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1965 Fender Bassman Black Panel AA165 Pre-CBS Vintage Tube Amp Head & 2x12 Cab w/ Oxford 12T6, FEIC
1965 Fender Bassman Black Panel AA165 Pre-CBS Vintage Tube Amp Head & 2x12 Cab w/ Oxford 12T6, FEIC
Up for sale, a 1965 Fender Bassman head and matching 2x12 cab in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A very early Black Panel Bassman with the Pre-CBS "Fender Electric Instrument Company" text on the faceplate, this amp features a freshly serviced circuit and original Oxford 12T6 speakers.
Arguably the circuit available for the briefest period of time in the Black Panel era, the AA165 circuit designation is seen on many tube charts (Leo Fender was never one to waste anything), but under the hood, the actual AA165 circuit was only seen for a few months in 1965 before transitioning to the AB165 that would be seen through 1968. This tube chart actually notes the preceding AA864 circuit (!), yet the circuitry is definitively AA165.
For clarity, warmth, and headroom, this Bassman excels at delivering sweet and articulate Fender clean tones. 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 effect pedals and is ready for stage and studio use.
The circuit is very original, the blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are present, with visible date codes from the 44th week of '64. The Schumacher-made transformers date between the 25th and 45th weeks of 1964. The filter caps are modern high quality Sprague Atoms, and the smaller electrolytic caps in the preamp and on the bias board have also been replaced with modern components. A modern three-prong power cable has been installed.
The "Production Run #2" tube chart is intact, and the "OB" date stamp translates to February of 1965. As previously noted, while the tube chart notes the earlier AA864 circuit, the amp is an AA165. The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of black frame Oxford 12T6s. These speakers are detailed, clear, and quite punchy, overdriving with very rich and balanced overtones.
This Bassman retains its original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth. All of the hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and raised Fender logos (head logo is a modern replacement). The original faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs.
Arguably the circuit available for the briefest period of time in the Black Panel era, the AA165 circuit designation is seen on many tube charts (Leo Fender was never one to waste anything), but under the hood, the actual AA165 circuit was only seen for a few months in 1965 before transitioning to the AB165 that would be seen through 1968. This tube chart actually notes the preceding AA864 circuit (!), yet the circuitry is definitively AA165.
For clarity, warmth, and headroom, this Bassman excels at delivering sweet and articulate Fender clean tones. 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 effect pedals and is ready for stage and studio use.
The circuit is very original, the blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are present, with visible date codes from the 44th week of '64. The Schumacher-made transformers date between the 25th and 45th weeks of 1964. The filter caps are modern high quality Sprague Atoms, and the smaller electrolytic caps in the preamp and on the bias board have also been replaced with modern components. A modern three-prong power cable has been installed.
The "Production Run #2" tube chart is intact, and the "OB" date stamp translates to February of 1965. As previously noted, while the tube chart notes the earlier AA864 circuit, the amp is an AA165. The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of black frame Oxford 12T6s. These speakers are detailed, clear, and quite punchy, overdriving with very rich and balanced overtones.
This Bassman retains its original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth. All of the hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and raised Fender logos (head logo is a modern replacement). The original faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs.
$1,365.00
Original: $3,899.99
-65%1965 Fender Bassman Black Panel AA165 Pre-CBS Vintage Tube Amp Head & 2x12 Cab w/ Oxford 12T6, FEIC—
$3,899.99
$1,365.00
Description
Up for sale, a 1965 Fender Bassman head and matching 2x12 cab in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A very early Black Panel Bassman with the Pre-CBS "Fender Electric Instrument Company" text on the faceplate, this amp features a freshly serviced circuit and original Oxford 12T6 speakers.
Arguably the circuit available for the briefest period of time in the Black Panel era, the AA165 circuit designation is seen on many tube charts (Leo Fender was never one to waste anything), but under the hood, the actual AA165 circuit was only seen for a few months in 1965 before transitioning to the AB165 that would be seen through 1968. This tube chart actually notes the preceding AA864 circuit (!), yet the circuitry is definitively AA165.
For clarity, warmth, and headroom, this Bassman excels at delivering sweet and articulate Fender clean tones. 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 effect pedals and is ready for stage and studio use.
The circuit is very original, the blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are present, with visible date codes from the 44th week of '64. The Schumacher-made transformers date between the 25th and 45th weeks of 1964. The filter caps are modern high quality Sprague Atoms, and the smaller electrolytic caps in the preamp and on the bias board have also been replaced with modern components. A modern three-prong power cable has been installed.
The "Production Run #2" tube chart is intact, and the "OB" date stamp translates to February of 1965. As previously noted, while the tube chart notes the earlier AA864 circuit, the amp is an AA165. The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of black frame Oxford 12T6s. These speakers are detailed, clear, and quite punchy, overdriving with very rich and balanced overtones.
This Bassman retains its original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth. All of the hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and raised Fender logos (head logo is a modern replacement). The original faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs.
Arguably the circuit available for the briefest period of time in the Black Panel era, the AA165 circuit designation is seen on many tube charts (Leo Fender was never one to waste anything), but under the hood, the actual AA165 circuit was only seen for a few months in 1965 before transitioning to the AB165 that would be seen through 1968. This tube chart actually notes the preceding AA864 circuit (!), yet the circuitry is definitively AA165.
For clarity, warmth, and headroom, this Bassman excels at delivering sweet and articulate Fender clean tones. 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 effect pedals and is ready for stage and studio use.
The circuit is very original, the blue molded Ajax caps are intact in the preamp (an essential part of the Black Panel sound), and all of the original CTS and Stackpole pots are present, with visible date codes from the 44th week of '64. The Schumacher-made transformers date between the 25th and 45th weeks of 1964. The filter caps are modern high quality Sprague Atoms, and the smaller electrolytic caps in the preamp and on the bias board have also been replaced with modern components. A modern three-prong power cable has been installed.
The "Production Run #2" tube chart is intact, and the "OB" date stamp translates to February of 1965. As previously noted, while the tube chart notes the earlier AA864 circuit, the amp is an AA165. The speaker cab is loaded with the original pair of black frame Oxford 12T6s. These speakers are detailed, clear, and quite punchy, overdriving with very rich and balanced overtones.
This Bassman retains its original smooth black tolex and silver sparkle grillcloth. All of the hardware is present, including the tilt-back chrome legs, nickel corners, handles, sphinx glides (feet), and raised Fender logos (head logo is a modern replacement). The original faceplate is complete with original witch hat knobs.
