Fender Bandmaster

See also: Fender Bandmaster Reverb

The Fender Bandmaster was a musical instrument amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1953 and discontinued in 1974.

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  Fender Bandmaster, silverface, 1968 "drip-edge" with AB763 circuit
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  (back)

Timeline

Timeline gleaned from

Year	Inputs	Output	Form	Speakers	Controls	Circuit/Model	Price
1953	2 instr, 1 mic		Combo (Wide Panel) Tweed	(1) 15" + ext jack Jensen P15N	Volume, Treble, Bass	5C7	$229.50
1954	2 instr, 1 mic		Combo (Wide Panel) Tweed	(1) 15" + ext jack	Volume, Treble, Bass	5D7
1955	2 instr, 1 mic	26 watts	Combo (Narrow Panel) Tweed	(3) 10" + ext jack	Volume, Treble, Bass, Presence	5E7
April 1960	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks	40 watts	Combo (w/Modern Fender style) brown Tolex		each channel: Treble, Bass, Volume Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity master Presence	6G7
End 1960	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks	40 watts	Combo brown Tolex		each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity master Presence	6G7-A
Feb 1961- June 1963	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks	40 Watts	Piggyback ("head") cream Tolex	(2) 12" + ext. jack Oxford 12M6-10, Jensen C12N	each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity master Presence	6G7-A
July 1963	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks	40 watts	Piggyback ("head") black Tolex	None	each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity Presence removed, "Bright" added	AB763
1968	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks		Piggyback ("head")	None	each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity Bright	AA568
1969	2 channels, each with high & low sensitivity input jacks		Piggyback ("head")	None	each channel: Volume, Treble, Bass Vibrato channel also: Speed, Intensity Bright	AA1069
1974	Discontinued	.	.	.	.	.

Cosmetics

• Tweed
• Blonde
• Blackface
• Silverface 1967–1974
  • Drip Edge 1967–1968
  • Black Line 1967–

Circuit notes

5C7

The first Bandmaster was in all respects almost identical to the the Fender Pro, a dual-6L6 26-watt amp with a 1x15 speaker, with one difference: separate treble and bass controls, where the Pro like all other Fender amps to that time only had a single Tone knob.

6G7-A

The 6G(n)-A circuit was used in several Fender amplifiers, including the Bandmaster. It produces 40 watts into 4 ohms. The circuit was used from 1961 until July 1963 when the "AB763" circuit was introduced. "Blonde" aficionados feel this circuit has superior tonal characteristics when overdriven, to the AB763 circuit. The 6G7-A circuit also included a vibrato that is heralded as Fender's best by many enthusiasts.

AB763

The AB763 (designed in July, 1963) circuit is arguably considered the "best" circuit version produced for this amp by collectors and aficionados. The complex brownface "harmonic vibrato", however, was replaced by a simpler electro-optic oscillator. Amps retrofitted to this circuitry are described as having been "blackfaced," a reference to the black faceplate used on these amps during much of this era.

AA568

The AA568 version (introduced May, 1968) was met with popular dislike by Fender's customers. It is referred to at times as the "silverface" circuit, referring to the brushed aluminum control plate used from 1968 to 1974. The circuit change and the cosmetic change didn't happen at the same time; some 1967 and early 1968 Bandmasters still possessed the AB763 circuitry.

Unfortunately, the tube chart inside the amp head cannot be reliably used to differentiate the AB763 from the later circuits, as Fender continued using the older tube charts for a while after changing the circuit configuration.

AA1069

Some of the changes from the AA568 were reverted in October, 1969, yielding the AA1069 circuit, but many of the changes remained in place.

See also

• Bandmaster Reverb
• Fender