grolan1
Friend of Leo's
Yep, basically the same amp pre-CBS and post. That in itself is a bit crazy.... I guess I'm glad my Tremolux is a 64...
PSA - Craigslist Sacramento Fender Bandmaster Blonde
- Thread starter ozcal
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Yep, basically the same amp pre-CBS and post. That in itself is a bit crazy.... I guess I'm glad my Tremolux is a 64...
old goat
Tele-Holic
I think the prices people are getting for old Fenders is based in large part on what people are paying for similar quality hand wired clones.
grolan1
Friend of Leo's
That was kind of my point.. build one now and see what it cost you.
deytookerjaabs
Friend of Leo's
Edit, nevermind, wrong amp, lol.
Last edited:
keithb7
Poster Extraordinaire
I have a BF '64 Bandmaster head, and original cab too. Is this blonde identical aside from the blonde tolex? Harmonic trem? Or does this blonde have roach trem. Mine is a Dec '64 production run. Roach trem. The very last before CBS took over in Jan 1965.
Fixed that for you
That's little to close to me Sac/EG (must be Elk Grove) 40 minute drive. Got me thinking.
theprofessor
Poster Extraordinaire
No way I'm paying $2100 for a 64 Bandmaster. Instead, I'm saving myself $200 and buying a Victoria 2X12 Deluxe like this one. https://reverb.com/item/2733100-vic...-tube-amp-2x12-tweed-6v6-5e3-circuit-usa-made
If I'm going to spend that kind of money, that makes sense to me. A blackface Bandmaster like the one I used to have--no.
If I'm going to spend that kind of money, that makes sense to me. A blackface Bandmaster like the one I used to have--no.
Bob M
Friend of Leo's
The guy wouldn't ship it to MA! That aside I would equate this (vintage amps in general) to owning a classic car-It is impractical and hard to justify, but you want it. If you have the disposable income and want to turn back the calendar, you do it. I am not concerned about the investment value of my '65 Tremolux, but every guitar player over age 50 that sees it drools over it.
theprofessor
Poster Extraordinaire
That's a good analogy. It makes sense of a lot of things. Sorry he wouldn't ship to MA!
grolan1
Friend of Leo's
Everyone has there thinking and I agree, I wouldn't dump $2100 in a 64 BM, but then again, I would spend $1850 in a tweed Deluxe either.
Agree - it's like big boys with there toys. No so much if it's totally worth it as an investment, more it's something I want and can afford. I love my BF Tremolux and would never trade it in for a 63-65 Bandmaster no matter what the price.
just sent him a message asked if it was still avalible,
jguitarman
Tele-Afflicted
Here's another ad also from our area area... (link removed)
This ad has also been up several times and again I think it's a very good deal. I don't like the huge speaker cab and you won't be carrying it around in your Smart car but for $700.? The head is a black line which indicates a very early drip edge and it has been serviced by a very reputable amp tech.
This ad has also been up several times and again I think it's a very good deal. I don't like the huge speaker cab and you won't be carrying it around in your Smart car but for $700.? The head is a black line which indicates a very early drip edge and it has been serviced by a very reputable amp tech.
Bob M
Friend of Leo's
Those late '60s 2 x 12 cabs were monsters. For a while I had a Dual Showman Reverb with 2 15" D 140f JBLs. Hernia inducing for sure.
muchxs
Doctor of Teleocity
It's the old asking price / selling price game. When asking prices get ridiculous, less ridiculous prices seem reasonable.
Selling prices might seem more reasonable if those high money amps were no BS fully serviced. That means no booby trapped crap that's going to blow up somewhere down the road.
It used to be the old black panel Bandmaster was the red headed stepchild of Fender amplifiers. People bought them because they were cheap. Loads of them got hacked up and modified.
For my money I'd track down an AB763 '68 silverface. I'd stuff it in a combo with a couple Eminence Copperheads, sort of a Poor Man's Vibrolux.
From where I'm standin' I barely see any relationship at all.
It takes a lot more work to wire a Twin Reverb compared to a Princeton Reverb. Original Twins are twice as much amp for half the money, sometimes 1/3 the money.
Remember, kids... fully serviced = more dough. I see amps every day that someone "looked at and gave a clean bill of health". That's often all they did, they looked at it.
Selling prices might seem more reasonable if those high money amps were no BS fully serviced. That means no booby trapped crap that's going to blow up somewhere down the road.
It used to be the old black panel Bandmaster was the red headed stepchild of Fender amplifiers. People bought them because they were cheap. Loads of them got hacked up and modified.
For my money I'd track down an AB763 '68 silverface. I'd stuff it in a combo with a couple Eminence Copperheads, sort of a Poor Man's Vibrolux.
From where I'm standin' I barely see any relationship at all.
It takes a lot more work to wire a Twin Reverb compared to a Princeton Reverb. Original Twins are twice as much amp for half the money, sometimes 1/3 the money.
Remember, kids... fully serviced = more dough. I see amps every day that someone "looked at and gave a clean bill of health". That's often all they did, they looked at it.
"serviced by Skip Simmons" Skip is highly regarded as the go to guy that was one reason i'm having some interest in the Amp. But when was it serviced, what was done those are still questions I'll ask if I get a reply. Quiet honestly something doesn't seem right with that price.
AlbertaGriff
Friend of Leo's
This thread is pretty timely for me, as just this year I picked up a 66 BF Bandmaster and a 67 SF Bassman. Both came with matching original cabs (with non-original speakers). Both all original and in need of servicing. Both for right around these asking prices (though it was in CAD not USD).
Personally I think I got a fair price on both. And I'm really not sure where the dislike of the Bandmaster comes from... I think it's a great sounding amp.
If that Bassman has been serviced, I think that's an awesome price.
Personally I think I got a fair price on both. And I'm really not sure where the dislike of the Bandmaster comes from... I think it's a great sounding amp.
If that Bassman has been serviced, I think that's an awesome price.
grolan1
Friend of Leo's
Speaking of cabinets, looked at the OP link posting again. I believe the cab should have a divider down the middle like this one. Also I have a 64 Tremolux and the speaker baffle board is not plywood like the CL post. Wonder what other changes are lurking inside the head....
Below is my Tremolux cabinet
Below is my Tremolux cabinet
Bob M
Friend of Leo's
Ditto on my '65. I think the tough thing about the piggy back amps is that a lot of them were split up during the '60s and '70s. I know I bought more than one BF head without a matching cab. My '65 Tremolux appears to be an original matched set given the wear on the head and the cab. You don't necessarily have that same issue buying an older combo model.
grolan1
Friend of Leo's
Can't resist - posting my 64 Tremolux pic...
