1965 Fender Tremolux Blackface Amp

Background:

This is a beautiful and very original 1965 Fender Blackface Tremolux.I found this amp online at Chicago Music Exchange and jumped on it immediately paying full price on Dec 7, 2023.

The amp and cabinet are original where desired – speakers, circuit, transformers, faceplate, cabinet, grillcloth, hardware – and refreshed where necessary – electrolytic capacitors, tubes (with NOS replacements), 3 prong power cord.

This amp is a full package including ATA road cases and replacement speakers.

I’m offering it because I am between jobs at the moment and I would be glad for another fan to pick up this wonderful amp and for me to backfill it with something more reasonably priced.

Included:

1.       Tremolux amp.

2.       Tremolux 2x10” cabinet.

3.       New 2x10” Weber Alnico Silver Ten speakers (not installed).

4.       Everlasting ATA road cases for amp and cabinet.

5.       Speaker cable.

6.       Full amp service completed Apr 2024.

7.       Chicago Music Exchange certificate, hang tag, and amp candy.

8.       Replaced parts from amp service.

9.       Free Shipping.

10.   NOTE:  No original tremolo footswitch, no original “lamp cord” speaker cable.

Sound:

This amp sounds like a standard Blackface Tremolux.  Lower volumes give a clean tone with a nice sparkle in the treble (compared to Tweeds without sparkle, and Silverfaces compressed with extra sparkle), naturally scooped, and tight bass response.  Higher volumes add some overdrive, but it is not my favorite sound from this amp – I would suggest a pedal for breakup.  The 30 watts can produce moderate volumes – perfect for small clubs and living rooms.  I never crank this amp as I want the speakers to remain healthy and  intact.  It has never left my bedroom/living room.

I am currently using it as the “back end” amplifier with a Line6 Helix as the “front end”.  Fron the Helix, I use the various amp models with no speaker cab selected – the Tremolux amp and speakers are the “speaker cab”.  I am using the Normal channel, High input, Volume = 3, Treble = 2.5, and Bass = 6 with the Left/Mono output, Helix Volume = 5 or less. 

I know this might be hard to believe, but this amp sounds GREAT as the following amps:  Marshall Plexi, Marshall JCM800 (2204, 2203), Fender Silverface Princeton/Super Reverb, Fender Tweed Champ/ Deluxe/Bassman, Vox AC30/AC15, Gibson EH150, Mesa Dual Rectifier/Lonestar, Dr. Z Route 66, Dumble, EVH 5150.  Of course, all the effects from the Helix – reverb, echo, chorus, flanger, synth, wah - sound great too.

I have used various amps as the “back end” to the Helix – but this Blackface Tremolux is THE BEST so far. 

For example, others I tried on the back end include the Marshall 2558 Silver Jubilee (very good), Fender Prosonic (excellent, especially Class A mode), Roland JC40 (excellent for the stereo effects, BUT  for amp models, poor, sounded harsh, even swapped speakers, not the issue), and 1962 Tremolux Blonde (poor, harsh and brittle).  The Blackface Tremolux is THE BEST so far.  There is a sponginess and 3 dimensionality to the models that I believe the tubes/circuit brings out.  Also, the closed speaker cab gives nice tight bass. 

I used to be skeptical about amps having a large impact on sound, but after hearing the difference with guitar amps and even my home stereo (McIntosh MC205 amp amazing, McIntosh MI347 terrible), I can hear the differences clearly.

Service History:

I ran the amp for a while “as is”, but the old electrolytics were giving some snap/crackle/pops.  Then my amazing local vintage amp tech Trevor at Arcane Amplification did his usual thorough job going thru the amp.  He saw how original and clean the amp was and agreed insert the new electrolytics into the original orange paper sleeves maintaining a lot of the circuit’s original appearance.  (See pics.)

I made a second trip to Trevor after some noise returned – due to a tube going bad – and he kindly retubed the amp with a matched set of vintage Fender 6L6GC tubes and an RCA rectifier.  The vintage pre-amp tubes were maintained – a combination of Mullard, RCA, GE, and one marked “U.S.A. 7025”.

I can totally hear Gimme Shelter/The Rolling Stones sound with this amp – links to YouTube sound samples below.

Changes from stock include:  1) new little round washers were added underneath the screws on the back of the speaker cabinet.  2)  A 3-prong cord was installed and the death cap was removed.  3)  Electrolytic capacitors were replaced by Arcane Amplification and inserted in the original orange paper wrappers – the replaced components will be included.

Original Components:

Look at these original components as exemplars of the excellent condition in which this amp has been kept:

·Tube Chart: very good condition with a little peeling at the top, all ink imprints perfect.

·Preamp Tube Shields:  very good condition, original ELCO, some aluminum surface corrosion.

·Circuit board material:  very good condition, mostly straight and flat.

·Amp chassis: very good condition, some aluminum surface corrosion.

·Grill Cloth (head + cab):  excellent condition with no holes, no snags, no marks, matching patinas on both.

·Tolex:  very good condition, 2 x tiny holes on speaker cabinet bottom edge (1 x front, 1 x rear, see pics), some small seam separation on unprotected top 4 corners of the amp cabinet, some slight seam separation on top of speaker cabinet next to the amp screw down screws.

·Speakers: excellent original condition.

·Front Faceplate: excellent condition, virtually unmarked with some slight corrosion on input jacks, and switch screws, almost perfect white labels/stenciling.

·Control Knobs: excellent condition, original with patina.

·Tilt back legs: very good condition, original Pat Pend with some scratches, corrosion, and patina.

Additional Items:

·2 x 10” Weber Alnico Silver Ten speakers:  new from Feb 2024.

o   Item Code:  Slvr10A-8-30w.

o   Description:  10”, 11oz AlNiCo plug magnet, 30 watts, 8 ohm, 1-1/4” voice coil, ribbed cone.Warm, smooth, great compressed overdrive tone with smooth distortion edges.  Later/smooth breakup, compressed at high volume.  Pre-Rola treatment to speaker.

o   Weight: 5.35 lbs, Diameter: 10.19, Depth: 4.75” no cover, 5.375” with cover, Cutout size: 8.75″

o   Not installed – in original shipping boxes.

·Everlasting Road Cases for amp and speaker cabinet.

o   Amp:  black ¼” material – 8 upgraded corner braces – 2 latches - 1 handles – 8 corner balls – 1” foam interior – 4 – ¾” rubber feet.

o   Cab:  black ¼” material – 8 upgraded corner braces – 4 latches - 3 handles – 8 corner balls – 1” foam interior – 4 casters all locking 3 1/8”.

o   As new condition.

Serial Numbers: 

Amp:  A 05002 (1965)

Tube Chart:  AB763, Production #2, OI (1965-Sep)

Choke:  125C3A/606-5-13 (Schumacher-1965-13th week)

Output Transformer:  125A6A/606-532 (Schumacher-1965-32nd week)

Power Transformer:  125P26A/606-436 (Schumacher-1964-36th week)

Left Speaker:  10L5-1/465-447 (Oxford-1964-47th week)

Right Speaker:  10L5-1/465-426 (Oxford-1964-26th week)

Links:

Video “1964 Fender Tremolux” from lwvintage guitars:  youtu.be/J-wXbkHUivM?si=UX9Yjkkgr1sLExAF

Video “"Pick of the Day" - 1951 Fender Nocaster and 1964 Tremolux Amp” from Emerald City Guitars:  youtu.be/VKvgBctGvUI?si=-Oyg9T5hARo5Uv4E&t=151

Video “On The Bench - The 1964 Fender Tremolux Amplifier” from Granville Guitars:  youtu.be/v0tyg_NHMXY?si=8Aej3fGEFNSmFrs7

Link to Ampwares:  ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-blackface-tremolux

Link to Vintage Fender Amp Repair, Fender Date Codes:  vintagefenderamprepair.com/blogs/information/fender-date-codes

Link to Schematic Heaven:  schematicheaven.net/fenderamps/tremolux_ab763_schem.pdf

Link to Weber Speakers, Speaker Codes & Applications:  tedweber.com/speaker-codes-application

Link to Chicago Music Exchange:  chicagomusicexchange.com

Link to Arcane Amplification:  arcaneamplification.com

Link to Weber Speakers, Alnico Silver Ten:  tedweber.com/slvr10a

Link to Everlasting Road Cases:  everlastingroadcases.com

Manufacturer Specs:

Front Faceplate: Normal Channel: 2 inputs, Volume, Treble, Bass; Vibrato Channel: 2 inputs, Volume, Treble, Bass, Speed, Intensity

Rear Faceplate:  2 prong AC outlet, Ground switch (not connected), Fuse (2 amp), On switch, Standby switch, Speaker jack (4 ohm), External Speaker jack, Vibrato Pedal jack (RCA connector)

Head Dimensions and Weight: 8” x 23” x 8 8½”, 26 lbs

Effects: Vibrato with Speed and Intensity adjustments

Watts: 30-35 watts

Pre-amp Tubes: 2 x 7025, 1 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AT7

Power-amp Tubes: 2 x 6L6GC

Rectifier Tube: GZ34

Bias: Adjustable Bias

Cabinet Dimensions and Weight: 17 ½ x 28 x 11 ½, 34 lbs

Tolex: Black

Grillcloth: Black/White/Silver

Logo: Grill mounted, raised, chrome & black, script

Speakers:  2 x 10” Oxford 10L5

Terms:

Free shipping in the Continental US.

Shipping provided for other locations – Canada only - unless you contact me first and we agree on shipping costs.

Free hand delivery within 2 hours of Portland, OR – I will drive to meet you with the item.

Packing will be provided by The UPS Store/FedEx to ensure full insurance value coverage.

Shipping is insured for full value – if any damage, photograph and report immediately to the carrier.

I am offering Reverb’s standard returns policy – any flaws are described in the listing, I will do my utmost to ensure you are satisfied, feel free to contact me after receipt of item with any questions/comments.