Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

[NT02]

Check this out... I just finished replacing the power cord (now 3 prong), electrolytic caps, power tube resistors, tubes, and having my old Fender amp biased. She sounds great! The sound went from wimpy and mushy to punchy, articlulate and LOUD. Played through the 2x15 cab, my Les Paul sounds like I'm playing it acoustically in a glass bottle. Sweet.

I started gathering parts for this project around Christmas, after reading Pittman's Tube Amp Book and stuff on the internet. I had so much fun learning how to work on her. Very rewarding.

Now, I think it would be cool to build a low-wattage amp from scratch.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Thats my 68 Showman Reverb on the left there, I run her through a 2X10 cab with eminence lil' buddies. I did the same thing a while back, replaced the electrolytics, gave it a grounded power chord, re-tube, switched her from cathode biased (yes, cathode biased. The previous owner must've done that one) to adjustable bias, , and re-built much of the reverb and vibrato circuts.

Back when I bought it, it had its share of problems, but now that I've fixed her up...holy hell. My Godin Montreal seems almost piano-like though it. Its unreal.

Great freakin amps man, use it and play it in good health .

 

[NT02]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Daaaaaaaaaamn man, that's a lot of muscle going through those 2 10's. I bet they move nicely. Seems like you have all grounds covered with the Krank/Fender combo.
And the floor in the picture looks like it was taken in my music room. :laugh2:

Thanks and same to ya. It'll be easier to use it in good health now that the ground switch has been rendered useless.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

i am a new inductee to the showman club
I scored a 99.9% original 64 head, and a slightly compromised matching cab! 2x12 CTS speakers. And cheap, cos out here nobody wants a dinosaur without 'DISTORTION' channel. Richard Dale all the way. . . . . (cant say dikc here!?)
Lemme guess, that vaccuums!

yippee!

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

wow MGTS that showman looks clean and awesome

chris

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Indeed, i was overjoyed to see it was unmolested. I was kinda forced to "take the seller's word for it". Man this thing has thump n sparkle!

I must do the wise adjustements and new caps etc.

Once again the ratio of gear : skill is heavily leaned to the gear!

Sorry for hijackish

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

I've had a '68 Showman for 20 years, and you just made me realize this amp has been with me for over half of it's life. I got it in the summer of 1987. That's kind of cool when you think about it. It was 19 when I got it and now it's 39. I've done caps, but also I added a presence and resonance circuit in the Vibrato knobs. The actual vibrato pots are taped off in the chassis, and still wired in. The P/R circuit can be restored at any time and there is no chassis modification.

They are great underrated amps. There's no distortion channel, but I love using this one with my rack tube preamps to create some monster tones. I use it like a tube power amp in a way.

By the way, in 1987 it cost me under $200.

I've had other Showmans, Bandmasters, and Bassmans, but this is the original amp that's been with me from the beginning. Back then, my best tone came from this Showman, a DOD Overdrive pedal, and a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position! Maybe it's time to look for a used DOD Overdrive...

 

[B Bent]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Gosh!! I never get tired of looking at old Fender amp guts!!!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Gosh!! I never get tired of looking at old Fender amp guts!!!

me too..... it's that hand wired goodness!!!!


I redid the power Cord and caps and Tubes in my 65 Deluxe amp.... It works great.... oneday i must change the speaker, it's original

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Gosh!! I never get tired of looking at old Fender amp guts!!!

I too looooooove to look at those innards. Ebay is a good source of this form of p*rnography! Hmmm, you can almost smell those old trannies, err, uh-huh, huh-huh, sorry. Nothing like a nice greasy cap and resistor fest.

I have more, y'know, don't make me unleash the motherload...

 

[NT02]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

I guess, since we're sharing amp porn...
I took these while waiting for parts. Sure beats a circuit board.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

ooooh! nice! Those guts look pretty tasty. That cab with those mother JBLs, now that makes me droooool! Mine is replacement-speaker 2 x 12"... and still the thud at volume 2.5 is a window-shaker. Those things must cause you endless trouble with the National Guard being called in during your Miserlou rendition?

Does that cab have a full seal between this and that side? Mine, the division does not go all the way...? And what's with the dampening material? Basically i'm trying to figure my cab out, because it's a flat logo, odd grille, odd speakers, re-covered guy..

any wisdom?

 

[NT02]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Ha! Nice. I live a bit out of town, so no trouble with the neighbors yet. The 15s add a lot of space and openess to the tone. That Zinky 2x12 rox pretty good, too, although it's a little dark for my tastes.

Yep, the two speakers are fully separated, and I have no idea what the insulation is for. Reduce Vibration? Keep it warm in the harsh Texas winter?

I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to these old amps, or any amp for that matter. There are a few differences in our logos. Could be the difference in years? Could be somebody's 6th grade science project from the 60's? Who knows! Who cares as long as it kicks.

 

[greco]

Re: Refreshed 67 Fender Dual Showman

Gosh!! I never get tired of looking at old Fender amp guts!!!

Same here. Best part of the amp forum for me. Bring on all the pics you can/want to, especially the ones of the inside the chassis. Many thanks to all for taking the time to post the pics.

Dave