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Post subject: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:08 pm
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Hey Guys,
I was scouring craigslist today and found this:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/msg/3594632294.html
The pictures are pretty rough, and it's got a non-original speaker (obviously) but I've got a BF Bassman that's in need of a cabinet. My plan was to build one to specs and drop in some Weber 12s, but a real one is obviously better. Is there an easy way to tell is this is for a bandmaster or a bassman? Or does it even really matter? (I think they are the same size) Assuming I'd replace the non-original speaker at the very least, is it worth the price?

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:29 pm
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The small-box Bassman cab's threaded bushings for the head's hold-down anchors are spaced at 23.25" while those for a Bandmaster measure 25". The asking price is a skosh high, especially so if the original tilt-back legs are AWOL. Neither of those speakers is original to the enclosure. Standard equipment for a Bassman back then would've been Jensen C12NA's or Oxford 12T6's. For a Bandmaster, Oxford 12L5's or an equivalent Utah.

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Arjay

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:56 pm
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Thanks Arjay,
I didn't think the speakers looked original... I shot him an email sayin I'd go $250 knowing that I'll probably throw in some Webers and use the existing speakers as paper weights. I figure after tolex, grill cloth, hardware and personal time it'll run me about that much to build an empty cabinet that doesn't say fender on it.
Thanks again for the clarification!

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:10 pm
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Barley Oakley...that is a pretty good looking cab, cloth and tolex look pretty good. If you can get it for the $250 you ain't doing to bad.

+1 on what Arjay said about it having the original tilt backs, they are hard to come by in good shape. Webers wouldn't be a bad choice for it unless you can score some original C12N's.

Good Luck on this one.

T2

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:11 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
Barley Oakley...that is a pretty good looking cab, cloth and tolex look pretty good. If you can get it for the $250 you ain't doing to bad.


+1

Actually, the furniture isn't in that bad of shape. Likely, I'd leave it in situ and concentrate on a decent pair of drivers.

T2Stratman wrote:
+1 on what Arjay said about it having the original tilt backs, they are hard to come by in good shape. Webers wouldn't be a bad choice for it unless you can score some original C12N's.


That cab requires the 16-inch legs and originals will each be stamped "PATENT PENDING" at the bottom. On very early examples, one of them will also be marked with a serial number formatted as "M-XXXXX". They turn up periodically on Ebay (I've scored several sets there).

Weber's would be a good choice......vintage Jensen's even better.

BTW, the factory Fender cover for a 2 x 12 Supersonic or Tonemaster enclosure fits that cab perfectly.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:57 am
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Hey, thanks guys. I got an email back from him saying that we can probably make something work. I'll call him up on my lunch break. I figure I'd see how much wiggle room he had. I'm not opposed to going up from here.
Do they date stamp cabinets like they do heads? Not that it really matters since there's no real difference between a 64 and a 66, but it'd be good to know. I've been playing my bassman through a peavey 2x12 pa so I'm dyin to get a real guitar cabinet under it.

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:45 am
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You *may* find an ink-stamped date inside, usually on or near one of the rear cleats or on the interior partition that bisects the cab. The absence of same means nothing -- I've seen numerous examples that were totally authentic yet lacking this marking info.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:41 pm
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Just got off the phone with the man. He said he'd go $250 for the cab minus speakers. Seems fair, right?
So then the inevitable question of what speakers to put in it comes up.
I've talked with the folks at Weber and they suggested a 12F150 and a 12F150B. At about $110 a pop that's about as high as I want to go. Any other options? Seems like everyone uses vintage 30's but I don't feel like blending into the crowd too much.

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:59 pm
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If there is a stamp inside it would look like this...from my 66 Bassman Cab.
Image
As for replacement speakers...webers are good, but if price is an issue...I just tried a set of new Jensen MOD's because they were fairly cheap. I put them in a Bantam Bass Amp I refurbed and was going to sell down the road, and to be honest did not expect too much, but I am really digging them. They have nice crisp highs, decent full mids, and nice full round bass. I was not a fan of the new Jensen speakers and hadn't heard anything I liked, but this set is worth checking out.
Image

T2

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:56 pm
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$250 for the empty cab seems eminently reasonable.

Grab it.

Be advised, if you intend to install any Celestion speaker you'll need to remove half of the speaker mounting screws from the cab's baffle board. All Celestions are configured for four-screw mounting provisions only.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:29 am
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Well, I bought the cabinet last night. I went three hundo for everything with the speakers so the guy didn't have to spend time taking them out, and that way I can take my time finding good replacements.
I'll try to steal my friends digital camera but for the time, bear with me.
First thing I did was measure out the hold down anchors. Unfortunately, I've got a bandmaster cabinet. I'm not actually all that bothered, it just gives me an excuse to keep looking for a bassman cab.
There's no date stamp on the inside, but I'm not too surprised.
Here's where things get interesting - The grill cloth looked very aged - like decades in a smokey bar, not very silver but more tan. But, I figured it can be cleaned. So next I took off the back pannel and immediately realized that there was a bit of black overspray on the center partition. Obviously that's not factory... So I immediately checked the inside edges of the tolex. It's a Blonde. Someone must have painted her black a long time ago. I saw a black painted tremoloux not too long ago, so I guess it did happen on occasion.
So, do I clean the black off of it? Could I damage the tolex if I'm not careful? What's the best course of direction? I'm pretty open to direction from folks who've got some mroe smarts than me.

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:46 pm
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Well, I ordered up some weber 12F150's today. I'm still torn about what to do with the black painted blonde tolex, but I suppose I've got plenty of time to think about that. Even with the mismatched old speakers the amp sounds pretty good. It's got my room mate/lead guitarist rethinking his allegiance to solid state Peaveys. I swear I'm working on pitcures, but life get's busy when your at the office or playin guitar all the time...

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:10 pm
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Painted Tolex is a sonofabitch to clean up!

:evil:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:19 pm
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I tried the Gorilla tape trick, but to no avail... I know sonically it doesn't matter if it's black or blonde, but I'm a bit anal about knowing something's wrong and not doing anything about it. I wouldn't care if it was ratty torn up unpainted tolex, but knowing there's blonde under there irks me a bit. But first new speakers, function over form - I need to keep reminding myself of that.

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Post subject: Re: BF Cabinet
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:44 pm
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A pity that some miscreant went "Krylon Krazy" and painted it. Even worse, lurking beneath that black coat on the front baffle was likely that beautiful-and-rare gold-sparkle grill cloth.

:cry:

Arjay

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