Ebay 1963 Band Master Fender Amp Blonde Piggy Back
Posted on Jan 18 2008 06:44 PM
I've tracked down a couple Fender Amp heads on ebay and other local ads that I am considering.
66-67 Tremolux and Bandmaster--both in black tolex, both in reasonable but not pristine condition, both "look" unmodified, and both around the same price range of $500-$600. I've searched through old posts, and both get pretty good reviews.
What are the advantages, disadvantages of each, assuming both are in comparable condition?
And would it be a dumb idea to re-tolex a vintage amp to blonde?
For my use, I don't need a high powered amp, and I have a tank.
Any imput would be appreciated. Goober.
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
Posted on Jan 18 2008 08:17 PM
Tremolux amps are appreciating in value quicker than Bandmasters. That is the positive.
No negatives on either end. It would almost be a coin toss for me assuming it was blackface and not the brown circuits.
Yeah, dumb idea to retolex unless it is damaged absolutely beyond repair. You can always get a new cab built and find a junker head box to retolex. All the 'Verb amps are like that and we have the original cabs stored safe at home.
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
Posted on Jan 18 2008 08:42 PM
I don't have much experience with the Bandmaster, but I can tell you that the Tremolux is one awesome amp. Defintely the kind I would get if I was looking for a vintage Fender piggyback amp.
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 2046
Posted on Jan 18 2008 08:43 PM
The BM should be cleaner. The TLux has a GZ34 rectifier compared to the solid state rectification of the BM. Power output is near identical. However, many folks swap out the OT of the BM for a Bassman's OT for better bottom end and richer tone. Gluck
—
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2106
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
Posted on Jan 18 2008 09:15 PM
Your best bet is a Bandmaster they are 40 watts already have the bigger output tranny (OT) and why spend more money to upgrade a Tremolux save the dough and buy a Bandmaster it's more louder and cleaner.
The Tremolux is 35 watts smaller output tranny (OT) they break up sooner
The reason Tremolux amps are spendy do to not many of them on the market, they were more of students amp in the 60s, Tremolux amps had a short run of production from '63 to '66, The Tremolux amp was discontinued in 1966.
—
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ ReverbNation
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: 317
California
Posted on Jan 18 2008 09:35 PM
Thanks for all the great input. Both sound like what I am looking for, with the Bandmaster being cleaner at higher volume.
Good advice on the "don't re-tolex get a different cabinet" recommendation--I kinda figured that if the tolex was in decent shape that I could really end up decreasing the value. I've looked for original blonde but they are hard to find and more expensive.
Goober
Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 583
Encinitas, Ca
Posted on Jan 19 2008 11:09 AM
Goober,
You probably can't go wrong with either of these amps. I have a blackface Bandmaster and a Tremolux. As the other guys have said the Bandmaster does have more clean power at higher volumes. But, if you're not power mad, and playing at the higher volumes, you might never know the difference between the two amps. I believe they use basically the same circuit design.
We have a regular gig at a restaurant / bar with a small stage and low volume is required during the dinner hour. The lower power and smaller size and footprint are a real advantage for those gigs. Plenty of power for practice and home use. I usually use mine with the 2x10 Tremolux cabinet but it sounds great through other cabinets as well.
Part of what I like about the Tremolux is the oddball aspect of it. It is the runt of the piggyback family and they are somewhat rare compared to the other blackface heads. And, maybe a better "investment" (at least that's what I tell my wife).
Good luck.
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
Posted on Jan 19 2008 11:35 AM
While the circuit layouts for the two amps are almost identical, the Tremolux has the slightly smaller "Vibrolux" power transformer, "looser" power filter section (more akin to the Vibrolux and Deluxe), small choke, and a tube rectifier. The Bandmaster has a larger "Bassman/Pro" power transformer, "tighter" power filter section (more akin to the Bassman/Pro/Super/Twin), large choke, and a solid state rectifier.
So, overall, the Tremolux will sound looser and somewhat bluesier than the Bandmaster.
The Tremolux also has a narrower head cabinet depth than the Bandmaster. The Bandmaster also has two extra tube socket punch outs available if you ever want to make it into a Showman. In fact, the BF Showman and BF Bandmasters share the same chassis.
I use both amps through 2x10 cabinets. They're great.
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
Posted on Jan 19 2008 12:03 PM
PhatTele
I use both amps through 2x10 cabinets. They're great.
With the Tremolux 2x10 closed-back cabinet? What speakers do you use?
—
www.apollo4.com
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
Posted on Jan 19 2008 02:34 PM
Open back w/2 Weber 10F150s 50 watt speakers. Basically, I have a BF Bandmaster in a 2x10 combo cab. Then, when I gig, I bring a head and hook it up to the cabinet's speakers with a patch cable (I disconnect them from the back of the Bandmaster that's inside the combo). I'll use either a Tremolux, Blonde Bandmaster, BF Bassman or even a BF Showman. The BF Bandmaster in the combo becomes the backup amp for the rig. It may sound convoluted, but it works great because my reverb, tremolo, and echo are all on my pedal board which allows me to use either amp to drive the speakers if one chassis goes down for some reason.
I have another combo similar to this where I use 2 Weber California 10s and a Bandmaster Reverb inside the combo as the spare amp.
Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: 317
California
Posted on Jan 19 2008 03:01 PM
I demoed a a BM at a local shop with a 2x12 cab--sounded great but the price tag of $1,400 seemed steep.
Here are pics of the Tremolux I'm looking at. Supposed to be a '66 with AB763 circuit, recently serviced, no speaker cab.
imageimage
Whadda ya think? Goober
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
Posted on Jan 19 2008 04:05 PM
I paid $550 for a Tremolux head that needed some work (cap job, some de-modding, fresh tubes, and a correct output transformer...a Bassman transformer had been swapped in there). I thought I got a pretty decent deal for that one because I do all the repair work myself. Meanwhile, the other Tremolux head I got I paid $700 for and it was pristene and didn't need a thing (cap job and tubes had already been taken care of). Again, I thought that was about right (maybe a little high). Neither had the speaker cab.
To build a speaker cab, you'd need probably $300 or a little more for the cabinet and another $150 for the speakers (an extra $450). So, (and it pains me to say this), when you add it all up, $1,200 or so is about right for a complete Tremolux rig.
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
Posted on Jan 19 2008 04:13 PM
I say do it for sure for sure for around $500 and if it is $600+ then determine if that is what you want for sure.
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2106
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
Posted on Jan 19 2008 09:50 PM
Nah to spendy for the Tremolux head with that kind of dough you can buy a complete vintage Bassman w/cab Bandmaster w/cab for under $1,400 on Ebay.
—
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ ReverbNation
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
Posted on Jan 19 2008 09:56 PM
I wouldn't pay over $1000 for a head and cab, blackface. It honestly seems about $500 for head is about right and cabs also can go for that same amount.
Joined: Feb 11, 2007
Posts: 583
Encinitas, Ca
Posted on Jan 19 2008 10:28 PM
Hey Goober,
I looked at that amp! Actually, I never saw it in person but I recognize it from Craigslist in LA last summer. I talked to the guy and exchanged emails. I was willing to drive up from San Diego for $500 (at least to check it out) but he was asking $700 and wouldn't budge. He told me it has a replacement back panel and I think it's missing tube shields.
I ended up scoring a nice one from Ebay for $550 with $30 shipping. I put in another $100 for caps, tubes, and grounded cord.
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2106
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
Posted on Jan 19 2008 11:13 PM
JakeDobner
I wouldn't pay over $1000 for a head and cab, blackface. It honestly seems about $500 for head is about right and cabs also can go for that same amount.
Remember it's 2008 and prices are going up each year 
—
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ ReverbNation
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
Posted on Jan 19 2008 11:19 PM
But the market has gone a little soft over the last half of a year save for several pieces.
Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 913
San Pablo, CA
Posted on Jan 20 2008 01:43 AM
Ebay 1963 Band Master Fender Amp Blonde Piggy Back
Source: https://surfguitar101.com/forums/post/62230/