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Post subject: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 2:10 pm
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So I’ve had a bandmaster for over 25 years that has always has a special mojo. It has been used pretty consistently in that time but not a lot (rehearsals, occasional gig). I recently took it a new tech to get it’s annual checkup and he marveled at it. Apparently it has the original caps and they test like new and the choke and transformers date from around 64’. I’m pretty sure I’m the third owner of this amp and I don’t believe the two guys before me modified it so now I’m curious as to its history. Anyone have any ideas as to mystery of this amp?


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:02 pm
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Have any photos of it?

Thanks!

:)


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:32 pm
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Thus far, you haven't presented any "mystery".

You have an old Bandmaster -- that's all we know at this point.

If you want to track its history then you do it by the numbers......

Tranny numbers (mfg ID & date codes, Fender P/N)

Ink-stamped numbers on the underside of the chassis

Pot codes (mfg ID and date)

Ink-stamped numbers on the interior of the cabinet (if visible)

Date codes on the electrolytic caps under the doghouse (if the caps are original)

Chassis serial number

Once all that data is known and collated a picture of the amp's history will begin to emerge

If the amp is a silverface, forget about using the tube chart to determine anything. Its only purpose is as a placement guide when the bottles get tired and it's time for new ones.

Good, hi-rez photos would be extremely helpful.

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: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:35 am
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The mystery is "an apparently stock '70/'71 Bandmaster has '64 transformers".

While Fenders are often made of mixed-date parts, a set of transformers sitting on a shelf for 6 years before being put into an amp would be unusual.
----------------------
Of course that's relying on the tech's interpretation of the transformer codes.


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:39 am
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Wow, sorry for taking 8 months to reply. So, new tech, new information. There is no serial number on the back of the amp as a mod damaged it. The choke is 63, the input and output transformers are 64 and 65. The pots are 74 and 75, and the badge is 76 because it is missing the tail. My tech says the transformer looks too big and that the circuit looks more twin than bandmaster, kind of hybrid. He believes that before the changeover in 76 when they added the mid control, they cleaned out a closet and they put together whatever worked and my frankenstein was born. He agrees that it sounds like no bandmaster he has ever heard. It is big and bassy, almost agressive sounding. Like a beautiful woman slapping you, but in a fun way. If that makes sense hahaha. Every bandmaster I’ve ever played is sweet and mellow, the complete opposite of mine. An evil twin sister if you will. Thanks for the replies everyone!


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2019 10:23 pm
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Photos of the chassis, circuitry, transformers, pots, speakers, & any labels or manufacturer's stampings would definitely help figure out the origin of components, in your "hybrid" amp.

:)


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 2:07 am
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Sounds more like an ultralinear Bandmaster Reverb to me. Does the "normal" channel have a mid control? Master volume with pull boost?
<edit>
That would explain the larger transformer(s), the mention of the mid control.
Image


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Post subject: Re: Magic 70 or 71 Bandmaster
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:20 pm
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vinyl wrote:
Sounds more like an ultralinear Bandmaster Reverb to me.


If that be the case (and I suspect it is) then the amp would have a solid-state diode stack in lieu of a tube rectifier. Just like the Pro Reverb and Super Reverb of similar vintage. Which in practical terms it's really not a Bandmaster at all.

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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