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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:24 pm
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It's got character nedorama,with some definite work,some cleaning and TLC it will be a good amp,it's like it's been rescued. :D


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:15 pm
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Thanks - that's been my goal with my Princeton Reverb, the Bandmaster, and now the Showman.

I think when I'm done with it I may let our bass player play through it a few times to let him feel the upgrade from his small but good Ampeg B50r...

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:58 pm
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Just received the amp in the mail and unpacked it.

It is a true Showman (vs. a Dual Showman) since the output transformer is the 8 ohm version with the FEIC P/N 125A30A (Thanks Arjay).

Date codes on the Schumacher choke, PT and OT are 33rd week of 65, 38th week of 65, and 49th week of 64.

Chassis stamp A04015 works out to 1965, and Tube chart stamp of OJ is October 65, so I'm fairly confident I have another 65 on my hands, albeit in sore shape. here's a few pics:

Amp from front. Some idiot added a pull boost at some time to the Vibrato volume. ARRRGH!
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The Pull-boost. Only good thing is that it was done with a Dymo.
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Amp from back -yes, someone added a line out and some pot to the vibrato jack.
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Interior wiring - not exactly 1965 stock...
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Amp knobs were odd - instead of set screws, they were allen screws. Haven't seen those before. Odd assortment of pots, guessing multiple not stock.
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Excited!

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:25 pm
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It'll take some patience to square away that circuit but thankfully (and mercifully!) it looks like no additional holes were drilled anywhere. A few vintage parts will easily return the cosmetics to stock trim -- I have everything you need (PM or EM me if you wish to discuss).

Nice score overall!

8)

Rawk on!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:58 am
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Thanks Arjay - you're right on no additional holes, and even a lot of these ills can easily be reversed.

Question - the cab is dirty and slightly sticky; was planning on using a solution of either Simple Green or Murphy's Oil Soap and water with a scrub brush - any recommendations?

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:09 am
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Murphy's Oil Soap usually leaves a slight palpable film unless you wipe it down several times. I find 409 spray cleaner more useful for this chore.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:34 am
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So the pull boost was an addon?

I know nothing about these amps....

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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:56 am
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Pull boost was a Fender feature in the mid to late 70's in reaction to the success of Mesa Boogie. Rather than redesign the entire amp circuitry, they added a small pull boost to the volume knob. I'm not as familiar with that exact circuit, but I have it on my Princeton Reverb and it is the worst ever - definitely added for feature count vs. musical usefullness. But in 1965, this was definitely not a feature.

The pull boost (and the Dymo label) will be removed, as well as any other non-stock mods. Thinking the only mod will be as previously mentioned, turning the unused polarity switch into a half-power switch (vs. pulling tubes).

thanks on the 409 Arjay!

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:31 am
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nedorama wrote:
The pull boost (and the Dymo label) will be removed, as well as any other non-stock mods.


+1

Mine was also rough when found. Here's a brief "before" and "after" photo essay......

Image

Thankfully there were no "improvements" made to the innards.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 10:01 am
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Looks great! Nice job!

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:11 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Murphy's Oil Soap usually leaves a slight palpable film unless you wipe it down several times. I find 409 spray cleaner more useful for this chore.

Arjay

I use 409 to clean the tolex on my old amps,a soft brush helps to clean the rough texture.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:03 pm
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Great score and not as bad looking as I thought it might be...I used Orange Goo Cleaner on the 66 Bassman cab I got and it worked well and left no residue, but have not tried 409, might try that the next time.

Make sure we get pics of the "After".

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:15 pm
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Will do.

Just scrubbed it down with a bristle brush and Simple Green, and wiped down after each brushing with a clean rag. Went through 4 rags, and the tolex is no longer all grimy and sticky.

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:06 am
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Seems to be coming along then. I'm sure there's a lot more to be done but keep us up to date as you progress! :wink:

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"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield


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Post subject: Re: Just bought a Fender Showman to rehabilitate
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:11 am
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Well that's half the fun, right?

Will check on the cab since it dried overnight to see if it needs another scrubbing to get rid of 40+ years of funk (and not the good kind).

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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