1968 Dual-Showman Amp.

[Mojo-Man]

Hi, need help.
Have a friend that has a 1968 Dual-Showman Amp.
85-watts-tube.
Comes with matching 2x15 cab, (sealed)
Two JBL140D speakers.
Amp is in nice shape for age, works well.
I have no idea of worth?
What should I offer ?
Thanks.

[bassplayer8953]

Silver-face?

[superbassman2000]

100 dollars and request he delivers it.

[bassplayer8953]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

100 dollars and request he delivers it.

A reasonable offer would probably be around 10X that amount. Great deal (for the OP) if the seller lets it go cheap, but Showman heads still go for big bucks. Cabs, not so much, but a complete amp as a unit would probably still command quite a premium. The prices they're asking on ebay are ridiculous, but look at completed listings, and see what the pieces sold for. That's where you'll get a relatively accurate idea of the true worth.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

I have no idea of worth?
What should I offer ?
Thanks.

Find it here:
The Fender Amp Field Guide
Average value is $600. They were loaded with D130 guitar drivers as stock, not D140 bass drivers, so be sure of which it has.

[jimbilly]

I had a nice '66 head, all sorted out, with a slightly later 2x15 w/ Jbl D140fs, I think I got somwhere around $1300 for it a year or so ago. The '68 head is silverface with silver trim? I'd use the 50w Bassman head as a value starting point, Blackface heads seem to go for about exactly $600 in my area, recently serviced, late '60s silverface heads would be slightly less; $450-$500ish ($400 would be dirt cheap). The Bassmans seem to be the most common heads, so they make a good value starting point.
Dual Showmans are a bit less common, and better for bass guitar, so I'd say $600-$800 would be a good value for a late '60s SF DS head (recently serviced).
Those cabinets are not worth much, the JBLs are probably worth more individually without the cabinet. -But they sound great.
$1,000 is probably fair for the combo (assuming it's silverface, I'd add 20% for late '60s blackface).

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by jimbilly

I had a nice '66 head, all sorted out, with a slightly later 2x15 w/ Jbl D140fs, I think I got somwhere around $1300 for it a year or so ago. The '68 head is silverface with silver trim? I'd use the 50w Bassman head as a value starting point, Blackface heads seem to go for about exactly $600 in my area, recently serviced, late '60s silverface heads would be slightly less; $450-$500ish ($400 would be dirt cheap). The Bassmans seem to be the most common heads, so they make a good value starting point.
Dual Showmans are a bit less common, and better for bass guitar, so I'd say $600-$800 would be a good value for a late '60s SF DS head (recently serviced).
Those cabinets are not worth much, the JBLs are probably worth more individually without the cabinet. -But they sound great.
$1,000 is probably fair for the combo (assuming it's silverface, I'd add 20% for late '60s blackface).

Yes it's a silver face.
I can get it for around $900-$1000, head and cab.
100% original, I would rate it from 1-10 a 8.5 it's in very good shape.
And sound great.

[bassplayer8953]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Yes it's a silver face.
I can get it for around $900-$1000, head and cab.
100% original, I would rate it from 1-10 a 8.5 it's in very good shape.
And sound great.

I own a 70's era Bassman 100, which I used to play bass on (on the guitar channel, I hated the sound of the bass channel.) When I used it for bass, I paired it with a 2 x 15 Bassman bottom with JBL K140's. Not exactly the same as the Dual Showman you're considering, but close...

When I used it for bass, I added to the tonal range with an outboard graphic eq & compressor/limiter (pedals).

$900 - 1000 is a decent price, not great. If you are into the vintage vibe, a Dual Showman will definitely give you that. For myself, the vintage vibe of my Bassman 100 wore off, & I wound up seeking a more modern setup. So now I use a ss head & modern cabinets. I sold the 2 x 15 cab (too much to lug around) and retired the Bassman head, although I still own it.

FWIW, Dual Showman amps work great for guitar (although the speakers might not be ideal for guitar), just like a Bassman does.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

FWIW, Dual Showman amps work great for guitar (although the speakers might not be ideal for guitar), just like a Bassman does.

yep. i'll tell you though...i always dug chuck berry's sound and he uses two of them.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

FWIW, Dual Showman amps work great for guitar (although the speakers might not be ideal for guitar), just like a Bassman does.

To repeat: the Showman and Dual were both guitar amps, the cabs were loaded with guitar drivers. The occasional cab was loaded with bass drivers on special order, but they were a rare exception.

[Mojo-Man]

On the fence.
It a sweet vintage amp. (tons of vibe)
But it would be for rehearsal, recording.
The just to have factor ?

[bassplayer8953]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

To repeat: the Showman and Dual were both guitar amps, the cabs were loaded with guitar drivers. The occasional cab was loaded with bass drivers on special order, but they were a rare exception.

As I recall (and this is going back awhile) JBL D130's were the guitar drivers, D140's were for bass. (not sure about the K140's in my 70's cabinet; I used them & they survived) So the OP would be ok using the amp for bass (if, indeed, the cab really has the D140's)

[jnewmark]

The K140's are bass guitar drivers, as are the D140 and E140 JBL 15's.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

As I recall (and this is going back awhile) JBL D130's were the guitar drivers, D140's were for bass.

The K140 and subsequent E140 were designed from the ground up as bass drivers, but the D140 might not have been. Even Harvey Gerst is vague on that point. He designed the D140 as a higher power version of the D130, using a copper voice coil instead of the aluminum of the D130, but it seems that the excursion might have been the same. All we have to go on is Harvey's recollection, as there's no mention of the D140 in the JBL archives.

[jimbilly]

That's a fair price, you're not going to do a whole lot better than that without a lot of luck and hunting. I think that setup is not going to depreciate much anytime soon , I really like the look of those drip edge Fenders.
Run that Dual Showman head through a modern bass cabinet and I think you'll be pleased, you'll probably get tired of hauling the 2x15 around pretty quick anyway. I played mine through an 8x10 quite a few times, it was really good.

[mark107]

I got a Dual Showman cabinet used, back in 1967. I paid $125. for it. It was NOT a good bass cabinet. At louder levels, the back would vibrate something fierce. Just awful. I later got a Sunn 200S cabinet and never looked back. To repeat, the Dual Showman cabinet SUCKS for bass. The D130 drivers don't help, either. Not only are they guitar drivers, but they would be rather old by now. Might work for guitar okay. You'd be better off buying a proper bass amp.

[Mojo-Man]

Thanks all.