1964 Fender Bassman Black Panel Piggyback Vintage Tube Amp Pre-CBS AA864 Circuit
$3,599.99
$3,599.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1964 Fender Bassman head and matching 2x12 speaker cab. This vintage Pre-CBS Black Panel Fender amp features the AA864 circuit, the earliest and most coveted circuit used throughout the Black Panel era. For clarity, warmth, and headroom, this Bassman excels at delivering sweet and articulate Fender clean tones. Once you reach about 5 on the volume dial, the circuit starts to overdrive smoothly and compress a bit, for a raw, thick sound that's perfect for guitar or bass. It's a simple and pure vintage Fender "piggyback" head and cab setup that provides a perfect platform for effects pedals, and is ready for stage and studio use. The Bass channel has also been discreetly re-voiced by THD's founder, Andy Marshall for a Marshall Plexi-style response.
It's worth noting that with Black Panel Bassmans, three distinct circuits were used, and more often than not the circuit noted on the tube chart isn't the same as what's "under the hood," yet with this particular Bassman it does indeed come as advertised and is a true AA864 model. The original blue molded Ajax capacitors in the preamp are intact, and these caps are an essential part of the sweet and musical sound of the Black Panel amps. Both the main filter caps and smaller bypass caps have been replaced to keep the amp operating within original factory spec, and high quality Sprague and F&T components were used. The stock CTS pots date to late 1964, and the stock Schumacher transformers at the heart of the amp also date to '64. On the inside of the head cabinet, the original tube chart is present with a "NK" date stamp which translates to November, 1964. The tubes consist of a pair of properly biased Tube Amp Doctor 6L6 power tubes, along with three JJ 12AX7s in the preamp and an Electro Harmonix 12AT7 phase inverter.
The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of Oxford 12T6 ceramic magnet 12" drivers, and these speakers feature mint black frames and the original wiring harness. Oxfords provide a very balanced and warm tone for Black Panel Fenders, and this pair works great, with the stock fiberglass sound dampening sheets inside the cab as well. The speakers date slightly later than the head, with stamps from the 11th week of '65.
Cosmetically, this Bassman retains the original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth on both the head and speaker cabinet. The grillcloth is uniformly aged on the head and cab, and the cab in particular has its fair share of scuffs. The back panel on the head is a modern replacement. All of the original hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and Fender logos. The faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs and retains the "Fender Electric Instrument Co." text indicative of a Pre-CBS Fender amp.
It's worth noting that with Black Panel Bassmans, three distinct circuits were used, and more often than not the circuit noted on the tube chart isn't the same as what's "under the hood," yet with this particular Bassman it does indeed come as advertised and is a true AA864 model. The original blue molded Ajax capacitors in the preamp are intact, and these caps are an essential part of the sweet and musical sound of the Black Panel amps. Both the main filter caps and smaller bypass caps have been replaced to keep the amp operating within original factory spec, and high quality Sprague and F&T components were used. The stock CTS pots date to late 1964, and the stock Schumacher transformers at the heart of the amp also date to '64. On the inside of the head cabinet, the original tube chart is present with a "NK" date stamp which translates to November, 1964. The tubes consist of a pair of properly biased Tube Amp Doctor 6L6 power tubes, along with three JJ 12AX7s in the preamp and an Electro Harmonix 12AT7 phase inverter.
The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of Oxford 12T6 ceramic magnet 12" drivers, and these speakers feature mint black frames and the original wiring harness. Oxfords provide a very balanced and warm tone for Black Panel Fenders, and this pair works great, with the stock fiberglass sound dampening sheets inside the cab as well. The speakers date slightly later than the head, with stamps from the 11th week of '65.
Cosmetically, this Bassman retains the original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth on both the head and speaker cabinet. The grillcloth is uniformly aged on the head and cab, and the cab in particular has its fair share of scuffs. The back panel on the head is a modern replacement. All of the original hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and Fender logos. The faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs and retains the "Fender Electric Instrument Co." text indicative of a Pre-CBS Fender amp.
