Harry Kolbe modded amps?

**paulkogut** · 09-28-2021, 03:09 PM

Not technically a New Amps Day, but I decided to get my Harry Kolbe-modded silver Fenders back in use. I had my 2 Deluxes, a Princeton and a Champ gone over by Andy Fuchs after spending a number of years in storage. So far so good, except for a channel switching 'pop in one Deluxe ' that originates in in the 'goop' section of Harry's secret circuitry....

Anyone else here using Kolbe-modded amps? Anyone work on them? Let's share what we know about keeping these great sounding amps in working order

PK

**John A.** · 09-28-2021, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by paulkogut

Not technically a New Amps Day, but I decided to get my Harry Kolbe-modded silver Fenders back in use. I had my 2 Deluxes, a Princeton and a Champ gone over by Andy Fuchs after spending a number of years in storage. So far so good, except for a channel switching 'pop in one Deluxe ' that originates in in the 'goop' section of Harry's secret circuitry....

Anyone else here using Kolbe-modded amps? Anyone work on them? Let's share what we know about keeping these great sounding amps in working order

PK

I used to live a few blocks from Kolbe's shop and brought all my tube stuff to him for many years. I had him install a master volume on a brownface Fender Pro I had, but no mods more extensive than that. I recall him explaining what he typically did, and it amounted to building an entirely new amp in the same chassis. I did toy with the idea, but never went through with it. I subsequently I had the Pro returned to stock because there's no real point to a master volume in that amp (which I eventually figured out). I don't think Kolbe's in business anymore. A guy named Eric Bradley who used to work for Kolbe is still around in NYC (I think; haven't had any work done by him in few years). He would probably know best what's under the goop.