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Post subject: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:33 pm
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Spotted this survivor in my local shop.....1961 ish Blonde Bandmaster head. Possibly changed grill cloth although still very old, some cap work done. Looks like it was painted black at one point too. But all original transformers, and the vibrato channel has been mostly untouched. Looks like someone went a little crazy on the normal channel, not sure if they were trying to modify it somehow? Sounded great through a Marhsall 4x12. Its off to the shops amp techs to get the tremolo back up and running so I will be interested to see what they do to it. I have first crack at it when it returns from the tech, so we'll see if it needs to join the growing herd over here. There was even some nice older tubes in there.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F ... hoto%2cjpg


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:53 pm
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Some gut shots -- if available -- would be invaluable in nailing down the amp's pedigree.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:06 pm
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https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F ... t=album%2c

Whooops...uploaded the one pic....of course I took gut shots....: )

Look at that beautiful old iron....


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:15 pm
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In light of those EIA tranny codes, I'd call the amp a mid-year 1961.

And the P/N for that output tranny indicates an 8-ohm secondary, which in practical terms means that the head was originally intended to be used with the 1 x 12 tone-ring enclosure.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:29 pm
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Everything to me except for the wrong color grill cloth said 1961 to me. If the tech can get the tremolo up and running it would be a nice one to have in the herd. It also looks like it needs a cap job sooner rather than later to me. I was curious as to what the heck the caps on the normal channel side of the amp are. They seemed a bit odd.

That's cool to know about the 8 ohm power transformer. I forgot to look that up.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/162030250640?_tr ... EBIDX%3AIT

This is the kind of cab it would have been paired with I'm guessing?

Thanks for the info!


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:12 pm
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Brownface Super and a Blonde Bandmaster! Awesome amps you have there.


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:29 pm
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Thanks! I have first crack at the Bandmaster, so we'll see what the tech does to it. The techs the store uses usually do the bare minimum to get an amp up and running, so that's a good thing.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F ... hoto%2cjpg

This is my mid life hobby...collecting amps. : ) If my playing ever gets near the tones these guys produce I'll be in seventh heaven, lol.


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:56 pm
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Hokusai22 wrote:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/162030250640?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This is the kind of cab it would have been paired with I'm guessing?


Correct.

Note the dark oxblood grill cloth. The amp head's valence panel should be the same color. And it should have the flat logo with brown inside the "tail". The cabinet's OEM speaker would've been an Oxford 12M6-1 but there are better sonic choices available.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:02 pm
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After seeing all the 1961 codes on it, I thought the wheat was definitely a later addition (although probably my favourite combo). If it is a 1961 there is at least one 1956 pot in there, lol.
Shame that cab is a tad pricy, would probably look good with a Bassman head on it too. And a vintage Jensen C12N in there, which I conveniently own. : )

Thanks again Arjay!


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:08 pm
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A vintage Jensen C12N would be an excellent alternative.

That's actually not a bad price for a nearly-original blonde Bandmaster cab. The Cetec-Gauss speaker is a bit of "overkill" though (it's a 100-watt speaker).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 9:27 am
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Considering how rare those cabinets must be, the base price is quite good. Its the nearly $240 shipping plus exchange rate on top that kills me, lol. Dangers of shipping large heavy objects across many miles. : )

I'll know in a week or so what the tech does to the Bandmaster, and if he can get the tremolo going again, and then can make a decision on everything.


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 10:10 am
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You could build your own cabinet or have one custom-made......

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:36 am
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https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F ... t=album%2c

Ironically I believe my old Jensen is a 1961. Might be time to overpay for that cabinet, lol.


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 8:15 am
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1961 indeed. From the 42nd week. And a gorgeous specimen.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1961 (?) Blonde Bandmaster
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:45 pm
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Great amp!

What are the tonal differences between the Blonde and a later AB763 Bandmaster? Do I need to start hunting for one Arjay? I do love my 65 Bandmaster 2x12 combo with the WGS G12C/S speakers, but always on the lookout for other Fender heads to add to the collection...

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