https://austin.craigslist.org/msg/d/austin-1961-blond-fender-bandmaster/7652657859.html

I don't need another amp, and you have no gut pics, but my roommate is interested.

Looks more like a '63 based on the raised logo and brown face plate. Gut pics would be more definitive. A pic of the tube chart with the 2-letter date code, if still intact, would determine the finished date.

Of course, there may be some '62 components used as well. This was typical Fender making use of what components were on hand.

It's possible someone put in a '61 chassis in a '63 head shell to be paired with a '63 cab. However, I'm thinking the person listing this simply has the wrong date.

A lot of shops don't really bother to look at the tell-tale information for date determination and simply make a guess. My '64 Fender Reverb Unit was incorrectly listed by Carter Vintage Guitars as a '62 Fender Reverb Unit.

That experience got me started on the Fender product dating education journey. I'm by far still no expert but I find Fender gear history fascinating.

If this seller is an actual brick & mortar shop or a collector/player, I'd message them asking if they can peer inside the head to see if the tube chart still exists and if so, ask for the 2-letter date code stamp. I can tell you if it's a '61, the first letter would be a K. If it's a '62, an L, and if a '63, an M. The second letter denotes the month of that year. Since it's a lot of work, a lot of folks may not be so inclined to remove the chassis from the head shell to take gut shots (even though I personally wouldn't consider buying any vintage Fender amp without having seen such photos).

'63 is my birth year, so I'm a bit obsessive in hunting down Fender gear from that year and anything from '60 to '64.

I currently have a '63 Jaguar, a '63 Showman, a '62 Bandmaster, and the '64 Fender Reverb Unit.

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

kick_the_reverb wrote:

Guys, are you seriously discussing this as if it's a Brownface/Brown panel? It has bright switches!
Ran

LOL good eye! I posted my comment while still working on my first coffee. The lighting makes the panel look brown but the real tell-tale sign (along with the bright switches) is that there are no numbers on the controls and well, the panel is likely black. Clearly post-'64.

I recommend messaging the person to let them know what they have so they don't misrepresent themselves and their amp for sale.

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 16:37:51

This intrigued me, so I dived in and see that this would be an AB763 circuit, and on Reverb there are plenty of black panel/black tolex models available for quite a bit less. So the question would be whether your friend wants it for the sound or the looks. If expecting the sound of the 6G7-A circuit, it's going to be different, but if it's a preference for how it looks, then it could be fine.

Ha! Well, at least the early to mid '90s had some fun gear. Loved my '63 RI Vibroverb (now gone) and the couple of Vibro-Kings I've had (too heavy for me now but sounded awesome). I ended up getting a '90s (I think '95) "Custom" Vibrolux (tuxedo) that had the notorious production issues (loud hiss/hum, barely audible reverb). Sent it off to John Fromel and he implemented his Fromel Mods - it's now one of my fave amps. Cost me $700 used from Guitar Center + the $400 total fixes from John (& shipping chassis from east coast to Seattle and back again) - absolutely worth it.

Now they're getting a bit more expensive, although not nearly as much as the '63 RI Vibroverb. I got a 2nd '63 RI Vibroverb a while back and I was just never happy with the sound from it (sounded great at gig/rehearsal volumes but home volumes, not so much. It got to the point one of them had to be moved on. While I had/have sentimental attachment to the brown '63 RI Vibroverb (my old gigging amp), the "Custom" Vibrolux (with Fromel Mods) was hands down a better sounding amp (and I sort of like the tuxedo look, too). I moved on the now more expensive '63 RI Vibroverb.

I read an online rumor that it's possible that Fender may make a Tone Master version of the Vibroverb. I'm not sure if that would be a '63 2x10 version or the '64 1x15 version. I'd probably get either one.

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

Last edited: Aug 25, 2023 18:00:59

N0_Camping4U wrote:

Surfysonic wrote:

Ha! Well, at least the early to mid '90s had some fun gear. Loved my '63 RI Vibroverb (now gone) and the couple of Vibro-Kings I've had (too heavy for me now but sounded awesome). I ended up getting a '90s (I think '95) "Custom" Vibrolux (tuxedo) that had the notorious production issues (loud hiss/hum, barely audible reverb). Sent it off to John Fromel and he implemented his Fromel Mods - it's now one of my fave amps. Cost me $700 used from Guitar Center + the $400 total fixes from John (& shipping chassis from east coast to Seattle and back again) - absolutely worth it.

Now they're getting a bit more expensive, although not nearly as much as the '63 RI Vibroverb. I got a 2nd '63 RI Vibroverb a while back and I was just never happy with the sound from it (sounded great at gig/rehearsal volumes but home volumes, not so much. It got to the point one of them had to be moved on. While I had/have sentimental attachment to the brown '63 RI Vibroverb (my old gigging amp), the "Custom" Vibrolux (with Fromel Mods) was hands down a better sounding amp (and I sort of like the tuxedo look, too). I moved on the now more expensive '63 RI Vibroverb.

I read an online rumor that it's possible that Fender may make a Tone Master version of the Vibroverb. I'm not sure if that would be a '63 2x10 version or the '64 1x15 version. I'd probably get either one.

Where did you hear about the Vibroverb?! I love my Tone Master Twin. Did I tell you Surfy that I put a 15 inch into my Twin? I kind of want to split it into a head and tone ring cab lol.

I'd love a brownface Tone Master drool

I think I saw mention of it on The Gear Page (I'm not a member on there) but it was likely just speculation. I've tried Googling Tone Master Vibroverb and Tone Master future release but didn't find anything. It would be cool if they did it but I'd also be happy with a Bassman (4x10) or some other Bassman version, too.

I read about your TM Twin conversion - very cool! Speaking of head & cab, I'm having a 2x12 cab built to use with my '63 Showman in case I take it out to play for convenience - the 1x15 Tone Ring cab is a monster. I also am having a Bandmaster head shell being made, to kind of put my '62 Bandmaster out of the 2x10 combo cab in traditional head format with the aforementioned 2x12 cab. Of course, the cab and head are still non-traditional brown tolex with oxblood/gold thread grill cloth - I really love the look.

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

DaveMudgett wrote:

On the '63 Vibroverb reissue - great amps, unfortunately on a PC board. I've had a few, and I wish I could get one back without having to drop pushing $2 grand on one. I think one can get a hand-wired repro for that kind of money. But the circuit is one of my absolute favorites.

Yeah, I got my first one used, paying $800 for it back in 2014. After getting a Vibro-King, I sold my first '63 RI Vibroverb in 2017. I bought another '63 RI Vibroverb in May 2022 for $1700 (now gone as I mentioned earlier). Currently, some are listed on Reverb from anywhere between $1475 - $2499.

It would be awesome if they make a Tone Master version. I generally prefer tube amps but my now gone Tone Master Twin was decent amd super convenient for portability. I tried a TM Super recently and it was decent as well. I've always liked 4x10 amps (I've been jonesing for a early '60s Concert for years) and had at one time a '59 RI Bassman that was terrific. The reality is the weight and footprint in the man cave just aren't realistic for me now. The TM Super could solve the weight issue but I've resigned myself to be happy with my 1x15, 2x10, 1x12, and soon to be 2x12 (cab) amps.

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw