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Author Topic:  68 Dual Showman
Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 2:06 am    
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I just picked up this amp off Craigslist. It's a 68 Dual Showman, drip edge, non-reverb head. It has cloth wiring on the interior components. All the transformer codes are consistent with production in 1968. It appears to be all original.

From the attached photos does it look like it still has the original capacitors? The amp has a few quirks, but it works and sounds pretty good. I'm trying to determine what servicing it needs.






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William Rasch

 

From:
Vermont, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 4:15 am    
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Electrolytics are original. I'd definitely replace them for peace of mind
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Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 7:48 am    
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For certain those are original. A quality tech would change all those E caps plus the E cap on the bias circuit, plus inspect the screen/grid resistors under those 6L6's which are hotter than... Devil

Also check each of the tube sockets for connectivity and corrosion.

4x new 6L6's are not out of the question . Personally I would not grab matched sets as after this thing is on for a bunch of hours they probably won't be matched anymore anyway ! Front end tubes can be selected as required.


Great amp. Twin Reverb in it's own little contained world ! Very Happy

Do remember that the only difference between a Dual Showman and a Showman (single) is the Dual uses a 4 ohm output trans , like a Twin Reverb. The Showman as in "NOT DUAL", uses an 8 ohm output trans for the single 1x15.

great amp,enjoy it !
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Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 9:57 am    
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To the shop it is. Thanks for the input William and Tony.
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 10:38 am    
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Thinking about selling this Pristine 1964 Dual Showman amp... just had ALL the Tubes/Cap replaced a few months ago










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Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 11:08 am    
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Back in the day, in my area the Dual Showman was the hot bass amp, and ruled the roost until the big Ampegs and later the Acoustics took over.

Anyone notice that bass amps often make excellent steel amps?
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 11:17 am    
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Jack Hanson wrote:
Back in the day, in my area the Dual Showman was the hot bass amp, and ruled the roost until the big Ampegs and later the Acoustics took over.

Anyone notice that bass amps often make excellent steel amps?


I’ve used mine on steel and yes it sounds very good for steel... those D-130’s are such a nice speaker... I do mainly use it for bass though for practice before I play in church
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Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com
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Warren Tavernia

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 7:43 pm     dualshowman amplifier
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with all do respect this amp is just a showman, as fender always idicated what the amps were on the front by the pilot light . as in Dual showman. Don`t believe me google it . I had a dual showman in 1964.Just saying.
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John Neff

 

From:
Athens, GA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 6:21 pm    
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Great amp! I just had my Dual Showman head serviced and it sounds killer through 2x12" Jupiter speakers.
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Chris Boyd

 

From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 5:00 am    
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I'm using a '69 Dual Showman Reverb for steel and love it..It also needs to be recapped..
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Steven Paris

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 5:37 pm    
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Dale Rottacker wrote:
Thinking about selling this Pristine 1964 Dual Showman amp... just had ALL the Tubes/Cap replaced a few months ago

Are those 16-ohm speakers in parallel, making for an 8-ohm load, or.... ??
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Rick Johnson


From:
Wheelwright, Ky USA
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2017 5:23 am    
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Dales amp is a early Dual Showman.
With dual 8ohm speakers.
The Dual Showman and Showman 15: Starting 1963 (Two 15" JBL D130F speakers for Dual Showman and one 15" JBL D130 speaker for Showman 15, also referred to as Single Showman).

The use of the script "DUAL" started in '67

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabinets.com
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 4 Oct 2017 5:49 am    
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Rick Johnson wrote:
Dales amp is a early Dual Showman.
With dual 8ohm speakers.
The Dual Showman and Showman 15: Starting 1963 (Two 15" JBL D130F speakers for Dual Showman and one 15" JBL D130 speaker for Showman 15, also referred to as Single Showman).

The use of the script "DUAL" started in '67

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabinets.com


Thanks Rick... I was about to ask you that myself, but you must have read my mind and beat me to the punch... The information about the adding of the DUAL was what I’d found as well, but I wasn’t sure about the ohm’s... I think the only time the back was off was when I took the back off when I was a kid cause I was curious... But the only thing I remember about that was I got in trouble for taking the back off... LOL... My Dad bought it BRAND NEW along with a Fender Jaguar at the same time in 64, and I only EVER heard it referred to as a Dual Showman.... Thanks again Rick
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Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com
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Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 19 Oct 2017 9:14 pm    
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I just picked up the Dual Showman from Skip Simmons Amp Repair, outside of Marysville, CA. This thing sounds wonderful. New power filter caps, new power cord, and general servicing. Skip said the preamp tubes appear to be original, still going strong after 49 years.
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 20 Oct 2017 5:50 am    
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Paul Sutherland wrote:
I just picked up the Dual Showman from Skip Simmons Amp Repair, outside of Marysville, CA. This thing sounds wonderful. New power filter caps, new power cord, and general servicing. Skip said the preamp tubes appear to be original, still going strong after 49 years.


Happy for you Paul... I put 600 bucks in my head with new everything and sounds incredible... Fabulous amps.
_________________
Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com
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Lefty


From:
Grayson, Ga.
Post  Posted 20 Oct 2017 8:22 am    
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I believe the white amp to be a "Double Showman"
This looks like my 1963, same cabinet. They were rated at 100 watts. The showman was available with a 1-15 cabinet or a 1-12 cabinet. I have the 63, 66 and a 68. All sound wonderful. Never a better amp created IMO
Lefty

http://www.thevintagesound.com/ffg/showman_blonde.html
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