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Topic: Old Fender Bandmaster, 50's |
Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 17 May 2006 4:57 pm |
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| Can any of you electronic gurus explain to me (as I am Electronically challenged) What the ohms were on the old Bandmaster with 3 ten inch speakers and how the ohms were achieved? maybe it's just nostalgia but I thought they had a great tone for a minimally powered amplifier. (BUT as a disclaimer, I haven't heard one in Years ) |
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Jerry Erickson
From:
Atlanta,IL 61723
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Posted 17 May 2006 5:41 pm
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Hi Jim, I've got a brown, center volume Bandmaster and measuring the speaker load on my Fluke meter says 2.3 ohms. The speakers are wired in parallel. Here's a link to a picture. I've been playing it out once or twice a month as of late. It is a nice sounding amp!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y37/annjerry/DSCN1105.jpg |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 17 May 2006 8:01 pm
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Yes - 2.3 Ohms is about correct.
If you have 3 8-Ohm speakers wired in parallel, the impedance is 8/3 or about 2.67 Ohms. But the DC resistance of most "nominal" 8-Ohm speakers is a little lower than 8 Ohms - more like 7 Ohms - which is why you read 2.3 Ohms on your Ohmeter. The complex impedance includes capacitive and inductive impedance, which vary with frequency.
Those tweed and brown bandmasters are great amps. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 18 May 2006 3:23 am
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Lately, a lot of speaker manufacturers have been publishing impedance curves on speakers. Looking at them gives a new understanding of what the impedance actually is, versus what the manufacturer says it is. Suffice it to say that an 8-ohm impedance speaker is only has 8 ohms impedance at one or two specific frequencies. At all other frequencies, the impedance is usually higher.... I've seen impedance curves where an 8 ohm speaker actually varies from 7 to 55 ohms! Clearly, the impedance curve is a most significant factor in the voicing of a speaker, and claims about how much power is lost when there is an impedance mismatch are often highly exaggerated. For instance, using an 8-ohm speaker in place of a 4-ohm might not yeild any noticeable volume loss, depending on the efficiency and desired voicing of the speaker. The only impedance factor that's really important is the minmum amp loading, (i.e., if the manufacturer says "4-ohms minimum", then you shouldn't use a speaker or speaker combination that's lower than that).
All other talks about impedance are pretty much overidden by the actual sound of the speaker in use. This is why some players use an 8-ohm speaker on an amp designed for 4 ohms. They get a better sound, and they realize that the sound is what's really important, not some theoretical impedance statistic.
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 18 May 2006 5:15 am
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Jim,
You're welcome to drop by and "plug in" for a
trip down memory lane!
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 18 May 2006 10:38 am
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| Jay, thanks for the pic. That looks just like the one I had in 1961 in Hawaii. Does it still have that sweet tone? I remember you could sure get the authentic Mooney sound through one of these. BTW does anyone know the RMS wattage of these amps? |
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Mark Metdker
From:
North Central Texas, USA
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Posted 18 May 2006 12:15 pm
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Jay, I'll give you a couple hundred for that old thing! 
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 18 May 2006 1:32 pm
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I remember in 1964 that same model Fender was what the lead vocalist in my band used for a PA. My have things changed.
Last one I had came from a flea market for $50. Sold it and wish I had it back. |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 18 May 2006 2:01 pm
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Jim.
I think it's about 35-40 watts RMS. I have
TUNG-SOL 5881 outputs tubes in it along with Mullard preamp tubes. Original cones on the
old Jensen speakers, all dated from '56.
Mark,
I'd feel guilty taking that much for it! |
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Doyle Weigold
From:
CColumbia City, IN, USA
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Posted 18 May 2006 6:55 pm
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| Man, you talk about memory lane. That looks a lot like a Fender Bassman amp I bought at South Street Sales in Phelidelphia in 1959. 4-10's Yeh, I wish I had it back too, Doyle |
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