Fender Bandmaster

[Setyaback]

Quick question -- Does anybody know how difficult it is to remove and "duplicate" the baffle/grill on a BMR head? I just put new grillcloth on my cab, and I have enough spare to do the head as well. I'd like to do this for the "match," but I don't want to sacrifice the original grill cloth. It's still in very good shape, just aged in color. It's the silver w/ an orange-redish stripe. What I'd like to do is remove the baffle, cut a new one to size and cover that with the new grillcloth. I like the idea of keeping the original baffle in storage w/ the original grillcloth.

[keithb7]

Maybe someone will speak up who has the larger reverb model, but I have a 64 non-reverb. I took the head baffle off and sprayed my grill cloth with woolite, then rinsed it in the shower. I layed it in the sun for a few hours to dry. I believe the baffle was held in place by screws, from the inside of the head. There were 2 wood strips one one each side, inside the head. The wood screws went toward the baffle board when looking in from the back of the head. Store the original baffle board and cut a new one from MDF or plywood. Cover it in your new grill cloth and re-install. Voila!

[rebelwoclue]

Price check?
Can anyone give me an idea on a fair price to pay for this '63 Blonde?

[Setyaback]

Originally Posted by keithb7

Maybe someone will speak up who has the larger reverb model, but I have a 64 non-reverb. I took the head baffle off and sprayed my grill cloth with woolite, then rinsed it in the shower. I layed it in the sun for a few hours to dry. I believe the baffle was held in place by screws, from the inside of the head. There were 2 wood strips one one each side, inside the head. The wood screws went toward the baffle board when looking in from the back of the head. Store the original baffle board and cut a new one from MDF or plywood. Cover it in your new grill cloth and re-install. Voila!

Thanks! That's the plan.

[Stinky Kitty]

I'm in! Here's my '68 BMSF. It has the blacklines, and A/B-ed against a '72 Bassman in the shop it was sweet, complex, round, syrupy Fender yum, possibly of the AB763 variety. The later Bassman was thin and raspy when played through the same cab and with the same guitar. I've not pulled the chassis to verify month of manufacture yet, my ear was my guide.

Gents at the shop cut me a package deal on the amp with a '72 LPC (still loaded with the nefarious T-Tops!) The head was $480 before tax.



If anyone is till reading this thread, I have a quick question about using the Ext. Speaker output. Does one do the ohmage calculations based on parallel outputs? Each output wants to see a 4 ohm load? At the moment it's going out the Speaker output into 1x12 @ 8 ohms. What ohmage is safe if i wanted to run two cabs?

Scampers off to post this question in the right thread...

[InyoTim]

That's a nice looking head and cab Stinky Kitty. Also a nice guitar.
Yes, the speaker outs are in parallel. 4Ω or higher on the extra speaker out.

[Stinky Kitty]

Thanks InyoTim! I appreciate the info. I've been way loving my BM!

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by Stinky Kitty

I've been way loving my BM!

I bet, that BM is really lovely! Been wanting one myself. That head looks near mint, with the silverface blackline version! Congrats.

I'm with you on letting your ear guide the decision. Many of these old Fenders are hit or miss, but it sure is a good feeling when you find a good one. Enjoy!

[InyoTim]

Originally Posted by Stinky Kitty

I've been way loving my BM!

I have several of the old Fender amps from back in the day when I was a young man. When I fire one of them up, it's like returning home from a long trip. I have newer amps, but the old Fenders always give me a good feeling.

[Mr BC]

Long time lurker... Finally a member. Here's my 65. I got the head, and put it in a 2x10 newell cab with c10q's. nice sounding so far, but as I have two young kids it stays in a closet most of the time for now. I'm still working my way through getting tones out of it. It's a really clean amp and I've been able to use my Fulltone OCD to great effect. Still learning how to reach it's sweet spot (like I said, kids make that stuff hard to do). Tried pulling the v1 tube but have since learned that the normal channel on the non-verb BM's have more gain, and the vibro channel loses some due to the draw from the effect. Think I'll try to pull the v2 and run thru the normal ch.

Question about the jumping channels. How does this work when you're connecting two inputs? Even so, next chance I get I'm going to try it to see what happens. I understand lots of people do this.

[blues bondsman]

Glad to have found this group of Bandmaster owners !

Here is my 68 Bandmaster Reverb
Got lucky and found her circuit in excellent condition with a sweet Mullard GZ34 and some nice Sylvania 6L6GC's
I've done some tube swapping, but the Sylvania tubes sound great so they are still in there.

I have two 2x12 cabs I use (one at a time) that are wired for 4ohms
One cab is a closed back with Cannabis Rex speakers and the other is a ported closed back with one Tonker and one Swamp Thang, absolutely amazing how different each cab sounds with the Bandmaster.

I do use a 5751 in V-2 have yet to try pulling v-1 to see if there is any difference in the sound

[Wagster]

Might as well step inside the door here...

I've been dragging this 68 model around since the mid 70's. How I managed to hang on to it all these years I'll never know.

It's been a great amp. Aside from a few caps and tubes it has been as reliable as a rock. Takes all the punishment I can throw at it and never blinks.

[blues bondsman]

Hey wagster I see we have similar taste in guitars
I have a Gibson 57 Les Paul jr P-90 RI
Makes that Bandmaster HOWL !!!

[Wagster]

Indeed, my Bandmaster never met a single coil it didn't like. The BM and JR's are like peanut butter and jelly!

[blues bondsman]

I agree
57 Les Paul RI
2004 50th Strat Limited edition AMSE Custom shop 54 pickups

Best of both worlds !

[blues bondsman]

I pulled v-1 to see if it made much difference.
It had more of an impact on my bass response than anything else, had me reaching for the tone knobs.

anyone else try this "mod" I do have a 5751 in v-2 as I have in nearly every Fender tube amp I've ever owned.

[blues bondsman]

I decided to post a little sound clip of me messing around with the Bandmaster, reverb is set at two, Compressor side of a route 66 and my 50th Strat
https://www.box.com/s/f2w0468tb8koz421evzu
or
https://www.box.com/s/l6b33kc1qxf4fc6v570v

second one is a bit longer

[blues bondsman]

I just finished this Fender 2X12 cab dated 12-12-1966 to go with my Bandmaster.
Some doofus with a can of spray paint had blacked out the grille cloth

I restored it to its original glory

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by blues bondsman

I just finished this Fender 2X12 cab dated 12-12-1966 to go with my Bandmaster.
Some doofus with a can of spray paint had blacked out the grille cloth

I restored it to its original glory

Now that looks like a mean machine with some serious punch!
Congrats!

[tele salivas]

Fender showed new Bandmaster at NAMM. Did anybody get to hear it up close and personal?