Fender Deluxe Reverb mods

[jaymen]

A friend complained his new FSR Bordeaux DRRI with an Alnico 12 inch Jensen farted out, especially on low notes.
We replaced the first filter capacitor with a 47uF Nichicon, which cured that issue.

I previously had installed a Fromel full mod kit in my DRRI, and noticed it did not sound as sweet as my buddies, which was stock with the exception of the 1st filter cap noted above.
In referring to the Fromel; mod kit instructions online, I noticed they had put in an update which essentially said to not replace the phase inverter input coupling cap with the one supplied in earlier kits (prior to Nov 2024) which was a .01uF 600V. Instead, they recommended keeping the original .001uF 500V cap for a more "authentic" tone. So out came my soldering iron and tools and I put the original cap back in place ( glad I never tossed the original parts). Am happy to report it really made a noticeable improvement as the amp now has a sweeter less harsh tone. BTW, that one part, the phase inverter input coupling cap, is the only change in value in the signal path that Fromel has you change, other than a bigger 1st filter cap, which is part of the power supply.

[andrew]

Yeah, increasing the first filter cap would definitely help with that mushy low end. Other than clipping the bright cap on the Vibrato channel, I don't think there are many mods needed to a Deluxe Reverb circuit. (Although I know the PCB reissues do have a few improvements that can be made to increase long term reliability, like getting the 6.3V heater wires off of the quick connects on the board and instead wiring them directly to the tube sockets).

[bluejaybill]

I have a BF Deluxe Reverb, and the one mod I would like to have (I already clipped the bright cap), is the one that allows the normal channel to have reverb.

That also brings the channel in phase, so you can run to both channels if you like.

Many boutique DR variants come this way.

[jaymen]

My Deluxe Reverb has that: the Rob Robinette mod, it's sweet. I used small shielded cable to make the two audio signal connections.
The mod lets you can have the trem and reverb on either channel, with no interaction, and optionally retain the bright cap on ch2 for a different sound (leads).