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Post subject: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:53 pm
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Hey everybody, I'm brand new to the forum, and mostly joined to get a little help, because this seems to be the place with the really deep Fender knowledge.

I have a Fender Bassman 2x12 "big box" cabinet that I bought during the summer of '69. I bought it & the head from the original owner, a guitarist in a local band, who had just been drafted. I used the amp (for guitar) a lot for several years, but in 1973 or 74 it became my backup rig, until I decided to completely retire it in 1982. It has been in storage since. Sadly, I had to store it in one of those self-store places for about a year, and during that time someone broke in & stole the head. Even sadder, the police recovered it, claimed they could not contact me, and auctioned it off. After more than a year of trying to track it down I gave up, and planned to buy another head to go with my cab, but never did. But I digress...

Now I have decided to probably sell the cab, and want to make certain of the date of manufacture. The speakers have a series of numbers on them: 220652 (Jensen, 2nd week of '65 or last week of 66?), 023119 (no idea), and C12NA (ceramic magnet, 12", concert series?), and C8220 6. Also, stamped on the speaker's labels & the inside of the cabinet is "F130 467."

At one time I had a smaller, tilt-back Bassman cab, that I know for certain was a 1966, but that too, was stolen, although years before the head got swiped. When I owned that cab, a local guy told me the bigger one had to be a 1968 because in '67 they were still like my smaller one, with different text on the legs, I think. But not long ago another guy said the "big box" cabinet was an option in '68.

Anything you guys can offer is really appreciated. I'll try to get some pics posted in the next couple of days, to possibly help in the process, and to get a little vintage gear-lust stirred up. Thanks!

Clark
(Really, really old guitarist)


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:04 pm
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If the speakers are correct...then 52nd week of 66. Jensen C12NA speakers would be correct for that time frame.

Do you have measurements? I have a 66 cab, and it should have a date stamped on the inside of the box (take the back off) and it is usually stamped in black ink.

Pics would also help.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:07 pm
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" 220652 (Jensen, 2nd week of '65 or last week of 66?), 023119 (no idea), and C12NA (ceramic magnet "

220 = Jensen made

6 = 1966

52 = last week (52nd week).

Think that -231119 = Fender Part number

C12N = as you said, ceramic 50 watt rated speaker. Not sure what "A" indicates.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Vintage-Jense ... 43b5244611


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:29 pm
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My Band Master sports a large box Bassman cab: 31 3/4" X 11 1/2" X 20". Sides are pine, the back was MFD(now it's an open-back). The baffle is probably MFD also, but the cab is blocked by another amp, right now, and I'm too lazy to move all the stuff(sorry). Art

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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:44 am
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Thanks guys!

As I mentioned in my post, there is a black stamp on both speakers & the inside of the box that reads "F130467," so that would seem to indicate April 13, 1967 as the manufacture date. That would make sense, too, if the speakers were made the last week of Dec, '66. So T2, you gave me a great tip with confirmation that the stamp could be a date.

The box is pine, with a particle board baffle between the speakers. The front baffle is made of particle board, as is the back. It's painted flat black on both sides; the back is covered with tolex on the outside, of course. Absolutely no scratches on the speaker frames, so the speakers are original. Which I knew, but that little detail backs me up.

I shot some pics, which I'll try to get off the camera & up here in the next hour or so. Once pics are up, maybe someone can give me an idea of the price range I should be looking at, if I decide to go through with selling it.

Thanks again, you guys rock!

Clark
(ancient guitarist too stubborn to stop)


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:45 pm
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ClarkPlaysGuitar wrote:
Thanks guys!

As I mentioned in my post, there is a black stamp on both speakers & the inside of the box that reads "F130467," so that would seem to indicate April 13, 1967 as the manufacture date. That would make sense, too, if the speakers were made the last week of Dec, '66. So T2, you gave me a great tip with confirmation that the stamp could be a date.

The box is pine, with a particle board baffle between the speakers. The front baffle is made of particle board, as is the back. It's painted flat black on both sides; the back is covered with tolex on the outside, of course. Absolutely no scratches on the speaker frames, so the speakers are original. Which I knew, but that little detail backs me up.

I shot some pics, which I'll try to get off the camera & up here in the next hour or so. Once pics are up, maybe someone can give me an idea of the price range I should be looking at, if I decide to go through with selling it.

Thanks again, you guys rock!

Clark
(ancient guitarist too stubborn to stop)


Clark...look anything like this one below? And yes, the "F130467" is a manufacture date :!: And I somehow missread your post about this date, I thought this date was on the speaker cone...sucks getting old...and I just got new glasses :!:
Image
Right on the bottom of the cab was the date stamp in black ink. The divider should be made of 1/4 inch plywood, but the baffle should be particle board, and the C12N's should have the old brown Jensen label on em. It should also have two big sheets of fiberglass in it (damping sheets). I pulled mine out and bagged em just to be able to put it back 100%

As for price, got my '66 cab for $300 with the original C12N's in it and they look like new as you can see!

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:21 pm
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Man what a sad story. Stolen gear sucks.


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:59 am
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Sorry I didn't get these up before. I got interrupted, then I caught a cold, and now I'm playing "catch-up" on everything.

@T2, your cab looks very similar to this one, and probably identical to my '66 cab that got stolen. Here's what the back of mine looks like:
Image

It measures 39.25"x26"x11.25" so it's bigger than the '66 cabs. Notice all the newspapers! When I opened this, I found them under the batting. The batting is in smaller pieces than the '66 cab, but this is the original batting. I vaguely remember adding the newspapers as extra dampening, which someone had convinced me would help control feed back at higher volumes. They are from the first 2 weeks of August 1969, which I believe is when I bought it. They are a story in themselves - astronauts returning from the moon, the Manson murders, some hotshot college football player getting signed to the Buffalo Bills (O.J. Simpson), it was like stepping back in time.

Anyway, I'll pull a couple more shots & post them. I do believe we have nailed the manufacture date. Thank you guys all so much for your help!

Clark


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 3:59 pm
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Clark...Glad your feeling better and FYI...from your measurments...you got a rare Bassman cab there. It is the rare transitional model – 39” x 26” x 11.5” (the later “big-box” measured 29.5” wide).

These cabs were only made for about 6-8 months, spanning the fall of ‘66 to the early spring of ‘67. Of course that lines up with the date inside the cab, so looks like you got one of the last ones made! I was discussing this with a friend of mine and he realised with the measurements you had that rare one! Congrats.

Yours looks very similiar to mine which is the small box. Cool about the newspapers with a little trip down memory lane.

Enjoy your find.

Tony

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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:24 am
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It's hard to see without uploading a gigantic file, but the date is stamped on the speaker label. It matches the one on the inside of the cab. I'll post another shot or two, as I edit them for size.
Image

Clark


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:30 am
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Here's the date on the inside of the cabinet.
Image

Clark


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:33 am
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This is the bottom speaker, which you can see the date stamp on, as well. One more shot, maybe two, showing the front, to come.
Image
Clark


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:01 pm
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Okay guys, last two shots. (I think!) As you can see, the tolex & grille cloth have some wear on them. For a cabinet that was used as my primary rig for over 800 gigs, then still getting put on stage as a backup for another 1,000 gigs or so, it looks pretty good. I believe I still have the vinyl cover that came with the amp when I got it in '69 from the original owner.

Image
Image

@Tony - thanks for the additional info. I had no idea this cab is considered rare. For about 10 years after I bought this one you could pick these up used around here (Rockford, Illinois) for $50, there were loads of them in the pawn shops & music stores. I haven't seen one like mine for a long time, though. My '66 cab only cost me $40 or $45, I think I got it in the late '70's or early '80's.

Any thoughts as to how much I should ask for this? I hate to sell it, but it is time to let go of many things for me, sadly, and this is one of them.

Thank you guys for all your help!

Clark


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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:59 pm
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Clark...glad to help. I can't believe you got it for such a cheap price! In my "Expert" and yes I use that word loosley...I would say it is worth around $350-$400 based on the condition. The one thing I can't put into that guesstimate is the rarity of the Cab. Maybe someone with more experience will come along and be able to put a better number on it for you. One thought though, if you are selling it on Craigslist, put a higher number on it and see what shakes out.

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: Help confirming the date of my 1967? Bassman 2x12 cab
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:51 pm
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Thanks again, Tony. I should clarify a bit on the price. When I bought this one (in 1969), I got it & the head for $150, and it was in showroom condition. The guy I bought it from took excellent care of his gear. The used ones like this were actually $50 for the rougher ones, the ones in good shape would fetch about $75, at that time. Sometimes you could find them without speakers for $30 - $40.

My other one, the '66, was one of those deals where the guy selling it just wanted to be rid of it. (Late 70's or early 80's) I asked how much he wanted, & he said "Would you give me $45?" (Maybe he said $40, I can't remember for sure) and I said "Deal!" I bet he would have taken less, but I already felt guilty.

In 1972, I bought an Acoustic brand 2x12 guitar cab from a guy for $20. He had won it in a poker game, and just wanted enough money to buy beer. It was essentially brand new, I think they were selling for about $150 at the time. I still have that, too, although it has had the speakers swapped several times. We used it as a side-wash monitor for years, & it took a lot of abuse. I've gotten some crazy good deals over the years. Sometime I'll tell you about my 1973 Marshall full stack. ;-)

Clark


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