Fender Bandmaster

Last updated
Fender Bandmaster, model 5G7, early 1960 Fender Bandmaster Amp.jpg
Fender Bandmaster, model 5G7, early 1960

The Fender Bandmaster was a musical instrument amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1953 and discontinued in 1974. [1] Some early models had both a microphone input and instrument inputs. Beginning in 1960, Bandmaster amps were equipped with a vibrato effect. In the 2000s, vintage Bandmaster amps remain in use by blues, Americana and rock and roll bands.

Contents

Timeline

Timeline gleaned from [1]

YearInputsOutputFormSpeakersControlsCircuit/ModelPrice
19532 instr, 1 micCombo (Wide Panel)
Tweed
(1) 15" + ext jack
Jensen P15N
Volume, Treble, Bass5C7$229.50
19542 instr, 1 micCombo (Wide Panel)
Tweed
(1) 15" + ext jackVolume, Treble, Bass5D7
19552 instr, 1 mic26 wattsCombo (Narrow Panel)
Tweed
(3) 10" + ext jackVolume, Treble, Bass, Presence5E7
April 19602 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

40 wattsCombo
(w/Modern Fender style)
brown Tolex
(3) 10" + Pulse Adj. jackeach channel: Treble, Bass, Volume

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
master Presence

5G7
End 19602 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

40 wattsCombo
brown Tolex
(3) 10" + ext jackeach channel: Volume, Treble, Bass

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
master Presence

6G7
Feb 1961-

June 1963

2 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

40 WattsPiggyback ("head")
cream rough Tolex

Feb 1961-1962: Oxblood grille
1962-July 1963 gold wheat grille

(2) 12" + ext. jack

Oxford 12M6-10, Jensen C12N

each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
master Presence

6G7-A
July 19632 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

40 wattsPiggyback ("head")
smooth blonde Tolex/black tolex (1964)

Transition models had this period features with smooth blonde tolex covering/sparkle gold grille

(2) 12" + ext. jackeach channel: Volume, Treble, Bass

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
Presence removed, "Bright" added

AB763
19682 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

Piggyback ("head")(2) 12" + ext jackeach channel: Volume, Treble, Bass

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
Bright

AA568
19692 channels, each with

high & low sensitivity
input jacks

Piggyback ("head")(2) 12" + ext. jackeach channel: Volume, Treble, Bass

Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity
Bright

AA1069
1974Discontinued......

Cosmetics

Circuit notes

5C7

The first Bandmaster was in all respects almost identical to the Fender Pro, a dual-6L6 26-watt amp with a 1x15 speaker, with one difference: separate treble and bass controls, where the Pro like all other Fender amps to that time only had a single "Tone" knob. Like the other larger Fender amps, the Bandmaster used cathode-biased 6L6G output tubes, a 6SC7 paraphase inverter, and two more 6SC7s in the preamp with a 5U4 rectifier.

5D7

The D-series circuits represented Fender's shift from octal preamp tubes, e.g. the 6SC7, to nine-pin mini-tubes of the 12A(n)7 family, as well as the introduction of the floating-paraphase inverter.

5E7

Negative feedback and filter choke added, and the output section given fixed (grid) rather than cathode bias. Phase inverter changed to cathodyne (concertina) type.

6G7 and 6G7-A

The 6G(n) ("brownface") circuit was used in several Fender amplifiers, including the Bandmaster. [2] It produces 40 watts into 4 ohms. The circuit was used from 1960 [3] until July 1963 when the "AB763" circuit was introduced. "Blonde" aficionados feel this circuit has superior tonal characteristics when overdriven, to the AB763 circuit. The 6G7 and revised 7-A circuit used the long-tail pair phase inverter introduced with the 1957 Bassman, used a solid-state rather than a tube rectifier, and also included a vibrato that is heralded as Fender's best by many enthusiasts. Power tubes were now 5881s (6L6WGBs). [4] The new model was covered in Tolex rather than "tweed;" still a combo in brown Tolex for 1960, and then a blonde-covered head-and-cab piggyback 1961-63.

AA/AB763

The AA763 (July 1963) and improved AB763 (March 1964) ("blackface") circuit is arguably considered the "best" circuit version produced for this amp by collectors and aficionados. The complex brownface "harmonic vibrato", however, was replaced by a simpler electro-optic oscillator. Power tubes were the even beefier 6L6GC. Some 1964 blackface Showmen were still covered in blonde Tolex rather than the usual black. Later "silverface" amps retrofitted to this circuitry are described as having been "blackfaced," a reference to the black faceplate used on these amps during much of this era.

AA568

The AA568 version (introduced May, 1968) was met with popular dislike by Fender's customers. It is referred to at times as the "silverface" circuit, referring to the brushed aluminum control plate used from 1968 to 1974. The circuit and cosmetic changes didn't happen at the same time; some 1967 and early 1968 Bandmasters still possessed the blackface AB763 circuitry.

Unfortunately, the tube chart inside the amp head cannot be reliably used to differentiate the AB763 from the later circuits, as Fender continued using the older tube charts for a while after changing the circuit configuration.

AA1069

Some of the changes from the AA568 were reverted in October, 1969, yielding the AA1069 circuit, but many of the changes remained in place.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender amplifier</span>

Fender amplifiers are a series of electric instrument amplifiers produced by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The first guitar amplifiers attributed to Leo Fender were manufactured by the K&F Manufacturing Corporation (K&F) between 1945 and 1946. Later, Fender began building its own line of electric guitars. Fender amplifiers would become favorite of many famous guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, also known in these cases for playing Fender guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Twin</span> Guitar amplifier

The Fender Twin and Twin Reverb are guitar amplifiers made by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The Twin was introduced in 1952, two years before Fender began selling Stratocaster electric guitars. The amps are known for their characteristically clean tone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Hot Rod Deluxe</span>

The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a guitar amplifier manufactured and sold by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It was introduced in 1996 as part of the "Hot Rod" line of guitar amplifiers and has been in continuous production since. The Hot Rod Deluxe is a modified version of the Fender Blues Deluxe from the earlier Blues line of amplifiers, and has a higher level of gain in its preamplification signal. This model, along with the Hot Rod Deville, were originally designated as F.A.T. amplifiers but this moniker was dropped in 2002 when production of this series of amps was moved from Corona, CA to Fender's Baja-Ensenada, Mexico manufacturing facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Bassman</span>

The Fender Bassman is a series of bass amplifiers introduced by Fender during 1952. Initially intended to amplify bass guitars, musicians used the 5B6 Bassman to amplify other instruments, including electric guitars, harmonicas, and pedal steel guitars. Besides being a popular and important amplifier in its own right, the Bassman also became the foundation on which Marshall and other companies built their high-gain tube amplifiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Deluxe Reverb</span>

The Fender Deluxe Reverb is a guitar amplifier made by the Fender Electric Instrument Company and its successors. It was first introduced in 1963 by incorporating an onboard spring reverb tank to the newly redesigned Fender Deluxe amplifier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Super Reverb</span>

The Fender Super Reverb is a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was originally introduced in 1963 and was discontinued in 1982. The Super Reverb was a Fender Super amplifier with built-in reverb and "vibrato". The original Super Reverb amplifiers were all-tube designs and featured spring reverb. There were two different designs, distinguishable by the color of the "face" or front control panel. Super Reverbs from 1963 through 1967 had "blackface" panels. From 1968 until its discontinuation in 1982, the Super Reverb had "silverface" cosmetics and circuitry. Early models in 1968, while cosmetically "silverface", did contain "blackface" circuitry. Fender introduced a reissue '65 Super Reverb in 2001 featuring a printed circuit board design rather than the hand-wired circuitry of the original '65 Super Reverb.

The Fender Concert was a guitar amplifier made by Fender Musical Instruments. Its production can be split over 2 phases. The first of these running from 1960 and until approximately 1965, at which time a typical Fender Concert was priced at $315. During the 1960s, the Concert was for all practical purposes the same amplifier as the Vibrasonic but with four 10" speakers. In a later phase, the Concert was updated by Paul Rivera in the early 1980s and a subsequent 1x12 variant of the Concert amp appeared briefly in the mid-1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Champ</span>

The Fender Champ was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1948 and discontinued in 1982. An updated version was introduced in 2006 as part of the "Vintage Modified" line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Vibrasonic</span> 1960s amplifier

The Fender Vibrasonic was an amplifier made by Fender. It was debuted as the first of the new-model Fender amps of the 1960s, with new tolex-covered cabinets and front-mounted control panels that would replace the tweed-covered, top-panel cabinets that were prevalent during the 1950s, as well as new circuitry which would characterize most Fender amplifiers for two decades.

The Fender Bandmaster Reverb was a tube amplifier made by Fender. It was primarily a Silverface Bandmaster piggyback 'head' with the addition of reverb and vibrato and a modified circuit that shared more similarities with other Fender amplifiers. It was introduced in 1968 and was discontinued in 1980 .The Bandmaster Reverb was produced in both a 40 watt and 70 watt tube variant, before being reissued as a vintage modified amplifier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Princeton</span>

The Fender Princeton was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1946 and discontinued in 1979. After Fender introduced the Champ Amp in 1948, the Princeton occupied the next to the bottom spot in the Fender line. Fender Princetons from the early models into the 1970s models are highly valued particularly as recording amplifiers.

The Fender Bronco was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was the first Silverface amplifier introduced in 1967 to sport the modern-looking "tailless" Fender amp decal, which became a standard feature on other Fender amplifiers in the early 1970s. The Bronco was a student amp to go with the matching Bronco guitar. Bronco amplifiers were shipped as a part of the Bronco "student" package offered during that time, which also included the matching Bronco guitar, introduced that same year. Some early Broncos used the early-mid 1960s "tailed" amp logo. The schematics and manuals listed the Bronco and the Vibro Champ as the same amp, except for the red letters and labels stamped on the control faceplate. The controls were also the same. It was discontinued in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Super</span>

The Fender Super was a guitar amplifier made by Fender between 1947 and 1963 and, as the Super Reverb, until 1981. Though it was designed for a clean sound, its overdriven sound is praised by players and critics.

The Fender Reverb Unit (6G15) was a vacuum tube, spring reverb-equipped effects unit made by Fender. The Reverb Unit was originally introduced in 1961. It was discontinued in 1966 and was replaced by a solid-state model, the FR1000. The unit features three controls: Dwell, Mixer and Tone and includes a 12AT7 tube as a preamplifier; a 6K6 tube as the reverb driver; and a 12AX7 as the reverb recovery tube. The rectifier is a diode-type solid state unit. The circuit board, like Fender's Brownface, Blackface and Silverface amplifiers is an eyelet board and the unit its completely hand wired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Princeton Reverb</span> Guitar amplifier combo

The Fender Princeton Reverb is a guitar amplifier combo. It is based on the Princeton and includes built-in reverb and vibrato.

The Fender Showman was a guitar amplifier produced by the Fender company. It was introduced in 1960 and was discontinued in 1993. Blackface and Silverface models such as the Showman, Dual Showman, and Showman Reverb employed the same "piggyback head" design as the Bandmaster and the Bassman. Dual Showman Reverb used the Fender Twin Reverb chassis and came in non-master and master volume versions with "pull boost" circuitry, mid-1970s "tailless" amplifier decal and a slightly larger head. The Fender Showman is often associated with surf guitarist Dick Dale and was notably used in the 1960s by The Byrds, The Bobby Fuller Four, Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green, and in the 1970s by Steve Howe of Yes. Jimi Hendrix owned one early model, and later a Dual. Showmans and Dual Showmans are heavily sought by pedal steel guitar players.

The Fender Deluxe guitar amplifier is a range of non-reverb guitar amplifiers produced by Fender. The amplifiers were originally produced from early 1948 to 1966 and reissues are in current production. Its predecessor was the Fender Model 26 "Woodie" produced from 1946 to 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Pro Reverb</span>

The Fender Pro Reverb is a high-end guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was in production from 1965 and was discontinued in 1982. The Pro Reverb is a 40-watt tube amplifier and has a pair of 12-inch (30 cm) speakers; however, models later than 1976 were increased to 70 watts. Teagle and Sprung, authors of the definitive book on Fender amplifiers described the Blackface Pro Reverb as the best amplifier ever produced likely due to its combination of the two twelve inch speakers, its high quality reverb and tremolo, and just the right amount of power to get either classic Blackface Fender cleans or natural tube breakup at reasonable volumes. They wrote, "the author recommends these amps as the best all-around amp ever made—by anyone".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Vibroverb</span>

The Fender Vibroverb was a 40-watt combo guitar amplifier originally manufactured in 1963 and 1964. It was the first Fender amplifier to incorporate on-board reverb and tremolo/vibrato, which became a standard feature on many high-end Fender tube amps during the 1960s and 1970s.

The Fender Pro was an instrument amplifier manufactured by Fender Electric Instruments from 1946 to 1965. It was characterized by its dual 6L6-family power tubes and single 15" speaker, with output power increasing from 18 watts up to 40 watts over its production run. The Pro was replaced in the Fender lineup by its offspring the Pro Reverb.

References

  1. 1 2 Teagle, J. and Sprung, J.: Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years
  2. 6G4/4-A (Super), 6G5/5-A (Pro), 6G7/7-A (Bandmaster), 6G12/12-A (Concert) and 5G13/6G13-A (Vibrasonic), together with an 85-watt four output-tube variant 6G8/8-A (Twin) and 6G14/14-A (Showman)
  3. First introduced in 1959 with the Vibrasonic
  4. schema electrique pour un fender ban master 1961