Help! I just gambled $200 on a 66'- early 67' blackface Bassman AB165 head thats been sitting in a barn for 30 yrs.

Pine Apple Slim

Pine Apple Slim

Armchair Expert
It's rusty and dirty and has a janky orange extension cord power cord, lol. No way Im gonna try to power it up myself.
My duo partners brother passed away recently and he was a bass player back in the day. His wife is selling some of his old stuff. I took a chance on this head I think my tech can save it. I generously offered her as much as I felt I could afford to loose on it.
(He also had a 62 Precision but Im not gonna afford that, it's going up on consignment at a reputable vintage shop.)
Wish I could get the matching cabinet for the head but somehow its gotten lost or misplaced. If the head can be saved I can afford a new cab of some type.
Taking it to the tech soon as I clean up the tolex and rusty corners a bit.

Wish me luck!
 
@Pine Apple Slim - I would not fire it up right away as you mentioned and yes have your tech take a look at it. Chances are the caps may be dried out and the amp will require a cap job. He should also clean the pots as well as clear out the dust bunnies if any within the amp. Chances are he will fire it up with a Variac slowly bringing it up to voltage once the other things were completed.
 
Man, I don’t think I would clean much at all on outside. Let the tech clean the guts, and I’d even replace the chord with another piece of orange extension chord. That is one hell of a story.
 
Im just gonna get a bit o dust outta the tolex and hit the rusty corners with some wd40. Nothing extreme. There will be plenty of mojo/patina left believe me. My tech is old school and really good, knows his tube circuits and loves bringing this old vintage stuff back to life. It may cost me but it's gonna be worth it.
 
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