Fender Harvard Model 5F10 Tube Amplifier (1957)

Fender  Harvard Model 5F10 Tube Amplifier (1957)
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Item # 9322
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Fender Harvard Model 5F10 Model Tube Amplifier (1957), made in Fullerton, California, serial # H-00752, tweed fabric covering finish.
 
Height is 16 1/4 in. (41.3 cm.), 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm.) width, and 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm.) deep.

This tweed Fender Harvard 5F10 (the Princeton's big brother) looks like it has seen quite a bit of use since 1957 but still sounds fantastic. The chassis interior and tube chart have a stamped code of GB, indicating assembly in February of 1957. This amp was likely wired up by Lily (she seems to have been queen of the Harvards -- her masking tape name tag is present inside most of these) but the tag is missing from this one.

From the look of it this amp it must have worked for decades on club stages, and/or recording studios. The tweed has a lot of wear, with fraying at many joints and several worn-through corners. The control panel shows some typical corrosion and minor loss to the graphics. The handle is a high quality correct replacement. Internally it remains nicely original, with the stock original transformers and the original Jensen P10R speaker dated 5th week of 1957 with the original cone intact. Many Harvards have had these components replaced, especially when heavily used like this one.

The Harvard uses two 6V6 tubes in push/pull (this one has recent Russian Mil-Spec power tubes) with a vintage Tung-Sol 12AX7 phase inverter and Tung Sol 6AT6 input tube. The rectifier is a CBS Hy-tron 5Y3WGTA. It has had a typical recent cap job and bias, and a grounded 3-prong cord added to carry it through the 21st century!

With its fixed bias circuit only shared at the time by its nearly identical sibling, the Tweed Vibrolux, The Harvard has more clean headroom than most Tweed Deluxes and a roaring and distinctive breakup. The Harvard is remembered as the "Steve Cropper Classic"; it remains one of Fender's less well-known gems and a shop favorite. Very Good + Condition.