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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:44 am
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I would love to be able to play a brownface VV or VL, let alone own one. Brownfaces definitely have their own tone. Kinda suped up tweed tone. And like I've said (ad nauseum.... sorry about that)--- the tube driven oscillator tremolo/vibrato section is so unique versus the more common "opto-roach" type of the BF, that alone is worth the price of a "ride" ticket.

It's prolly what gives the Vibro-Champs such great tone (and being single-ended).


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 5:51 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Hey! Don't forget the "Woodies." They ain't bad either.

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BEAUTIFUL!!


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:46 am
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Lawdy lawdy, that's gorgeous!

8) 8) 8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 4:22 am
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Hi guys,
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but perhaps the reason you don't see them in re-issues are they are also labour parts intensive, the tremolo circuit in them alone is very complex, at least compared to other on board tremolos, easily the best tremolo every put into an amp. But it's worth noting the Vibro-King borrowed from the Brownface era, not since the '60 Bandmaster had Fender used a 3X 10 speaker arrangement. Then there's the cosmetic appeal, I guess why Fender are now using that look on their most premium amps.

They are so underrated, I know EVH has stated his favourite amp is his little Blonde Bandmaster he plays at home, he said nothing compares to it cranked up to 10. Also, Setzer still uses Blonde Bassman amps to this day, a pair of them usually.

It's interesting, in Tom Wheelers book, there's a chapter where gurus discuss their favourite all time amp, many of them stated some of the Brown circuits were their favourites...... but they were so short lived, so it makes sense that market strategies are also in place, Blackface, Tweed and SF were all much longer runs, and many more got out there than the Brown face amps.

My favourite amp is definitely my Blonde Brownface '61 Bandmaster, with the Triad 8 Ohm OT. That thing is a tone hound!


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 9:45 am
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I've gotten a blonde Tremolux, since the original post and still have my brownface Pro. Both are very nice amps. Unique tone.

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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 4:30 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
I've gotten a blonde Tremolux, since the original post and still have my brownface Pro. Both are very nice amps. Unique tone.


I love that particular Tremolux, that one would be the AA763 circuit, and unlike it's Brown version, which had no presence control, it got the bright switch added, PLUS, the two channels run in phase with each other, so I would Y-cable those channels and split the tremolo signal for a really nice tremolo, with the normal channel just controlling the lows/bass and the 'vibrato' channel controlling the highs. I just sold a '63 identical to that one!!

The brown circuit was also more labour and parts intensive due (compared to SF and BF) to the phase inverter section of the circuit too. Combine the multi-tube PI and the multi-tube tremolo of the brown amps and that's a LOT of extra parts compared to the SF and BF amps....


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 9:51 pm
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How about a brownface Princeton Reverb?

This is NOT an amp that fender actually built. This is a well done customization of '78 PR that was on craigslist about a year or two ago. I liked it enough to snag the photo off the ad but I did not like it enough to buy it. :P

I wouldn't mind building something similar myself but I can't find anyone that will make that faceplate for me.

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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 10:32 pm
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digdown2001, My Pro has the 6G5-A circuit. Only one tube in the phase inverter (long-tailed). A 7025, instead of a 12AT7. It does have three 12AX7/7025 in the tremolo/vibrato section. Phase-shift oscillator circuit, I believe. Sure gives the craziest surf-music tone to the amp.

Yes, my Tremolux is the AB763 circuit. Both are very nice amps.


http://bmamps.com/Schematics/fender/pro_6g5a_schem.pdf


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 11:24 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
digdown2001, My Pro has the 6G5-A circuit. Only one tube in the phase inverter (long-tailed). A 7025, instead of a 12AT7. It does have three 12AX7/7025 in the tremolo/vibrato section. Phase-shift oscillator circuit, I believe. Sure gives the craziest surf-music tone to the amp.

Yes, my Tremolux is the AB763 circuit. Both are very nice amps.


Absolutely, you can't beat the multi-tube tremolo of the Brownface circuits!! I can plug into a reverb tank, into my Brownface and I'm in surf heaven. I also play a Gretsch 6120 most of the time, and with the highly wound pups in those, the 'G' circuits are just made for 'em.

And I agree, both the AA763 and AB763 are great circuits.

Here's my early '61 Bandmaster....I'm waiting on filter caps right now to arrive in the mail ;)

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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 11:47 pm
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Very nice amp. These older Brownface and Blonde amps have the best wire layout & dressing of any Fender amp of the 1960-80's.

Your amp has some of those great Astron coupling caps, too.

Good luck with the recap job. Should make the amp good for another 40 years. :D


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 11:47 pm
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Nice!

8)

1 x 12 tone-ring cab?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 12:00 am
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Thanks guys :)

Retroverbial wrote:
1 x 12 tone-ring cab?

Arjay


Hi Arjay,
No, I'd kill for one though. The guy who had this amp before me, pulled the old single 12 baffle out and placed a 2X12 baffle in, but he won't part with it. I've tried my best to get him to part with that cab (and importantly the old single 12 baffle), but I've not had any luck yet. I currently have it on an old '62 rough blonde 2X12 cab with oxblood grille and a pair of 16 Ohm speakers wired parallel, nice, but I'd still kill for an original single 12 cab.

Steve


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 12:16 am
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It's still a nice rig with the 2 x 12 enclosure.

What speakers?

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: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 2:14 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
It's still a nice rig with the 2 x 12 enclosure.

What speakers?


Well, funny enough, I actually had a pair of recently re-coned '64 Oxford 12L6-1's that were rated at 16 Ohms. I bought them on the presumption by the seller they were rated at 8 Ohms (I wanted them for a different Blackface project). So, currently they're in there, but I also have a pair of 75Hz Greenbacks on their way (I went with those over the 55Hz versions because of the powerful enough low-mids of the 6G7A). I have to say though, those early Oxfords have a real good sound of their own, nothing like the later ones, I may end up just keeping them in.

Steve


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Post subject: Re: Tell me about Brownface Amps
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 2:34 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Very nice amp. These older Brownface and Blonde amps have the best wire layout & dressing of any Fender amp of the 1960-80's.

Your amp has some of those great Astron coupling caps, too.


Oh yeah, the death cap was also a yellow Astron too, but that's long gone now (that left the day I got the amp). And you're right, the lead dressing was superb in these older Fenders, when CBS kicked in with their changes, things started to change. Not to take anything away from the SF amps, some of them have beautiful tone, but the dressing started to really take a dive around that time....


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