Blackface Bandmaster

[Ken McDaniel]

I have a vintage Blackface Bandmaster I am thinking about putting in a Mather combo cab with 1 15" speaker. I have re-capped it, put new tubes in it and biased it, so it is ready to go. I am undecided on which speaker to select. Any thoughts on a good match for use with a PSG?

[Jamie Mitchell]

D120, or 2.

that was my rig for years, Bandmaster into D120.

[Howard Montgomery]

I did the exact thing to a 65 Bandmaster. I also replaced the output transformer with a 50 watt baseman type. I put a Blackwidow 1502 in it as I already had one, and have always liked the sound of those speakers with steel guitar.

[Bob Sehy]

I have a 68 drip edge silver face bandmaster (same circuit) and use it through a 1x15 cab with an eminence eps-15c, and also a 1x12 with an eminence eps-12c. Fantastic tone through both.

[Bill Hatcher]

im working a show on guitar for 6 weeks in a theater here in atlanta. heres my old bandmaster. its a great sounding amp. the first fender amp i bought in 1964 was a bandmaster.

[Ken McDaniel]

Glad to know I am not the only one that likes these old amps. I have been carrying this one around since about 1970 along with the blackface Bassman. The cab for the Bandmaster was stolen many years ago. My first amp was a Bassman in the mid 60s. I played bass in a western swing band in Oklahoma. (Yes we used an electric bass).

I have been thinking about one of those eps-15 speakers for the combo because it is lighter than many others. The Blackwidow also appeals to me. Too bad there are so many good speakers to choose from.....

[Tom Wolverton]

I converted a BMR into a Vibroverb clone. Beefed up the OT and put a Telonics neo 15 in it. Sounds devine. About 50 lbs, however.

[Dave Mudgett]

My first 'real' amp was a '65 or '66 Bandmaster - I got it circa '69 or so. Made my own cabinet, stuck two Lafayette speakers in it, Jensens I think, but they were their house brand speakers. Guitar only.

But I've had a few since then. I personally prefer a pair of high-efficiency 12" speakers over a single 15. JBLs D/K-120s or EV coffee-can SROs. Geez, I even got a cut-down Peavey Session 400 with a 4-Ohm, 12" Telonics speaker, and I prefer it to the originals I've had with 15" speakers - to my ears for what I do. I suppose a heavy-C6 player might prefer a 15, but to me 10's and 12's have a sweeter high-end for E9 or guitar.

I don't generally prefer to mod vintage amps, but if ever there was an older Fender that could use more iron in the output transforme, a Bandmaster would be it. If I could find a significantly beefier OT that really fit into a Bandmaster without drilling holes, I'd probably do it.

[Tom Wolverton]

Dave, check these out:

http://www.allenamps.com/parts.php#transformers

[Bob Carlucci]

I have owned/ used several BF Bandmasters over the years.. Personally, I like a single JBL 15 D130 best.. IMHO nothing else compares.. I have also used 2x12 cabs and 4x10 cabs.. They all sounded great and worked well with the BM for both steel and guitar, but the single 15 was the best for steel.. I never saw the need for replacing the transformers..They were super loud and very clean amps with great sound,, Never had a problem with them in "loud band" situations..They had a LOT of headroom for a 40 watt amp.... bob

[Boo Bernstein]

Coincidentally, I just pulled my Silverface drip edge out of the closet last week and plugged it into a 15-inch Black Widow. I was surprised by how amazing it sounds -- no mid control, just lots of balanced round tone!

[Harry Johansen]

I use a Telonic 15" and also a JBL d-130 15 ",both sounds well