Not a 1970 Bandmaster

[EnosEmurf]

There is a 1970 Bandmaster head and cab listed in my area on craigslist for 500$.

Vibrato doesn't work, but I'm pretty confident that my tech could fix it.

Should I jump on it?

[ohm-men]

YES!!!! Vibrato does not work because foot switch is not plugged in. The vibrato must be shorted in order to make it work on those amps. My tremolux was the same. I just used a shorted rca plug in it and it works. Will need some maintenace though.

[EnosEmurf]

Got it!  Looks pretty decent, for the few minutes I played it sounded great.

Will take it into my tech this week to get a grounded cord/cap swap and probably have it biased.

For two twelves the cab could sure be a lot smaller, that mother is twice as large as my twin.

[ohm-men]

Well, I think those large cabs have their advantages. They make the pair of 12" sound HUGE...almost like playing a 4x12" cab. You get a LOT of bottom end imo. But a drag to carry arround...
Let your tech check the large electrolyte caps that sit between the tubes under the metal cover, the so called "doghouse" if those are still the original you MUST have them replaced...
Also those bandmasters have the same cuircuitery as the Super. So they are great amps imo. A well kept secret...

[øøøøøøø]

Well, I think those large cabs have their advantages. They make the pair of 12" sound HUGE...almost like playing a 4x12" cab. You get a LOT of bottom end imo. But a drag to carry arround...
Let your tech check the large electrolyte caps that sit between the tubes under the metal cover, the so called "doghouse" if those are still the original you MUST have them replaced...
Also those bandmasters have the same cuircuitery as the Super. So they are great amps imo. A well kept secret...

different output transformer tho. 

In any case, enjoy your amp.  $500 seems right about fair market value for a 70 bm, if not a touch above.  But if you like the way the amp sounds it doesn't matter. 

[EnosEmurf]

Given some more research I'm pretty certain that this amp is not from 1970 but from late 1967 or early 1968.  Though it's silverface it still has the AB763(blackface) circuit. 

I'm pretty psyched, this deal turned out to be killer considering how much the blackfaces are going for on ebay.

[øøøøøøø]

aluminum trim around the grille?

[EnosEmurf]

Yes.

In actuality though it might just be one of the amps right after the circuit swap where they still used the old tube chart.    I sure hope it's not.  Either way it sounds tasty.

I'm taking it to my tech tomorrow morning so he should be able to clarify which it is.

[blacktiger]

The aluminum indicates very early silverface.  Does it have black lines separating the different areas of the front panel?

[EnosEmurf]

Yes it does.

Is this guy's method right?
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html

The code is F014767

[blacktiger]

It looks to be; black line/drip edge points to first version SF, so likely mid/late '67 and the same circuit as BF.  Nice score.