NAD Pre-CBS Fender Bandmaster '63/'64

vic

Recently found this vintage gem...a Fender Bandmaster head dating from '63/early '64 ...original trannies and AB763 circuit.

Now I need to find a suitable Fender 2*12 vintage cab (4ohm) for it.... ?

Norman86

Nice Vic ?

Enjoy her and let us know how she sounds!

vic

Norman86 wrote: Nice Vic ?

Enjoy her and let us know how she sounds!

Thanks Norman...she needs a bit of "make-up" and TLC...if only I can get a cab somewhere to hear how she sings... ?

AlanRatcliffe

Verry, verry naas! My Twin's a '63 too.

If you're desperate, you could always get a pair of "Yellow" Celestions from Karel (if he's still got) and slap them into a cab until you find your vintage cab. Not ideal for a Fender, but far more respectable than the price of them would indicate. Otherwise I've got an old Philips 50W 8 Ohm I could let you have if you can find something to pair it with - kind of on a par with the old Utah speakers to my ear, so does the job in a pinch.

nick

Congrats 8)

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Verry, verry naas! My Twin's a '63 too.

If you're desperate, you could always get a pair of "Yellow" Celestions from Karel (if he's still got) and slap them into a cab until you find your vintage cab. Not ideal for a Fender, but far more respectable than the price of them would indicate. Otherwise I've got an old Philips 50W 8 Ohm I could let you have if you can find something to pair it with - kind of on a par with the old Utah speakers to my ear, so does the job in a pinch.

Thanks Alan. Can't wait to get her fired up. I was told she's in good working condition but will let Karel check her out...maybe I should just be patient and wait for the cab to appear from somewhere :? I'm sure it will...

AndyD

Brilliant amp vic!.I have a 66 bassman which I finished redoing completely. Karel did the final tweaks for me and it sounds Brilliant. Weird thing is when I got mine the cab grille was covered with the same material that has been used to cover the face of your amp. Wonder if that was some sort of 70's substitute grille clothe. recovered mine in the original silver sparkle and it looks great.
Enjoy the amp!

vic

AndyD wrote: Brilliant amp vic!.I have a 66 bassman which I finished redoing completely. Karel did the final tweaks for me and it sounds Brilliant. Weird thing is when I got mine the cab grille was covered with the same material that has been used to cover the face of your amp. Wonder if that was some sort of 70's substitute grille clothe. recovered mine in the original silver sparkle and it looks great.
Enjoy the amp!

Thanks Andy. I'm sure the face cloth in my case is the original...it's called "oxblood". It has very thin gold threads woven into it.... AFAIK early 60's Fender amps used this together with a creamish or blonde tolex/vinyl covering for the cabs. The other early option was a lightish brown grille cloth with blonde vinyl and a few black covered examples as well. It's possible that your cab pre-dates the head...? Does your cab have alnico Jensen or Utah speakers in it ? I must add I'm no expert ...I'm relatively new to the Fender community.... ?

singemonkey

Very cool Vic. It's going to sound great cranked with a Les Paul or two.

AlanRatcliffe

vic wrote: Thanks Andy. I'm sure the face cloth in my case is the original...it's called "oxblood". It has very thin gold threads woven into it.... AFAIK early 60's Fender amps used this together with a creamish or blonde tolex/vinyl covering for the cabs. The other early option was a lightish brown grille cloth with blonde vinyl and a few black covered examples as well.

No, the blondes didn't have the AB763 circuit. While early (61-62) blondes had Oxblood grill cloth, they also had brown faceplates and cream knobs. By Late '62 they changed the oxblood cloth to beige.

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
vic wrote: Thanks Andy. I'm sure the face cloth in my case is the original...it's called "oxblood". It has very thin gold threads woven into it.... AFAIK early 60's Fender amps used this together with a creamish or blonde tolex/vinyl covering for the cabs. The other early option was a lightish brown grille cloth with blonde vinyl and a few black covered examples as well.
No, the blondes didn't have the AB763 circuit. While early (61-62) blondes had Oxblood grill cloth, they also had brown faceplates and cream knobs. By Late '62 they changed the oxblood cloth to beige.

aaah...thanks for the info Alan. You see, I'm no expert ... ?

vic

singemonkey wrote: Very cool Vic. It's going to sound great cranked with a Les Paul or two.

Thanks Singe...I hope to get a good rockabilly tone with the P90's and this amp

vic

AndyD wrote: Brilliant amp vic!.I have a 66 bassman which I finished redoing completely. Karel did the final tweaks for me and it sounds Brilliant. Weird thing is when I got mine the cab grille was covered with the same material that has been used to cover the face of your amp. Wonder if that was some sort of 70's substitute grille clothe. recovered mine in the original silver sparkle and it looks great.
Enjoy the amp!

Hi Andy...any chance of posting some pics of your amp and cab ?

Reinhard

Very cool Vic, congrats!

AndyD

Will Post Shortly Vic. Love the sound of mine. Loud as heck and super clean to around about 5 or 6. Mine hasn't got the original speakers in it. They have been replaced with celestions but they sound good. Mine had a weird Bias balance pot but has been rewired to true bias. Cosmetically it looks great and electrically its perfect. Pop a Strat and a tube screamer in front of it ,use a tube tamer and its all Rock n roll. For rockabilly its great to especially with an analog delay.
Cheers
Andy

vic

Thanks Reinhard.

Looking forward to the pics Andy

AndyD

Here Goes:
Amp With Custom Covers

Reconditioned 100% inside and out

Side view of Rechromed legs and corners.Note the Piggy back Screws

Took Me about 5 years in total But well worth the wait.
Dig the Green Jewel light! Thanks to Karel for the Final Tweaks.

AndyD

Hey Vic. When I got the bassman it was in a far worse state than yours. The cab was Wrecked and I recovered it. The grille cloth was a major mission to get hold of and the rest of the components were from Tube depot. The amp was a straight swap for a Roland cube 30. Matta and karel were a major help and source of info with regards to the rebuild, Thanks guys. The amazing thing is that all the preamp tubes are original and they check out fine on tests. 45 year old preamp tubes, they dont make em like they used to.
I dont know if your amp has been recapped but you should be looking at doing that if it hasnt. Sprague atoms are the caps I used. Enjoy The project Vic and keep us posted.
Cheers
Andy

Dinosaur-Snr

Wow Andy, she's a beaut! Very nice work!

vic

AndyD wrote: Hey Vic. When I got the bassman it was in a far worse state than yours. The cab was Wrecked and I recovered it. The grille cloth was a major mission to get hold of and the rest of the components were from Tube depot. The amp was a straight swap for a Roland cube 30. Matta and karel were a major help and source of info with regards to the rebuild, Thanks guys. The amazing thing is that all the preamp tubes are original and they check out fine on tests. 45 year old preamp tubes, they dont make em like they used to.
I dont know if your amp has been recapped but you should be looking at doing that if it hasnt. Sprague atoms are the caps I used. Enjoy The project Vic and keep us posted.
Cheers
Andy

Wow Andy...very very nice indeed. Excellent job, really something to be proud of. Congrats !
The re-chroming of the hardware and the new cloth really brought the amp to life again....visually
I am currently in two minds about the colour of the grille cloth I should use....As you know I'm trying to find a cab for mine and maybe I should wait to see what turns up before I decide on the grille cloth......I've had some advice for it to be silver.
Yes, I will definately get Karel to check her out before start-up.