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Post subject: Help w/ Speaker ID '65 Bassman cab
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:36 pm
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As a 50+ year Pro Musician (woodwind) I have always dabbled in all things Fender. I recently cracked open a '65 Bassman 212 (that's been in my studio for over 10yrs) to find a pr of strange speakers.
137 is CTI code but one says Mexico i.e
1st speaker
12-4120 Mexico 985-040696-001B 137-8002
2nd speaker
12-4120 985-040696-001B 137-7813
If I could figure out how to add images.....
any help appreciated


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Post subject: Re: Help w/ Speaker ID '65 Bassman cab
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 10:38 pm
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"137" is the EIA manufacturer's code for CTS (Chicago Telephone System).

Speaker one's suffix indicates it was made during the second week of 1980.

Speaker two was built in the thirteenth week of 1978.

Needless to say, neither of these drivers are original to your '65 Bassman cabinet.

As well, I wouldn't trust that either of them are intended for bass so don't be a hero.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Help w/ Speaker ID '65 Bassman cab
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 6:52 am
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Retroverbial wrote:

I wouldn't trust that either of them are intended for bass so don't be a hero.

Arjay


Thanks for the info and prompt response. I was definitely bummed when I finally saw what was inside tho some guitar player friends have really liked it's sound (w/ my stock '65 Bassman head). As oblivious as I am, I never looked at the bottom either - never noticed some jerk added receivers for casters (I assume Fender never offered that option on the 31.5x20x11) So a very clean but near worthless box - Oh well
But Ha! Guitar Hero not! And I know better to leave Bass to the professionals!


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Post subject: Re: Help w/ Speaker ID '65 Bassman cab
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 7:17 am
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And here's something rather amazing. Tho I'm sure they made a gazillion a week, I came across an ad for an exact dupe of my speaker 1 (12-4120 Mexico 985-040696-001B 137-8002) Same dang week! Trying to see if it's still avail.

http://www.listlux.com/austin/a,55,3664 ... W-ATX-.htm


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Post subject: Re: Help w/ Speaker ID '65 Bassman cab
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 9:38 am
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I would not deem that cabinet to be "worthless". True, the casters were not part of the original kit but so long as the rest of the box is structurally sound it will always have value.

You'll note that the speaker in the ad is a 16-ohm driver. You might check the cab's existing speakers for compatibility. The original drivers would've been eight ohms each, wired in parallel for a total load of four ohms. The 16Ω speakers may be used but only together in pairs. The overall system would then be eight ohms and should be matched to an appropriate audio source. A standard Bassman head is optimized for a 4-ohm load, as are most Fender amps of the era.

Arjay

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