Two 60 year old BLONDES on the bench | Rift Weekly Update |

[@garethsigrist8714]

That reverb tank is so clean you could eat your dinner off it! Does that mean it’s a plate reverb? 🍽️ 😂 What a privilege to get a look inside these vintage beauties! Thank you Chris and thank you Josh! I’ve got such a soft spot for the look of those blonde Bassmans. And that locking mechanism for the spring tank in the reverb unit is such a wonderfully simple piece of practical engineering! I love little details like that!

[@tomk1tl39]

I built a Fender 6G15 from scratch and it sounds wonderful .. . installed a 6K6 . .. use it with my Fender 5F2 scratch built . . . covered both units with tweed cloth 😎

[@alanpecherer5705]

Yes, there were white-tolex1960 knob reverb units in 1964. I had one, sold it to Mr. Pittman, Mr. Groove tubes, looooong ago. I would bet that Fender received many requests for white tolex rev units to go with white-covered amps, just like we see here.

[@andyhightides]

Funny you call it a Christmas amp! My Bandmaster has transformers dated 44th and 47th week, but the two letter stamp on the tube chart puts it in September. I figured parts that laid around waiting to be checked for the Canadian market. It's mains cable plugs into what I would call a trailer (caravan) plug. A recessed male 3-prong plug, and the supplied cable is 2-prong with a stackable end. (Other 2-prong can be plugged into the back)

[@andypendlebury6445]

lovely stuff that! Am liking the 'interactive' presenting format!! 😁

[@MichaelSmith-rn1qw]

On the reverb unit, the ink stamped code inside the chassis indicated the technician and date the wiring was completed. It looks like technician H, 48th week of 64.

[@MarkEagleton]

Love the second person/customer camera. I think having a customer in brings out more of your teaching skills. Nice to hear the interaction.

[@fiddlix]

Wow, what a time capsule that Fender reverb unit. It is always a treat to work on one that is unmolested as that. The owner brought it in to the right place without a doubt….Cheers..!

[@Kevin-the-Just]

The transformer in that Bassman looks like it's been in a fire. How did it get to look like that? As a second thought, Chris, have you considered making a stand alone reverb unit? With your design and build ethos they'd be awesome!!

[@JEmilioJNava]

What a nice unit ... love those ... super clean

[@Jim_Cox]

Great production. The camera work was great. Keep up the good work!

[@DornAndGrant]

Interesting mix of amp and cab. I had exactly that, a cream bassman with a tremolux 2x10 cab. Sounded splendid. Bought it in the 90s from dick Taylor of the pretty things. Some years later, One of the 10” speakers was dying and I wasn’t gigging cos of children so sold it to one of the levellers in their studio in Brighton. Such an odd mix I wonder if this is that actual one. If not still very interesting. :)

[@LPCustom3]

Mercury's are warrantied for 20 years..

[@RiftAmps]

Incorrect. It’s 10 years and ONLY to the original owner. However, any Mercury-made OEM transformers are only covered up to the mnfr’s limit, which in Fender’s case is two years.

[@watkinscopicat]

i would sell several organs for a Rift version of that reverb unit.

[@RiftAmps]

Get your credit card out and I’ll get building ;)

[@joepeezy4sheezy]

The reverb unit’s tolex is not original. The tolex on it is newer, and not the “rough blonde” that is on the bassman. The pattern is different.

[@RiftAmps]

Incorrect. Fender changed to the smooth blonde tolex in late ‘63.

[@joepeezy4sheezy]

@@RiftAmps no pine knot stains, no staples on the bottom seams? At the end of the day if it sounds good and looks good, awesome.