Fender Speaker Cab Identification

bamboozer

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Posted on Feb 03 2011 10:58 AM

Just aquired a big old Fender cabinet. Dimensions are 38"x28"x11 1/2". Seems to be loaded with two 12's. Theres nothing on it but the Fender logo and a small aluminum tag that says P45556. I have not taken the back off yet so I can't confirm the speakers are 12's. It has metal "gliders" for lying on it's side or standing up. The standing up position has the old threaded inserts for bolting an amp head on. I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to do it.

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 11:34 AM

Sounds like a 70's era silverface Bandmaster cabinet to me. Ampwares show the dimensions as close to yours.

http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=18

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bamboozer

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Delaware
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 12:04 PM

I think your right, it has the aluminum edge around the grill cloth so it's in the '68-69 range. I'm in the process of fixing the few tears it has and and giving it a good cleaning. Grill cloth is the traditional smoke stained variety but except for a small "scrape" that tore the top threads it's in good shape as well. Now all I need is a Bandmaster Head. As I'm unemployed that comes under "Yeah, right".

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
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Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 01:02 PM

How far apart are the hold downs on top?

unrelated - I just sold a killer '69 bandmaster reverb head. It was in storage for 25 years - looked like a time capsule.

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bamboozer

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Posted on Feb 03 2011 02:06 PM

Hold downs are 23" center to center. Better get a job, I've got Bandmaster fever.

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1907
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 03:45 PM

bamboozer
Hold downs are 23" center to center. Better get a job, I've got Bandmaster fever.

Yours sounds like a Bandmaster Reverb cabinet. The hold downs on a BMR head are 23" apart - accessed from the inside of the amp - regular Bandmasters still used the sliding piggyback clips - those would be 25" apart.

This pic won't help your fever.
image

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bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 04:59 PM

Interesting, I did not know there was difference.

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Sonichris

Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1907
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 05:10 PM

yes, the Bandmaster Reverb head was a bigger cabinet - wider, and taller. It was a new amp design all the way around in '68. It's virtually nothing like the earlier Bandmasters, except for the name.

I just looked at more of my pics of my '69 bandmaster reverb head - the hold downs are a lot narrower than 25" apart.
image

I think you might have a Bassman cabinet. 23" apart hold downs would be right.
http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=28

I probably don't know what the hell I'm talking about at this point - just regurgitating things I think I've learned on the 'net.

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bamboozer

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Delaware
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Posted on Feb 03 2011 05:32 PM

It is a very large cab, considering it was probably dragged in and out of clubs for ten or twenty years it's amazing it's in as good a shape as it is. Looking at your picture I don't think thats the hold downs on this cab, much like the Bassman 100 I had many years ago I think this was made for external "ears" for the hold down. If I remember correctly they slide in and out so you could get the cover on.

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bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
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Posted on Feb 04 2011 07:25 AM

I opened up the cabinet and found two Altec 417-8h's in there. I assume these are replacements as the originals should have been Fenders and should have been 16 ohm speakers, I would not be surprised if these came out of a PA speaker . Still haven't played thru this cab but by tomorrow I'll fire it up. Over all impression: We sure hauled some big gear back in the day, but then, we were a lot younger.

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bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 03 2011 10:58 AM Just aquired a big old Fender cabinet. Dimensions are 38"x28"x11 1/2". Seems to be loaded with two 12's. Theres nothing on it but the Fender logo and a small aluminum tag that says P45556. I have not taken the back off yet so I can't confirm the speakers are 12's. It has metal "gliders" for lying on it's side or standing up. The standing up position has the old threaded inserts for bolting an amp head on. I'll post a picture if I can figure out how to do it. Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Feb 03 2011 11:34 AM Sounds like a 70's era silverface Bandmaster cabinet to me. Ampwares show the dimensions as close to yours. http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=18 — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 03 2011 12:04 PM I think your right, it has the aluminum edge around the grill cloth so it's in the '68-69 range. I'm in the process of fixing the few tears it has and and giving it a good cleaning. Grill cloth is the traditional smoke stained variety but except for a small "scrape" that tore the top threads it's in good shape as well. Now all I need is a Bandmaster Head. As I'm unemployed that comes under "Yeah, right". Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Feb 03 2011 01:02 PM How far apart are the hold downs on top? unrelated - I just sold a killer '69 bandmaster reverb head. It was in storage for 25 years - looked like a time capsule. — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 03 2011 02:06 PM Hold downs are 23" center to center. Better get a job, I've got Bandmaster fever. Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Feb 03 2011 03:45 PM bamboozer Hold downs are 23" center to center. Better get a job, I've got Bandmaster fever. Yours sounds like a Bandmaster Reverb cabinet. The hold downs on a BMR head are 23" apart - accessed from the inside of the amp - regular Bandmasters still used the sliding piggyback clips - those would be 25" apart. This pic won't help your fever. image — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 03 2011 04:59 PM Interesting, I did not know there was difference. Top
Sonichris Joined: Mar 06, 2006 Posts: 1907 Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies	Posted on Feb 03 2011 05:10 PM yes, the Bandmaster Reverb head was a bigger cabinet - wider, and taller. It was a new amp design all the way around in '68. It's virtually nothing like the earlier Bandmasters, except for the name. I just looked at more of my pics of my '69 bandmaster reverb head - the hold downs are a lot narrower than 25" apart. image I think you might have a Bassman cabinet. 23" apart hold downs would be right. http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=28 I probably don't know what the hell I'm talking about at this point - just regurgitating things I think I've learned on the 'net. — "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been" Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 03 2011 05:32 PM It is a very large cab, considering it was probably dragged in and out of clubs for ten or twenty years it's amazing it's in as good a shape as it is. Looking at your picture I don't think thats the hold downs on this cab, much like the Bassman 100 I had many years ago I think this was made for external "ears" for the hold down. If I remember correctly they slide in and out so you could get the cover on. Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on Feb 04 2011 07:25 AM I opened up the cabinet and found two Altec 417-8h's in there. I assume these are replacements as the originals should have been Fenders and should have been 16 ohm speakers, I would not be surprised if these came out of a PA speaker . Still haven't played thru this cab but by tomorrow I'll fire it up. Over all impression: We sure hauled some big gear back in the day, but then, we were a lot younger. Top

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Fender Speaker Cab Identification