Fender 5E7 Bandmaster Tube Amplifier (1959)
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Fender 5E7 Bandmaster Model Tube Amplifier (1959), made in Fullerton, California, serial # S-02961, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a fine example of an exceedingly rare amp, the Fender 5E7 Bandmaster. This triple speaker holy grail from the tweed era first appeared in mid-1953 in a fairly short-lived 'wide-panel' iteration with a single 15" speaker. When Fender revamped the line-up in 1955, the Bandmaster was given the fairly novel 3x10 speaker configuration that lasted till the end of that decade with the later circuit revisions becoming the most desirable.
The 5E7 Bandmaster shared its circuit design with the 5E5-A Pro, the 5F4 Super and even the 5E8-A "low-powered" Twin save for the output transformers accommodating the different speaker compliments as well as a few other minor component changes. The Bandmaster is often thought of as a Bassman 5F6-A with one less speaker, although its dissimilarities also include a smaller output transformer, a cathodyne phase inverter, no middle control as well as lower voltages on the output tubes. All in all this yields breakup at less ear-splitting volumes, but still with plenty of the familiar roar and thickness when cranked.
Like those Fender siblings the 5E7 Bandmaster features four input jacks and two channels, labeled instrument and mic. Controls comprise a volume control for each channel with shared treble, bass and presence controls. The dual-6L6 power section puts out around 25-30 watts of power into the three 10" alnico Jensen P10R speakers. These later Bandmasters are considerable rarer than other more familiar period Fender combos, and we are thrilled to have this splendid example in our showroom.
Height is 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm.), 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm.) width, and 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall. The tube chart bears the stamp "IE" indicating assembly in May of 1959. This amp was wired up by Lily; her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis. We may be biased but we think her tweed amps have a certain magic to them! According to available serial number records, around 1200 amps were made between the three aforementioned models; likely only around 400 5E7 Bandmasters were made in 1959.
Cosmetically, the amp is in very good shape considering its age. The fairly fragile Tweed covering bears an attractive amber patina, and overall in very good shape, showing its scruff at corners and edges, including some darkened spots on the sides and lower rear panel. The grille cloth shows some scarring and a small puncture in the middle, but otherwise is nicely intact. The control panel is nice and clean, retaining nearly all its stenciled lettering. The handle is original to the amp as well.
Electrically, this Bandmaster is mostly original. The three Jensen P10R speakers are all original to the amp and all bear the matching codes 220-917, dating them to the 17th week of 1959. The Triad-made power transformer and choke are both original as well, bearing the codes 8087 and 14684. The output transformer is a Mercury Magnetics correct replacement; a large number of these Bandmasters we've seen have blown output transformers, which is not surprising as a 4 ohm secondary is a 'mismatch' against the three 8 ohm speakers (~2.6 ohms). Although it was design-wise 'close enough' for Leo at the time, these amps were never designed to be played for long periods cranked! The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all pots, sockets and jacks and biased to spec.
This rare Fender creation is a truly phenomenal sounding amp and one of the coolest tweeds we have had the honor of featuring in our showroom. The fact that it's also a "Lily" only makes it sweeter! Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a fine example of an exceedingly rare amp, the Fender 5E7 Bandmaster. This triple speaker holy grail from the tweed era first appeared in mid-1953 in a fairly short-lived 'wide-panel' iteration with a single 15" speaker. When Fender revamped the line-up in 1955, the Bandmaster was given the fairly novel 3x10 speaker configuration that lasted till the end of that decade with the later circuit revisions becoming the most desirable.
The 5E7 Bandmaster shared its circuit design with the 5E5-A Pro, the 5F4 Super and even the 5E8-A "low-powered" Twin save for the output transformers accommodating the different speaker compliments as well as a few other minor component changes. The Bandmaster is often thought of as a Bassman 5F6-A with one less speaker, although its dissimilarities also include a smaller output transformer, a cathodyne phase inverter, no middle control as well as lower voltages on the output tubes. All in all this yields breakup at less ear-splitting volumes, but still with plenty of the familiar roar and thickness when cranked.
Like those Fender siblings the 5E7 Bandmaster features four input jacks and two channels, labeled instrument and mic. Controls comprise a volume control for each channel with shared treble, bass and presence controls. The dual-6L6 power section puts out around 25-30 watts of power into the three 10" alnico Jensen P10R speakers. These later Bandmasters are considerable rarer than other more familiar period Fender combos, and we are thrilled to have this splendid example in our showroom.
Height is 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm.), 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm.) width, and 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall. The tube chart bears the stamp "IE" indicating assembly in May of 1959. This amp was wired up by Lily; her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis. We may be biased but we think her tweed amps have a certain magic to them! According to available serial number records, around 1200 amps were made between the three aforementioned models; likely only around 400 5E7 Bandmasters were made in 1959.
Cosmetically, the amp is in very good shape considering its age. The fairly fragile Tweed covering bears an attractive amber patina, and overall in very good shape, showing its scruff at corners and edges, including some darkened spots on the sides and lower rear panel. The grille cloth shows some scarring and a small puncture in the middle, but otherwise is nicely intact. The control panel is nice and clean, retaining nearly all its stenciled lettering. The handle is original to the amp as well.
Electrically, this Bandmaster is mostly original. The three Jensen P10R speakers are all original to the amp and all bear the matching codes 220-917, dating them to the 17th week of 1959. The Triad-made power transformer and choke are both original as well, bearing the codes 8087 and 14684. The output transformer is a Mercury Magnetics correct replacement; a large number of these Bandmasters we've seen have blown output transformers, which is not surprising as a 4 ohm secondary is a 'mismatch' against the three 8 ohm speakers (~2.6 ohms). Although it was design-wise 'close enough' for Leo at the time, these amps were never designed to be played for long periods cranked! The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all pots, sockets and jacks and biased to spec.
This rare Fender creation is a truly phenomenal sounding amp and one of the coolest tweeds we have had the honor of featuring in our showroom. The fact that it's also a "Lily" only makes it sweeter! Overall Very Good + Condition.