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Haze
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Post by Haze »

Looks like you have an early 70s model judging from the serial number.
In 1973, Fender removed the "Tail" from the logo.

But heres where it gets a bit odd:
022699 - 606 - 5 - 04, the fourth week of 1965
022871 - 606 - 4 - 01, the first week of 1964

And then this:
EIA numbers taken from the transformers may help you to determine the date of production on amps that fall between the different dating schemes. These numbers always begin with "606", and are followed by three or four digits in various combinations. If three digits are present, the first digit would refer to the year i.e. ("7" would mean 1967). If four digits are present, the first two digits refer to the year i.e. ("66" would mean 1966). The last two digits would refer to the week of the year i.e. ("26" would mean the 26th week or approximately June). An example would be: EIA 606-4-21 would mean the 21st week of 1964.
Which would date your transformer, 606-0673. The first two digits, 06, do not coincide with any particular vintage year to my knowledge. And then the last two digits, 73, obviously do not coincide with any week of the year as their are only 52 weeks in a year. Unless they're flip-flopped, the last two being the year and the first two being the week.... That'd put your amp at a '73.

Can you put up a picture of the Fender decal?
Here is the decal from a blackface bassman, note the "Tail" off of the letter 'r'
Image

Here is the decal from my '76 Bassman, note the "Tail" off of the 'r' is not present.
Image
johnnyseven
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Post by johnnyseven »

I don't have pictures of the decal but I can tell you that it is one without a tail on the logo. The amp is actually one of the ones that I posted a link to the ebay auction in another Bassman related topic I posted - http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35451 - I can't access ebay at work but from memory I think it is the 3rd of the 3 listings that I posted links for, there are pictures on the ebay listing - assuming you can still look at it that is.

Thanks for the help so far, I was kind of assuming that it was a '73 but the chassis number doesn't correlate to anything I have read on the web - however being an export model i've read that these numbers aren't always as reliable as the US models.
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Haze
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Post by Haze »

Hey, if it sounds good to you then it's a winner in my book. Have it looked at for sure, especially if you have inputs that aren't working. If anything open it up and see if it's a simple as a loose wire, maybe some gut shot pictures!
johnnyseven
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Post by johnnyseven »

I opened it up last night just so I could get the part numbers, it looked a bit dirty inside but it was all hand wired. I'm a bit reluctant to open it up again as I don't really know what i'm doing and don't really want to touch anything inside - however I could ask the amp tech to take some gut shots for me when he works on the amp, if he knows a bit about Bassmans I might see if he can identify the circuit for me too. Going to try and drop it off on thursday, I need to pick my 50 Top up off him anyway which has had new power tubes and a re-bias. i'm going away on saturday for 2 weeks so it should be ready to collect when I get back.

I sent an email to the guy who runs this website - http://www.ggjaguar.com/gggjag.htm - he's written a load of articles on dating Fender amps and asks for any info people can send, I sent him info on mine and hopefully he'll be able to enlighten me on when it was made. An interesting set of articles can be read here for anyone who is interested - http://www.superchamp.dk/papers/dating_ ... e_amps.htm
johnnyseven
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Post by johnnyseven »

Update on my Bassman.

I've had it serviced while i've been on holiday and the tech has told me that it has the AB165 circuit, he says that apparently this is the better circuit. Also from what I have read on the web and from asking people, the general concensus is that my amp is a 1975 model. Can't wait to get it home now (i'm picking it up tonight) and give it a good go!
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Boab
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Post by Boab »

johnnyseven wrote:Update on my Bassman.

I've had it serviced while i've been on holiday and the tech has told me that it has the AB165 circuit, he says that apparently this is the better circuit. Also from what I have read on the web and from asking people, the general concensus is that my amp is a 1975 model. Can't wait to get it home now (i'm picking it up tonight) and give it a good go!
Great news! This just confirms that you got a great deal!
PLEASE!!!... Tell Me About the Fuckin' Golf Shoes!