Fender Bandmaster Head

1967 (Blackface) Bandmaster Head w/ AB763 circuit. Two channels, normal and vibrato, each with two inputs. Treble & Bass controls only (as well as speed & intensity in vibrato channel) No reverb. I play classic rock and the blues. I've always loved reverb and didn't think I could live without it, but I've got to say that the harmonics you get with overdrive distortion with this amp more than makes up for the lack of reverb. I believe the amp is about 40 watts and is plenty loud for a garage band. I also noticed that the amp's tone sounds great at just about ANY volume setting (I've used it from a volume of 2 up to 8 so far).

I play a 2000 Les Paul Classic with this amp. I can keep it clean up to at least 7 on the volume knob if I want, but can overdrive it with the volume as low as 5 simply by using a more aggressive pick attack. I also use a TS-9 (w/analogman 808 mod) overdrive pedal. The sounds that come out of this thing with the volume on 3 and the drive & level of the TS-9 set at 1'o'clock are pure honey. This is a great amp for the blues or classic rock (just try playing the opening riff on Satisfaction) and has that INCREDIBLE overdrive distortion (just dripping with harmonics) that I've always heard Fender Blackface amp's were famous for. I also own a 1970 Fender Pro Reverb, and while I enjoy playing the Pro as well, I've got to admit Blackface distortion is way better...it "shimmers" more and doesn't fade as quickly as my Silverface Pro Reverb. Now if I could just find a Blackface Super/Twin/Deluxe/Pro Reverb in my price range, I truly believe the search for MY TONE will end right there. It should also be noted that I use a Carvin 2x12 Legacy Cab with this amp (Celestion Vintage 30 speakers I believe)...this cabinet received VERY high marks on Harmony Central and may play an important role in the great tone I get out of the Bandmaster head.

I've only owned this amp about a month now but it's 35 years old and still sounds great (no funny noises...vey quiet...sounds great at any volume)...and with point to point wiring, you don't have PC Boards to worry about.

I've never dealt with Fender directly, so I can't offer an opinion.

I've been playing for 24 years now, and while I've never played professionally, I have played my share of outdoor parties and the occasional small bar gig. As I stated above, I also own a Silverface 1970 Pro Reverb amp (which I also love) and just had to see what all the fuss over Fender Blackface amps was about...the overdrive distortion on the Bandmaster is definately superior...it "shimmers" for lack of a better description and will bring a smile to the face of any guitar player. I use my Pro Reverb now mostly for leads (sounds great with the reverb set somewhere between 3 and 5) but rely on the Bandmaster for playing rhythym (as well as a fair amount of the solo stuff.) This amp is an INCREDIBLE value if you are searching for a blackface amp under $1,500 and can do without reverb.

Pretty straight forward - vintage Fender at it's finest. Two clean channels, two vibrato channels (no gain or reverb) All tube (2 6L6 Mullards, 4 Mullards for the PreAmp) 40 watts of sheer ballsy power that is sufficient, and surprisingly efficient enough for a very large club gig. The amp is all original, except the speakers are Eminence - made in the 42nd week of 1979. I read that Oxford speakers were stock on this amp - don't care as the Eminence's sound excellent! The only reason I am giving this a 9 instead of a 10 - is because it didn't come with reverb - no big deal cuz it doesn't need it!

My band plays mainly classic rock & roll, and rhythm and blues. My main guitars are both Les Pauls. This amp is the holy grail to my ears especially for the type of music I and my band plays. I have 4 other Fender amps - all newer - I have the DeVille (2X12) and the Blues Junior, and a Fender Princeton Chorus and a RocPro half stack. This is the finest, most raw amp I have ever heard. It really brings out the personality of the guitar, whether a Strat, or a Les Paul Special with P-90's, or a Les Paul with Humbuckers. This is the first amp I have ever just wanted to play clean - with no effects whatsoever (and I have about 35 effects units). This amp doesn't need effects - and that, in my 35 years of playing - says alot. I have never owned a vintage amp before - and now I fully understand the fanatics that simply must have the vintage Fender tube amps. It's a whole new experience - like I am just hearing my notes and chords the way they were meant to be heard.

Since I've had this amp under a week - I really can't give a reliability rating on my personal experience - but I'm giving it a 10 nonetheless because the fact that this amp is 35 years old - and still kicks ass with some of the best tones I have ever heard - it deserves the highest rating. How many amps this old - could wail like this beast, and not only sound this good - but sound so much better than a large percentage of the the current genre of amps. This my friends - is one hell of a piece of gear.

Fender's website has one of the best, if not the best, support services info available online, and some of the best and most detailed forums (like the Fender Amp Field guide). Just a couple of questions I posted in there - and a dozen answers, charts and links later - and I knew everyhting I needed to know about this amp BEFORE purchasing it. It simply doesn't get any better than this.

As I stated previously - I have been playing along time - and I have played through alot of different amps over 35 years.This amp (along with other Fender vintage tube amps) is THE SOUND that so many of todays boutique amp builders are trying to capture. Back in the days these were made - point-to-point hand-wiring and soldering was the norm - not the exception. The fact that gems like this one are still out there - and can be had in this price range - and still work as well as the day they rolled out of the factory - sums it up completely. This amp had been put in the basement of a pawn shop and long forgotten. Thank goodnes the basement was dry - and this amp was filthy. It took upwards of 18 hours to fully clean it, right down to using q-tips on the knobs - and this amp shines like the diamond it is now. Before I took the time to clean it - I wanted to make sure that it worked first, and you just can't imagine the joy I felt - when I saw the orange glow from beneath the layer of dust of those beautiful 6L6's. And the first power chord played out of this thing in who knows how many years - although bringing forward a little dust storm of it's own - was the most awesome thing I had heard in many many years. Long live vintage tube amps - and long live Fender!

1965 Bandmaster 40w head into 2x12 cab. Normal and vibrato channel.
I've heard you can get better tone if you have the vibrato channel disconnected -- I never use it, but it's still operational. Bass, Treble, Volume, bright switch. No real bells and whistles, but if you wanted bels and whistles, what are you doing looking at a 1965 Fender?

I played it with a '93 Stratocaster Ultra -- Texas Special in the Bridge. Play Blues, Funk, Rock, Rockabilly, Jazz. It's got that really nice Fender clean sound. I used a Boss DS-1 to get really heavy distortions, and a TS-9 Tube Screamer and Ibanez TK999 Tube King for overdrive.
You really need pedals to get overdriven sounds out of this amp -- When you crank it it doesn't really break up that well. The bottom end gets pretty farty at higher volumes too. The strength of this amp is its clean sound, but it can get a decent distortion with the right pedals. I'm switching to a modded Sound City 120 throgh a Marshall 4x12 'cuz I want a more rippin' tone, but I may just keep the Fender for clean stuff. My tubes are ancient, so that may be part of the problem.

This thing is a hog. I've never worried about it breaking down, though it was previously owned by an amp repair tech, so he kept it in good shape. Only problem I've had is the speaker out jack being a little tempermental (takes a little jiggle and some contact cleaner every once in a while).

Never dealt with them -- never had to

I've been playing about 12 years. This was my first tube amp, and I've been playing it for maybe 6 or 7 years. This is a great amp, but not overly powerful. It gives you a great base tone and works well with pedals. If it were stolen I wouldn't replace it, only because my playing style as changed. I wouldn't have minde a nice reverb added on.

I just got a 67 Bandmaster head this summer off of e-bay w/ a 68 cab. I absolutely love this amp! If you saw it you'd think it was a piece of junk, but man this baby kicks! It is total tube circuitry w/ 50 watts behind it. Usually 50 watts isn't too much, but this baby sounds like a Marshall stack! It doesn't have all too many features, but when it sounds great who cares? It has bass, treble, and volume for the normal channel. And the vibrato channel also has speed and itensity(the volume of the vibrato). The only things that are missing are reverb(I absolutely love reverb) and mid controls. But since Vox's don't have mids either I'm not complaining. And the only other minor problem is the so-called vibrato is square tremolo. Usually vibrato woobles the sound out of tune a bit, but his is just tremolo.
But like I said, it sounds great and you can buy reverb, equalizer, and vibrato pedals. Problems solved. Each channel also has a bright switch so you can make a Gibson Les Paul sound like a Fender Tele.

I'm using a Dean Special quilt top and an Epiphone Dot w/ this amp. Both are fully equipped w/ humbuckers(I love the humbucker sound, but
I'm gonna get a Tele and either a Parker or Samick soon). I play these throught a lot of assorted stomp boxes. DOD, BOSS, Danelectro, Electro-Harmonix, Ibanez, etc. I play any type of music style from hardcore to blues & classic rock to techno. I play anything. This amp serves me quite well too. You can get alot of sounds out of this amp.
From the treble-freaks the Kinks to the gutsy Wes Borland sound. I usually set the bass at 10 or 9 and the treble at 6 or 7. This amp does distort kind of easily, usually around 5 or 6 w/ a dual humbuckers. With a Tele or Parker it usually goes up to about 8. But then you can buy a Marshall Powerbrake and turn it up as loud as you want. And when you do turn it up there isn't much buzz. That is a huge plus.

This baby has lasted 30 years. That's dependable. I would never take another amp to a gig when I have this one. It's one of the best amps I've played on.

Haven't had to do anything yet and hope that I won't. But I'm sure that Fender is quite supportive to help people with problems that have to do with their products.

I've been playing for about 6 years now and I just can't get enough of this amp. If something happened to this amp, i would repair it or buy another. The pure tube sound just sounds awesome. The only amps I like over this amps are Vox AC30s, Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers, and Hughes and Kettner Duotone. I just wish it had reverb, but you can still buy reverb units. It's worth it to be able to have this amp.