August 1965 Showman

Dug my old amp out of the garage and getting ready to restore. I am hoping that I can replace tolex, etc., so it looks new but still original. Have the cabinet as well...will need a new speaker as well as cosmetics. I have to find someone to do it for me 'cause I don't have the time or the skills!

It's a great amp - great sound, great look, and a nice compliment to the Hot Rod Deville I purchased in '06. The De Ville has a short, however, so i have to get some warranty work done on that as well.

Anyone know if restoring this amp, aside from the pleasure of owning it, is worth it financially? I don't want to take any value away from it during restoration. Also, has original sticker from Detroit where it was bought back in '65. I live in AZ and bought it in a pawn shop here in '74.

[waterdude]

Dug my old amp out of the garage and getting ready to restore. I am hoping that I can replace tolex, etc., so it looks new but still original. Have the cabinet as well...will need a new speaker as well as cosmetics. I have to find someone to do it for me 'cause I don't have the time or the skills!

It's a great amp - great sound, great look, and a nice compliment to the Hot Rod Deville I purchased in '06. The De Ville has a short, however, so i have to get some warranty work done on that as well.

Anyone know if restoring this amp, aside from the pleasure of owning it, is worth it financially? I don't want to take any value away from it during restoration. Also, has original sticker from Detroit where it was bought back in '65. I live in AZ and bought it in a pawn shop here in '74.

It's worth fixing. Mike
_________________
The blues ain't nothing but a good man feelin' bad.....

[cherokee747]

It's worth fixing. Mike
_________________
The blues ain't nothing but a good man feelin' bad.....

Nice, the Showman is big with the Surf crowd. Awesome, super clean and loud. I've got 2 '65's. You might check with Mojo Musical Supply. They will do recovering.

[Bengal65]

Nice, the Showman is big with the Surf crowd. Awesome, super clean and loud. I've got 2 '65's. You might check with Mojo Musical Supply. They will do recovering.

Fix the Showman, and in short order you will throw stones at that awful DeVille...

[Pete55]

Fix the Showman, and in short order you will throw stones at that awful DeVille...

Actually, the DeVille has a pretty nice tone, but you have to crank it and it can be ear crushing. But the difference in tone from the Showman will provide a nice blend, I think. I'll run them in stereo while balancing the output...when I finally get it there, I'll let you know how this turns out.

[waterdude]

Actually, the DeVille has a pretty nice tone, but you have to crank it and it can be ear crushing. But the difference in tone from the Showman will provide a nice blend, I think. I'll run them in stereo while balancing the output...when I finally get it there, I'll let you know how this turns out.

Yeah, let us know. Does the cab have an original JBL speaker or something else? Is it a 15" or 12"? You can get those reconed or go with a Weber NeoMag speaker. They are an awesome replacement for the old JBL's.

[Bengal65]

Yeah, let us know. Does the cab have an original JBL speaker or something else? Is it a 15" or 12"? You can get those reconed or go with a Weber NeoMag speaker. They are an awesome replacement for the old JBL's.

For gigging, get the amp the way you want it.

If you want the highest resale value, avoid changing original components, like the tolex - try to clean it instead. Of course, if it's spraypainted black or half-ripped off, then have at it.

[nedorama]

For gigging, get the amp the way you want it.

If you want the highest resale value, avoid changing original components, like the tolex - try to clean it instead. Of course, if it's spraypainted black or half-ripped off, then have at it.

It's done! I've followed advice from many and did not restore the cosmetics. This thing is built like a TANK! The caps simply recharged after being plugged in for about two days, the speaker needed zero work despite spending over 15 years in a hot arizona garage. New tubes, rebias, repairing a loose ground wire, and it sounds like silk. Oh, the tone. It is awesome.

And I did set it up and play it in stereo against the Hot Rod DeVille...it really balances very nicely and just fills the room with an almost heavenly tone from blues to edgy rock. And play it with just chorus, it's like a beautiful mountain waterfall. I couldn't be happier with this baby back in action.

I am thinking about looking for a small 8 ohm cabinet to run with the head for smaller venues and ease of portability, but I have to see what kind of alterations I might get with the sound. It is a large cabinet with a 12" right now, so I am wondering if a small cab with a 12 " or two tens might work out.

[waterdude]

It's done! I've followed advice from many and did not restore the cosmetics. This thing is built like a TANK! The caps simply recharged after being plugged in for about two days, the speaker needed zero work despite spending over 15 years in a hot arizona garage. New tubes, rebias, repairing a loose ground wire, and it sounds like silk. Oh, the tone. It is awesome.

And I did set it up and play it in stereo against the Hot Rod DeVille...it really balances very nicely and just fills the room with an almost heavenly tone from blues to edgy rock. And play it with just chorus, it's like a beautiful mountain waterfall. I couldn't be happier with this baby back in action.

I am thinking about looking for a small 8 ohm cabinet to run with the head for smaller venues and ease of portability, but I have to see what kind of alterations I might get with the sound. It is a large cabinet with a 12" right now, so I am wondering if a small cab with a 12 " or two tens might work out.

Congrats! Remember the Showman has the same circuit as the Twin Reverb, without the Reverb, so 2 X10's, 2 X 12's or even 1 X 12 would sound great. The Showman has the same output as the Twins at 85 Watts. Just make sure your total speaker ohm load is at 4 ohms with the stock transformers.

[Bengal65]

Congrats! Remember the Showman has the same circuit as the Twin Reverb, without the Reverb, so 2 X10's, 2 X 12's or even 1 X 12 would sound great. The Showman has the same output as the Twins at 85 Watts. Just make sure your total speaker ohm load is at 4 ohms with the stock transformers.

4 ohms, not 8? I thought it was 8 but I will check on the amp head just to be sure. Thanks for the advice...I'll start trolling for a cab today...perhaps a used one in good shape will fill the ticket nicely!

[waterdude]

4 ohms, not 8? I thought it was 8 but I will check on the amp head just to be sure. Thanks for the advice...I'll start trolling for a cab today...perhaps a used one in good shape will fill the ticket nicely!

It's 4 ohms.

If you don't get a vintage Fender Showman cabinet (big bucks), you may want to look at Avatar or Lopoline, or for some more money, the Dr. Z cabinets are getting a lot of positive reviews.

If you can try with your amp head and guitar before buying you'll be happier, or ensure there's a return policy.

Good luck!
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'65 Bandmaster 2x12 combo
'71 SF Princeton
'77 SF Princeton Reverb

[nedorama]

It's 4 ohms.

If you don't get a vintage Fender Showman cabinet (big bucks), you may want to look at Avatar or Lopoline, or for some more money, the Dr. Z cabinets are getting a lot of positive reviews.

If you can try with your amp head and guitar before buying you'll be happier, or ensure there's a return policy.

Good luck!
_________________

'65 Bandmaster 2x12 combo
'71 SF Princeton
'77 SF Princeton Reverb

I do have the Showman cabinet...I was thinking about getting something a wee bit smaller in size just for logistics if I can do so without compromising the tone....the cab is not heavy, just awkward to move around. I thought maybe a smaller footprint cab is easier to haul and set up unless I am going full out in a large space. Took a short look today, and everything I found as a cabinet didn't really save me much in terms of size, but I just started. I have to think about this a bit...it may be ridiculous to even try...

[waterdude]

I do have the Showman cabinet...I was thinking about getting something a wee bit smaller in size just for logistics if I can do so without compromising the tone....the cab is not heavy, just awkward to move around. I thought maybe a smaller footprint cab is easier to haul and set up unless I am going full out in a large space. Took a short look today, and everything I found as a cabinet didn't really save me much in terms of size, but I just started. I have to think about this a bit...it may be ridiculous to even try...

I was lucky to find a 1x12 the same width as my Princetons on eBay, and got it for cheap. You may want something wider so that the showman head isn't leaning over both sides (IMO).

If you want, you may want to contact JD Newell at http://www.newellamps.com/catalog.html. He does very good work on cabinets in tweed, brown, blonde and black tolex. I bought my Bandmaster 2x12 combo cabinet with him and am very happy with the results. You could get a 1x12 or a 1x15 made up the way you want.

Good luck! This is defintely worth trying, even as a saved ebay or Craigslist search.
_________________

'65 Bandmaster 2x12 combo
'71 SF Princeton
'77 SF Princeton Reverb

[nedorama]

I was lucky to find a 1x12 the same width as my Princetons on eBay, and got it for cheap. You may want something wider so that the showman head isn't leaning over both sides (IMO).

If you want, you may want to contact JD Newell at http://www.newellamps.com/catalog.html. He does very good work on cabinets in tweed, brown, blonde and black tolex. I bought my Bandmaster 2x12 combo cabinet with him and am very happy with the results. You could get a 1x12 or a 1x15 made up the way you want.

Good luck! This is defintely worth trying, even as a saved ebay or Craigslist search.
_________________

'65 Bandmaster 2x12 combo
'71 SF Princeton
'77 SF Princeton Reverb

Hi you guys, just a word on the output transfomer for the AB763 Showman amp. The schematics shows the 125A29A for the 2 spkr model and 125A30A for the single spkr model. The impedance is not stated for either transformer. This is the opposite of the info in"Fender Amps the First Fifty Years" by Teagle & Sprung. So which source is correct? More research is inorder. A tip off for your particular amp would be the negative feedback resistor; 47ohm=8ohm ; 100ohm=4ohm. ART
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None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !

[aclempoppi]

Hi you guys, just a word on the output transfomer for the AB763 Showman amp. The schematics shows the 125A29A for the 2 spkr model and 125A30A for the single spkr model. The impedance is not stated for either transformer. This is the opposite of the info in"Fender Amps the First Fifty Years" by Teagle & Sprung. So which source is correct? More research is inorder. A tip off for your particular amp would be the negative feedback resistor; 47ohm=8ohm ; 100ohm=4ohm. ART
_________________
None of Us are free, if One of Us is chained !

I stand corrected. Better listen to Art on the impedance.

[nedorama]

I stand corrected. Better listen to Art on the impedance.