1962 Fender Bandmaster Demo

[@jonbarr9195]

Great playing! Never knew how intricate jimmy pages playing is! His chord choices and changes are beautiful. I always knew Hendrix had a feel unmatched and you played little wing like I would have played it. Thanks for sharing the sound of this amp. I think it kicks ass!

[@Tonetwisters]

Sounds WONDERFUL. I was playing back in the time when these were new, but hardly ever got to hear them, as they came and went so fast, and I was pretty young. But I was playing through my older brother's 1960 PRO in 1961 ... Great time for amps, Fender's best far as I am concerned.

[@josephfemoyer7218]

That tremelo sounds incredible

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Yes, that was my favorite thing about that amp. Thanks!

[@BarryMoeCraig]

That's the famous 6G7-A harmonic tremolo. Why it was ever ditched is beyond comprehension.

[@DavidSamuelPeckinpah]

Ahhhh brilliant sound! The power!

[@plexidust5101]

EVH has one, his first/favorite amp. He wrote a lot of early songs on it too. Roots of his Fender evh amp also. The Marshall got all the fame in the end. So these are very under rated and don't get a lot of respect. You do know your tone, another sweet demo. I'd love to know what kind of speakers were in there?

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Plexidust Oxfords from ‘68. Sadly I just sold this amp. Already miss it, but I just wasn’t using it and it deserved to be played.

[@josephfemoyer7218]

Really good sound from that Bandmaster.BTW where did u get the white guitar case? It’s it aluminum? Need one for my new es355.thanks

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Steel reinforced fiberglass. It is made by Calton. Look them up. Best cases money can buy.

[@josephfemoyer7218]

@@VirtualWoodshed i love that Bandmaster.i might look for one after xmas bc of the tremelo.thanks for the case info.ill look it up now as i need it for my new es355 cherry

[@VirtualWoodshed]

@@josephfemoyer7218 research “harmonic tremolo” for more info. Fender featured it on the blonde era Twin, Pro, Concert, Super, Showman and Bandmaster. Ry Cooder used it a lot in the 70s. Check out “Paradise and Lunch” to hear it in action. Also, you can now buy pedals that have that feature. No need to spend thousands on a vintage amp. 🙂

[@josephfemoyer7218]

@@VirtualWoodshed great thanks for the info.i hav 2 live in GF’s they weigh between 450-500 lbs each,so if they fall on my es355 ill be protected since a Calton case is 1100lbs Crush Proof

[@slizz_detroit]

What kind of speakers are in this?

[@VirtualWoodshed]

The original Oxfords.

[@slizz_detroit]

@@VirtualWoodshed wow, sounds amazing! I got one with some speakers from the 70s that have never been changed (wilder electronics--internet doesn't turn up much info on this brand). If you have thoughts on replacement speakers, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts (thank you kindly). I'm playing an SG with burstbuckers if that's relevant. Going for rock not country, break up is good. THanks!!!

[@sabineklarmann3047]

is it the 5 pretube 6G7 or the 6 pretube 6G7-A?

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Sabine Klarmann It is a 6G7-A. Six preamp tubes. Sorry for the omission.

[@JacareDoQuerosene]

@@VirtualWoodshed I believe the 6G7 is 1961. This five-triode tremolo circuit sounds superb.

[@N0Camping4U]

What is volume set at?

[@VirtualWoodshed]

9. Check description for details. Thanks.

[@N0Camping4U]

VirtualWoodshed Would it sound clean through a Fender guitar at normal volumes? 9 isn't everyday playing volumes lol.

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Adam Stringer it’s a loud amp on 2! Definitely not an “around the house” amp. Get a deluxe for that. But in all seriousness after 5 it doesn’t really get louder, only dirtier. If I were gigging with this amp I’d keep it on 7 and get a little extra dirt from a boost pedal. FWIW, I gig with my 50w Marshalls dimed. 🤘

[@makelovenotsuccess]

@@VirtualWoodshed I play mine around the house all the time, but mostly clean. I think it sounds better at low volume than my deluxe.

[@MrTee-hw7mp]

It must of hurt to sell that amp.

[@amoruzz]

👍

[@Tonetwisters]

Not the same amp as the above Reverb listed amp ...

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Tonetwisters the amp sold back in February and I forgot to remove the link. Sorry about that. Thanks

[@Tonetwisters]

I wonder if this poor guy regrets selling THIS beauty ...

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Tonetwisters haha. Nope, not a bit. Wasn’t really using it.

[@Tonetwisters]

@@VirtualWoodshed Sure sounds darn fine! I hope to nail one, soon as this VIRUS gets over and done with!! Nice guitars and nice playing, by the way. What a great sound!!!

[@stevewallace7397]

@@Tonetwisters I have a 61 that I am going to sell...

[@willdenham]

Gibsons really drive an old Fender.

[@georgebintner3378]

It sounds great but Marshall is warmer not so treble brittle.

[@Tonetwisters]

Might just be a matter of knocking down the treble control a bit ...

[@markwanlass2274]

Why do you say it is Marshall-like, etc. when Marshall copied the earlier Fender designs? This amp sounds like a 1962 Fender Bandmaster and that's it. Marshall copied the Fender circuits because they sounded great, yet they get credit for the sound from people who don't know what they're talking about.

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Mark Wanlass Yeah, I’m pretty well aware of my amp history. I used the Marshall comparison as a frame of reference because not many people know what an early bandmaster sounds like. But a whole lot of people know what a JTM 45 sounds like. That’s all. Sorry to offend you.

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Mark Wanlass how about this: “The Marshall JTM 45 has a mid range crunch that is very reminiscent of the 6G7 Bandmaster.” You’re right, we should give credit where it’s due.

[@markwanlass2274]

Thank you - Leo Fender deserves the credit. I get sick of reading comments that imply that older Fender amps sound almost as good as, or like, a Marshall. It's upside down.

[@VirtualWoodshed]

Mark Wanlass As someone who has owned lots of vintage Marshall and Fender amps, to me there really is no “better”. Only “different”. Both companies have built outstanding amplifiers and each made enormous contributions to the world of music. Most pro players own and use many different makes and models of amps to try to cover as much of the tonal spectrum as possible. My personal favorite amp is my 5E3 tweed deluxe, but it’s not appropriate for every application. When I need to sound like Dickey Betts, I plug into a Marshall with a 4/12. And when I chicken pick on a Tele, I plug into a blackface Fender combo, etc. For anyone to say that either make is “better“ than the other is pretty revealing IMHO. I think they are really limiting themselves, not to mention missing out on some great tone. Cheers mate. 🤘

[@markwanlass2274]

Agreed - I also love my 5E3.