Hello!

Thought I might go play this one. I’m guessing it’s within a fair asking price? I did some searching and found decent commentary on it, but am in no way an old Fender aficionado.

thanks!
Charley

https://www.elderly.com/products/fender-bandmaster-rig-w-roadcases-130u-218327?variant=42441853010111

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/

I don't think the price is unreasonable if everything is period correct, in great shape, and comes with that road case. If that price is within your budget, fair enough. There are less expensive options out there in the wild - the Bandmaster is one of the last relatively affordable vintage Fender amps out there.

I highly recommend doing a bit of research. Here's a quick search with parameters (1960-1964, Fender Bandmaster) sorted Price Low to High.

1961-1964 Fender Bandmaster

I have a '62 Bandmaster head and a '63 Bandmaster head. I only got the '63 because it's my birth year and the price was too good to pass up (on both of them, actually).

The '62 Bandmaster head was in a black tolex Showman export shell. That motivated me to have a custom-build 2x10 combo cabinet made (by Armadillo Amp Works) for it. It's the amp I take out to play when needed. It's kind of like a makeshift Fender Super (2x10 combo).

I was fortunate to get the '63 Bandmaster head in it's original blonde shell with the tube chart still intact. I have it paired up with a 2x12 cabinet (also made by Armadillo Amp Works). These custom cabinets take a few months or so to be built but it's an affordable option.

If you decide to take a chance on just the head (shipping is more likely available than one being shipped out with original speaker cabinet), you can also order a 2x12 cab (or whatever configuration you want) from Mojotone as well for a reasonably affordable price. Of course, it's awesome if you're able to pick up the full rig within driving distance.

Some of the more affordable heads are the ones where guys in later '60s and '70s painted their blonde tolex Bandmaster head shells black - so if you're into a little DIY, it's worth the savings to apply effort to remove the black paint to restore the blonde tolex. Some may have simply been recovered in black as well.

It's a bit overkill for me to have two Bandmasters so I'm sure at some point, I'll sell the '62 head in a new blonde shell (I'll keep my 2x10 combo cab for other plans) from Armadillo Amp Works unless I'm fortunate to find an empty vintage shell down the road.

I would also recommend getting any servicing information (when last serviced, etc.) to determine if you'll need to bring it in to your local amp tech to check out.

Best of luck!

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

Thanks guys. Those were my thoughts too. The seller is pretty reputable but I also know there can be some price inflation. I’m thinking more of a combo reissue at this point.

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/

Great amp, but way overpriced for a AA763 blackface. A transitional blonde blackface should cost well under $2k.

THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod.
CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake!

Yeah, I'd echo what a few of the others say here about this amp. Blackface piggybacks should not be over 2K. I do really love the Blackface-blond-gold combo, though. As someone who has owned several brown and blackface amps, I would say that you are definitely going to have more reliability with a blackface amp. Honestly, they sound very much alike with the blackface amps actually being a lot cleaner. Leo was constantly changing the circuits and using the cheapest military surplus things he could buy in bulk in the brownface era. The blackface line was designed after Fender really started booming and they could afford to get better components. So, unless you are looking for a certain look, I'd go the blackface route. Brownface amps are fetching stupid money these days (WAY TOO MUCH, imo). Funny thing, though is I sold every single one of my piggybacks except for my 62 Bassman because it is my favorite of favorite amps and in minty shape. I don't play it, though. I play through a Quilter Micro Pro 8, which is a fraction of the weight my dual Showman was and just as loud, if not louder, AND I only have to make one trip WITH the reverb tank loading in and out of venues, practices, etc. If you are gigging out, I would definitely not go with the Brownface amps. I also use my Surfy Bear all the time and leave the tube 6G15s at home. The technology has gotten so good these last few years and Quilter nails the clean sound you need for surf (which, I believe, Matt modeled off blackface amps). It may not look as cool as all matching gear from 1962, but I bet only the major gearheads would be able to tell a difference in sound and even then, I don't think they'd be 100% certain. So, if it's aesthetics you're looking for, be prepared to pay a LOT of cash. It's cool as all hell, but the older I have gotten, my back sure does appreciate that I can sound exactly the same as I did back in the early 90s with all of my vintage gear from 1962 as I can today with a reissue Jazzmaster and modern Nutube technology.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

It's just not worth it. Let the collectors pay those high prices. I got me some great tones from these here small Quilter amps.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Those transition 63/64 smooth blonde/gold grill Bandmasters and Showmen have a bit of cult following, just for rarity. And the OP amp looks great! But that is a lot of money for one.

Here's just a head in ok condition at nearby Flipside music. I've seen this one in person, but haven't played it. I have a matching speaker cabinet and was tempted for a red hot minute.
https://flipside-music.com/products/used-fender-bandmaster-40-watt-amp-head-1963?_pos=1&_sid=40d057ffb&_ss=r

Here's a pretty standard Black tolex'65 Bandmaster head for what seems like a good price. New output transformer (these things eat the originals) with a selectable output mod.

https://reverb.com/item/78989289-vintage-1965-fender-bandmaster-40-watt-2-channel-guitar-amp-head-black-panel-w-ohm-switch-mod

Even in this time of smaller amps and such, nothing beats big amps thru big speakers.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

TallTenor wrote:

Thanks again everyone. It’s all been helpful. I gig regularly and a lot of those shows would accommodate a big amp sound, but at the same time some would not. I love traditional sounds but we play non traditional sounding stuff. I think traditional tones/set ups are a pretty great place to start though. For flexibility I’m guessing a 30-40W combo will serve well. Maybe an AC30 with blues.

As much as I love the Fender, big bottle sound of US Surf, I also love the Vox family, equally, for strong, clear sounds, which I also love for Surf.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

So i took a left turn and grabbed a Quilter 202 with the 15 cabinet. Kinda feels like cheating… not because it isn’t tube but that it dials in precisely. It’s all there and then you add a reverb unit/pedal and you’re done. Almost too easy..

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/

Matt22 wrote:

Nice! I don't think you can go wrong with Quilter. I love mine.

Even the overdrive is pretty great considering. I enjoy how much the EQ actually “does something”. Ive played a lot of tube based stuff in the past where the knobs only do so much. This thing responds to every click, and it’s cool the knobs have that tactile “tick”. I look forward to the xlr out this weekend when we have play. I imagine it’ll be just as simple. Can’t wait to break the big speaker in.

Kitten and The Tonics

https://kittenandthetonics.com/