Fender Bandmaster

I have a '66 Blackface Head, It's a no frills straight ahead amp all tube (solid state rectifier though). There are 2 channels with vol, treble, bass on each, the second channel has a vibrato with speed & intensity controls. What more do you need. It's 40 Watts of classic Fender tube driven tone heaven.

I would like to see what it sounds like with a tube rectifier (might get switchable one fitted).

I use it for Harp and use a variety of bullet mics into it and sometimes a Shure Sonodyne 540 Series II. It has a great tone for harp and is loud enough to cut through with all but the loudest bands, then I just mic it up into the P.A.

I use this amp with either a 4X10 or 2X10 cab depending on where i am playing. I sometimes use a Boss DD3 delay pedal, but usually just play this puppy dry because it has that natural resonance you get from those old fender amps. When you play those big fat octaves on this baby they leap across the room and right into the face of the audience. The overdrive on this amp starts around 5 which is just right for the harp.

It's only just younger than me and runs like a dream. I never take a back up amp to a gig because this one is so reliable.

C'mon it's 39 years old !
This is just a guess of course but I reckon warranty might have run out !!!!

I would get another if this one were stolen or something.
OK so it's not a '59 Bassman but I guarantee it's as good (maybe slightly less bass response) and cheaper than a '59 Bassman. beacause it's a head and cab set up you can choose your speaker options for each gig and it's easier on your back !

'66 Bandmaster. The chassis has 1965 all over it but the tube chart is early '66. 2 channels. You know, like all the very reliable Fender piggy-backs.

I play Tele's and Strat through it. I just got it an a garage sale. Needs new electrolytic caps. Sounds a little mushy now but will clean up with new caps. Not as loud as I thought. That will also get better after new caps.

I've almost exclusively played Fender amps for 40 years. Very dependable. Won't need a backup for this one. I have rarely had a Fender to break down on me. It still has the original caps throughout but the tubes have been replaced. I then replaced the Sovtek's with RCA 6L6's.

I really don't need support on my Fender amps. I can usually fix them myself or with help from some tech friends. The older ones are fairly simple.

I've been playing for 40 years. Got my first guitar the Christmas after the Beatles hit the US. Got my first Tele and amp in 1975 but played through friends's amps before that. I have had one '65 Super Reverb stolen. I had 2 more at home to replace it. I'll probably always play Fender amps and guitars. I have owned over 200 amps and most have been Fenders. I used to think reverb was required but now it is not so important. I am a plug in and go guy. I don't use many effects. I've played so much and so loud I've lost most of my hearing. I also like some of the smaller Gibson and Epiphone amps.

1966 Bandmaster Head. Cap's replaced by previous owner (but nice work). Features are covered by previous reviews. I am running it through a mojotone 2x12 ext. cab w/ one Eminence Legend125 and one GB12. I tried the cabinet open and closed back and I prefer it closed.

I'm playing an SG Classic (P90 p'ups) through it. I use a Holy Grail for reverb, Voodoo Sparkle Drive, Aphex Punch Factory Compressor, and Voodoo Microvibe. So far my favorite sound is plugged into input 1 of Normal channel, with a jumper from Normal 2 out to Vibrato 1 input. This allows me to adjust the level of vibrato in the mix.
The amp is slightly noisy (you can hear a low hum) but nothing unusual. I haven't had the opportunity to push it to break-up.
This amp sounds beautiful. (I had been playing through a 70's Champ (w/ 8" Jensen) with the Weber tweed mod done) With the bandmaster I can really hear the character of my guitar. Changes in the volume and tone settings on the guitar make a big difference in the tone now.
I wouldn't say this amp has a wide variety of sounds, but the basic clean sound it does is sooo nice.

Can't say, just got it. But it made it since '66 with just routine maintenance.

N/A

I've been playing for 15 years as an amateur, off and on with bands. I've owned a pre-'85 Fender Concert, the 70's Champ, and a Vox Cambridge 15. I would definitely replace it. I love that I can jumper the two channels and adjust the mix of vibrato (and the tone controls independently on each of those channels). I was looking for a Fender clean sound and a 1 or 2 12" speaker config. and the Bandmaster was a good value in the current market.

This is a simple amp with few features. It has a treble and bass control, tremelo and a bright switch. There is no reverb. If you are looking for a lot of effects and features, this is not for you. However, if you are looking for that classic fender tone, this is the perfect amp.

I use this amp with my strat and tele. It is the best sounding amp I've ever heard, including my 1965 deluxe reverb. The only thing missing is reverb, but a digital reverb is good enough. It has classic fender tone and is perfect for blues. The amp breaks up nicely at high volume but is definately not crunchy. If you're a shredder, stay away from this amp. This is an extremely quiet amp, even at full volume with single coils. It is only 40 watts which means you can crank it without worrying about the neighbors calling the police.

This amp is indestructible. It is a 1966, 100% original amp. It has a few dings but what do you expect for an amp that's almost 40 years old. What can I say?

I've been playing for almost 35 years. This is one of the best amps ever made. I love it and would buy another.

I got a 1965 Blackface Bandmaster. It is a "loud" (like mose tube amps) 40 watts. It has 2 channels with Vibrato (Tremolo). THe best way to describe this amp is "CLEAN" If I could have any added feature it would be Reverb. I use a digital reverb/delay unit and it warms it up nicely. It really has more than enough power for me. If you find one buy it.

I use a variety of guitars with this amp. I mainly use a Telecaster with single coils, a 70' Guild Starfire with humbuckers, and a Rickenbacker 330 with single coils. This amp shimmers with single coils. It is clean and bright. I almost think that it is too clean. I have a hard time getting the amp to break up into overdrive. When I first got the amp it was noisy at high volume, but a retube and bias job made this amp virtually silent at any volume, other than single coil hum from the guitars. I use a digital reverb delay with it, unfortunatly I haven't found a suitable Overdrive/distortion pedal for it. The amp just is too bright, cutting and clean for heavy styles of guitar playing. I simply cannot get this amp to break up at any volume. That said, the clean tone is pristine, I judge the clean sound of all amps against the Bandmaster, and I am the proud owner of a vintage Twin-Reverb.

After I replaced the tubes and Electrolytic capacitors, the amp is reliable as any amp in my arsenal. In fact this is much more reliable than my 1996 Marshall (sounds better too). The amp was broken down not long after I got it, but that was due to the 35 year old capacitors and Vacuum tubes. Other than that this amp is a tank!

Never dealt with Fender on this.
Any Competent amp tech can repair these amps.
Very easy to repair if you gotta do it yourself.

I have played for 14 years. I own 2 Vintage Bassmans and a Vintage Twin-Reverb, and a 90's Marshall. This amp gets a workout even with that competition. This amp is great, not alot of people play these so you can still get a good deal. If you need a Clean amp, BUY ONE.

1966 Blackface, 45 watts with tremelo. I bought it in 1977 since I needed a stronger amp than my 65 Vox Cambridge tube amp to play mostly rock. Some bonehead had installed a cheesy master volumn that always sucked,rarely worked right, & I eventually removed. Always wished it had my Voxes reverb.

This amp is uncomplicated but thats its appeal. After all is said & done its the amp I gig with. Classic Fender tube tone. Just enough bite! Eat your heart out Jim Marshall. I love my Voxes & my Mesa but this amp works best with the various guitars I play. Even with the big-ass 2-12" cab its worth moving. Most guys my age seem to be downsizing to little combo amps but piss on that, lets rock!

Only smoked it once in 1998. Found out the master volumn pinhead had also installed a 20 amp fuse instead of the required 3 amp. Never bothered to check it in 21 years-duh! OK, I'll also admit I bring my little 40 watt Peavey transtube for insurance-but come on-38 years old!! Where will your Yahmaha or Korean Vox be then?

Leo's dead.

This amp just proves to me that Fender did their homework. It incorporates everything gigging musicians need even it it takes time to realize it. Other manufacturers can learn from this. Americans build quality even if the media gushes over the foriegn junk!

It was given to me by a friend, decent condition, speakers in the 2x12" cabnit have been replaced by something that i've never heard of--blown, of course but will replace with Celestion G12T-75-8 when i have the cash.

I have a 1966 Blackface , i haven't had a chance to really play it yet as it's curently not working, no channel switching, some pots may need replacing, have been cleaned, more than enough power for me

I play mostly metal/smooth rock (worship in my local church)

haven't had the chance to really use it yet.

as i said before--has yet to work on me, LOUD humming noise, prolly because of either the tubes being shot or the bias being bad, it needs serviceing but not service stations around.

no shops nearby. wont even try fender... why would they care?

i've been playing E. Guitar for over 4 years now... i have an epiphone special II ( iknow, bottom of the barrel) i just wish i could get the dang thing to work.
I WISH IT HAD AN OVERDRIVE CHANNEL but i figure i'll just get a pedal for it.

1967 Blackface. No reverb, but everything else is all you need. No gain,distortion or any other junk to dirty up the signal and mask the sound of your guitars pickups. I play classic rock, blues, and a little progressive/alt country. Plenty of power.

The smoothest, richest, bass I have ever heard, maybe due in part to the closed back cabinet. Not the least bit muddy, either. The treble is pure BF Fender, the best. At idle, you simply cannot hear it run; very quiet when playing, even with single coils. I do not push this amp very hard, so I cant comment on its overdriven sound. Tone contols have enough range of adjustment to dial in single coils and humbuckers . Absolutely the best sounding clean amp I have ever heard. Too bad it took me 39 years of playing to stumble across it. I have had Silvertones, Gibsons, Deluxe Reverbs, Marshalls, Hot Rod DeVilles, Concert Reverb RI, and for my style it is superior to all of them

For my purpose, which is almost exclusivly home playing now, it is great. I would be very reluctant to play any stock 37 year old amp at a gig without a backup.

N/A If I were to have trouble, I would take it to the store where I bought it( Music Villa in Bozeman, Mont. They are the best people to work with I have dealt with) I am not a fan of "corporate Fender". They are just too big and powerful in the industry.

I have been playing for 39 years. I have several guitars: a new Gibson J200, 2003 Clapton Strat with a custom Hefner neck, 1973 Tele, 1973 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop, 1984 es-347, 1976 Starcaster, 1965 Hagstrom, 1997 Rickenbacker360, and a 1972 Gretsch Roc-Jet. I use a Dunlop Crybaby, a Boss BD-1 Blues Driver, and a SexDrive clean boost. However, 95 % of the time I play with no effects. I am in the market for an affordable vintage Fender reverb unit, also. This is a great example of how some vintage gear is truly superior to the new stuff. I was kind of skeptical until I heard this amp, and it has made a believer out of me , at least where Fender amps are concerned. This amp is far and away better sounding than the new Concert Reverb ( $1800 list ) that I got rid of, there was simply no comparison. With a good reverb unit, this amp will have it all. I cant see myself ever selling it, and if it were to be stolen or break down, I would surely look for another vintage Fender.

early '65 ("Fender Electric Instruments") black face "Bandmaster-Amp", you can see the deal from above. About as tricky as these things get is including a "bright" switch; you need to look elsewhere for bells and whistles and channel changing and all that stuff, but I have no use for those.

whoa, nellie! This is one heck of an amp. Maybe it's the smaller output transformer, maybe its lower tube plate voltages or something, but this amp has one heck of a sweet, rich, harmonically complex sound. A bit of compression and "lag" but nothing hyped like the new fancy boutique amps. Even better, the thing is utterly smooth when it goes into overdrive: there is no low-end "grit" or crapping-out sound, it's slick and liquid all the way up, still clear enough to hear enveything, too. I've played all sort of guitars through it (Les Paul, Tele Thinline, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Strat, Rick 330, Dano Convertible, etc.)and it's consistently great, though you need to adjust the tone knobs just a bit, of course.

To compared to two other Fender heads I have from the same period (Dual Showman and Bassman), and played through the exact same cabinets (one closed-back, ported Peavy cab with two 12" 200W EV's, one semi-open back Sears Silvertone Twin 12 cab with 60's Oxfords), here are some notes:

1. Much less bight than either the Showman or Bassman (reminds me of mid-60's Marshall "plexi" tone: it's clear, but just doesn't have that piercing Fender high-end, even with the bright switches on);
2. Sounds good at low volumes, unlike Showman and Bassman;
3. "breaks up" at around..well..it's never really clean, is the thing, but never really distorted either. The Showman is ALWAYS clean, it just gets louder and richer; the Bassman is clean up to about 2 or 3, then it's "overdriven" with increasingly gritty low end, then it's "death to all who stand before me" at about 6 or higher. The Bandmaster never "loses it" or flaps out, it just gets creamier and more intense. You can always get "clean" sound by picking softer.
4. Bass is way less tight-and-bright than either the Bassman or Showman (I attribute this to the output tranny), but very smooth and pleasant, not weak. Blends in well with other things.
5.not nearly as loud as the Bassman (a hellaciously loud amp, who knows why), but not all that much quieter than the Showman. PLenty loud enough to gig with - especiually if you use both channels (either bridged or seperate inputs from a signal splitter). In contrast to the Showman and Bassman, both channels on this amp sound great, though a bit different (normal is darker and louder, vibrato is a touch brighter and cleaner). I recommend the channel splitter - you can adjust both channels for different tones and levels and then use the appropriate one (or both, which is awesome).

One off note, the amp is quite loud at reast (the "fireplace" or "grandpa's radio's still on" sound). Will have it looked at..but since the amp sounds great it's rarely "at rest," so not a huge drawback.

As with may other amps and Fenders (but a bit more so here), the amount of bass you push through it essentially determines how "clean: or "overdriven" it sounds. So turn up the bass knob, it's "dirtier," use the neck pickup, same deal. This aspect is more useful on this amp than other Fenders since the amp is less bright, I can actually use the bridge pickup on, say, a Jaguar, or Tele without causing ear damage.

Overall..have I said this thing is great? it is. I now have lots of amp-shaped paperweights.

a 40 year old amp is a 40 year old amp. keep it seviced, it'll be fine. People who expect perfect service-free performance everyday on tour or whatever from these amps complain when they inevitably develop problems or blow a cap or something, but if you bought a '65 Porsche and raced it around and never changed the oil, I'd call you a big fat idiot too. For the kind of wiring and components that went into these, you'd be paying some boutique guy $2,000 today. treat 'em right and they'll do the same.

not an issue.

This is a sweet, smooth, harmonic and serious grownup amp, great for rock, jazz, blues, whatever you play if you want a rich, responsive and musical sound. The fact that you can get them for under $400 today is kind of incredible, considering the high-priced junk out there, and considering that the TUBES ALONE in the amp could be worth more than a quarter of that. "Fantastic value" pretty much nails it. Now I'm gonna get me another one before everybody figures this out.

I've had a '66 Bandmaster piggy back (2 x12")since it was new. I have replaced the tubes twice over the years and it has seen a lot of roadwork. It's a sweet Fender sound and it's had just about every kind of distressing sound through it that you can imagine.It has never let me down. I wish all things were made this well. Jim

I use both a Strat and Godin LGX through it and it sounds great. There is only vibrato in it and limited tone controls but with external effects, I don't care.

The amp is 37 years old and has NEVER quit. I replaced the tubes twice and that was cause I thought "it must be time". I noticed no deterioration in sound, but there must have been. It has been a real source of comfort at every gig, knowing when all else is going wrong, I never had to worry about my amp.

I've been playing 38 years and use a combination of 4 rackmount effects, from Lexicon, Marshall and Roland. Now I'm buying something that's a little lighter for small gigs. The Bandmaster isn't that powerful but for medium gigs, no problem at all. I love it and my brother for buying it for me in '66.