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Post subject: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:40 pm
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So here is an amp of one of the members of Hot Tuna from back in the early days. I am trying to find out the year this thing was made and if you think it might be worth getting it fixed up a little.

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3083
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3086
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3077
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3089
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3093
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3080
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3072
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3096
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3099

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:03 pm
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Well, the 5E6 part dates back to circa 1955:

http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-n ... d-bassman/

Schematic:

http://ampwares.com/schematics/bassman_5e6.pdf

Found a nice on on E-Bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1955-Fe ... 0857374350

As far as the mods go, haven't got a clue. It certainly looks worth restoring.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:46 pm
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the label says Bassman, yet the speaker configuration says tweed bandmaster. If you can post images of the chassis and transformer codes, may help matters with folks who know.

the fact that it was an amp from a band back then adds to the coolness; you'd want to keep as is (ie don't take it back to stock) since all that side circuitry (reverb, half power) was added on. By whom will be interesting.

Keep us updated! Great find.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:02 pm
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Yeah Man, go for it!!! Outstanding find!!! Art

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:29 pm
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nedorama wrote:
the label says Bassman, yet the speaker configuration says tweed bandmaster. If you can post images of the chassis and transformer codes, may help matters with folks who know.

the fact that it was an amp from a band back then adds to the coolness; you'd want to keep as is (ie don't take it back to stock) since all that side circuitry (reverb, half power) was added on. By whom will be interesting.

Keep us updated! Great find.


The OP posted this tube chart which clearly says "Bassman":

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3089

If you look at this shot:

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3080

You will see tube sockets for two 6L6s and two 5U4G rectifier tubes.

The 5E6 Bassman used two of these:

http://ampwares.com/schematics/bassman_5e6.pdf

The 5E7 Bandmaster only used one:

http://ampwares.com/schematics/bandmaster_5e7.pdf

Also, the 5E6 Bassman only had two inputs, while the 5E7 Bandmaster had four as can be seen in the schematices. The OP's photos show only two inputs:

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3099

While this amp has three speakers (they appear to be 12" compared to the Bandmaster's 10" speakers), I'm 99.9% sure it is a 5E6 Bassman. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:01 pm
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For sure, Bill. It's my inclination, to think this amp was modded in a solid and substantial fashion. Some maintenance may be needed, but I'd preserve the amp as is. JMHO Art

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:16 pm
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aclempoppi wrote:
For sure, Bill. It's my inclination, to think this amp was modded in a solid and substantial fashion. Some maintenance may be needed, but I'd preserve the amp as is. JMHO Art


Defintely an interesting beast. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:14 am
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From what I have been told, this amp was modded by Randall Smith in the early years of Mesa Boogie. I also have an early Fender Princeton that was supposedly modded by Randall Smith and it has a 12" speaker and some special controls added. Both of these amps were modded in 1970 in the Dog House workshop shack. I am gonna see if I can get in contact with Mesa and see if they have any records of it. I am pretty sure these are both pre-Boogie amps and they were supposedly the ones Hot Tuna recorded with and also played in the Fillmore West in 1971. It is a real possibility that these amps were Jorma Kaukonen's amps in the day. Most of the guys I have been jamming with lately are all from that era and when we are setup in the garage it looks like a 70's flash back with all of the Sunn, Gibson, DOD and old Fender stuff. My shiny new stuff sorta looks awkward in the crowd, but I try to keep up..

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:33 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
nedorama wrote:
the label says Bassman, yet the speaker configuration says tweed bandmaster. If you can post images of the chassis and transformer codes, may help matters with folks who know.

the fact that it was an amp from a band back then adds to the coolness; you'd want to keep as is (ie don't take it back to stock) since all that side circuitry (reverb, half power) was added on. By whom will be interesting.

Keep us updated! Great find.


The OP posted this tube chart which clearly says "Bassman":

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3089

If you look at this shot:

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3080

You will see tube sockets for two 6L6s and two 5U4G rectifier tubes.

The 5E6 Bassman used two of these:

http://ampwares.com/schematics/bassman_5e6.pdf

The 5E7 Bandmaster only used one:

http://ampwares.com/schematics/bandmaster_5e7.pdf

Also, the 5E6 Bassman only had two inputs, while the 5E7 Bandmaster had four as can be seen in the schematices. The OP's photos show only two inputs:

http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3099

While this amp has three speakers (they appear to be 12" compared to the Bandmaster's 10" speakers), I'm 99.9% sure it is a 5E6 Bassman. :D


Bill - thanks for the clarification -- I saw the 3 speakers and instantly thought Bandmaster, but didn't see the other telltale signs -- I've got a lot to learn about the old tweeds, not to mention about all Fenders compared to folks here on the forum.

Thanks.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:44 pm
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majorbytes wrote:
From what I have been told, this amp was modded by Randall Smith in the early years of Mesa Boogie. I also have an early Fender Princeton that was supposedly modded by Randall Smith and it has a 12" speaker and some special controls added. Both of these amps were modded in 1970 in the Dog House workshop shack. I am gonna see if I can get in contact with Mesa and see if they have any records of it. I am pretty sure these are both pre-Boogie amps and they were supposedly the ones Hot Tuna recorded with and also played in the Fillmore West in 1971. It is a real possibility that these amps were Jorma Kaukonen's amps in the day. Most of the guys I have been jamming with lately are all from that era and when we are setup in the garage it looks like a 70's flash back with all of the Sunn, Gibson, DOD and old Fender stuff. My shiny new stuff sorta looks awkward in the crowd, but I try to keep up..


Cool. 8)

My wife and I saw Hot Tuna two years ago. GE Smith sat in with them. We had seats in the second row from the stage. The first half of the show was all acoustic. The second half was LOUD. :shock: :lol:

It was a great show overall. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:45 pm
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nedorama wrote:
Bill - thanks for the clarification -- I saw the 3 speakers and instantly thought Bandmaster, but didn't see the other telltale signs -- I've got a lot to learn about the old tweeds, not to mention about all Fenders compared to folks here on the forum.

Thanks.


You're very welcome. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:25 pm
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Here are some photos of the other amp. It is a Mesa Boogie, I thought it was a modded Princeton.
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3132
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3136
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3119
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3124
http://majorbytes.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3128

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:03 pm
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majorbytes wrote:


Well, the original Mesa Boogie WAS sorta based on a highly modified Princeton.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/US/Smith/our_story.html

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman 5E6 Mesa Boogie
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:52 am
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Update! Update!

Just got this from the Mesa Boogie folks...

Hello there,

I passed this to our tech Mike Bendinelli that is more familiar with these older versions, here was his response:
"It looks familiar, I think it was here about 20(?) years ago and I would say it was a Randy mod."
That's about all of the info we could provide. Hope that helps!

Best Regards,
Marcus Daniel | Customer Service

Mesa/Boogie | MESA ENGINEERING
1317 Ross Street | Petaluma, CA 94954 | USA
Phone | 707.778.6565
Hours | Monday-Thursday 9-5 PST
http://www.MesaBoogie.com

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In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband


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Profile
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