Description
Here we're looking at a Fender Bandmaster amplifier head likely dating to 1972 - for the production years 1971 and 1972 records are thin and somewhat vague, so it is possible it's a 1971 model. It is in good physical and electronic condition. This is a two-channel amplifier, with the second channel also having a vibrato circuit.
The Fender Bandmaster was one of Fender's earliest models, built from 1953 to 1975. To 1960 it was a 'combo' amp, originally 26 watts with a single 15 inch speaker, but in mid-1955 three ten inch speakers were used. By the 1960's the power level rose to about 40 watts. In 1968, the Bandmaster Reverb was introduced and that variant was built until 1980. This amp model is very commonly referred to as the 'Bandmaster', though the faceplates generally split the words 'Band' and 'Master'.
In the early 1960s Fender was realizing that combo amplifiers carried service and logistical issues in the ever-larger cabinets and ever-heavier transformers. As power levels started to rise, physically repairing amps took more and more space. A highly innovative solution was found. This solution makes so much sense and became so common that it seems obvious now, but simply separating the amplifier and speakers into separate cabinets was a breakthrough. This was immediately referred to as the ‘Piggyback’ design and every other manufacturer soon followed. One of the clearest expressions of this format is the classic Marshall stack, which not only delivered volume levels suitable for stadiums but also provided visually impressive backdrops for the stage.
The Fender Bandmaster is a great vintage amps, and were pretty high powered for the time. However, they were overtaken by other higher powered designs as the demand for volume grew. As well, the Bandmaster design has a fairly low headroom level, leading to early breakup. This can be very desirable for blues and rock players at low to moderate volumes, but doesn’t permit the amp to deliver clean tones at high volumes as a Twin Reverb can. and this led to its being discontinued in 1975.
DETAILS:
- Amplifier Model: Bandmaster
- Amplifier Manufacturer: Fender
- Amplifier year: 1972
- Amplifier Class: Used / Vintage
- Amplifier serial number: A34814, likely built during 1972 in Fullerton, California.
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Case included: No
- Amplifier Weight Imperial: 29.8 lbs
- Amplifier Weight Metric: 13.55 kg
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 189284
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