Fender Bandmaster Head and Speaker Cabinet

Pvee · April 8th, 2004, 03:14 PM

I was ask to repair or tune up this amp for a friend.

It's the 6G7- A model with Vibrato, but no reverb.

Plenty of power but lacking in EQ capibility and too much bass in my opinion.

Wondered what your opinion of the amp is?

I checked all the voltages at the tubes and they are pretty much right on.

Tried some different tubes with less gain to try to soften it up but nothing really seemed to help much.

The speaker cabinet by it's self sounds fine if I plug a different amp into it.

It does not sound bad, I just wish it had more eq range, especially a mid range control would help alot.

If I put an EQ pedal in front of it I can get a very good sound from it.
I made a small change to the bass control on the vibrato channel to soften it up a bit, but I think the amp is doing what it is supposed to, I just don't prefer the tone.

If I was him, I would sell it to some one who thinks they need a vintage amp and buy something more current with better EQ, reverb and vibrato if needed.

What do you think.?

Tim Swartz · April 8th, 2004, 03:54 PM

These amps are typically bright enough to slit your eyeballs. My guess is that some of the cathode bypass caps in the preamp have drifted (increased). If the amp has stock electrolytics, change them all (filters, bypass, bias) and I'd bet the amp will sound much better. You really need to start here before you start messing with any EQ issues.

stevedenver · April 9th, 2004, 12:12 PM

agree

April 8th, 2004, 03:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pvee Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 266	Fender Bandmaster Head and Speaker Cabinet I was ask to repair or tune up this amp for a friend. It's the 6G7- A model with Vibrato, but no reverb. Plenty of power but lacking in EQ capibility and too much bass in my opinion. Wondered what your opinion of the amp is? I checked all the voltages at the tubes and they are pretty much right on. Tried some different tubes with less gain to try to soften it up but nothing really seemed to help much. The speaker cabinet by it's self sounds fine if I plug a different amp into it. It does not sound bad, I just wish it had more eq range, especially a mid range control would help alot. If I put an EQ pedal in front of it I can get a very good sound from it. I made a small change to the bass control on the vibrato channel to soften it up a bit, but I think the amp is doing what it is supposed to, I just don't prefer the tone. If I was him, I would sell it to some one who thinks they need a vintage amp and buy something more current with better EQ, reverb and vibrato if needed. What do you think.?

April 9th, 2004, 12:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
stevedenver Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: the mile high city Posts: 1,198 14 Photos	agree __________________ Im really a Les Paul guy at heart, but .....

April 8th, 2004, 03:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,883	These amps are typically bright enough to slit your eyeballs. My guess is that some of the cathode bypass caps in the preamp have drifted (increased). If the amp has stock electrolytics, change them all (filters, bypass, bias) and I'd bet the amp will sound much better. You really need to start here before you start messing with any EQ issues.