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Post subject: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:25 pm
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I recently received a amp from my neighbor that he had for years stored in his garage. I was wondering if someone could help me date it. Its the AA763 model head which from what i can read they say it is from 1961-1963, but i would like to be 100% sure. Here a picture of it right out of his garage (Its a bit dirty) http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac14 ... 8440_n.jpg


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:02 pm
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Pull the chassis from the head cabinet and take a look at the EIA codes stamped on each transformer. The numbers will reveal the date those components were manufactured. There may be a date instamped within the chassis itself, on the underside adjacent to the power tranny. From there, take a look at the tube chart inside the cab. If present and original, you'll find a two-letter code ink-stamped on it. Note the letters and compare all of your collected data with what's posted on this web site......

http://www.superiormusic.com/page195.htm

From what I can see from the single photo, the amp probably dates somewhere between 1965 and early 1967. The speaker enclosure appears to be a 2 x 15 Showman cab but a check of the dimensions will confirm (a Showman measures 24" x 36" x 11.5").

HTH

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: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 8:23 pm
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Well as a first observation i looked at the two letter ink stamped on the inside of the chassis, and i think (almost positive) that the letters are NA, ive never done this before so ill post a pic and let you decide.
http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac14 ... CI1253.jpg
From what i can tell thats a clear indicator of a Jan 1964 amp, but ill do the rest of what you said and post after.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 8:28 pm
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From what i can see it looked like there may have been a time stamp on the inside of the chassis, but is barely readable due to slight burn marks near a ground.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:00 pm
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Indeed, January of 1964. Sometime shortly thereafter, the AB763 circuit revision was developed -- which makes this amp somewhat noteworthy. The few AA763's I've seen previous to this have all had the smooth blonde Tolex with the gold metallic-weave grill cloth.

How does it sound?

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: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:20 pm
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I just recently put new tubes in it, so really good. I've never played a tube amp before this one so it took me a bit to get used to the tubes having to heat up before play. I'm a pretty new musician so as far as the technical stuff goes i wouldn't be able to tell ya. Its got a very warm clean sound to it though, friend and i liked hearing "beach tones" coming out of it the most.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:22 am
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I play this "utility rig" on stage periodically......

Image

It's a '66 Bandmaster with a home-cloned Dual Showman cab stuffed with a pair of Celestion Vintage 30's. It's pretty ballsy and plenty loud for most medium-sized saloons. The Bandmaster is a great platform for pedals of all types and will do just about any genre of music except mebbe speed metal.

HTH

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: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:26 am
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Yeah, my friends and i play something thats like a mixture of indie and bluegrass. Works pretty well for what we use it for. We just have a lot of fun jammin in my friends basement for now so i really haven't been able to see how balsey the amp is quite yet. but rest assured i am looking forward to it now. Thats if i can manage to keep my girlfriend from selling it when i'm not home. A guy at Guitar Center told her how much it might be worth and now shes determined to convince me to sell.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bandmaster
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:59 am
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I was thinking of maybe cleaning mine up a bit but i don't want to chance ruining it. You wouldn't happen to know some good ways to clean old amps like this would ya?


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