-
Let's see your amplifiers...
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
love that P bass. I have that exact same Fender suitcase, full of mics.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
This is my "family." Missing are my Pignose 150R Crossmix, my Pignose 7-100 (the first two amps I ever owned) and my NUX 8SE.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
An old "family portrait"......
https://i.ibb.co/TTt612D/New-Herd-04.jpg
Not shown are the recent acquisitions; a '66 Vibrolux Reverb, a '68 Pro Reverb, and a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe clone.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Too bad you can't fit a Fender into the family, eh? :roflmao
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Here are a few (I've sold the Mesa). The Cure gets the most use out of all of my amps.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...af0f683b_b.jpg
My '66 VR with a friend's '65 DR-
https://live.staticflickr.com/4871/4...75a874c5_b.jpg
A gut shot of the Princeton Reverb clone that I built. What an awesome amp!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8ed24853_b.jpg
Awesome tweed Deluxe clone. It's the amp that I learned to love Teles with!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1be88dc8_b.jpg
This Marshall JCM 800 4010 kicks blues rock ass in a way that I never imagined (or I would've bought one 40 years ago!).
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...83d01305_b.jpg
This Mesa Fillmore 25 might be the best self contained "Grab and go amp", but only because I like it more then the Mesa Mark Five:25 which weighed 11 pounds less!.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6195892b_b.jpg
It's hard to stop playing this Dr. Z Monza. It's an early '70s style rock monster!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6e548465_b.jpg
A friend built this funky little single ended amp with tremolo before he passed away. I saw it in a CL add after his death and bought it from a guy who bought it from a guy... I'm so glad I found it to remember him by. It's pretty cool sounding!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...37b7b1c0_b.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I tried to buy one of Cygnus X1 SE amps when he was selling a few, but I was too late. Sure wish I had contacted him a little sooner!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I’m definitely TFF’s humblest member. My only amp is a Blues Jr Tweed with a Jensen speaker.
https://i.postimg.cc/4NTLVXWc/IMG-20201022-WA0149.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sérgio
I'd say you're more focused on the music rather than the gear. We all approach this hobby in very different ways (all valid). For instance, I never wanted to be in a working band and had no dreams of fame or rock stardom. I just wanted to jam with my friends, for my friends. Also, I'm a gearhead.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
That's a pretty Tele. Did you remove the pickguard, or did it come without?
ETA: My bad, I now see it. White Tele with a white pickguard. Nice!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DogsPart2
pretty cool combination!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
This is what I've been using for my Sunday go to meetin' gig. It's a Bogen K10 PA amp that I converted for my use years ago. A 6V4 rectifier, a pair of 6AQ5 power tubes, a 12AX7 & a 6AU6. The 1x12" closed-back cab houses a generic Fender speaker, probably an Eminence. It sounds great!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...76021da7_b.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
1969 Super Reverb. Blackface curcuit, TAD reverb tank, original CTS alnico speakers:
https://live.staticflickr.com/4543/2...3a5e18eb_b.jpg
1983 JCM 800 2205 and 1987 Silver Jubilee cab with V30s:
https://live.staticflickr.com/975/41...fa569387_b.jpg
Ceriatone JTM 45 clone with KT66 powertubes. Cab is DIY open back with Greenbacks:
https://live.staticflickr.com/4420/3...a12f6da0_b.jpg
1996 JTM 60:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9cd512e7_b.jpg
For home practice, I use a Boss Katana 50.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Keefoman1
I like that guitar, and the amp :D
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DanTheBluesMan
I like that guitar, and the amp :D
I sure do too. :hi: :)
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Hi all, new member here. I have a couple of 1970's Fender amps that I have done some modifications to the cabinets, and would like to post photos, but I'm not authorized to post attachments, probably because I'm new. Hopefully in the future.:smile:
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
WE CRAVE GUITAR PORN SO GET A MOVE ON!
:laughing:
FWIW you have to load your photos to a remote hosting site such as IBB or Photobucket then use their assigned image tags to post pics here.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
OK here's my attempt at linking to some images. They are photos of my modified 1979 Vibro Champ. Of course, I still have the original cabinet with the 8" Alnico speaker.
https://i.imgur.com/ECzFC88.jpg?1https://i.imgur.com/ZtMvrxv.jpg?2
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michael Smith
Is that two 10" or 12" speakers? I've run my Champ through the two 10" speakers in my Vibrolux Reverb and it was awesome!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Don
Is that two 10" or 12" speakers? I've run my Champ through the two 10" speakers in my Vibrolux Reverb and it was awesome!
Don, I have 2 x 10 inch speakers in that cabinet. I have also played it thru my 2 x 12 speakers in my modified Super Twin Reverb cabinet, but for portability the 2 x 10 cabinet I built is great.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Here are some pics of my 1977 (ish) Super Twin Reverb. For anyone who has ever owned one, you know they are VERY heavy. So I built the head cabinet and put a wood blank in the original cabinet and painted it black. The amp originally had the Drip Edge around the speaker baffle, but it was all broken, so I got some black fabric and stapled it onto a new frame I made. A tech "supposedly" converted it into a switchable 25/100 watt amp and removed 2 of the 6L6 tubes, but I'm not sure he really did anything effective.
https://i.imgur.com/mCeqzfX.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/B3uk0AN.jpg?1
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Interesting conversions.
I've "re-engineered" a number of Fender amps to create platforms that Leo should've produced such as this porch weasel from hell, using a non-reverb Princeton head and a stand-alone speaker enclosure featuring a 15-inch JBL speaker......
https://i.ibb.co/hZZSpq8/Micro-Weasel-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/RPySy7m/Micro-Weasel-02.jpg
Fender amps are like old V8-powered Chevy's......very easy to hotrod.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Phantomman, Did you build the cabinet for the 1 x 15? If so, very nice work!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Yes, I build my own cabinets.
Here's a 2 x 10 combo enclosure intended to accommodate a Bandmaster chassis......
https://i.ibb.co/KVzYCCY/MockUp18.jpg
It was dressed out to simulate an early '60s brownface......
https://i.ibb.co/MMWz89L/Finished02sm.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Do you use a router with a trammel attachment to make the holes for the speakers?
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
No, just a standard power jigsaw. The initial cuts were a little rough but hand-sanding rounded them down to a smooth, even circumference.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I inherited a router some years ago and it came with a trammel attachment. Once I finally figured out how to use it, I get perfect circles every time, with very little sanding. I use a straight cutting bit, and lower it a little bit on each pass. Sorry about the out of focus photo, it was from my less than stellar cell phone. https://i.imgur.com/SjqxgST.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
If i'd have inherited a router I'd have used it as well. As it is, I rely on mostly common hand tools for all my carpentry needs. Here's another amp that Leo didn't build but should've, a Deluxe Reverb combo driving a 15-inch speaker......
https://i.ibb.co/Kh5m5JM/SFSM07.jpg
Shown apposed with a stock '68 Deluxe Reverb for comparison. The enclosure is twenty inches tall and dressed out with silverface drip-edge cosmetics. The amp chassis itself is a '78.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
If i'd have inherited a router I'd have used it as well. As it is, I rely on mostly common hand tools for all my carpentry needs. Here's another amp that Leo didn't build but should've, a Deluxe Reverb combo driving a 15-inch speaker......
https://i.ibb.co/Kh5m5JM/SFSM07.jpg
Shown apposed with a stock '68 Deluxe Reverb for comparison. The enclosure is twenty inches tall and dressed out with silverface drip-edge cosmetics. The amp chassis itself is a '78.
Now that is a fine pair of amplifiers! I love the 15" Deluxe! Yes, Fender should have done one back in the day!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
Holy cow! That is some splendid cabinetry! Just superb! You have some great skills there, my friend!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Thanks, Bobby!
That 15-inch DR conversion was pretty popular -- I've built a total of six of them (four for paying clients) plus a few 2 x 10 versions. The DR is a very versatile platform and despite its 20-watt output is pretty damn loud, even with the stock single twelve. But an alternative speaker system makes a significant improvement in both tone and volume. I named the 1 x 15 version the "Spankmaster Reverb" and I've used it onstage with excellent results, even when pitted against the likes of a Vox AC30TB and a Fender Super Reverb. And it's a helluva lot lighter than the JBL-equipped Twin Reverb I used to lug around.
:biglaugh:
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
The 1 x 15" speaker cabinet looks like a great setup for a Deluxe Reverb. I built a stand alone 15 inch speaker cabinet with a horn driver added that I used to use for keyboards. With the addition of the horn, it's impedance is 4ohms, so probably wouldn't be appropriate for a Deluxe Reverb. I have used it with this old Silverface Blackline Bassman. I don't know the forum rules about posting what prices we paid for gear, but this was a pawn shop find in January 1988. I recently replaced all of the electrolytic caps, doghouse caps and resistors and bias supply cap and resistor, and am just waiting to take it to a friend's place so we can put it on his variac and also check the bias with his eurotube probes.
Although the tube chart identifies the circuit as AB165, after carefully going over the values of the components in the chassis, I believe it is circuit revision AC568. As you guy's know, that wouldn't be the first incorrect tube chart in a Fender amp.
https://i.imgur.com/D1WmKQi.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/6YlzkT0.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/ZvYj0iH.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Great posts! Thank you guys!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Your Bassman *may* be an AB165 -- the key is the build date which should be ink-stamped inside the chassis, adjacent to the P/T. Those amps built after May of '68 will likely be the AC568 circuit revision.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
This has been a fun thread. Somewhere around here are phtots of my 2x10" Bandmaster combo/convo. I'll have to dig them up when I get some time. I'm pretty happy with it even though I haven't used it in years.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cogs
This has been a fun thread.
+1!
Especially so since we have a new member who seems quite enthusiastic about being here.
It's a good day for the forum!
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I agree! Time to dust off some old jpg's
Here's a crappy pic:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1daa4c60_o.jpg
A better one of the B'master in action, sitting on top of my chopped Leslie model 130. I chained the BMR w/a Crate Power Block to push the Leslie:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...83f18339_o.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Btw- I made my own circle jig for my router out of a piece of plywood. It's not very precise in the diameter of the holes it produces, but it does make a perfect circle & they are at least in the ballpark. Any rough edges are then taken care of with sand paper &/or a rasp
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
Your Bassman *may* be an AB165 -- the key is the build date which should be ink-stamped inside the chassis, adjacent to the P/T. Those amps built after May of '68 will likely be the AC568 circuit revision.
My Bassman has (2) 150ohm 7 watt resistors attached to the power tubes, which is consistent with AC568. Of course, it could be a hybrid or transitional build that doesn't conform exactly to any schematic. The date codes on the transformers are from 1967 and 1968, and the original cathode bypass caps and the filter caps have a date code of 1968. I can't read the date codes on the pots. The serial number seems to indicate 1969, but possibly 1968.
From Wiki:"The first Silverface amps, manufactured between 1967 and 1969, had an aluminum frame (trim, known as a "drip edge") around the grillcloth, mid-1960s "tailed" amp logo and the AB763 blackface circuit. An even rarer feature were the vertical, narrow black lines, which separated knob groups in the control panel. This cosmetic detail (later referred to as "blackline") was quickly abandoned."
The rubber stamped code on the inside of the chassis near the power transformer is 1224268, so that might suggest the 42nd week of 1968. I never noticed that before, thanks for the tip.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cogs
Btw- I made my own circle jig for my router out of a piece of plywood. It's not very precise in the diameter of the holes it produces, but it does make a perfect circle & they are at least in the ballpark. Any rough edges are then taken care of with sand paper &/or a rasp
I have also seen people make "trammels" out of a piece of hardboard attached to the router base. Different pivot holes can be drilled to permit various speaker hole diameters. You would just drill a hole in the center of where the speaker is to go, and insert a short dowel in the corresponding pivot hole. It's best to do the routing with a sacrificial piece of plywood under the work piece to minimize tear out.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
The silverface Bassman head has a lot of untapped potential that a competent tech can easily exploit. The best conversion (IMO) is back-dating the circuit to the earlier brownface 6G6A guise. This mod utilizes all four stages of the bass instrument channel's pre-amp tubes for some phenomenal saturated overdrive and compression, reintroduces the enigmatic presence control, and yields a skosh more output power if the P/T is replaced with P/N 125P7A due to its higher plate voltage (470 VDC vs 425 VDC of the AB165 revision). It's a real sweet package.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
The silverface Bassman head has a lot of untapped potential that a competent tech can easily exploit. The best conversion (IMO) is back-dating the circuit to the earlier brownface 6G6A guise. This mod utilizes all four stages of the bass instrument channel's pre-amp tubes for some phenomenal saturated overdrive and compression, reintroduces the enigmatic presence control, and yields a skosh more output power if the P/T is replaced with P/N 125P7A due to its higher plate voltage (470 VDC vs 425 VDC of the AB165 revision). It's a real sweet package.
I did notice looking at the AC568 schematic that they only use 1/2 of V2 (or maybe it's V3), so I assumed someone came up with a mod to add some gain. I actually mainly use this amp head for bass guitar, so clean headroom is what I need. It had been sitting idle in my studio for about 6 years until about this time last year when I fired it up and quickly "blew" a filter cap. Luckily no other damage was done. That's when I decided to replace all of the electrolytic caps and certain resistors. I should have used F&T caps, but wasn't that knowledgeable at the time. On my more valuable amps I did use F&T's for all of the filter caps. I used metal oxide 2 watt resistors in the doghouse and bias section.
I have a couple other vintage Fenders I have been working on, but will probably take better photos with a real camera and a tripod after noticing how sorry some of the photos I have posted look.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I had to use google to learn what a "trammel" is, & I've basically produced a crude version that I attach to the router base. Kind of a compass with a screw for the stationary center & the outside edge of the router bit for the radius.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cogs
I had to use google to learn what a "trammel" is, & I've basically produced a crude version that I attach to the router base. Kind of a compass with a screw for the stationary center & the outside edge of the router bit for the radius.
Ya, you could use a screw for the pivot point or drill a hole in the trammel and the work piece and insert a short piece of dowel. You would just have to take some careful measurements before drilling the hole in the trammel. The one's I have seen on the internet are kind of narrow triangular shaped, with the wide end attached to the router base, and the smaller end is the pivot point.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I like the idea of a Princeton non reverb head. I have the Radio Shack version of that orange frame speaker, I think. Was that a JBL or a Utah?
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michael Smith
I actually mainly use this amp head for bass guitar, so clean headroom is what I need.
I understand.
In that case the best way to maximize any Bassman's stage-performance potential is to examine the various speaker-system options. A great upgrade would be a 2 x 15 folded-horn enclosure containing a pair of JBL D140F's such as Sunn's 200S or 190B cab. They also work extremely well as bass rigs with Fender's Dual Showman head.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I bought this Peavey 2 x 15 bass cab used in the early 1990's. It's way too heavy to get up and down 17 stairs from my studio, so it hasn't moved from there in over 25 years. For gigging I built a 1 x 15 cab with a horn. Still heavy, but more manageable. I had another pawn shop special, a Bassman 135 Master Volume Amp, which I sold a few years ago to a buddy, (for far too little by today's standards). It paired well with the 2 x 15 Peavey.
https://i.imgur.com/7h4nikN.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/LYi7rqP.jpg
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Do the forum rules allow us to say what we paid for which amps in past years? If so, I have some detailed info.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michael Smith
Do the forum rules allow us to say what we paid for which amps in past years? If so, I have some detailed info.
I am not aware of any restrictions on talking about price.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Michael Smith
Do the forum rules allow us to say what we paid for which amps in past years? If so, I have some detailed info.
No rules against that.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OldStrummer
I am not aware of any restrictions on talking about price.
Good to know, just thought I'd ask first. With the popularity of online auction sites, or just online information in general, the price of used amplifiers seems to have gone crazy in the past few years. I've been in the process of scanning into my computer, all of the receipts I can find for the musical gear I have bought over the years. I also ran across a website that has links to old Fender catalogs and price lists, although there are quite a few gaps before the late 1960's. Here's what I came up with for the amps I purchased and have already shown photos of earlier in this thread. The list prices are from the online price lists I found corresponding to the year I believe my amps to have been built.
Bassman 50 Watt head, Listed for $270 in Oct, 1968, I paid $100 in January, 1988. (Pawn Shop in Houston, TX).
Bassman 135 Watt head, Listed for $390 in Sept, 1978, I paid $180 in April, 1993. (Pawn Shop in Houston, TX). I sold it for around $250 about 10 years ago.
Super Twin Reverb, Listed for $745 in April, 1977, I paid $400 in April, 1993. (Pawn Shop in Houston, TX).
Vibro Champ, Listed for $155 in Sept, 1979. I paid $150 for it brand new (Tulsa, Oklahoma) in August, 1979.
When I post photos of my more recent purchases, I will include this same information, in case anyone is interested. I'm not looking to buy or sell any amps, just thought this information is interesting.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I remember when a blackface Princeton Reverb retailed for $179.50 (the non-verb model was $159.50).
I wish I'd bought a dozen.
Who knew?
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
I remember when a blackface Princeton Reverb retailed for $179.50 (the non-verb model was $159.50). <br>
<br>
I wish I'd bought a dozen.<br>
Who knew?
<br>Or a few 1957 Strats. Here is a page from Fender's Feb, 1957 Price list. It's kind of hard to read and I couldn't convert the pdf into an image file so I took a picture of it on my computer monitor in order to upload the photo to an image sharing site.https://i.imgur.com/iCp71K3.jpg
By the way I found the Fender price lists on a site called "guitar-compare.com"
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Twelve years ago I bought a blackface Princeton Reverb Amp from a local gentleman who was the second owner. Cosmetically it was a 9.5/10.0 but needed the usual servicing (cap can, power rail resistors, etc), modern safety upgrades, and a speaker. LBJ was the president when this amp was built and I paid $640 for it plus a couple of hundred in restoration costs. A small but significant victory.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phantomman
Twelve years ago I bought a blackface Princeton Reverb Amp from a local gentleman who was the second owner. Cosmetically it was a 9.5/10.0 but needed the usual servicing (cap can, power rail resistors, etc), modern safety upgrades, and a speaker. LBJ was the president when this amp was built and I paid $640 for it plus a couple of hundred in restoration costs. A small but significant victory.
You got a very good price, compared to today. I looked at Reverb's price guide for 1965 Princeton Reverbs and most are selling in the $3,000 to $3,500 range, with some in the $4,000 plus range.
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Indeed. My profit should pay for a month's worth of care in a nursing home.
:laughing:
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
Here's something I just noticed from looking at the old Fender price lists. The choice of speakers made a BIG difference in the price of the amp. For example, from the 1973 price list for the Twin Reverb Amp. The price for the amp with the standard Fender speakers, $575, JBL speakers, $720, Fender PS speakers, $758.
For the Super Reverb, the standard speakers $500, JBL's $748.
Super Six Reverb, Standard $650, JBL's $1,135.
Are the JBL's or PS speakers really worth the premium?
-
Re: Let's see your amplifiers...
I think so at least in the case of the JBL's. But it really depends on the amp. For Super Reverbs (or any amp with 10-inch speakers) I prefer the CTS alnico's OR the Fender-marked Jensen C10NS drivers. Bandmasters and Pro Reverbs sound their best with vintage C12Q's or C12NA's. Fender's PS series speakers (actually made by Cetec/Gauss) are a bit of a mystery to me, never having played or owned any. Apparently they're similar in design and performance to the EV-SRO speakers. For solid Fender punch the D-series alnico JBL's really deliver, at least for my purposes.