had to scub the area where the serial number is for five minutes just to be able to read it.

I bought it from a guy on craigslist.
I found out this morning from a Facebook friend that the guy HE got it from had first modded the crap out of it (WHY?) then harvested parts from it.

My friend was going to trade a guitar for it until he saw the guts.

Anyway. I paid too much for it, but they way I look at it is that someone needed to put some LOVE into it after all the HATE it's already received.

It IS Easter you know.

Time for a resurrection...

Morgan · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:58 pm

Oh the horror.

That thing must stink somethin' fierce. What are you going to do with the blue molded caps? Test and see if they leak? The .047 looks gross!

Are those 500vdc "Alumalytics" actually original? They look newer.

TNblueshawk · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:33 pm

scootercaster wrote:

TNblueshawk wrote:

Holy sitting around and rusting!

Can you say how it came to you or any cool story?

Well, clearly it has spent some time getting alternately smacked around and neglected.
And possibly getting left in the surf for a year or two.

The PT is more rusted than any other I've ever seen.
I had to scub the area where the serial number is for five minutes just to be able to read it.

I bought it from a guy on craigslist.
I found out this morning from a Facebook friend that the guy HE got it from had first modded the crap out of it (WHY?) then harvested parts from it.

My friend was going to trade a guitar for it until he saw the guts.

Anyway. I paid too much for it, but they way I look at it is that someone needed to put some LOVE into it after all the HATE it's already received.

It IS Easter you know.

Time for a resurrection...

If I had your skills I would have snatched it up and overpaid too :wink:

I mean once you get it going what a great addition to the amp world.

scootercaster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:13 pm

Stripped the chassis over the weekend...

I've seen worse, but not many...

Not sure why the chassis edges were pounded shut.

A little elbow grease and whole lotta Windex should get this all nice and clean...

more to come....

BradWorld · **Joined:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:36 pm **Posts:** 799

Cool project. I have a 1965 Bassman, and it kicks some serious ass. Too bad this one is so shot. It was probably a really nice amp about 35 years ago. Enjoy the ride!

scootercaster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:59 pm

Morgan wrote:

Oh the horror.

That thing must stink somethin' fierce. What are you going to do with the blue molded caps? Test and see if they leak? The .047 looks gross!

Are those 500vdc "Alumalytics" actually original? They look newer.

Not really. It's just smells OLD.

I'll salvage the blue molded caps and use them.
Those little jewels are where the "Fender tone" LIVES.

The Alumalytics are original and they are going in the trash.

Crankston Shnord · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:00 pm

Subscribed. I cringed when i saw that first pic :lol:

scootercaster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:01 pm

Crankston Shnord wrote:

Subscribed. I cringed when i saw that first pic :lol:

Have no fear. 90% of it is GONE.

scootercaster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:05 pm

As promised...more...

My good friends at Mercury claim that rust is good.

Not sure I agree with that assessment....

saxoftenest · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:23 pm

Damn, you worked some magic on the chassis! :shock:

Rust = transformer mojo :?:

scootercaster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:45 pm

saxoftenest wrote:

Damn, you worked some magic on the chassis! :shock:

Rust = transformer mojo :?:

I have trouble with the whole rusty transformer issue, but...

http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/news/VGmag/VGAug09Hamernik.pdf

Knight of Cups · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:59 am

So you sent them the OT and they said rust is great; did they test your OT?

That test is about as unscientific as it gets.

I suspected Mercury of being a Mojo and snake oil peddler before and this leads me further to that conclusion.

StillLearnin' · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:45 am

If rust is good, that PT is gonna be epic. Can't wait to see how this goes...

noshoeswlkrsn · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:53 am

scooter,
very excited to see the rest of this. you're a dadgum ARTIST. thank for sharing!

and RUSTY TRANSFORMER sounds like some kind of Rule 34 material from my childhood. :shock:

GrindCustoms · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:58 am

Awesome work going on here! You have alot more patience than me and a good supply of elbow grease, where do you buy it?

Kunfuz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:13 am

damndamndamndamn, that's SEXY filth

subscribed in envy :mrgreen:

scootercaster · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:44 pm

StillLearnin' wrote:

If rust is good, that PT is gonna be epic. Can't wait to see how this goes...

Well, just so we are clear here I love the Mercury guys, but there is NO f'ing WAY I'm putting that crud bucket in MY amp!!

scootercaster · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:48 pm

GrindCustoms wrote:

Awesome work going on here! You have alot more patience than me and a good supply of elbow grease, where do you buy it?

That is definitely the main ingredient.

I start with heavy emery paper and lots of NON-amonia Windex.
Then I move through various wet/dry sandapers all soaked with Windex.
Finally I use MAAS metal polish and tons of Viva towels.

I wanted the chassis to look old but CLEAN.

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NAD - 1966 Fender Bassman! UPDATED 5/26/12 A Final Portrait

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