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1962 Fender Bandmaster Blonde Piggyback Vintage Brownface Tube Amp Oxford 12L5
Estimated price for orientation: 2 699 $
Category: Guitar Amplifiers
Class:
Description Brand: Fender Exact Year: 1962 Model: Bandmaster Country/Region of Manufacture: United States MPN: Does Not Apply UPC: Does not apply
Up for sale, a 1962 Fender Bandmaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This early "Piggyback" version of the Bandmaster is decked out in original rough blonde tolex with oxblood grillcloth and a pair of alnico Oxford 12L5 speakers! The Brownface circuit drives two vintage RCA 6L6 GC power tubes for roughly 40 powerful watts of pure tube goodness (not to mention that the preamp is stocked with a full compliment of vintage USA made valves too). Like the Tweed amps that preceded it, the Brownface circuits are very dynamic and respond well to picking dynamics with Fender's hi-fi glassy clean tones. The EQ controls have a huge range and after around 5 on the volume dial, the amp cascades into very rich tube overdrive that compresses a bit and feels slightly loose and gritty in just the right way without losing too much clarity. It's the kind of natural tube overdrive that only comes from pushing a well designed Fender circuit to its limit! The Harmonic Vibrato circuit is also a complex design only found on the top-tier Brownface models, utilizing three tubes and creating a lush pitch shifting effect that has more in common with a Leslie or Chorus than a traditional tremolo!The circuit is extremely original, and all of the famed blue Ajax tone caps are intact in the preamp, with stock Stackpole pots, carbon comp resistors and cloth wire. All of the Schumacher transformers are original with 1962 date codes as well, and the main filter caps were replaced decades ago, still working as they should. Even the stock gray two-prong power cable is intact. The amp is stocked with a pair of vintage RCA 6L6 GC power tubes, biased to perfection and ready for years of future use! The preamp tubes are also all vintage valves, also mostly RCA with a couple General Electric and Sylvania tubes as well. The tube chart is partially intact inside the head cab, and the text is still legible for the most part.The speaker cab is loaded with a pair of early Oxford 12L5 alnico speakers with fresh recones, ready to handle another fifty years of use. These Oxford 12" drivers date to 1958, so while they are not original to the speaker cabinet, they are era correct and the exact model found in these early Bandmasters. Very rare in any condition, this matched pair sounds fantastic, will clear, bell-like top end and a smoothness to the breakup at high volumes that you simply can't get with a ceramic speaker.Cosmetically, this is an excellent and well kept example of one of Fender's early Blonde designs, with clean and original rough blonde tolex. There is some light staining on the sides of the speaker cab where sap from knots in the woodThe oxblood grillcloth on the cabinet is original, while the head features new matching grillcloth. The faceplate is original and quite clean while the backplate is a reproduction custom ordered through Mojotone and made to original specifications. There is also one small hole in the back of the aluminum chassis from a previously removed mod which didn't otherwise affect the originality of the circuit. The plastic "dogbone" handle on the head is original, and the cabinet handle is a modern genuine Fender reissue. The flat "Fender" logos, chrome tilt-back legs and piggyback clip bars are also original (one tilt back leg shows rust through the chrome plating, while the other is quite clean).This 1962 Fender Bandmaster has been well maintained with vintage tubes, newly reconed Oxford speakers, and a checkup of the circuit to ensure years of reliable Fender Brownface tube tone!
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.
Shipping in the continental USA will be by FedEx Ground and will be $135, fully insured. We use double thick boxes, 1" foam and industrial 1/2" bubble wrap to assure that your amp arrives safely. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty which may be collected upon delivery.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!
Description
| Brand: | Fender | Exact Year: | 1962 |
| Model: | Bandmaster | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| MPN: | Does Not Apply | UPC: | Does not apply |
Up for sale, a 1962 Fender Bandmaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This early "Piggyback" version of the Bandmaster is decked out in original rough blonde tolex with oxblood grillcloth and a pair of alnico Oxford 12L5 speakers! The Brownface circuit drives two vintage RCA 6L6 GC power tubes for roughly 40 powerful watts of pure tube goodness (not to mention that the preamp is stocked with a full compliment of vintage USA made valves too). Like the Tweed amps that preceded it, the Brownface circuits are very dynamic and respond well to picking dynamics with Fender's hi-fi glassy clean tones. The EQ controls have a huge range and after around 5 on the volume dial, the amp cascades into very rich tube overdrive that compresses a bit and feels slightly loose and gritty in just the right way without losing too much clarity. It's the kind of natural tube overdrive that only comes from pushing a well designed Fender circuit to its limit! The Harmonic Vibrato circuit is also a complex design only found on the top-tier Brownface models, utilizing three tubes and creating a lush pitch shifting effect that has more in common with a Leslie or Chorus than a traditional tremolo!The circuit is extremely original, and all of the famed blue Ajax tone caps are intact in the preamp, with stock Stackpole pots, carbon comp resistors and cloth wire. All of the Schumacher transformers are original with 1962 date codes as well, and the main filter caps were replaced decades ago, still working as they should. Even the stock gray two-prong power cable is intact. The amp is stocked with a pair of vintage RCA 6L6 GC power tubes, biased to perfection and ready for years of future use! The preamp tubes are also all vintage valves, also mostly RCA with a couple General Electric and Sylvania tubes as well. The tube chart is partially intact inside the head cab, and the text is still legible for the most part.The speaker cab is loaded with a pair of early Oxford 12L5 alnico speakers with fresh recones, ready to handle another fifty years of use. These Oxford 12" drivers date to 1958, so while they are not original to the speaker cabinet, they are era correct and the exact model found in these early Bandmasters. Very rare in any condition, this matched pair sounds fantastic, will clear, bell-like top end and a smoothness to the breakup at high volumes that you simply can't get with a ceramic speaker.Cosmetically, this is an excellent and well kept example of one of Fender's early Blonde designs, with clean and original rough blonde tolex. There is some light staining on the sides of the speaker cab where sap from knots in the woodThe oxblood grillcloth on the cabinet is original, while the head features new matching grillcloth. The faceplate is original and quite clean while the backplate is a reproduction custom ordered through Mojotone and made to original specifications. There is also one small hole in the back of the aluminum chassis from a previously removed mod which didn't otherwise affect the originality of the circuit. The plastic "dogbone" handle on the head is original, and the cabinet handle is a modern genuine Fender reissue. The flat "Fender" logos, chrome tilt-back legs and piggyback clip bars are also original (one tilt back leg shows rust through the chrome plating, while the other is quite clean).This 1962 Fender Bandmaster has been well maintained with vintage tubes, newly reconed Oxford speakers, and a checkup of the circuit to ensure years of reliable Fender Brownface tube tone!
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.
Shipping in the continental USA will be by FedEx Ground and will be $135, fully insured. We use double thick boxes, 1" foam and industrial 1/2" bubble wrap to assure that your amp arrives safely. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty which may be collected upon delivery.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!
Shipping in the continental USA will be by FedEx Ground and will be $135, fully insured. We use double thick boxes, 1" foam and industrial 1/2" bubble wrap to assure that your amp arrives safely. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty which may be collected upon delivery.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!