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Post subject: Why no reverb on "blackface" piggybacks?
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:55 am
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I've been looking into getting a Tremolux or a Bandmaster "blackface" but I've always wondered why Fender never put reverb on any of these amps. Was there any particiular reason or did they just figure that the players using these amps would most likely also have an outboard reverb tank?


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Post subject: Re: Why no reverb on "blackface" piggybacks?
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 12:27 pm
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Piggybacks came out before the outboard reverb tank, so instead of changing the cabinet and chassis dimensions (Leo didn't waste anything), they built new models in the combo chassis first as improved combo models.

I don't miss the reverb on my Bandmaster or Showman, but find that when I need things a little more atmospheric, my TC Electronic Flashback set on "Tape" works great. Would love a tank, but that's yet more gear to schlep around. Also in a 7 piece band, having reverb can sometimes be too much - having things more contained gives more space to the other guitar player and the keyboard player.

Just a thought. Bandmaster piggyback is a great amp head, and makes a fine 2x12 combo as well...

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Post subject: Re: Why no reverb on "blackface" piggybacks?
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 1:00 pm
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nedorama wrote:
Piggybacks came out before the outboard reverb tank, so instead of changing the cabinet and chassis dimensions (Leo didn't waste anything), they built new models in the combo chassis first as improved combo models.


+1

On-board reverb required two additional tubes (driver and recovery). As well, the original head cabinets were too short to provide sufficient clearance for the reverb tank -- that's why the later reverb-equipped models of the Dual Showman and Bandmaster ended up in head cabinets nearly twice as tall as their non-reverb forebears.

Arjay

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