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Post subject: Fender vintage speaker identification
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 1:49 pm
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Well here's another classic post in quest to identify what kind of speakers I've got and when they were made. I just bought this 1965 Twin Reverb (vintage) and the amp has two different speakers in it. Both of them appear to be vintage. The blue speaker on the left has the code V12PC41 and 328632. I believe this second code puts it as a Utah speaker made the 32nd week of 1966? The following numbers are also printed on the backside of the cone as well, 1063083.
The black speaker on the right has the code 22954 and 328606. I suppose that would also make this a Utah speaker made the 6th week of 1966? Another code, C92766, is printed on the speaker as well.
Can anyone confirm this?
Any ideas?
Seems strange that they would both be Utahs from 1966 showing different colors.

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Post subject: Re: Fender vintage speaker identification
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:05 pm
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It would not be unheard of two different color speakers in the same year.They both look the same construction wise. but the color is different.It's more then likely that one of the speakers blew within a few months of the amp being purchased or one blew years later and someone found a very close replacement.
I find it funny you are calling this a 1965 twin with the speakers in it being 66.What are some of the numbers that are on the transformers.It is a lot easier to date a fender with all the numbers available.Cause if you have a 65 with 66 speakers it's more then likely that the speakers blew within a year of production.And fender just shipped whatever it had in stock.


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Post subject: Re: Fender vintage speaker identification
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:14 pm
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joncarr1979 wrote:
It would not be unheard of two different color speakers in the same year.They both look the same construction wise. but the color is different.It's more then likely that one of the speakers blew within a few months of the amp being purchased or one blew years later and someone found a very close replacement.
I find it funny you are calling this a 1965 twin with the speakers in it being 66.What are some of the numbers that are on the transformers.It is a lot easier to date a fender with all the numbers available.Cause if you have a 65 with 66 speakers it's more then likely that the speakers blew within a year of production.And fender just shipped whatever it had in stock.


+1 on all points, JC.

It would be a violation of standing FMI plant policy to mix speakers as these amps were built. And owing to the alleged year of the amp, it's likely that both speakers (which are correctly identified) are in fact replacements.

To determine this amp's pedigree and vintage, the chassis should be pulled and all parts marked with an EIA manufacturer's code be annotated. Usually there will be a date stamp within the chassis adjacent to the PT and biasing circuit that will reveal the week and date that the chassis was assembled (more accurate than relying merely on the tube chart).

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 vintage speaker identification
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:07 pm
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Yes, the amp has been identified as a 1965 twin, based on the serial number on the back of the chassis, the stamped number on the inside of the chassis, two numbers on the inside bottom of the cabinet, inside the reverb box, etc.
However, the mystery will remain, how and why these speakers from 1966 got inside. I wonder how certain it is that this is a sure method of dating the Utah speakers (328632, the 6 standing for 1966?) Either way, the speakers sound great. Thanks for the confirmation and reply!


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Post subject: Re: Fender vintage speaker identification
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:42 pm
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It's doubtful that these speakers date to '56. And I believe by '76 the Utah company had already morphed into what became Pyle Industries. I'm confident that the drivers date to '66.

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 vintage speaker identification
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:30 pm
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On every vintage amp that has had things changed there will be a mystery unless you know the owner(s) from the original date of purchase...I like that,it's a piece of musical history. :D
Things I always wonder about are where the amp has been and who might have played through it,it would be cool to know some of those things.One amp I have came from a session guitarist in Nashville who has played with Peter Frampton quite a bit,if I ever talk to him I would like to know if Frampton plugged into it,it won't make it any more valuable,but it adds to the cool factor.


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Post subject: Re: Fender vintage speaker identification
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:55 pm
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Rebelsoul wrote:
I like that,it's a piece of musical history.


Indeed. Every piece of gear has a story to tell.

According to the seller on Ebay from whom I got my 1980 Princeton, the amp had previously been owned by the guitarist for The Spinners ("I'll Be Around"). Of course, I have no way to verify the assertion. But it's always cool to speculate......

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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