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Topic: Dating bassman fender amp |
Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2020 6:24 pm |
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Hope this is in the right section.
I have my eye on an old fender bassman.
Can any of you folks tell me how to date this old amp?
I can have pics soon if that helps.
Thanks in advance 
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Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 24 Jun 2020 6:44 pm
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Yeah I knew that one was coming.
You see, I had to leave my girl cause she wanted to be with 2 guys at the same time, and I wasn't one of 'em.
But seriously folks ....
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Doug Taylor
From:
Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 24 Jun 2020 6:56 pm
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You can get a quick-and-dirty idea here:
http://www.ggjaguar.com/fendamp6.htm
From the mid-50's to the late '60s(and maybe a little later) there was a hand-stamped 2 letter date code on the tube chart.The first letter was the year,the second was the month.For example, my March '64 Bassman is coded NC,my November '61 Princeton is KK,and my May '62 Concert is LE.
It'll help if you can post some pics. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 24 Jun 2020 7:20 pm
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| Pics are essential, there are so many versions of the Bassman going back to early 50s - 1x15, 4x10 combos, head/cab, tweed, brown, blackface, silverface, and multiple versions of each. Serial number imprinted on back of chassis good, if available. Tube chart codes if available. Transformer codes (usually start with 606 but could be different) great to help determine date and originality. |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2020 8:05 am
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So, the fella with the amp would not let me open the back to take pics, the amp nor the cabinet.
Of course, I declined to buy it.
Near as I could tell, it is a first generation CBS model, probably late 65 or early 66.
I could see that the 6L6s where not original, it had a 2 prong cord. Easy fixes but without checking the codes as suggested, its a no go.
I could not get to the speakers to check either.
Thanks to all who replied.
Since I promised pictures, here,s a shot of my ex.
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 25 Jun 2020 9:22 am
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| Bud Angelotti wrote: |
So, the fella with the amp would not let me open the back to take pics, the amp nor the cabinet.
Of course, I declined to buy it.
Near as I could tell, it is a first generation CBS model, probably late 65 or early 66.
I could see that the 6L6s where not original, it had a 2 prong cord. Easy fixes but without checking the codes as suggested, its a no go.
I could not get to the speakers to check either.
Thanks to all who replied.
Since I promised pictures, here,s a shot of my ex.
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Did it look like THIS? The amp,not the ex!  |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2020 11:13 am
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Yes, I'd say pretty close,not as clean as yours though.
I don't remember if it had the badge on the speaker cab.
This fella also had a 1961 strat.
Someone had added what appears to be a pickup phase switch. Of course, that effected to value. $$
I did get a photo- very pricey. Big bucks guitar.
Not a great photo on my part.
Dave, where are you in CO. I spent a few years in Silverton, San Juan county. Elevation 9,318.
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2020 4:17 pm
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Mine is a model 6G6-B. Tube chart code NF (June, 1964). Nice guitar amp for medium- to large-sized rooms. Good for loud lap steel. Adequate practice amp for bass. Not crazy about it for pedal steel.
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Norman Evans
From:
Tennessee
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 26 Jun 2020 5:58 am
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If you can't open the amp, the tube chart should be an an approximate indicator. If it was a CBS Fender it should have something different on the rear panel other than Fender, Fullerton.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2020 8:36 am
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Right - Much thanks.
The Bassman is an AB165 circuit.
The guy won't split up the amp from the Strat and he wants 15-20 THOUSAND dollars.
So it aint gonna happen.
Much thanks to all.
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 26 Jun 2020 12:33 pm
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| Bud Angelotti wrote: |
Right - Much thanks.
The Bassman is an AB165 circuit.
The guy won't split up the amp from the Strat and he wants 15-20 THOUSAND dollars.
So it aint gonna happen.
Much thanks to all. |
$15-20K for a clean '61 Strat and a (presumably equally clean) BF Bassman is a little optimistic and far above consideration for a work rig. The Bassman pic I posted upthread is of my brother Spencer's '65,taken when new. The only thing left of it now is the tiltback legs; the rest got sold or stolen long ago.BTW I'm in Aurora,the eastern side of Denver. |
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Bud Angelotti
From:
Larryville, NJ, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2020 1:13 pm
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Right Dave,
I was really only interested in the amp.
See, my neigbor's grandfather in-law, bought the strat brand new in 1961.
When his son came back from Vietnam in 1966, the grandfather gave HIS son the guitar and a brand new Bassman. The son, my neighbor's father in-law, used them together for quite a few years.
They where then given to the son-in-law, my neighbor,who does not play guitar.
To his credit I believe, for emotional reasons, the son in-law, wants to keep the guitar & amp together.
Confused yet?
So, my neighbor will sell the guitar, and throw in the amp.
It's way out of my league $$$ wise.
But I gotta agree, the guitar and amp belong together.
And yes, they are not working rigs unless used by some kind of rock star.
Cheers All & stay safe!
_________________
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not. |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 26 Jun 2020 1:48 pm
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I can see that sentiment! I have a '66 J-Bass/'64 Bassman rig that belonged to a longtime bandmate who passed away a few years ago. Here it is,with a clone Bassman cab I had made to match.
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 27 Jun 2020 5:49 am
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That '61 Strat looks just like my early '62 but my '62 has all gold hardware. If the pickup switch hasn't been replaced with a 5 position switch, the toggle could be to switch in the middle pickup for those double pickup sounds. The amp isn't valuable enough to hinge the sale on the acquisition of both.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2020 10:14 am
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| the guitar is worth 20-30 times more than the amp. |
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