Fender PA135

klugster

klugster

Well-known member
I picked up a Fender PA135 the other day, it was literally sitting by a trash dumpster. I took it home, It immediately blew a fuse. I dropped it off at my Tech. He just called and said that the Amp is in perfect condition, it just has a bad power tube, he said it was the original tubes from 1980s, and that it needs all new tubes is why fuse blew. He wants $495 to clean all the pots, replace all the tubes with Tung Sol tubes, and have it ready to go for years and years. Is this thing worth putting 500 bucks into? I'm not super familiar with anything Fender.
 
They’re very clean. And there’s a death cap in them you’re supposed to remove supposedly. It’s actually a PA not a guitar or bass amp, but I think it can be modded.

Personally I wouldn’t dump 5 beans in it. And unless you want a super clean amp it’s probably not going to make you that happy. They sell in the $500 range by the way.
 
Floyd Eye said:
They’re very clean. And there’s a death cap in them you’re supposed to remove supposedly. It’s actually a PA not a guitar or bass amp, but I think it can be modded.

Personally I wouldn’t dump 5 beans in it. And unless you want a super clean amp it’s probably not going to make you that happy. They sell in the $500 range by the way.
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Thanks man. I wasn't sure if this thing was my new doom metal amp or not hahah. I just hated seeing this thing sitting by the dumpster...
 
Honestly 500 seems super steep but it is including tubes so… I checked those out and basically you have multiple twin clean channels and it gets loud. I would love to see someone do a hermansson pa thing to one….
 
JackBootedThug said:
Honestly 500 seems super steep but it is including tubes so… I checked those out and basically you have multiple twin clean channels and it gets loud. I would love to see someone do a hermansson pa thing to one….
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My tech refuses to use anything but Tung Sol tubes.. can i get some cheap JJs and be good to go lol. I see Fuchs does a mod for these, super expensive sheesh, Im a poor guy.
 
klugster said:
My tech refuses to use anything but Tung Sol tubes.. can i get some cheap JJs and be good to go lol. I see Fuchs does a mod for these, super expensive sheesh, Im a poor guy.
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If he's a good tech $500 for everything isn't unreasonable at all if that includes 6L6GC-STR tung sols because IMO that's what you want. Tight and punchy. Between tubes, mods, and, all new caps I have around that much into each of my Twins save for one has JJ's cause I'm poor too, lol. Pair it with your favorite pedals and a good closed back cab with speakers you like and it will probably get you anywhere you need to go brother. If it's too loose an input cap value change can tighten things all around IME.

Sometimes the right gear has a way of falling into our lap and our pride in wanting things more pedigreed gets in the way of what could be a good thing. It might be worth your time and money. Anyways, just some thoughts. Congrats on your score and the Lord's blessings on your weekend. ☦️
 
klugster said:
My tech refuses to use anything but Tung Sol tubes.. can i get some cheap JJs and be good to go lol. I see Fuchs does a mod for these, super expensive sheesh, Im a poor guy.
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It’s more trouble than it’ll be worth. And you’ll likely not get your money back out if it. Just my opinion.
 
Floyd Eye said:
It’s more trouble than it’ll be worth. And you’ll likely not get your money back out if it. Just my opinion.
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You ain't getting the money back even with an SF twin most times. I have a grand into my less valuable twin and they usually cost more than $500. But dang free +500 bucks is still a damn cheap customized vintage amp. I'm just not sure what kinda circuit he's got in that thing.
 
VonBonfire said:
You ain't getting the money back even with an SF twin most times. I have a grand into my less valuable twin and they usually cost more than $500. But dang free +500 bucks is still a damn cheap customized vintage amp. I'm just not sure what kinda circuit he's got in that thing.
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It’s not a circuit that’s going to make him happy for doom metal I can promise you that. There’s certainly better options.
 
Floyd Eye said:
It’s not a circuit that’s going to make him happy for doom metal I can promise you that. There’s certainly better options.
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If he has a trustworthy tech I would just ask him to have a cursory look and offer his opinion. I would roll with what he advises. But I have a really great tech.
 
Yeah we need details on this service. $158 for a Quad of Tung-Sol 6L6GC's, that eats into a lot of the cost. $342 for popping in tubes and cleaning pots seems criminal to me. I charge $50 for a tube install and bias, that includes cleaning of the sockets, if I have the amp open I charge $20 to clean all the pots. If I don't have the amp open I'm likely to charge $50 to clean pots, unless there's a lot. Cleaning pots is less effort then scratching my own balls.
 
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