64-67 Blackpanel Fender Collectors

[KeepItSimpleTele]

I’ve worn tweed, and I’ve gone silver, but it’s blackpanel Fender amps for me! Despite having similar circuits in many of these amps, they all sound and feel distinctly different. B+ levels, transformer sizes, rectifier or diodes, and other small details do add up.

Please share pics of vintage blackpanel amps!

PS. I have some vintage 66 grill cloth to put on the Bassman head! It’s too new looking in that nice mojotone head cab!

 

[muscmp]

wow, great pics and collection!
i don't have separate pics of just the black panel so here goes. play music!

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

wow, great pics and collection!
i don't have separate pics of just the black panel so here goes. play music!
View attachment 1078447

Nice! Are your two Bassmans both AB165 circuits?

 

[MuddyWolf]

Black panel?

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

Black panel?

People have called this era of Fender blackface…but ya….that term has recognized negative connotations and a history of dehumanization against black people. I see blackplate or blackpanel used more now when speaking of this era of Fender amps….and rightly so.

 

[Peegoo]

I'm old.

I'm offended by "silverface."

 

[AlbertaGriff]

I only have one, an early '66 Vibrolux Reverb. It's pretty handsome though. I'm also lucky enough to own a late '67 SF Bassman and an early '68 SF Princeton Reverb. Probably wouldn't have been able to afford them if they'd had the black panel exterior, but their guts all look just like the black panel amps. But I digress, here's the Vibrolux:

 

[teletimetx]

As far as the BF Fender amps go, I have only this Tremolux head, from near the end of the era. Built a 2 X 10 cab to go with it. For me, it's mighty fine.

EDIT: I guess I'm not really a collector, but I still like this old Tremolux.

 

[randym]

As a teen, I drooled over the 1969 Fender catalog, so I'm stuck in the silverface amp era, with a 68 Princeton (heavily modded before I got it), a 67 VibroChamp, several tall-boy drip-edge cabinets, and had a 77 Vibrolux.

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

I'm old.

I'm offended by "silverface."

Me too! Silverpanel it is!

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

As far as the BF Fender amps go, I have only this Tremolux head, from near the end of the era. Built a 2 X 10 cab to go with it. For me, it's mighty fine.

View attachment 1078550

EDIT: I guess I'm not really a collector, but I still like this old Tremolux.

Yeah...love the Tremolux. I had been running it through my 2x12"....but once I tried a 2x10" I couldn't go back. Destiny

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

As a teen, I drooled over the 1969 Fender catalog, so I'm stuck in the silverface amp era, with a 68 Princeton (heavily modded before I got it), a 67 VibroChamp, several tall-boy drip-edge cabinets, and had a 77 Vibrolux.

Silverpanel amps rule as well! I keep thinking about getting a silver panel Dual Showman....but I know once I start collecting I'll be hard to stop

 

[MuddyWolf]

Me too! Silverpanel it is!

I'm offended by the word panel. I don't know why but if I can make someone feel a sense of guilt I will find a reason.
Fender amps should be called (year) face.
Example 1969Face.

Oh wait someone without a face will object. And people who's cars are missing a fender....

 

[Intubator]

Here's my '66 black face Bandmaster. It's a real jewel all original exc removed the rear AC recepticle for a post PI master volume. Beautiful sounding through the 2X12 Bassman cab below it which I believe is a '64 based on the speaker codes.

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

I'm offended by the word panel. I don't know why but if I can make someone feel a sense of guilt I will find a reason.
Fender amps should be called (year) face.
Example 1969Face.

Oh wait someone without a face will object. And people who's cars are missing a fender....

Conversation and jabs are all good but making people feel guilty?...no...not into doing that or feeling it. I am into respecting that some terms are loaded with extremely dehumanizing pasts though. No joke.

Blackpanel Fender amps though...keep the pics coming as that is what this thread was started for!

 

[ETMusic777]

Me too! Silverpanel it is!

Bloodpanel is more like it for you old guys. just kidding (Im getting there myself).

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

Here's my '66 black face Bandmaster. It's a real jewel all original exc removed the rear AC recepticle for a post PI master volume. Beautiful sounding through the 2X12 Bassman cab below it which I believe is a '64 based on the speaker codes.

View attachment 1078686

That's a real gem! The Bandmaster is quickly becoming my fav. Firmer than the smaller blackpanel amps, yet sweeter sounding than my Bassman. Great for pedals too.

 

[teletimetx]

Pretty sure no one ever considered that the color of the face panel of an amp signified anything other than the actual color. Purely descriptive, without looking for tangential meaning. As in the "face panel" of any sign is the primary display area - the functional portion of the sign that faces the reader of the sign, etc. I have only ever encountered the term being used in this descriptive, albeit short hand manner.

Language, however, is a living adjunct to communication. IDK, go with the flow, say it is so or say it ain't. Still enjoy every chance I flip the switches on the Tremolux.

 

[ETMusic777]

As a teen, I drooled over the 1969 Fender catalog, so I'm stuck in the silverface amp era, with a 68 Princeton (heavily modded before I got it), a 67 VibroChamp, several tall-boy drip-edge cabinets, and had a 77 Vibrolux. -randym

The 1969 Fender Catalog is an absolute work of art. Check it out at the link below. Lots of "right clickers". Its a must see event.

1969 Fender Lovin' Care musical instruments catalog >> Vintage Guitar and Bass

Scan of the 1969 Fender full line catalog. Comprising 48 pages of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, basses, mandolin, banjos, keyboards and amplifiers. Including: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Coronado, Mustang, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision bass, Jazz bass.. and many more

www.vintageguitarandbass.com

All of the prior years, the Fender catalogs were pretty stale, but they went crazy in 1969.

 

[ETMusic777]

Pretty sure no one ever considered that the color of the face panel of an amp signified anything other than the actual color. Purely descriptive, without looking for tangential meaning. As in the "face panel" of any sign is the primary display area - the functional portion of the sign that faces the reader of the sign, etc. I have only ever encountered the term being used in this descriptive, albeit short hand manner.

Language, however, is a living adjunct to communication. IDK, go with the flow, say it is so or say it ain't. Still enjoy every chance I flip the switches on the Tremolux.

All I will say is that term has been used to describe the amps for 60 years, as have "blonde", "tweed", "silverface" etc. If they were Purple, like Apogee products, people would call them "purpleface". It never was intended to "marginalize" anybody. One of the hallmarks of M===xism is to change the definitions of words to suit an agenda. Lots of that going on these days and its not good. Lets keep this a fun topic.