Fender Bandmaster AB763 Head, 1967 • Maintained, upgraded, and ready to rock on.

NOTE: 2-12 cab shown in last pic is NOT included in this price, and is available in another listing (see my Reverb shop). I'd be happy for both to go to the same home, but since they'll have to ship in separate boxes anyway, listing them separately seems practical.

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THIS BAND-MASTER

"QC" stamp on tube chart indicates March 1967 production; serial number A 23740 agrees with that. So, early in CBS era, but before specs started to drift from classic blackface configuration.

Sovtek power tubes, RCA preamp bottles, none tired.

Cosmetically, let's say good. It's all there (except for the brackets and thumbscrews to bolt it to the top of the speaker cab), all-original tolex, grille, faceplate, brightwork, handle look good for a honestly used amp of its age.

Functionally, I claim excellent. 100% working, and better than that: no hisses, static, snaps, crackles, or pops. Low noise floor. All pots noise-free, quiet and smooth. Upgraded with Bassman-spec transformer; other maintenance detailed below. Sounds gorgeous.

Modern grounded A/C cable. Modern Fender footswitch for vibrato is included, as well as a light-gauge but vintage Fender-logoed speaker cable.

Exceptions to perfect functionality:

• Vibrato channel Bright switch is finicky. It behaves as though it has an extra detent midway in its travel (ie, it can be felt and heard to click into a position there). When switched from the down position (so, bright disabled) to that middle position, the Bright circuit engages and stays engaged. But when the switch is pushed all the way to the top of its travel, Bright circuit disengages. Pushing in on the switch brings it back. The switch should be replaced.
• The vibrato (actually tremolo, of course, but we'll play along) has a mild but distinct thump on each cycle, consistent through all knob settings. The thump disappears completely when the vibrato is switched off with the footswitch.

Flaws and blemishes:

• Edges of Tolex lifted in places, easy glue-down; light scuffing in places.
• One patch of Tolex, 4" long x 3/8" wide, is MISSING from left top edge. (Happened before my ownership.) Bare wood has been black magicmarkered; you could do better.
• Left side of faceplate, behind Normal channel inputs, appears to have been dented/bent and straightened.
• One knob has a deep scratch through some of the numbers.

Some service history and other details.

I bought this amp around 15-17 years ago to replace the Bandmaster head I used in the late 70s and into the 80s, and foolishly sold or traded away. I know nothing of its history prior to that.

From the chassis pics, we can surmise that someone with the initials "JSP" worked on the amp in April 1979 (or at least was inside the box).

In July 2010, I had the amp serviced and tweaked by Billy Zoom at his shop in the LA area. He upgraded the transformer to a Hammond with Bassman specs (which tightens the low end, increases headroom, and provides more punch), installed the grounded A/C cable, supplied Sovtek 5881 (6L6) power tubes, and did whatever else needed done to bring the amp to superb playing condition. Cost of parts was 315.00.

His manifest of parts:

• 1 5881, matched pair
• 2 tube retainers
• 5 22mfd/50v
• 3 22mfd/500v
• 2 100mfd/450v
• 1 100mfd/100v
• 2 470‡/1W
• 15 2% 1/2watt, film
• 1 standby switch
• 1 srnd Switch
• 1 AC outlet 
• 10 630V.filmcaps
• 1 500v Mica 
• 1 AC cord & Heyco
• 1 opto-coupler
• 1 Hammond transformer
• 1 #47 lamp
• 1 1/4" jack 
• 2 100‡/1W

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Since its refresh, the amp has probably had fewer than 30 hours of playing time, and has been kept dry and at room temp in my studioffice atop the Bandmaster cabinet. I played it before making this listing, and let it run for several hours. No issues (other than that hearing it again makes me want to keep it).

I haven't really needed a cab-head amp configuration since the mid-80s, when I went to open-back combos (and now modelers and headphones). I've kept it because of course I would; a Bandmaster is just a fond part of my playing history. Now other toys of the long-time player's life are taking up more and more room (guitars...pedals), and I can't justify keeping this head (and its matching cab) as furniture or decor.

(Actually, I could make that choice. But by spousal agreement - and by that I mean "decree" - everything has to fit in this one room. I'd rather keep the guitars.)

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I expect we'll have conversations to determine a final deal on amp and/or cab and associated logistics. Local pickup in southern Indiana is encouraged, as shipping these big heavy things will be costly. Shipping cost is based on weight (amp weighs 33 lbs) and projected package size, and provided by Reverb's estimator (which theoretically gets it anywhere in the continental US). Actual shipping cost may vary, and we can talk about that.