Help me ID this Vintage Fender Cab!!

[Jayson]

1966 Fender Bass cabinet

Do want, but does anybody know anything more about it? Haven't contacted the seller directly yet- just a voicemail.

Opinions or experience would be helpful too! I need more than my 1x15, but I also REQUIRE mojo, and I'm thinking maybe this is the ticket!

[billfitzmaurice]

Pass. They were 2x12, loaded with guitar drivers, and couldn't even take 50 watts without farting out.

[Jayson]

That's depressing. What were they called?

[JimmyM]

Don't know what they were called, but Fender never made good bass cabs till the 90's, and speakers in 1966 did sound really good but they couldn't take much power. I can pretty much guarantee you won't be able to get as loud as your current 115 with it.

[walterw]

that's probably a bandmaster cab; too big and goofy for guitar, too shallow and weak for bass.

skip it.

[fenderslaper]

I'm prolly wrong, but it looks like and old showman cab to me. Two 15's. If it is, wouldn't it have JBL'S? I had a 2x12 61 and it didn't have the extra handels at the ends.

[JimmyM]

The speakers look a little small for the box to be 15"s.

[walterw]

plus, the showman cabs were actually smaller, and meant to lay on their sides with the head bolted on to them, using kick-back legs to angle them up.

that cab looks like the much dumber bandmaster, which had two dinky 12s in a gigantic empty box, meant to stand vertical with the equally dumb bandmaster head (low 35-40 watts, but with a solid-state rectifier) sitting on top.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

The Dual Showman cabinet is a 2x15...that's what Nugent used to pile his Twin Reverbs on.

Looking at that photo, I can't decide whether it's a Bandmaster cabinet (2x12) or a Dual Showman cabinet. With shiny domes they could be JBLs.

Did the seller give you any overall dimensions of the cabinet?

When it was made, there was a plate on the back that said what it was...any idea if that's still there?

[bassplayer8953]

If the cab is loaded with 12's it could be a Bassman or Bandmaster, 15's would mean a Dual Showman. FWIW, Fender cabs were identified, as to what they were, on the rear plate that held the input jack...although the paint could be worn off...
...in any event, whatever it is, it won't take a ton of power. I had a 70's Bassman 2 x 15 cab with JBL's; it was ok with a Bassman 100 head, but a very unhappy camper when pushed with 250 Peavey watts. I sold it.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Don't know what they were called, but Fender never made good bass cabs till the 90's, and speakers in 1966 did sound really good but they couldn't take much power. I can pretty much guarantee you won't be able to get as loud as your current 115 with it.

Back in those days you'd play this stuff then plug into a B-15 and go OH! These Ampeg people know bass. Unless you're a collector it's a lot to move around for not much return. At this angle the speakers look too small but it seems, seems, to be a Dual Showman. It seems to be taller than those standup bassman/bandmaster cabs.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Jayson

That's depressing. What were they called?

Fender Bassman. It appears by the size of the shadow effect on the grille that they're 12 inch loaded. If it was a Dual Showman loaded with 15 JBLs you'd see the aluminum domes. It's possible that it's a Bandmaster, the Bassman and Bandmaster cabs were the same. The Bandmaster was rated for less power, but Fender being Fender I wouldn't count on anything actually being different save the nameplate. I don't think it's a '66 either, if memory serves the '66 was still the smaller cab that sat lengthwise. I believe the larger upright version was introduced in '68. Those had Silverface grilles and trim, but it could have been an early version before the Silverface cosmetics came along.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Fender Bassman. It appears by the size of the shadow effect on the grille that they're 12 inch loaded. If it was a Dual Showman loaded with 15 JBLs you'd see the aluminum domes. It's possible that it's a Bandmaster, the Bassman and Bandmaster cabs were the same. The Bandmaster was rated for less power, but Fender being Fender I wouldn't count on anything actually being different save the nameplate. I don't think it's a '66 either, if memory serves the '66 was still the smaller cab that sat lengthwise. I believe the larger upright version was introduced in '68. Those had Silverface grilles and trim, but it could have been an early version before the Silverface cosmetics came along.

Bill, I see the domes. Just saying. Yet the diameter looks less than 15".

[Jim Carr]

Go visit it with a phillips screw driver. Pull the back and examine the drivers. My vote is for a dual showman with JBL D130 15s.

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by chadds

Back in those days you'd play this stuff then plug into a B-15 and go OH! These Ampeg people know bass. Unless you're a collector it's a lot to move around for not much return. At this angle the speakers look too small but it seems, seems, to be a Dual Showman. It seems to be taller than those standup bassman/bandmaster cabs.

I must say that my Dual Showman with 2 D140F's killed any 1966 era B-15 for volume. Believe me, I used both a lot in the late 60's. That is not to say either one was in the least bit adequate for the levels bands were playing then. They were were not.

[Bredian]

Had a Bassman in mid-late 70s that looked like that, with 3 straps like that I remember. My current GK MB 115 would blow it out of the water and is prolly 1/3 of the total weight of the head and large useless cabinet..... of course, you measure the volume, find some hi performing bass speakers to match and replace with, add tuned ports, consult with BFM, ..... maybe, but why bother? As I also remember, it may have fit in the spacious trunk of the '73 Delta 88 I could borrow from my dad.


I don't remember any kind of special tone from that amp either, except I could also play my guitar through it. (traded a twin for it). Lots of pros were using Twins and Showmen for shows, but a smaller Fender, 30-50 watts, in the studio, in order to have something small enough to overdrive for that special "tone".

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by chadds

Bill, I see the domes. Just saying. Yet the diameter looks less than 15".

If those were JBLs the domes should be quite obvious, being four inches diameter.

My vote is for a dual showman with JBL D130 15s.

If they are they're guitar drivers.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Bredian

Had a Bassman in mid-late 70s that looked like that, with 3 straps like that I remember. My current GK MB 115 would blow it out of the water and is prolly 1/3 of the total weight of the head and large useless cabinet..... of course, you measure the volume, find some hi performing bass speakers to match and replace with, add tuned ports, consult with BFM, ..... maybe, but why bother? As I also remember, it may have fit in the spacious trunk of the '73 Delta 88 I could borrow from my dad.


I don't remember any kind of special tone from that amp either, except I could also play my guitar through it. (traded a twin for it). Lots of pros were using Twins and Showmen for shows, but a smaller Fender, 30-50 watts, in the studio, in order to have something small enough to overdrive for that special "tone".

Actually the big secret was more times than not a SE 6V6 Fender Champ practice amp. 5 watts into an 8" speaker. Pure gold for overdrive tone.

[sickest beast]

that's a 2x15, i can tell by the size of the handles and metal corner protectors.

[sickest beast]

looks kinda like this one...

i think it had JBLs in it