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Author
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Topic: Fender Bandmaster- What speakers?
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Ron Castle
Member From: West Hurley,NY
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posted 03 November 2001 04:11 AM
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I have an old F. Bandmaster('60s) that sounds great. Trouble is that the speaker cabinet is huge & very heavey (about 4'x3' totally enclosed). What can I use instead, something like a 2-12 Twin cabinet.
Any suggestions wd be appreciated. |
Rob van Duuren
Member From: The Netherlands
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posted 03 November 2001 06:01 AM
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Try finding an old orange 15" JBL, put it in a box. must make a nice combination.rob. |
Bob Bowden
Member From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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posted 03 November 2001 03:20 PM
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Sounds like a late 60s/early 70s cab back when the CBS engineers figured if bigger was better, then huge must be great. There are a number of good 2-12 enclosures available. One option would be a mid-60s Bandmaster or Bassman cabinet. Those measured just a little bigger than 2 1/2' x 1 1/2'. I think the only external difference was the placement of the holes for the knobs that held the head in place. Currently, Fender has a 2-12 box for their ToneMaster amp which is roughly the same size but the speakers mount from the front instead of inside like the old cabinets. |
Ron Castle
Member From: West Hurley,NY
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posted 06 November 2001 08:28 PM
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Thanks for the replies. Would it make sense to cut the old cab down about the size of a twin?
(I dont know much about amps / acoustics etc) |
Bob Bowden
Member From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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posted 06 November 2001 10:59 PM
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I would keep the old cab just to add to the resale value if you ever decide to part with it. Those CBS Bandmaster cabs were big. You could even insulate it and turn it into a refrigerator or just turn it into a guest room.  In addition to the smaller Fender cabs, there are many others out there that will also work well. It shouldn't be too hard to find a good one at a reasonable price. A local pawn shop had a Peavey 2-12 cab that was nice and compact. Keep an eye out at the local music stores, eBay and of course the Buy and Sell Forum right here. |
Patrick Smith
Member From: Shreveport, LA, USA
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posted 07 November 2001 09:01 AM
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Bob, I would not cut that cab up!....no reason toYou can just got to your local home depot, buy you a nice piece of 3/4 birch plywood, and build you a 2-12 cab. There's really nothing to it....you can order a yard of black tolex from Stewart MacDonald for 11 bucks or so, get a handle for 3 bucks or so, get corners etc. There's nothing to building a little cab like that. I favor dove-tail joints for cabs but for your purposes you can just make it butt-jointed, glued and screwed!.....nothing to it! Hope this helps PMS
Britney's Lil' Louisiana Love Doggie |
Bob Bowden
Member From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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posted 07 November 2001 10:10 AM
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Patrick, actually it is Ron that mentioned cutting it up. My recommendation is to leave it as is for when it comes time to sell that Bandmaster. Head with matching cab will bring more money. I will agree with your comments about building an enclosure, especially if Ron cant find a good used small 2-12 cab. |
Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 16 November 2001 02:48 AM
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I agree with Bob. I would not alter the original cabinet. Old Fender stuff is only going to go up in value. The smaller cabinets show up on Ebay for a resonable price. I have the large cabinet with my 1967 (bought new). It now has 2 EV SRO speakers in it and is heavey enough to throw you back into fits. Sounds good, but I have never compared it to the smaller cabinet.
Lefty |
Ron Castle
Member From: West Hurley,NY
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posted 16 November 2001 07:39 AM
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I guess you guys are right. I should leave that cab. alone and find a pair of 12's.
Any ideas on what kind? would anyone know what kind of speakers wd go with a Bandmaster re ohms etc..?
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Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 16 November 2001 08:15 AM
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Fender Amp Field Guide states that original speaker cabs were: quote:
Speaker/Load: 2 x 12"/4 ohms total (8 ohms each in parallel)
so the Bandmaster is lookin' for a 4 ohm load... I'd check out the Webervst site... |
Patrick Smith
Member From: Shreveport, LA, USA
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posted 16 November 2001 01:39 PM
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Sorry 'bout that Bob!....hell, never claimed I knew how to read!.... PMS
Britney's Louisiana Love Doggie |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 17 November 2001 12:41 AM
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Keep in mind that some of those tone characteristics that you like will be gone when you switch to a smaller cabinet. Large-volume cabinets just seem to have a depth and warmth that smaller cabinets lack. |
Ron Castle
Member From: West Hurley,NY
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posted 17 November 2001 04:21 AM
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Actually Donny, 'depth & warmth' hits it right on the head- thats just what I like about the sound of this amp. I guess I should try a smaller cab before buying one.
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Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 17 November 2001 09:01 AM
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Excellent idea. |
Lefty
Member From: Grayson, Ga.
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posted 17 November 2001 06:29 PM
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I believe the original speakers in mine were Utah. They were ok, but not great. I blew them a few times before upgrading to better speakers. JBL's sound good, or any good speaker. It is very subjective. The Bandmaster and Bassman head is bulletproof, and sounds good and warm. Not terribly powerful, but was great for clubhouse dates for me in the 60's. Save your old cab., and watch for a small 2-12 on Ebay, or somewhere, and with good speakers you will be set.
Lefty |
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