Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

[Stratcat]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

Hmmm...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38074&item=3761599871&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I too say to keep an eye out locally. All of a sudden old Fender amps have made an apperance at my local music store. A '60's Bassman head (sold quick) 2 Concert amps, a SF Vibrolux Reverb (they want $700.00 for this and it's beat to s**t) and I believe, a SF Princeton Reverb. Seem's like these amps all appeared within 3 week's time.

 

[easyman]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I am looking for a couple old Fender Blackface amps, Super Champ, Champ, Princeton Reverb. I am tired of being outbid at the last second on ebay!
Thanks for any info.

I'v never used ebay myself :yell: but a friend of mine told me this morning that ebay maniacs have a special computer program; they look at a price, then they type their bid somewhat Higher; then they look at the dealine & just program the computer to bid their chosen price at the last minute.
So they dont need to stay in front of their screen.
utahere:
:dunno: Sorry I d'ont know the name of this programm.
Good luck
Easyman :cool2:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

Thanks for the info fellows :wink: It seems like finding one these amps in good condition is getting really hard to find. It is a shame that Fender won't reissue the Blackface Champ Amp and Princeton Reverb. :smack:

Just so you know the Champ and Princeton are 2 of the Fender amps that had little to no change when the SF changes happened!

 

[mod13]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I have a '66 Super Reverb, and don't even pretend to know anything about amps. This "little" darling is getting up there, I have read about people changing the "caps" and what not, what are they?
What is going on now is that the pots are a little crackly and the 2 bright switches are definitly crackly and sometimes don't work, and I sometimes get zapped off of the thing, unless I switch the ground switch. I got it and a '69 Fender Mustang Competition (with matching headstock) for $250 at an estate auction back in the mid '80's (don't get those deals too often). The kicker is that the amp had 2X12 Jensens in it, and one was blown. My Dad helped me out and we got a couple of Celstions, and replaced the Jensens, which have gone the way of the Dodo over the years, so I can't even get the date code off of them. The baffle board looks original but I have asked around and have been told "no way". That is regardless, the old girl sounds wonderful. I am just wondering if I should keep playng it at 1.5 in my basement or let it go to a good home where she will be used properly. What can I do to preserve it, and maybe update it??? Or maybe I should wait and sell it for my kids education or maybe it will help them pay for it!!

I know this is a little of topic, sorry, take it easy
Mike

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

Yep. Do a search on Ebay for Fender Pro Reverb. I gigged with one for many years. They're like a Vibrolux-Reverb but with two 12's instead of two 10's. Also have a midrange control on the reverb channel. Great amps, as Scott noted. I never understood why they are not more popular. They're basically a 40 watt Twin Reverb.

Lew....The Pro Reverb doesn't have a midrange control...At least my own 66 doesn't...You're thinking about the Super Reverb...

1965-1967 Pro Reverb
(Black Face Pro Reverb)


Black Face Pro Reverb


Black Face Pro Reverb
Year:
1965-1967
Model:
Pro Reverb
Circuit:
AA165
Config:
Combo
Control Panel:
Black, forward facing w/ white labels
Front Conrol Layout:
Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass - Vibrato: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass, Reverb, Speed, Intensity - Pilot Lamp
Rear Conrol Layout:
AC Outlet, Polarity Sw, Fuse (2A), Power Sw, Stby Sw, Speaker, Ex. Speaker, Vibrato Jack, Reverb Jack, Reverb Out, Reverb In
Knobs:
Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 - 10
Cabinet:
19½" x 26½" x 9½" (49.5 x 67.3 x 24.1 cm)
Cab Covering:
Black Tolex
Cab Hardware:
Black strap handle, 5½" chassis straps, 16" tilt-back legs, corner protectors, glides
Grille:
Silver sparkle grille cloth
Logo:
Grille mounted, raised, chrome & black script "Fender" w/ tail
Weight:
53 lbs. (24 Kg)
Speakers/Load:
2 x 12"/4 ohms (8 ohms each in parallel)
Speaker Model:
Jensen C12N or Oxford 12L6
Effects:
Reverb, Tremolo
Output:
40 Watts
Preamp:
Normal: 7025
Vibrato: 7025, ½ 7025
Power:
2 x 6L6GC
Bias:
Fixed w/ bias adjustment pot.
Rectifier:
GZ34
Phase Inverter:
12AT7 (long tailed)
Other:
Reverb Driver: 12AT7
Reverb Recovery: ½ 7025
Tremolo: 12AX7 (photoresistor)
Comments:

 

[Bludave]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I would look on ebay or even GC. The ones near me sell lots of used vintage Fender amps..............The ones I've seen at GC were between $800 and $1200 depending on the condition.

GC prices on Vintage gear is really to high!

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I would do a Google search for the particular BF amp you are seeking. There will be several shops across the US that offer them. Nowadays with shipping and buyer protection through Paypal, etc., you can get most gear very easily and return it if you don't like it.

I recommend buying a cosmetically beat-up Super between '65 and '67. The price will be a smidge less and chances are that its been gigged somewhat frequently resulting in somewhat frequent shop work (i.e. replaced caps, etc.). This will save you some hassle and get you a decent amp from the get-go.

Some of the best "tone" I've ever experienced was from two bar-hoppers, Rusty Barkley and John O'Gorman, in Charlotte, NC. They both gigged with Strats, BF Supers and a Tubescreamer of sort. Both of them indicated to me that you don't need a mint BF - just one that works and requires a smidge of repair. Both of those guys had tone that would make you weep.

As such, I think you could find one for about $1,200 - $1,400 in decent shape. However, if the price tag scares you, you could always buy a reissue for $1,100 and have a warranty. I've not played one, but they are supposed to sound pretty decent for the money. Like an reissue, there are shortcuts taken by Fender, but it gets you close enough for the coin.

Hope that helps!

Lee Moore

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

I'm always skeptical about old Fenders going for big dollars on ebay. I mean because they might be forgeries or not nearly as original as advertised. I see quite a few old Fender champs in shops and online that just don't quite look 40 or 50 years old. I don't know how many amps Fender made back in those days, but I would'nt be surprised if there are more vintage Fender amps on the market than were originally made. How about a kit or something like a Victoria amp. You could easily get a Fender logo for it. :smoker:

I've heard about old Traynor amps being worth a look. They are more likely to be original because there isn't a big vintage market for them.

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Best place to buy old Fender Blackface amps?

This is a good example of what I'm talking about. This amp certainly seems to be a gem, but I imagine it would fetch $2,000 to $3,000.

1964 Super Reverb on E-bay

Here is an example of a slightly cheaper Super.

1965-1966 Super