Fender Bassman 135 - A complete mess - '70ish

[spunko]

Hello good people. A friend of mine send me these pics, the amp is a mess. It lived outside its entire life, and it was only used for a couple of times.
He said it has rust over rust, mold, and a colony of various insects. The wooden cab is paper thin (termites), and by the looks of it I'm pretty sure is a mess inside too.
Most likely the eyelet cardboard has also mold, but he didn't open it, so who knows.

I'm thinking only chasis and transformers are usable. I still have to test them tho. I hope he brings it soon.

Does anyone know a good kit we can use to give a new life to this amp? My friend would like to have it like original.

[shooter]

 
Not sure I'd call 'em a friend


I've seen guys bring back cars in worse shape, so....
document everything as is, down to the wires, digital images are cheap per shot now-a-days


There's a member from down under, TIMBO, might PM him and ask for some tips on bringing rust back to life, He's brought back a few oldie moldies.
If you're ADHD like me, might want to pass, If you're the poster-child for OCD, you might be ok 

[Latole]

  " Does anyone know a good kit we can use to give a new life to this amp? My friend would like to have it like original."
-spunko

 A kit, if it exists, will cost as much as a good amp. I doubt that the transformers are still good. The humidity will have contaminated them and probably shorted the windings

And if you want to repair it, you'll need the help of an amp technician. Alone (but without knowing your skills) you will not succeed.

[acheld]

Uncle Doug would take this on . . . 

[RadioComm]

  A kit, if it exists, will cost as much as a good amp. I doubt that the transformers are still good. The humidity will have contaminated them and probably shorted the windings

This looks exactly like a zombie amp. Gray, decomposing, and all. Don't know if your part of the world/beliefs decorate for Halloween, but if you do... Before repair/restoration, I would have out in the front yard with a zombie pumpkin-head playing guitar though it.   

As is, it's definitely one of a kind. Makes for a perfect conversation piece.

IMHO and just my 2 coins, seems to me by the time you repair or restore this amp, there's not going to be much left of the original if anything at all...

But then again, I've never been one to back out of a big challenge so if you do, I get it. Good luck.

ttfn

[spunko]

Thank you very much for all the answers. The amp came today, and it is really a mess.
I'll be uploading pics maybe tomorrow, stay tuned 

[uki]

Score !

[Latole]

 " Theory is when everyone knows everything but nothing works, practice is when stuff works but nobody knows why !!! "
- uki

Sorry, this is wrong.

[JB]

That'll buff out fine....

Good luck!

[spunko]

I'm sorry I've been busy with work.
I will pass on this one 

Link for the gallery: https://imgur.com/a/hjGQ7fC

[Blueboozer]

That reminds me, time for a tetanus shot

[JPK]

Total loss.

[sluckey]

I would restore it if it were mine. Never for a friend!   

[PRR]

I would not touch a thing. Except to sneak a chip-amp underneath so it plays GOOD under all the rust and turds. Amaze your friends! Astonish your bandmates!

[Latole]

Total loss.

I agree, nothing to do with that carbadge.

[Latole]

I would restore it if it were mine. Never for a friend!   

I would not restore fo me.

[mresistor]

I would restore it if it were mine. Never for a friend!   

I would not restore fo me.

Uh maybe because you don't have a sandblaster... 

[acheld]

I would restore . . . but I'm an old and stubborn retiree.  On an economic basis, it is clearly a loss.

The trick would be to keep a certain level of evident decay, yet have it be serviceable.   

The other trick is to stay safe from mouse droppings and mold.

[Latole]

I would restore it if it were mine. Never for a friend!   

I would not restore fo me.

Uh maybe because you don't have a sandblaster...

No, I have more fun hobbys and something more interesting to do with my money than restoring a piece of garbage.

Sandblast will not repair transformers and faceplate, nor most parts

[bmccowan]

Keep it and wait for the day when reliced amps become a thing along with the idiocy of reliced guitars.

[PRR]

Rust is a must. Around here, rust-rods are more common every day. Neighbor Jimmy had the first one, he built another for the tow-truck operator and for an old friend, and they have multiplied. Nationally, properly rusted farm-finds are scarce, people are faking rust with paints.

[Willabe]

Keep it and wait for the day when reliced amps become a thing along with the idiocy of reliced guitars.

Dumbest thing! Don't get me started!       

Pay someone to scratch up a nice clean guitar!     

[Latole]

Rust is a must. Around here, rust-rods are more common every day. Neighbor Jimmy had the first one, he built another for the tow-truck operator and for an old friend, and they have multiplied. Nationally, properly rusted farm-finds are scarce, people are faking rust with paints.

 

[bmccowan]

PRR - Rust is a must. Around here, rust-rods are more common every day. Neighbor Jimmy had the first one, he built another for the tow-truck operator and for an old friend, and they have multiplied. Nationally, properly rusted farm-finds are scarce, people are faking rust with paints.

I drove through PRR's neck of the woods this August - he is not kidding! A bit further north, I also saw a jacked-up golf cart with the name Bad Ass Mama painted on it, pull into a variety store. Gotta love the creativity.

[bmccowan]

Quote from: bmccowan on October 05, 2022, 05:09:54 pm
Keep it and wait for the day when reliced amps become a thing along with the idiocy of reliced guitars.

Dumbest thing! Don't get me started!       

Pay someone to scratch up a nice clean guitar!     

Started? How about people relicing strats to copy exactly the wear and damage patterns on a famous player's naturally worn guitar? "Stupid is as stupid does" Forest Gump

[shooter]

Rust is a must.

here is farm country the 4 cars parked in the field are all coming to life, the cost of a new/used store bought is beyond most means, but everyone is a mechanic, can weld a few panels tight and drive it without plates with "farm equipment" spray-painted in john-deere green where the hatch or tailgate used to be   

[Lectroid]

here is farm country the 4 cars parked in the field are all coming to life, the cost of a new/used store bought is beyond most means, but everyone is a mechanic, can weld a few panels tight and drive it without plates with "farm equipment" spray-painted in john-deere green where the hatch or tailgate used to be   

 

I see those every day in subrural Virginia.  'Farm equipment?'  More like it's their daily driver.

As far as that poor, abused Bassman:  maybe you can salvage a couple of those orange drops...

[mresistor]

I would not restore fo me.

No, I have more fun hobbys and something more interesting to do with my money than restoring a piece of garbage.
Sandblast will not repair transformers and faceplate, nor most parts



I would use a sandblast / beadblast on the transformer outsides without hesitation, after proper preparation so as not to get any inside or damage the wiring. They are going to take some sort of abrasive to get that rust off as they're pretty well rusted. How do you know they don't work? Stripping out the chassis and treating it doesn't look too bad we've seen Mike do it, although maybe those weren't this rusty. New faceplate isn't a super big deal, maybe not original but so what.
But I get ya,,,,  not for the faint of heart or non-interested.

[Williamblake]

You could measure the transformers? Just for giggles.