Used Fender BANDMASTER HEAD AND CAB 1965 Vintage

This 1965 Fender Bandmaster head and matching cabinet is a Fender Blackface era amp, with 40-watts output. Its an all-tube amplifier known for its rich, dynamic sound and clean headroom. This "piggyback" configuration consists of a separate amplifier head designed to mount on top of a speaker cabinet using tilt-back legs and thumb screws. 

Makes for an amazing pedal platform.

This one is in very good shape (dings and scrapes on the cabinet tolex with typical wear and fading of the grill clothe) but aside from some cosmetic flaws, it sounds great with its cabinet. The hardware on the piggyback style locks from head to cab function nicely.

Amplifier Head Description

• Aesthetics: The head features the classic "blackface" design with black Tolex covering, a black control panel with black skirted knobs (numbered 1-10 with chrome centers), and a black/white/silver grill cloth.
• Circuitry and Power: It uses the revered AB763 circuit, powered by a pair of 6L6 power tubes to produce approximately 40 watts of power. It has a solid-state rectifier for a tighter bass response compared to earlier models.
• Channels and Controls: The amp features two channels:
• Normal Channel: Controls for Volume, Treble, and Bass.
• Vibrato Channel: Controls for Volume, Treble, Bass, Speed, and Intensity. This channel includes the famous, tube-driven tremolo (referred to as "vibrato" by Fender) effect, but no built-in reverb.
• Sound Profile: Known for deep and sparkly clean tones, it provides enough volume for small to medium-sized venues and is a popular platform for effects pedals. When the volume is pushed to 5 or higher, it delivers a harmonically rich, aggressive tube overdrive. 

Matching Cabinet Description

• Configuration: The matching cabinet is typically a 2x12" closed-back configuration, designed to "piggyback" with the head.
• Aesthetics and Hardware: It shares the same black Tolex and black/white/silver grill cloth as the head. Key hardware features include chrome corners with lips, a black strap handle, and 16" tilt-back legs that allow the entire unit to be angled backward.
• Dimensions and Speakers: The approximate dimensions are 32" (height) x 20" (width) x 11.5" (depth). It usually came equipped with original 12" speakers typically wired for a 4-ohm impedance.
• Weight: The head weighs around 28.8 lbs (13 kg), and the cabinet weighs approximately 51.1 lbs (23.2 kg).

Cool facts about artists who like to use Bandmasters:

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys uses Fender Bandmaster amplifiers (with pedals) as a key component of his guitar rig, both live and in the studio. 

• Live Rig: For touring, Auerbach has used multiple Bandmaster heads. For the 2019 tour, he scored two early Fender Bandmaster heads to use as his primary live amps, with one as a backup.

Many other legendary artists have used vintage Fender Bandmaster amps for their distinct tones. For example Eddie Van Halen (wrote early hits with one), Pete Townshend (The Who), Noel Gallagher (Oasis/High Flying Birds), Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton (Custom '57 Bandmaster), Peter Hayes (BRMC), and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's Stu Mackenzie.

• Eddie Van Halen: Used a Black Panel Bandmaster extensively for writing early Van Halen songs quietly at home, finding it essential for developing his sound before his Marshall era.
• Pete Townshend (The Who): Utilized a Bandmaster for rich, feedback-laden tones on studio recordings starting with Who's Next.
• Noel Gallagher (Oasis): A documented user, leveraging the Bandmaster for both Oasis and his later work.
• Joe Satriani: Known to use vintage Fender amps, including the Bandmaster for its classic sound.
• Eric Clapton: Famously uses Bandmaster combos for live performances.