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Post subject: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 11:22 am
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Was at a local pawn shop yesterday with my drummer buddy making his final payment on some Zildjians he had on layaway. Over in a corner I spotted some odd looking Fender labelled equipment: a pair of column PA speakers, with aluminum drip guard similar to some early silverface amps. Also a large horizontal badge reading "Fender Solid State" across the top half of each.
These were very tall, I'm guessing 60" high x 12" wide x 10" deep.
Interior revealed 4 10" Alnico Blue-labelled Fender Special Design Speakers, in a straight up and down arrangement. Couldn't find any OEM speaker codes, just two sets of numbers: first reads 023044, second is F 111866. Haven't been able to find any images online of theses particular columns.
Both columns are in incredibly clean, nearly showroom condition, inside and out.
I know technology has flown far ahead of them by now, but we're thinking about picking these up just to use for our rehearsal space vocal/PA speaks.
The price is certainly right ($100/pair, and it is a hock shop, so we'd probably pay a fair bit less). Anybody have any info on what these might be, and if they might be a worthwhile investment for our purpose? Thanks, O...


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Post subject: Re: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 12:45 pm
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Here you go......

Image

Those column speakers were part of Fender's PA4100 transistorized PA system, introduced in the spring of 1968. The head featured four channels with independent volume, bass, treble, and effects-level controls for each, a switchable effects loop to add a reverb or echo unit, and 100 watts of power. The columns each held four 32-ohm CTS alnico tens, wired in parallel. The system retailed for $1000 but we got ours (shown here with our drummer, the late Steven Harpstreit) for about seven hundred bucks. It didn't have all the multi-colored switches, VU meters, or flashing lights of Shure's "Vocal Smasher" but it sounded much louder and cleaner than it or Kustom's K200 system.

A hundred bucks for a pair of these columns is a better-than-average price. Just don't expect them to sound like a modern 2- or 3-way PA cab.

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: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 6:30 pm
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Thanks, Arjay! Those are the same as the ones I spotted yesterday. I knew if anyone had the info, it would be you! Transistorized head is not included... I'm thinking that's probably a good thing.
Oddly enough, these column speaks seem to be in pretty much the same condition as those in your photo, albeit nearly 50 years later (sorry man, time catches up with all of us!)
Same pawn shop has a '70's Peavey MP4 Mark III series 4 channel PA Head/Mixer (50W per channel out, into 8 ohms) they're asking 50 bucks for, so we're thinking we could put together a perfectly usable, if old school, practice PA/Vocal/Monitor set up for well under $200. All clubs have their own PA's these days anyway, so it'd just be for our rehearsals or private parties.
God, I'm starting to sound like one of those middle-aged-crazy, "Hey, we're getting the band back together!" buffoons from the movies. I guess that happens to all of us, if we hang on to our hobbies (or obsessions) for so long.
Thanks again. Any idea what type of speaks these might be? Boxes, as all Fender products from that time period, are massively overbuilt, and appear to be solid pine.


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Post subject: Re: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 7:48 pm
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I already told you......CTS alnico's of 32 ohms each (they look like what you'll find in many vintage Super Reverbs). The column cabs are built just as the guitar amps of the era -- pine planks, finger-joined corners, removable baffle boards of MDF. Put that hundred-dollar Pee-Wee PA head to them and you'll have a field-expedient studio PA system with relatively decent sound.

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: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 8:34 pm
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Ooops! Sorry, I missed that, my Guru! Sometimes I tend to run on when I have my head swimming while reliving my long- past-adolescent visions of R'n'R Godhood dancing in my head!
Thanks again, Arjay!


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Post subject: Re: Fender 4x10 Column PA Cabinets?
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 10:14 pm
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Be advised, those Fender speakers (like most column systems) are prone to feedback. You may have to employ some "creative" solutions when positioning them in your studio.

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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