Fender Bandmaster

I don't see a Bandmaster thread so I'll start one.
I just purchased mine, a 1964. Head only for now and currently seeking out a matching cab. Sounds great! When I plugged in my Start for the first time and set it's toggle switch on second position...Instant sounds I have heard on many popular recordings. Sounded exactly like the guitar licks in Centerfield by John Fogerty.

Overdue maintenance has been performed as needed. A great sounding amp, I expect to keep for a long long time.

Here are a few pics:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8oATzbqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/7OY8SX9Oaa4/s640/DSCF1951.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E9kjj5jQI/AAAAAAAAAKc/pQkBIaCKw8U/s640/DSCF1984.JPG

Just new to the forum, I purchased a bandmaster and 2X12 cab last week, its blonde and sounds marvellous, 62 Strat, 67 345, 65 330, L 7, Es 350P, G and L ASAT. It distinguishes between all of these old Birds and seems to break up just right for each guitar regardless of pu output. I shall post some pics very soon.

Looks to be in a nice condition too.

I gigged with a head like that in the 70's with two of the small 2x12 cabs. That's a workhorse amp, and easy to get around with. Cranked up to 6 -7, it really sings!

Wish I still had mine! Congrats!

Howdy:

Proud owner of a '64 head. Curious, are those new caps? Mine amp has Mallory caps. Curious which ones are original to the amp.

Shouldn't the logo be on diagonally rather than straight?

Shouldn't the logo be on diagonally rather than straight?

Yes the Fender logo should be on an angle. I recently bought the amp, and this is how it arrived. I should change it back. However...There's something cool about owing a 46 year old amp and the stories it must hold. I wish I knew all the previous owners, and venues this amp played in. 46 years worth of music is a long time. Many changes in rock'n roll history happened in those 46 years. The grill cloth should be silver too, but it's yellow stain, most likely comes from years of cigaratte smoke. Did it spend lt's life in a smokey old tavern in small town USA? Who knows? It may have sat in a closet through all of the 80's when everyone thought old Fender amps sucked. Maybe the logo fell off and was replaced by someone who had no idea.

We'll never know. But holding and playing though a piece of Rock'n Roll history is pretty darn cool to a die hard guitarist, who can dream of a time when Leo Fender built the tools to change music forever.

Howdy:

Proud owner of a '64 head. Curious, are those new caps? Mine amp has Mallory caps. Curious which ones are original to the amp.

The caps in keithb7's head are original. I have a 68' SFBM with the same caps.

Bandmaster '66 loggin in.... :wink:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1052255/Fender1966BandmasterHead_1.jpg

I don't work for them but my wife and I have owned 3 cabs and been very happy with the quality, price, and options. Check out Avatar Cabs. They sell overstock stuff on Ebay for cheap as well. My wife had 2x10 and 2x12 bass cabs, and I've got a great 2x12 closed back cab to match her '71 Bassman head. It rips. THey have "special" cabs with lots of options for covering, grill cloth, speakers, open/closed back, ohm rating. GREAT guys.

avatarspeakers.com

ebay user: daveatavatarspeakers

Nice find,Keith.If that grillcloth is original and not aftermarket-aged (relic grillcloth????) the screw holes will show you where to put the logo if you want to relocate it.

Nice find,Keith.If that grillcloth is original and not aftermarket-aged (relic grillcloth????) the screw holes will show you where to put the logo if you want to relocate it.

Thanks I will do that. I am thinking I may change out the Carvin cab speakers to some Weber's maybe so I get true 4 ohms. I could get some silver corners for the cab, some grill cloth and a fender logo and it should sound and look pretty decent.
It's a good size cab and easy to lug around when jammin outside the home.

Where do I find the correct Fender grill cloth for my 64 Bandmaster? I could dress up the cab, and maybe replace the head cloth so they match in color.
Thanks.

Mojotone has Fender-style grille cloth in a number of different styles including aged. Angela also has Fender grill cloth and I'm sure there are other suppliers.

By the way, I have a '64 Bandmaster head and small box bottom with reissue Jensens--sounds unreal. I didn't buy the head and cabinet at the same time so the grill cloth is slightly mismatched (the head looks more aged) but that actually looks kind of cool in its own right.

I've got a 1968 - sounds really great overdriven but muddy on the bass when played clean................thought the cap job and new speakers would fix this up but not really...............still I love it and have had it for about 20 years

I recorded a sample track of my 64 Bandmaster today. Unfortunately it's not the amp's natural OD as I like where I live. I used a Tube Screamer and my American Series strat. No other FX. Someday when I can, I'll get the chance to crank it up and try recording.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8669340

im in
67 with piggy cab (removed oxfords and added mixed celestions)
has 66 outboard tank too-(makes a big difference in sparkle)

added a cathode pot using an original existing chassis hole to add some brown when i like

what an amp -and easier to lug in 3 sections than my twin

and celestions make it sound very nice if not classic blackface

I recorded a sample track of my 64 Bandmaster today. Unfortunately it's not the amp's natural OD as I like where I live. I used a Tube Screamer and my American Series strat. No other FX. Someday when I can, I'll get the chance to crank it up and try recording.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8669340


Cool clip Keith!.. This is the type of tone I love :grin:

My Bandmaster is about a `66 or so. The grill cloth had been replaced with some awful plastic type which ruined any collector value (I never cared much for collectors anyway unless they are players also). I replaced the grill cloth with a pretty good match to original and did a few mods. I killed the vibrato and used one of the pot holes for a presence control. The power tubes were cathode biased and the rectifier was converted to tube. This conversion meant adding a small transformer for the heater.

I don't own this early '68 anymore, but it lived in a 3x10" Larry Rodgers cab while I had it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/wildricechris/MVC-013F.jpg

Does a '69 Bandmaster Reverb count?

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/BandmasterReverb/BandmasterReverb001.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/BandmasterReverb/BandmasterReverb002.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/BandmasterReverb/BandmasterReverb003.jpg

'66 Bandmaster head, 70's era open back cab that I just picked up today.

I just picked up this al original (except power cord) 63 Bandmaster for $1,000 yesterday. One of the Oxford speakers is frozen and I'm getting it fixed hopefully. I took the head in to get it re-tubed and re-capped. I will have about $1,200 into it. Hopefully this will be all it needs and I'm ready to rock.
Can anybody tell me how many watts this is. Thanks -Kungfumailman

kungfumailman, it's rated at 50 watts. Amps are rated at the highest output before clipping, so if you turn it all the way up, it will put out higher wattage.
On an amp with 6L6's, count the big power tubes. Each one is good for about 25 watts clean.
Edited to add: I posted before the photo came up; nice looking amp. Good score.

kungfumailman, it's rated at 50 watts. Amps are rated at the highest output before clipping, so if you turn it all the way up, it will put out higher wattage.
On an amp with 6L6's, count the big power tubes. Each one is good for about 25 watts clean.
Edited to add: I posted before the photo came up; nice looking amp. Good score.

25 watts is a decent rough guide, but the rest of the circuit is critical as well. I've owned 2x6L6 amps that put out under 20 watts, and others that are 70 watts.

The blonde Bandmaster is rated at 40 watts, IIRC.

Here's my 3-10 Bandmaster (on the bottom), with a Harvard on the top...
Both killer amps...

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/DCP_2727.jpg

Tonewoods, that looks like serious tone you have. Killer looking amps!

I've got a blonde head ('62, I think) that's about to be put into this cab:

http://www.vodkanauts.com/downloads/bandmaster_1.jpeg

http://www.vodkanauts.com/downloads/bandmaster_2.jpeg

I have a '67 Bandmaster that someone modded with Showman tranny's and added two extra output tubes. Bought it for $80. Unbelievably loud and clean...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/TI-AhfqF7HI/AAAAAAAAAV8/jOgWE3-40-k/s720/IMGP1456.JPG

I have a 1969 Fender Bandmaster Reverb that was converted into a combo with a 12" Celestion, and a 10" Eminence. I wanted something grab & go to replace the Vibrolux I missed a lot. No pics, but I'll post some when I have access to a digital camera.

I love this amp, but I wish it had more clean headroom, and broke up a little less muddy. I'm thinking of upgrading the output transformer, but I'm really unsure what to put in it. I've head of people replacing the OT with ones from a Showman, Bassman, and other OT's. The output impedance is 4ohm, and I'm not sure of the input impedance (though I'm assuming its pretty close to whatever the stock value is). Any recommendations?

I've got a 1966 Bandmaster, traded a Blues Deluxe RI (mex) for it and an ultimate chorus that the guy was using as a cab, sold the ultimate chorus, tried to track down an original piggyback cab with no luck, well not at a decent price anyway, so I picked up a 15" Weber (15a150b). In the process of building a cab for it now, can't wait to hear how that sounds. Had the amp for almost a year now, gigged with it a few times and it always sounds great, one of the best bargains out there :)

Okay - I'm in. Have just got a 1972 Bandmaster Reverb head. A steal from a local DJ shop .It looks great next to my '68 AC30 Top Boost (See AC30 Wranglers Forum) Haven't had time to play with it yet but not sure what cab I need. The back panel says 2ohms - can I put this through a 4 ohm cab? I fancy a 2 x 12, and may buy the speakers and make it myself. Any advice would be gratefully accepted. Meanwhile, here's a few piccies

Nice score Langers. I'm betting it was designed for a 4Ω load. The 2Ω warning is as low as you can go using both jacks.
Edited to add: I just checked a few Bandmaster Reverb schematics and the load using one jack is 4Ώ's.

Thanks InyoTim - that has eased my mind and I can now go looking at cabs. If I chose to make my own, do I need 2 speakers at 8 ohms each to make 4, if they are wired in parallel? I used to understand this ( or thought I did! ) but only really ever having played combos it isn't soemthing I've had to think about too hard.

I am watching some Jensens on e-bay, so hopefully they might do the trick

Thanks InyoTim - that has eased my mind and I can now go looking at cabs. If I chose to make my own, do I need 2 speakers at 8 ohms each to make 4, if they are wired in parallel? I used to understand this ( or thought I did! ) but only really ever having played combos it isn't soemthing I've had to think about too hard.

That is how the original cabs were wired, so you'll be good (assuming nobody changed your output transformer).

Thanks InyoTim - that has eased my mind and I can now go looking at cabs. If I chose to make my own, do I need 2 speakers at 8 ohms each to make 4, if they are wired in parallel? I used to understand this ( or thought I did! ) but only really ever having played combos it isn't soemthing I've had to think about too hard.
That's correct Langers; two 8Ω in parallel gives you a 4Ω load. With four 16Ω speakers, you can wire a 4Ω load using series/parallel. I have a 2x12 Fender cabinet loaded with Vintage 30's that sounds good with my Bandmaster head.

That's correct Langers; two 8Ω in parallel gives you a 4Ω load. With four 16Ω speakers, you can wire a 4Ω load using series/parallel. I have a 2x12 Fender cabinet loaded with Vintage 30's that sounds good with my Bandmaster head.
Not quite--four 16 ohm speakers in series/parallel will present a 16 ohm load. Four 4 ohm speakers in series/parallel will give a 4 ohm load, as will four 16 ohm speakers all in parallel.

Thanks for catching that Wild Rice Chris. My morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet and I was still a little fuzzy headed. Four 16Ω in parallel would make for a 4Ω load. Series/parallel would still be a 16Ω load. Sometimes at 63 I don't know what I know anymore. :mrgreen:

Thanks for catching that Wild Rice Chris. My morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet and I was still a little fuzzy headed. Four 16Ω in parallel would make for a 4Ω load. Series/parallel would still be a 16Ω load. Sometimes at 63 I don't know what I know anymore. :mrgreen:

:cool:

Fellas - really appreciate your comments - just want to make sure I am getting this. I will go for a 2 x 12 (I don't want a large cab and the 2 Celestions in my AC30 sound like the dogs danglers) so, if I have understood correctly, 2 x 8ohms in parallel will give me my 4ohm load. 2 x 4 ohms in series will give me the same 4 ohm load. Please say yes!!!
Oh, one more thing - how do you get the "ohm" symbol. Please bear with me - I am both an electronics and computer biff, but will quite happily make a cabinet - wood, I understand!
Thanks again - this is a great site

I picked up a Bandmaster Reverb head about 15 years ago that someone put two 10" speakers in. Fenderific twangage!

Langers I bought 2 qty Jensen C12N 8 ohm vintage re-issue speakers for my Bandmaster 2x12 cab. I still have the original 1964 C12N speakers too. I thought about selling the newer re-issue speakers and they have about 10 hours on them. I see you're in England? Probably not worth it once the freight costs are added. They are made in Italy, maybe you can get them over there for less.

Fellas - really appreciate your comments - just want to make sure I am getting this. I will go for a 2 x 12 (I don't want a large cab and the 2 Celestions in my AC30 sound like the dogs danglers) so, if I have understood correctly, 2 x 8ohms in parallel will give me my 4ohm load. 2 x 4 ohms in series will give me the same 4 ohm load. Please say yes!!!
Oh, one more thing - how do you get the "ohm" symbol. Please bear with me - I am both an electronics and computer biff, but will quite happily make a cabinet - wood, I understand!
Thanks again - this is a great site

Yes.
ΩΩΩ Copy and paste as needed. ΩΩΩ

Chris - thanks buddy - just need to win the bloody speakers on e-bay now and I'm sorted

Sorry for the drama, I was just trying to make you stop.
Two 4Ω speakers in series is 8 ohms - not 4!
Series - add impedances.
Parallel - look at the formula.
Fortunately for me I only needed to deal with series. :mrgreen:
I'm sure WRC did not read the entire post.
And thanks for the Ω symbol, Chris! Now I just have to figure out where to put it so it will be handy when I need it.

so, if I have understood correctly, 2 x 8ohms in parallel will give me my 4ohm load. 2 x 4 ohms in series will give me the same 4 ohm load. Please say yes!!!

Sorry Langers, that's a no on the 2x4. 2x8Ω in parallel does give you 4Ω's. 2x4Ω in series gives you 8Ω's. 4Ω speakers are available although the selection isn't that good.
Edited to add: I type too slow and had to go yell at the cat. Bluesbob beat me to the reply.

I'm sure WRC did not read the entire post.
And thanks for the Ω symbol, Chris! Now I just have to figure out where to put it so it will be handy when I need it.

Guess I misread it...:shock:...the first reply I typed caught it, then I reread the post and thought it was right...that's what I get for posting while running out the door!
Your amp will be fine running at 2Ω, 4Ω, or 8Ω.
You'll get the best frequency response and power at 4Ω.

Ohm Sweet Ohm
QLwEG3cdeRw

I find wikipedia a convenient storage point for Omega.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega

Why am I still on this thread?!?!?! I sold both of my Bandmasters!!! :mrgreen:

Langers I bought 2 qty Jensen C12N 8 ohm vintage re-issue speakers for my Bandmaster 2x12 cab. I still have the original 1964 C12N speakers too. I thought about selling the newer re-issue speakers and they have about 10 hours on them. I see you're in England? Probably not worth it once the freight costs are added. They are made in Italy, maybe you can get them over there for less.
Thanks for the offer Keith - as you say, shipping from Canda would be prohibitive, but its good to get an endorsement of the Jensens - hopefully I will get some in UK and then make the cab myself

Thanks to everyone who has given advice with regard to speaker matching. I have just tried my Bandmaster through the speakers in my mate's Silverface Twin Reverb ( 1976, I think ), and the good news is that it works! Ch One okay, Ch 2 gives no volume until the EQ posts are turned up - not sure why but I will have a look with the back off to see if any valves are not lighting up. Have access to an excellent, if very busy and therefore slowish tech, who will sort for me, and then akll I need to do is build a cab, and it can stand proudly next to my '68 AC30. All I need now is another Blues Deville Tweed for £350 like the one I missed on e-bay!

Cool! I've got a 64 Bandmaster as well. I haven't used it a ton, but it's good for my gigs with Eric Gales since he's rocking the 100W Two Rock with his name on it. Anyway, mine is great - clean most of the way from 0 to 10, and I play it through a Showman cab, which is especially rad. It's got an old D130F in it, and there's a tone ring, which is doubly awesome.

I don't have any pics, but I here's a clip:
jdfKjVVOYT0

There's a one-step impedance mismatch with that cab, but I kind of like that (minus the drop in efficiency) because it softens out the amp a little.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/1959%206120%20Copy/P1070887.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/1959%206120%20Copy/P1070897.jpg

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/1959%206120%20Copy/P1070887.jpg

Never gigged eh? :rolleyes:

Me again - ran my Bandmaster Reverb through a mate's Marshall 4 x 12 set to 4Ω - I thought that 4 speakres were "too much" but it gave me the opportunity to crank the amp, get it properly warmed up and check it out. Bags of tone, plenty of grunt - a great buy for a hundred quid. I may well swap out the valves and would appreciate confirmation from you guys as the the correct valve complement. I am happy with the rectifier and 6L6 power valves but notice that the pre-amps are a mixture of 12AX7 and 12AT7. I think that these may be interchangeable but am not sure. ALso the vibrato doesn;t work and I am wondering if that is because I have a valve mismatch somewhere - my AC30 uses a different valve for the Vib/Trem effect ( or so I am told ). As was expected, the gufff that Fender sent me was of little help. Thanks guys - this is a fabulous forum and I am so pleased with my Bandmaster - it mught even drag me away from my '68 AC30!!! Happy Hallowe'em

Have a '64 Blackface I've owned since '66. Has the dreaded "frying bacon" disease, which I hope a cap and resistor job will take care of. Am planning to get elbow-deep into it after 1st of year when things slow down. Will post pix during the process.

My first real amp was a bandmaster. Long gone, but it would nice to have around.

I think I have some kind of disease. Only a couple of weeks after buying the Bandmaster, which is wonderful, and not yet having built the cab for it (although I have just got 2 x 12" Eminence speakers from an old Fender cab), I have picked up a Blues Deville Re-issue 2 x 12. It was steal and looked so good in tweed I couldn't walk away. It arives on Tue to join the stable - '68 AC30 Top Boost (valve rectifier), '72 Bandmaster Reverb and now mid-'90s Blues Deville. Luckily, since the wife left me, I don't have to say sorry to anyone!

I'm in.

Feb. of 64

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i237/Rcode/Bandmaster-Deluxe%20Reverb-Guitars/100_2174.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i237/Rcode/Bandmaster-Deluxe%20Reverb-Guitars/100_2180.jpg

Dang Bluesdriver, has that amp been kept in a hermetically sealed, nitrogen filled containment for the last 40+ years? :mrgreen:

Dang Bluesdriver, has that amp been kept in a hermetically sealed, nitrogen filled containment for the last 40+ years? :mrgreen:

No, but it's never left my basement since i have owned it.:mrgreen:

The tolex and grill cloth aren't original. The original owner had it professionally recovered with Fender material about 10 years ago. I purchased it from him about 7 years ago. It has been serviced, and has a nice selection of vintage black plate tubes. It also retains the original C12N Jensen's which have never been re-coned, and they sound great.

Since it's not completely original, the value is a bit less to a die hard purist collector, but with my 52 Hot Rod Tele it's a blues machine to my ears. Great cleans and smooth drive, with or without a pedal, no ice pick's here. I have owned two others, a 67 and an early 68 Silverface. This one is the best of the three.

This one is a real sweetheart and a keeper, although i have been offered some pretty strong money for it a time or two, but haven't caved to temptation yet.:wink:

That is absolutely gorgeous. If it sounds half as good as it looks, then you are a lucky guy

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee22/e_stamp/1959%206120%20Copy/P1070887.jpg



Isn't that the same pete townshend's 70s WHO studio rig?

I still haven't got around to building the cab for my Bandmaster Reverb TFL5005D head, but here's a pic of it with its stable mates, a '68 AC30 Top Boost and a '94 Blues Deville. The speakers at the back are Eminence and will go into the cab hopefully over the next couple of weeks
Merry Christmas

I don't see a Bandmaster thread so I'll start one.
I just purchased mine, a 1964. Head only for now and currently seeking out a matching cab. Sounds great! When I plugged in my Start for the first time and set it's toggle switch on second position...Instant sounds I have heard on many popular recordings. Sounded exactly like the guitar licks in Centerfield by John Fogerty.

Overdue maintenance has been performed as needed. A great sounding amp, I expect to keep for a long long time.

Here are a few pics:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8oATzbqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/7OY8SX9Oaa4/s640/DSCF1951.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E9kjj5jQI/AAAAAAAAAKc/pQkBIaCKw8U/s640/DSCF1984.JPG
I have a band master like yours how did you tell what year it is?Thanks Gordo

I've got a 1967 SFBM head I put into a Lyn Axtell 1x12 combo cab, blonde Tolex, wheat grille, Weber Blue Dog Ceramic 100w speaker. If I bridge the channels and dime them, there's a good amount of distortion, sounds very good for rock. That speaker being very efficient (and 4 ohms), I don't think I'd be too scared of any 100 watt stacks. This thing will take your head off!!! Loudest 40 watts I think I've ever heard, my Marshall DSL401 is 40 watts, but the Fender just kicks sand all in the Marshall's face! (Remember those ads? Showing my age....) Looking for pics......

I've got a 1967 SFBM head I put into a Lyn Axtell 1x12 combo cab, blonde Tolex, wheat grille, Weber Blue Dog Ceramic 100w speaker. If I bridge the channels and dime them, there's a good amount of distortion, sounds very good for rock. That speaker being very efficient (and 4 ohms), I don't think I'd be too scared of any 100 watt stacks. This thing will take your head off!!! Loudest 40 watts I think I've ever heard, my Marshall DSL401 is 40 watts, but the Fender just kicks sand all in the Marshall's face! (Remember those ads? Showing my age....) Looking for pics......

Hey hshight, by bridging do you mean running a lead from the low input of one channel to the high of the other? I do that with my '68 Vox AC30 and never thought about doing it with my Bandmaster

I have a band master like yours how did you tell what year it is?Thanks Gordo

Gordo
Here's a site that may help:http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=17

I was lucky to find a date and maker stamp inside the chassis of my '72 BM Reverb, but the serial numbers should give you an idea

Hey hshight, by bridging do you mean running a lead from the low input of one channel to the high of the other? I do that with my '68 Vox AC30 and never thought about doing it with my Bandmaster

Yeah, you can do that if there's no reverb on a Fender amp (the reverb would throw it out of phase though).

Yeah, you can do that if there's no reverb on a Fender amp (the reverb would throw it out of phase though).

Exactly, I'm no tech but it has something to do with even or odd number of gain stages, methinks. Bandmaster really rocks, but it is LOUD with a capital L O U D!!!! Just got a Musicmaster Bass Amp to use for guitar, check out the MMB amp "mafia" thread....

I have a band master like yours how did you tell what year it is?Thanks Gordo

Write down the date on the transformers and you can get the year that way. Also there is a date code for the Jensen C12N speakers. You take the cover off the cab and you can see the date codes on the speaker metal frame.

Here is an example from my Vibro Champ. The Middle 2 digits indicate 1968.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/TPmXBNQeDmI/AAAAAAAAAaE/9eqk5nfHUGU/s720/DSCF3399.JPG

Here is the choke in my Bandmaster. The 4 in the middle indicated 1964.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8qx5ZsHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/3Fjk9VwrDSM/s720/DSCF1964.JPG

Here is a transformer in my Bandmaster. It has been replaced with one dated in 1970. Indicated by the 0 in the middle.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8wg3Ub6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/ZvTBFkByBrk/s720/DSCF1966.JPG

Finally here is a 1964 Jensen C12N speaker. SN reads 220, then 04 indicating a 1964 year, and 47, for 47th week of 1964 I believe:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S2kLWUJifmI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/mIR7f9zh2Dk/s720/DSCF2082.JPG

Exactly, I'm no tech but it has something to do with even or odd number of gain stages, methinks. Bandmaster really rocks, but it is LOUD with a capital L O U D!!!! Just got a Musicmaster Bass Amp to use for guitar, check out the MMB amp "mafia" thread....

Weird, I find my Bandmaster to be kind of on the quiet side, actually... I run it with 5881s through an 8ohm tone ring cab. Sounds great, but the impedance mismatch drops a little off. Seriously, I think my Deluxe Reverb is louder. It's got a really efficient speaker, but then again, I've got a JBL D130F in the tone ring cab. Even through my Port City 2x12 the Bandmaster isn't quite what I'd call loud.

Anyway, lucky you. I'd be taking mine on the road if it was louder, but I guess I'll just have to use something else. :)

Isn't that the same pete townshend's 70s WHO studio rig?

Yup! Given to him by Joe Walsh, the guitar fairy!

http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/guitar/gretsch.html

Weird, I find my Bandmaster to be kind of on the quiet side, actually... I run it with 5881s through an 8ohm tone ring cab. Sounds great, but the impedance mismatch drops a little off. Seriously, I think my Deluxe Reverb is louder. It's got a really efficient speaker, but then again, I've got a JBL D130F in the tone ring cab. Even through my Port City 2x12 the Bandmaster isn't quite what I'd call loud.

Anyway, lucky you. I'd be taking mine on the road if it was louder, but I guess I'll just have to use something else. :)

Mine was noticeably less loud with an 8 ohm load, 2x12 closed cab. Have you tried it with an open backed cab? Loud is, of course, a subjective term. My Musicmaster Bass amp is "loud" if I'm standing right next to it and it's wide open, but the BM is, to me, bordering on painfully loud at that proximity. May just be me. Sensitive ears, possibly (what's left of them!) lol

Interesting. For what it's worth, I play with a guy who uses a 100W Two Rock through a 2x12. So loud is probably quite subjective. Both cabs I have are closed back with some sort of porting. The tone ring on the Showman cab is the mechanism there, and my 2x12 is a port city, so it's got the slit on the bottom. It's supposed to be the best of both worlds, but probably is slightly less efficient.

In any case, as you may imagine, trying to find the right amp for that gig has not been easy. I did one with Bandmaster. I had the 1x15 and I was dimed for these:

XL2zBqGM2zY

AaAV_YNZOLs

Write down the date on the transformers and you can get the year that way. Also there is a date code for the Jensen C12N speakers. You take the cover off the cab and you can see the date codes on the speaker metal frame.

Here is an example from my Vibro Champ. The Middle 2 digits indicate 1968.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/TPmXBNQeDmI/AAAAAAAAAaE/9eqk5nfHUGU/s720/DSCF3399.JPG

Here is the choke in my Bandmaster. The 4 in the middle indicated 1964.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8qx5ZsHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/3Fjk9VwrDSM/s720/DSCF1964.JPG

Here is a transformer in my Bandmaster. It has been replaced with one dated in 1970. Indicated by the 0 in the middle.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S0E8wg3Ub6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/ZvTBFkByBrk/s720/DSCF1966.JPG

Finally here is a 1964 Jensen C12N speaker. SN reads 220, then 04 indicating a 1964 year, and 47, for 47th week of 1964 I believe:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6MFpZoyzJY8/S2kLWUJifmI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/mIR7f9zh2Dk/s720/DSCF2082.JPG

The 22 means Jensen, if I understand correctly. Agree with the rest - that is how I dated my Eminence 12" - 67 (Eminence) 8736 - week 36 of 1987. Unless I have been told porkies

Here's my 68. I had to rebuild the cab to make it a manageable size to cart around. probably sacrelige, but they're available for the purists. It's got a set of Jensen jets in it, and no chambering. (which made the sound real one dimensional). I'm pretty happy with it, it's a keeper.

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/chippertheripper/3b28b55b.jpg

Here mine 1962 - with original 2 x 12 bell speakers , she sounds fantasic

Just finished building the 2 x 12 cab I have been planning for ages to go with my '72 Reverb head. 2 x 12" Eminence, bushes on the top for the thumbs screws - quite pleased with myself

Very nice Langers. Good work. Now all it needs is a chrome "Langers" logo.

http://home.gci.net/~dnvmiller/P1010003%20(Small).jpg

From a few years ago...Saturday Market in downtown Anchorage circa 2002(?)This was about the time I realized I was too old and fat to look good in boot cut jeans and cowboy boots...

The SF BM head was an ebay score...$200 shipped...I got the Carvin cab on a rush basis..ordered it on Sunday for a gig the following Saturday and had it by Wednesday. Every now and then I think about getting an actual Fender or aftermarket Bandmaster cab, but the Carvin seems to be just fine. The SF Bandmaster has been semi retired for a DRRI.

My first real amp was a BF BM and cab...pristine...which I sold for peanuts while I was in college...

Thanks mate - and also for your steers when I first appeared on this forum. I am working on customising the Fender logo to make Langers - only a few letters different and hopefully have a man who has a workshop who can laser cut some steel. Will post pics as and when

Help - cab all wired up in parallel but only sound coming from one speaker :-(
I didnlt have chance to trial them before I installed them but am using a brand new wiring harness from Mojotone. The speaker that is working is the second in the chain. The wires from the connectors on the speakers to the cones are ok, so I am a bit baffled. Any ideas, anybody?

Langers, you need to post this at Amp Central Station. You'll get a lot of help. It has to be something simple. I'd try the speakers one at a time. Are you running two 8 ohm speakers in parallel? Also you might switch the speaker leads and see if the problem follows the leads.

Tim

Thanks - I have posted to Amp Central - loads of looks but no solutions yet! I have just tried the 9 volt battery test. The good speaker cone deflects well and makes a full sound. The suspect speaker cone deflects only slighty and make a tinny cracking sound. I have a feeling that this points to a voice coil failure - any thoughts?

Thanks chap

Langers

Langers, that's a bummer but these things happen. I hope whoever you got the speakers from will make it right. Were the speakers new or used? If they were used, the seller must have known one wasn't working.

Tim

The speakers were used, taken from an old Fender 4 x 12. The vendor said he tested them before he removed them but not before he despatched them. May have taken a bash in transit but they certainly looked ok, which is why I didn;t test them before fitting - my mistake, but there you are. He has offered to refund the cost of the speaker and I will try to have it repaired. If not, I will have to look elsewhere. If any replacement speakers have different mounting hole spacing, then I shall have to replace the speaker baffle, which will take a couple of hours but is no great shakes. I'll keep you posted, and thanks for your interest and advice

I wished you lived closer Langers. I have several new-like speakers I pulled from a Fender cab. I'd give you one. Good luck with it.

Tim - you are a true gent - that is a very generous offer. Sadly, Buckinghamshire to your neck of the woods is a bit too far! A mate from work, who is also a guitarist as well as a comms engineer, has offered to check it over for me tomorrow. He builds guitars, modifies pedals etc so is way ahead of me on the electronics front ( which isn't hard ) so hopefully he will be able to identify the cause and perhaps even fix it.
Another friend ( a bag pipe player and aircraft engineer ) has worked up a Langers logo using the Fender type font. He is going to send it to me and I shall see if yet another friend ( the other guitarist in my band ) can get it made in the workshop that is part of his responsibility. Friends are great - friends who can do stuff like this are even better!
Fingers crossed - will keep you posted!

Here's my '66 in a Mather 1x15 cabinet I had built along with a custom Weber ceramic Blue Dog @ 4 ohms with a 100 watt voice coil.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/b376/slider313/Picture1241.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/b376/slider313/Picture1248.jpg

Howdy:

Proud owner of a '64 head. Curious, are those new caps? Mine amp has Mallory caps. Curious which ones are original to the amp.

Howdy back to ya! I have a completely original 65 and it has orange Mallorys.

Tim - you are a true gent - that is a very generous offer. Sadly, Buckinghamshire to your neck of the woods is a bit too far! A mate from work, who is also a guitarist as well as a comms engineer, has offered to check it over for me tomorrow. He builds guitars, modifies pedals etc so is way ahead of me on the electronics front ( which isn't hard ) so hopefully he will be able to identify the cause and perhaps even fix it.
Another friend ( a bag pipe player and aircraft engineer ) has worked up a Langers logo using the Fender type font. He is going to send it to me and I shall see if yet another friend ( the other guitarist in my band ) can get it made in the workshop that is part of his responsibility. Friends are great - friends who can do stuff like this are even better!
Fingers crossed - will keep you posted!

Second speaker definitely buggered. Cab partially deconstructed to remove shagged speaker - awaiting replacement through the good offices of electronic-bay. It will be another Eminence and hopefully I won't have to re-position the speaker mounting bolts. Bloke who sold me the originals has refunded the cost of the dud unit - top piece of after sales service - lookin forward to having it sorted, properly, and for good!

Tim - you are a true gent - that is a very generous offer. Sadly, Buckinghamshire to your neck of the woods is a bit too far! A mate from work, who is also a guitarist as well as a comms engineer, has offered to check it over for me tomorrow. He builds guitars, modifies pedals etc so is way ahead of me on the electronics front ( which isn't hard ) so hopefully he will be able to identify the cause and perhaps even fix it.
Another friend ( a bag pipe player and aircraft engineer ) has worked up a Langers logo using the Fender type font. He is going to send it to me and I shall see if yet another friend ( the other guitarist in my band ) can get it made in the workshop that is part of his responsibility. Friends are great - friends who can do stuff like this are even better!
Fingers crossed - will keep you posted!

Cab now squared away - 2 new (to me!) Eminence speakers, both taken from Blues Deluxes - very similar to those in my Blues Deville. Love the sound, the Bandmaster is soo groovy:razz:

I was wondering how you fared Langers. It's good to hear the Bandmaster is back on the line.

I was wondering how you fared Langers. It's good to hear the Bandmaster is back on the line.

Thanks chap - it is and it sounds absolutey fabulous. Now have an embarrassment of riches - '68 AC30, '72 Bandmaster Reverb and '94 Blues Deville 2x12 - and I love 'em all!

Thanks chap - it is and it sounds absolutey fabulous. Now have an embarrassment of riches - '68 AC30, '72 Bandmaster Reverb and '94 Blues Deville 2x12 - and I love 'em all!

A couple of pics of the properly finished article

I recently picked up a late '63 transitional AA763 Bandmaster and had it completely serviced (caps, grounded power cable, etc.).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/beatcomber/1963%20Fender%20Bandmaster/2203full.jpg

The speakers are Oxford 12T6's, one each from '69 and '71, and they sound a bit ratty when pushed. I guess that's why they're commonly called "Oxfarts."

Yesterday, as an experiment, I dropped in the only spare set of speakers I have: Weber Signature 12's. One is ceramic and one is alnico. The breakup was smoother, but they are way too bright with that amp, no bass at all.

I put the Oxfarts back in for now...

I recently picked up a late '63 transitional AA763 Bandmaster and had it completely serviced (caps, grounded power cable, etc.).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/beatcomber/1963%20Fender%20Bandmaster/2203full.jpg

The speakers are Oxford 12T6's, one each from '69 and '71, and they sound a bit ratty when pushed. I guess that's why they're commonly called "Oxfarts."

Yesterday, as an experiment, I dropped in the only spare set of speakers I have: Weber Signature 12's. One is ceramic and one is alnico. The breakup was smoother, but they are way too bright with that amp, no bass at all.

I put the Oxfarts back in for now...

I really like the Eminence 12" I put in my cab - both from Blues Deluxe combos - nice and tight, not too bright but not too bassy

Thanks, Langers!

I like the tonal range and flavor of the Oxfords, I just wish they were smoother.

Beatcomber, that BM looks cool. You planning any grill cloth repairs, or leaving as-is? Any harming in asking your purchase price? Thx.

Beatcomber, that BM looks cool. You planning any grill cloth repairs, or leaving as-is? Any harming in asking your purchase price? Thx.

Hell no, I'm leaving the grill as is! :)

I bought it from Jay Rosen for $1350 shipped, but it needed work and Jay refunded $100 towards that.

hi all, I'm adding my Silverface Bandmaster Reverb to this thread. I believe it's a '73 model but I would need to double check as I haven't checked the interior for a while.

I replaced the faceplate by a brand new one (NOS) and changed the jewel light for a blue one. It's an export model and sports the mutli voltage converter. Pictured with my CS Olympic White 65 Strat.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285472_2170936549046_1115719683_32583106_6551573_n .jpg

Fred

Here's my Bandmasters. A 1966 head I bought used in 1974 with a 1965 Bassman 2x12" cabinet. I recovered the speaker cab and relocated the head mounting bolts to match the Bandmaster head. Grill cloth is original on both and naturally faded to a champagne color.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/DonC1966/DCP00853a.jpg


This one is a 1964 Bandmaster in a 2x10" combo with Utah speakers.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/DonC1966/DCP_1330Small.jpg

My 61 head to 3x10 http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h349/paulmantello/IMG_0183.jpg

Got me a 66 head. Cranked all the way with a Les Paul I swear I hear some Neil Young in there.

I figured I would ask you guys since you seem to know them best. How do they compare with a Super Reverb. I work at a music store and found a blackface head lying in back in good condition. I havent found the cab for it if its even there. Im thinking about buying it and thought I could get some advice.

Nobody has responded countrybluesman, so I'll chirp in. I don't own a Super Reverb, and have never played one. However, if you found an old Blackface Bandmaster head lying around in good condition, revive it! Especially if the price is right. BF head only, in decent working condition will pull in $600 to $650 I'd say. Mine sounds great. Lots of clean headroom, and very loud if need be. Try it out!

I figured I would ask you guys since you seem to know them best. How do they compare with a Super Reverb. I work at a music store and found a blackface head lying in back in good condition. I havent found the cab for it if its even there. Im thinking about buying it and thought I could get some advice.

I've had a Super and I like the BM a LOT better. Warmer tone...breaks up at lower volume.

I have a 65 BM

AND I am sorting out a 69/70 BMR that I got for cheap

I'm not playin them through a "correct" cab. I'm fighting an urge...cuz there's no REAL NEED...to snatch a '66 cab off CL for $300...its got Weber Mich.s in it

So what do you guys think a Blackface Bandmaster in good condition should sell for?

$1200 for a matched set would be my guess.

So what do you guys think a Blackface Bandmaster in good condition should sell for?

I've been using

http://instrument.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/music.cgi?cat=msg&fil=bandmaster

for look sees.

1970 BMR Update:

- obtained cheaply
- had replaced PT (1963 Fender Schumacher surprisingly, but no 5V tap)
- scored a correct '70 PT on ebay (how coincidental that one should be available)
- local tech resurrected the head in 3 hrs "while-you-wait" style...cap job...few resistors...new PT...clean..re-tension
- tubed up with OS outta my stash

real nice tone...normal ch same as BM but 5AR4 rectified.
vibrato channel has one more gain stage (reverb) compared to BM, so it has more balls + the tube rect again.

BMs and BMRs are really nice sized (output) Fender amps...whatta value


So to sum up:

- knew that I liked BMs cuz I have a 66
- knew that I liked tube rectification (mullard 5AR4s rule)
- scored the BMR cheap at a guit swap meet via trade (strat body) + minimal cash (the seller also sold a silverface BM for $350 that day, so he was dealin') and the BMR I got "needed work"
- PT turned out to be 1963 125P19A...not right...but rare & mebbe worth $$...amp was therefore operating with SS rect. (diodes)
- scored 125P5D (022798) PT on the bay
- tech got it going with $100 parts / $100 labor in 3 hours with my tubes and PT
- It all works..rev and trem are great

My recently acquired 64 and 65 BM headshttp://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h349/paulmantello/IMG_0343.jpg

It never stops................I was sorely tempted by a Les Paul Goldtop Double Cutaway with soapbars in October in Macari's shop in the legendary Denmark Street, London. I looked again in November and finally caved in 3 weeks ago. It is amazing - won't replace the Strat but sounds wonderful through the Bandmaster. And now I DO need to stop buying gear - the kids need new shoes!!!!!

Well I finally joined the Bandmaster club, bought a pretty beat up head and cab for cheap, someone in the past had put twin reverb transformers but they are now switched back to some new copies of the original. Also someone drilled a hole in the bottom of the head for a cooling thing. the cab is all original but the tolex is rough. Hey its a great amp for gigging with and thats why I bought it.

I'm feeling pretty good about my Bandmaster this morning, while cruising the forum with a coffee. Nothing new to share, but just wanted to say how pleased I am with my '64. I brought it out last night to play with a new group last night. There were 4 of us. Dummer, bass, another guitar and me. I bought along my ES-339. Coupled with my Bandmaster was awesome. I tend to get complacent at home and just get used to my tone. Bringing my rig out and playing with other guys shot up my adrenaline again. I had several comments from the group about my tone. It was killer, and cut through nicely. It was crisp, articulate, meaty when I wanted it to be. My cleans were killin the room. The tremolo was a hi-light. When I kicked it in, it was like sweet honey. After our jam, guys turned to my amp and asked about it. They sniffed it and were lovin the old hot tube musty pine scent. LOL! They were taken aback when I told them it was a 1964 original. None of them had really spent much time around, or gave too much consideration to vintage Fenders before. They now have been schooled. We all know it, we live here in this forum as we are owners of such wonderful amps. Leo was 'da man.

Just got my first vintage amp. A '67 Bandmaster, 2x12 cab with original oxfords. Sounds absolutely incredible! The tremolo knocks me out every time I turn it on, it's like butter!

Very nice hawkpicker! No doubt it sounds amazing. The tremolo is excellent.

Hey Gang! Great to find this Bandmaster thread, some great looking amps on here. I have a '64 that I really love. Back in the day I would plug it into an Ampeg V-4 4x12 cab, and I had a tuner pedal with stereo outs that I would run into both sides of the amp at the same time and just turn everything pretty much all the way up. Beautiful power tube crunch that sounded so good through the 4x12. I put up a little Soundcloud clip so interested peoples can hear what it was like:

http://soundcloud.com/guvnortarkin/keep-dreamin-alternate

The recording and playing are very crude, and this clip was salvaged from an old cassette tape that was about to give up the ghost but I think you will get the idea. Les Paul Deluxe with p-90s straight into the amp.

http://i48.tinypic.com/jtmmo9.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/315fhw6.jpg

The amp is a 5E7 clone that I just picked up used. I got the Edwards Light Beam volume pedal about a year ago.

I'll join the club. I've had my SF BMR for going on 5 years and love it more every day. I think it's a '77 and I paid about $400 for it. Had it re-tubed and replaced the reverb tank last year, which made a big difference. This one has the master volume, which I pretty much leave dimed and dial myself in with the the vibrato channel's volume. Sounds great all the way up to 9.

My cabinet is a home-made job that I snagged from craigslist for free. It's a 2X12 solid pine, closed box. Loaded w/ 1 vintage 30 and 1 Carvin "British Series" -- the old ones, 100 watts, made by Eminence -- it's a great combination. I get the icier breakup with the v30, and soaring cleans from the BR12 -- also noticed a massive improvement on my bottom end when I added the BR12 (used to run two v30s). Now I rarely roll the bass past 4.

This is probably common knowledge around here, but a trick I learned -- I was unhappy with the vibrato channel, it just sounded a bit "choked," but I didn't want to sacrifice the vibrato and reverb. I removed the 12ax7 preamp tube from the "normal" channel altogether, and now the vibrato channel sounds amazing. I read somewhere that all the AB763 type circuits, including Twins, Supers, etc, are designed to "leak" signal between the two channels. Removing the preamp tube from the channel you're not using sends a stronger signal to the gain stage tube for the vibrato channel.

Also, having the spare 12ax7 allows for an additional tube-pluggin' "mod" -- use it to replace the 12at7 for the Phase Inverter tube, and you drastically decrease your clean headroom -- a great little trick for recording or practicing at low volumes.

Here's mine, I just need a Reverb Tank to pair with it!!!

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.

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!

Price check?
Can anyone give me an idea on a fair price to pay for this '63 Blonde?
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w470/rebelwithoutaclue/Bandmaster.jpg

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.

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.

http://thrill.org/Studio/stack1a.JPG

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...

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/members/wagster-albums-juniors-picture53566-img-0572.jpg

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 !!!

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

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

Best of both worlds !

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.

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

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 :sad:

I restored it to its original glory

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 :sad:

I restored it to its original glory

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

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

Thanks it is sweet !

I got the e-mail from fender about the CS Bandmaster

Big $$$$$$

Looks like the new 57 Bandmaster will have a street price of $2500, which is in the same territory as stuff like Marshall hand wired amps.

Anybody know much about the blonde era Bandmaster? I saw one locally recently but didn't get to plug it in. Do they sound at all similar to the blonde Bassman?

Some further sacrilege from my post on page 2
My 68:

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/chippertheripper/BE8500D9-EC47-4AE7-8A0A-A240A98E395D-107-000000014D980553.jpg

Big ups to uncle fezz for the free cab.

I see it as an excellent use of a Bandmaster chassis and if you keep the head cab around it is completely reversible !
2-10 cab ?

In its current state 1-12. I'm enjoying it.

Here is my 1962 , with the original 2 -12's ( Jensen Bell Speakers ),
it sounds fantasic .

I just picked up this al original (except power cord) 63 Bandmaster for $1,000 yesterday. One of the Oxford speakers is frozen and I'm getting it fixed hopefully. I took the head in to get it re-tubed and re-capped. I will have about $1,200 into it. Hopefully this will be all it needs and I'm ready to rock.
Can anybody tell me how many watts this is. Thanks -Kungfumailman

Should be 40 Watts and 8 ohm output , see my 62 posted . Great amp , good price !

65 running through the mesa, vintage 30s. Just screwing around on some sloppy stones. I don't use the original cab much. Not that I dislike it, but just try to keep the work off the old JBL D131s. Currently running yellowjackets with JJ EL84s but thinking about going back to 6l6s. Just guitar into amp, cranked up pretty loud. This video is from my phone, definitely sounds better in person.

0Vp3vm_o558

Yes the Fender logo should be on an angle. I recently bought the amp, and this is how it arrived. I should change it back. However...There's something cool about owing a 46 year old amp and the stories it must hold. I wish I knew all the previous owners, and venues this amp played in. 46 years worth of music is a long time. Many changes in rock'n roll history happened in those 46 years. The grill cloth should be silver too, but it's yellow stain, most likely comes from years of cigaratte smoke. Did it spend lt's life in a smokey old tavern in small town USA? Who knows? It may have sat in a closet through all of the 80's when everyone thought old Fender amps sucked. Maybe the logo fell off and was replaced by someone who had no idea.

We'll never know. But holding and playing though a piece of Rock'n Roll history is pretty darn cool to a die hard guitarist, who can dream of a time when Leo Fender built the tools to change music forever.

I've got some nice vintage stuff and I often wonder the same thing. I have a '52 gold top and it has had a neck reset to accomodate an ABR-1 and a Bigsby. I wonder where it's been, who has owned and what kind of stuff was played on it. It was around before Rock & Roll. It's pretty beat so it's seen alot of gigs down thru the yrs.

Bandmasters are great amps. Still reasonably priced too. Congrats on yours.

Here is my 1962 , with the original 2 -12's ( Jensen Bell Speakers ),
it sounds fantasic .

Should be 40 Watts and 8 ohm output , see my 62 posted . Great amp , good price !

2 speakers, shouldn't it be 4 ohm output? My '62 is.