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Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 2:34 am
by Howlin_Wolf!
I have a Sept 1965 Fender Bandmaster blackface head which is all original other than a changed OT. I have a reissue 2 x 12 cab and a larger 1973 4 x 12 4 ohm Bassman cab that both work well with the head. I'm thinking that most collectibility value has been lost with the changed output transformer and am hankering to recover the set in white tolex. What are your thoughts or experience on this? Start with the cab and see how I get on or leave well alone? Speaker suggestions also gratefully received!

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 5:03 am
by Despot
Could the amp be taken out and put into a new cabinet? Might it be a good idea to have a cabinet made for the amp in the desired colour/layout and keep the original cabinet in case you ever do decide to sell it. Might not be that expensive overall - even if you're able to do that sort of thing yourself.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:26 am
by Squirrel
Another vote for putting it in a replacement cabinet and leaving the original one as it is. Recovering the cabinet on a mostly original amp would be much more of a shame, and would affect the value much more than just a replaced output transformer which is normal for any 50 year old amp.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 8:20 am
by countertext
Don’t do it! There’s plenty of folks out there that will build a new replacement cabinet for you.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 5:01 pm
by doctorock78
No. Put in new cab. Save old cab for when you sell someday...

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:55 am
by Howlin_Wolf!
Thanks for your replies. I’ll go with the consensus and leave it be!

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 5:43 pm
by JforJag
Just a late thought ...build a 2x10 combo cab for that head. I did this with my '64 Tremolux.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 2:39 am
by MechaBulletBill
if the original tolex is completely knackered, I don't see how recovering it would hurt its value. However, if it's actually fine, yeah it's new cabinet time.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:30 am
by Howlin_Wolf!
I like the idea of a new cab to preserve the original. Does anyone have any recommendations for UK cab builders with a good rep that won’t break the bank? Thank you!

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:39 am
by MechaBulletBill
Howlin_Wolf! wrote:
Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:30 am
I like the idea of a new cab to preserve the original. Does anyone have any recommendations for UK cab builders with a good rep that won’t break the bank? Thank you!
Zilla?

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 4:07 am
by Howlin_Wolf!
Ah great thanks. I just took a look but not sure if they will make the head enclosure too? My 2 x 12 cab is a reissue so not worried about recovering that.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:32 am
by MechaBulletBill
They can build just about anything. I've read people online (either on facebook or thefretboard) that have sent them a list of measurements for a combo-to-head conversion and had a perfect fitting cab for their chassis.

Re: Re-covering a 1965 Fender Bandmaster... To do or not to do?

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:52 am
by ohm-men
I have re-covered a lot of BF fender amps in the past.
Here's my 2 cent's;$

Only do it if the original tolex is totally trashed, smells bad, is radioactive or has been overpainted with some industrial paint that will never come of or if the current tolex job isn't original and horrible done.

If you do it, get the real tolex! Not the cheap fake chinese stuff and use the right glue!

Re-tolexing is not that easy. it takes practice and technique... Take it to a pro if you cant have it done yourself. I've seen plenty of ruined cabs...

But when done right, your amp will look great.

I know a lot of folk swear by getting a repro cab and storing/selling the original, but as far as the speaker cab go, the original Fender Speaker cabs sounds better then most repro cabs imho as there is something about that old seassoned Oregon pine that these old cabs were made of, makes these old 2x12" cabs sing ....

Like I said, just my 2 cent's ;-)