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Post subject: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 2:58 pm
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I bought this amp and cabinet today. It sounds horrible, all crackly and distorted...but based on the high esteem members this Forum place on the '65 Blackface Bandmaster, it was too much to pass up. Photos below.

The sticker inside indicated a September 1965 Build (Date stamp O-I, Production #6, Model AB763, Serial A10327)

I will be getting it worked on for maintenance and to fix the what ever is causing the "blown" sound.

Let me know what you think (authentic?) and maintenance requirements/suggestions.

http://s1348.photobucket.com/user/amplifierguy123/media/1965%20Fender%20Bandmaster/IMG_2388_zps71f1f2bb.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1#/user/amplifierguy123/media/1965%20Fender%20Bandmaster/IMG_2388_zps71f1f2bb.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1&_suid=13707291034680865530660132888

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And if Bob Chapman of Toronto is looking for his amp, I have it. :D
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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:02 pm
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Nice Score. Only the cabinet grill cloth and power chord are not original! Sweet.

Your amp tech should be able to get it working just fine. Tell him only to change what is needed, and have him bag up anything he take out. New preamp tubes if noisy, some deoxit spray on the pots, and it should be up and running in no time. I scored a totally original 65 Super Reverb, and that is about all it took to get it back into spec, quiet as a mouse, and thumping like it should! Good luck with your new amp!

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:07 pm
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At least one of those speakers is hosed, prolly both of them from the sonic symptoms you describe. Try connecting the amp to a known good 4-ohm speaker enclosure -- the difference may surprise you.

As T2 has commented, the amp itself appears unmolested. As a prophylactic safety measure, the electrolytic caps under the doghouse and the idle-bias cap should be replaced with modern equivalents (recommend F&T). The cathode bypass caps on the eyelet board should be carefully inspected for any leaking electrolyte; if such evidence is discovered, those caps should also be supplanted. Do not trifle with those gorgeous Blue Molded tone caps, they seldom go bad. If the tubes check okay, bias the output stage then rawk out. If new glass is warranted I'd seek out some nice NOS 7025's for the V1 and V2 sockets. Any quality 12AX7 may be used at the V3 position. The V4 phase inverter should be the best 12AT7 you can find, calibrated for balanced transconductance. Blackplate RCA's would be preferred as power tubes but a lower-cost alternative are the Tung-Sol re-issue STR's or the Electro-Harmonix 6L6EH's.

With some repro aged-white grill cloth and a new set of speakers, you'll have a gig-worthy amp that will outlast anything built today.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:10 pm
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Thank you gentlemen. I'll report back when it comes back from repairs.

I was not aware the speaker cabinet is 4 ohm (8 ohms in parallel I assume). So which output jack do I use with the cabinet? SPEAKER or EXT SPKR?
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I haven't opened the back of the cabinet yet (or cleaned it!) but I see a small hole cut into it beside the input jack. Not sure what that might have been for, but I'll soon find out.
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Finally, What connects to the Vibrato Pedal output jack on the back? Nothing else came with the amp. How do I use this?

Thanks again.

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Aerodyne Strat, Jaguar Blacktop H/H, '65 Band Master, Champion "600" RI, Music Man 112 RD
If it doesn't have a power tube in the circuit...I'm not that interested


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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:56 pm
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rflindall wrote:
Thank you gentlemen. I'll report back when it comes back from repairs.

I was not aware the speaker cabinet is 4 ohm (8 ohms in parallel I assume). So which output jack do I use with the cabinet? SPEAKER or EXT SPKR?
Image

I haven't opened the back of the cabinet yet (or cleaned it!) but I see a small hole cut into it beside the input jack. Not sure what that might have been for, but I'll soon find out.
Image

Finally, What connects to the Vibrato Pedal output jack on the back? Nothing else came with the amp. How do I use this?

Thanks again.


Yes 4 ohms. Use the one marked "Speakers". As for the vibrato output jack, that is for a one button footswitch...you will need one of those to turn the Vibrato off IIRC.

Here is a web site for the type of footswitch you will need to make that work...

http://angela.com/fendervintagestyleone ... odels.aspx

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 9:33 pm
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Judging from the fact that the cab's tilt-back legs are stamped "PATENT PENDING" and one of them is marked with a serial number, I'd hazard a guess that the enclosure may in fact be the amp-head's original 1965 mate. It appears that someone once wired it for stereo operation -- hence the second hole in the rear panel for an additional input jack.

You'll need a footswitch (or shorting plug) to switch the tremolo on. It's a single-button affair, with an RCA phono plug for connecting it.

Original speakers for the box could be either the Oxford 12M8's or Jensen C12Q's, 8 ohms in each case -- both turn up periodically on Ebay. Sonically, the Jensens are preferred.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 9:52 pm
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Beautious amp, Rfindall!!!! The guys pretty much covered the bases. From what I see the AC power cable is the two conductor orininal with a three prong plug(no ground). That will need to be replaced. Other than that, just a trusted tech and you'll be cookin'!!!! Art

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 10:06 pm
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Arjay, when the speaker cab is re-clothed, shouldn't the baffle board be flipped? Art

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:40 am
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No, but it should be rotated 180 degrees so that the logo shelf is situated at the upper left corner. It also appears that the felt strip is missing from the baffle board's center divider. Easy enough to replace.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:43 pm
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Thanks to all for the excellent advice. I've made my "To do" list and shopping list. Thanks for noting the rotation on the baffle board and direction on the footswitch.

Unbelievably this sat in the buy-and-sell for more than 4 months piled up with a bunch of Peaveys. The head and cabinet were separted. It was really dirty, literally 1/16th inch of dirt and dust inside the head and no power tubes. The seller gave me two Peavey brand 6L6gc to test it out and prove it works. The base is loose on one of the 6L6's, but I was planning on replacing the tubes anyway.

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Aerodyne Strat, Jaguar Blacktop H/H, '65 Band Master, Champion "600" RI, Music Man 112 RD
If it doesn't have a power tube in the circuit...I'm not that interested


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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:32 pm
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It won't take much more than a couple of hundred $$$ to render that Bandmaster "battle-worthy". I hope it works out for you, she's a real beaut.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 3:35 pm
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Congrats and welcome to the Bandmaster club! it's an incredibly versatile amp, and one worth the small change to get everything sorted.

+1000 on Arjay's reco's - very sound advice.

Grillcloth - I used Mojo; they have the silver and an aged silver that will go better with your aged head cloth.

Speakers - the ones Arjay mentioned are good; with my Bandmaster combo and Showman closed cab, I've been very happy with Warehouse Speakers and their ceramic G12C (closed back cab) and G12C/S (open combo). Worth checking out. I had the Weber California ceramic 12's with aluminum dustcaps - close to the old JBL D120's, but that is not a speaker that likes to break up - almost ever. the Warehouse speakers stay full, but crunch nicely when driven.

Phase Inverter Tube - I'm currently really liking the Mullard CV4024 for this position; $30 from KCANOStubes.com. Mike K is a great guy.

If you don't go with original covers, D2F makes excellent padded ones and they have the Fender dimensions on hand. I now have ones for my Princeton Reverb, Bandmaster combo, and Showman head and will be ordering one for my Tremolux head.

Congrats! Can't wait to see how this progresses.

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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:41 pm
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D2F's covers are outstanding -- the best aftermarket protection I've found anywhere. I have one of their covers for my '64 Pro Amp.

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: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:05 am
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+1 on the WGS Speakers. I like the Veteran30 (Vintage 30 clones) in combination with Fender amps. They're not period correct, but more efficient with better bass and mids. That's just my preference.


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Post subject: Re: 1965 Bandmaster Pawnshop Purchase
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 6:03 pm
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Nice score! After you redo the main power rail filter caps & the bias power supply filter caps --- take some voltage readings at appropriate B+ and C- points. If, there is any unsteadiness or value more than 25% off, you may want to replace those RCA diodes in the rectifier section.

I've stubbled across three amps in the last year with those OEM RCA diodes, that needed replacing. I like the ultra-fast UF5408. Very quiet. Reliable diodes.

http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... _schem.pdf

http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datashe ... uf5400.pdf


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