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Tolex 5f6a?

Iguana

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Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
I’ve owned a Fender Bassman cabinet for ages. The 4 10 inch speakers aren’t the original Jensen models, they’re CTS from the early 60’s. The factory sticker is still in place but the corner with the production date is missing. The cabinet is also covered in a dark brown/blackish Tolex. I finished building the Mojotone 5f6a kit a few weeks ago and the amp is now complete. I can’t say enough good things about the amp. It’s glorious! I’ve named it “The Bastard” since it’s such a hodgepodge of parts. Having said all that, did Fender ever produce the 5f6a Bassman with Tolex or was mine recovered at some point? It doesn’t matter to me if the covering is original or not, I love this thing! I’m just curious about the history of it.
 

TM1

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Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
I would say that yours is recovered as Fender didn't switch over to any Tolex until late 1960. All the tolex in `60/`61 was brown and maybe some white in `61
 

Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
Thanks TM1. I’ve had the cab since I was a teenager. I had been using it like a Marshall cab. It’s always sounded good no matter what amp was powering it. Having said that, it has never sounded better than it does now.
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
I’ve owned a Fender Bassman cabinet for ages. The 4 10 inch speakers aren’t the original Jensen models, they’re CTS from the early 60’s. The factory sticker is still in place but the corner with the production date is missing. The cabinet is also covered in a dark brown/blackish Tolex. I finished building the Mojotone 5f6a kit a few weeks ago and the amp is now complete. I can’t say enough good things about the amp. It’s glorious! I’ve named it “The Bastard” since it’s such a hodgepodge of parts. Having said all that, did Fender ever produce the 5f6a Bassman with Tolex or was mine recovered at some point? It doesn’t matter to me if the covering is original or not, I love this thing! I’m just curious about the history of it.

Curious I am. What is the two letter date code in the cab?
 

Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
Unfortunately the part of the sticker with the date code is gone. It would have been very handy for this situation but no such luck. I have no doubt that it’s a genuine Fender cab. The 4x10 baffle is original so that narrows the possible manufacturing date quite a bit. I also know it’s not a reissue. I’m pretty sure Fender wasn’t making Bassman reissues when I got it.
 

Wally

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Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
Unfortunately the part of the sticker with the date code is gone. It would have been very handy for this situation but no such luck. I have no doubt that it’s a genuine Fender cab. The 4x10 baffle is original so that narrows the possible manufacturing date quite a bit. I also know it’s not a reissue. I’m pretty sure Fender wasn’t making Bassman reissues when I got it.
I asked because I have a 5F6A chassis that I salvaged from what Was left after the amp and many others were lost in a fire. I also have a 1956 5E5A chassis from the same fire.
The Bassman had spent many years in The Armadillo World Headquarters during the early years of Austin City Limits.

as to what would if they were given to me??? In that unlikely sitatuion, I would sell them to the highest bidder and donate the money to various causes...Southern Poverty Law Center would be at the top of that list...great place for that particular money, imho..
 

Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
Ouch! I hate to hear stuff like that Wally. It’s not so much about the monetary value of these amps but the historical value. I considered my self to be sort of a curator for the Bassman even before I restored it to working condition. In fact, I have pictures from Christmas night 2019 where I’m elbow deep in the cabinet replacing the wiring and cleaning out the dust. Nothing else I would have rather been doing at that moment.
 

Professortwang

Active member
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
I have an old 5E5A cabinet. It's been stripped of it's tweed, baffle and back panels. Still has the name tag on front. It will most likely be my next project. Is there anyone that does baffles properly? Larry Rogers used to unfortunately he passed away years ago.
 

agogetr

Active member
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
451
I’ve owned a Fender Bassman cabinet for ages. The 4 10 inch speakers aren’t the original Jensen models, they’re CTS from the early 60’s. The factory sticker is still in place but the corner with the production date is missing. The cabinet is also covered in a dark brown/blackish Tolex. I finished building the Mojotone 5f6a kit a few weeks ago and the amp is now complete. I can’t say enough good things about the amp. It’s glorious! I’ve named it “The Bastard” since it’s such a hodgepodge of parts. Having said all that, did Fender ever produce the 5f6a Bassman with Tolex or was mine recovered at some point? It doesn’t matter to me if the covering is original or not, I love this thing! I’m just curious about the history of it.
a lot of the tweeds were painted brown or black (or re tolexed) to blend in with the newer amps onstage. i have a tweed 58 pro painted brown its awesome. and they got the color pretty close!
have a couple old tweeds painted black,also have a 64 bassman with cab ,its covered in shiny red tolex with sparkles! the lady i got it from showed me a pic of her using it in her gogo band in the sixties, mini skirts white gogo boots and all! whish i had a copy of that pic to put in the back of the amp.
 

Wally

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
I once owned ‘59 Bandmaster which had been covered in (cheap) brown vinyl to fit in with the 6G cosmetics. at the same time, I owned a ‘56 5E8A that was covered in cheap black to ‘match‘ the BF cosmetics. It happened. A friend once owned a middle volume control 6g11 that had been painted black. after try8ng a lot of thI TS, he used machinist cutting oil to help get ALL of that black paint off. That amp was featured in a VG edition ..circa 1995-1997.
 

Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
I’m still knocked on my butt by the tone this amp has. I’ve tried it with various effects and always come back to plugging straight in. Input 1 on the bright channel with the volume on 3 is perfect for me. Doesn’t matter if I’m playing a Les Paul or a Strat the amp just sings.
 
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