Fender Blackface Showman 1966

Fender Blackface Showman Amp 1966
Serial No. A 07899

This is my second '66 Fender Blackface Showman. This also has a multi-voltage Transformer.

Fender Dual Showman 1966

Fender Dual Showman 1966
Serial No. A 07787

The Fender Dual Showman has a 4-ohms Output Transformer impedance vs. an 8-ohms Output Transformer impedance of the Fender Showman. The only other minor difference is a resistor value in the Negative Feedback loop in these amps. The Dual Showman has a 100 ohms vs. a 47 ohms resistor value in the Showman. Aside from these, the Fender Dual Showman is identical to a Fender Showman.

The intended cab for the Dual Showman features two 15", 8-ohms speakers connected in parallel in one cabinet. Hence the 'Dual' designation.

Fender Showman 1966

Fender Blackface Showman 1966
Serial No. A 07348






This is one of two 1966 Fender Showman amps I have. This is the first one of the two that I restored.

It still has all original transformers. The power transformer is multi-voltage which is always a plus factor in these amps.

I used Sprague Atoms for the big Filter caps in the doghouse and for the Bias power supply to ensure safe operation of the amp and to protect the transformers and tubes.

I intentionally kept the original electrolytic cathode bypass caps in the board. I wanted this amp to retain its originality as much as practicable and as safety allows. The only part in the board that was replaced was the Light Dependent Resistor (LDA). This is required for the tremolo to work.

Fender Silverface Dual Showman Reverb 1968

Fender Silverface Dual Showman Reverb 1968
Serial No. A12705

The Dual Showman Reverb Amp is the "head amp" version of the Fender Twin Reverb. It has exactly the same chassis, circuitry and parts (for contemporary models of these 2 amp) but in a more manageable size and weight package (head amp cabinet). That said, the heft of the head unit is still quite substantial, obviously due to the substantially oversized power and output transformers.

IMO, the relatively big and heavy power and output transformers together with the solid state rectifier in these amps are the main factors that contribute to the well-known fender clean tone. The power supply can take large transient/spike load hit (power chording) without or with very little sag. The big iron core in the output transformer just couldn't get saturated that easily either. Result? Fender clean tone for days!

My particular amp says "Showman Reverb Amp TFL5000D" in the faceplate instead of "Dual Showman Reverb TFL5000D". It has the transition "cloth wire" and not the irradiated Teflon "thin wires" widely used in 1968 and 1969 model Fender amps. The D in TFL5000D, means that this amp is a US Domestic model and therefore has a 110V power transformer.

It still has all its original transformers and all original capacitors. The big power filter capactors for sure will need to be replaced for safety reasons.

A Hammond choke was used to replaced the original choke which I found to be open.

The cathode bypass electrolytics were replaced with sprague atoms.

The bias supply cap was also replaced with a sprague atom.

1964 Blackface Fender Showman Amp Head

FENDER SHOWMAN BLACKFACE TUBE AMP HEAD
1964 PRE-CBS
Serial No. A01784
















This is the top-of-the-line Fender amp at the time of its production. It puts out 85 Watts of all-tube power courtesy of a quad of 6L6GC power tubes.

This particular amp has its original Power Transformer, Choke and Output Transformer.













Power Transformer: 125P134AX/606-403 (manufactured 3rd week of 1964)

The "X" designation means that the Power Transformer has multi-voltage taps for International use. This is a plus factor in the Philippines where the local power is 220V.

Choke: 125C1A/606-420 (20th week of 1964)

Output Transformer: 125A30A/606-436 (36th week of 1964)

Filter, Bypass and Bias Supply Caps: all are newly installed Sprague Atoms.

Tubes are new JJ/Tesla: 3 x 12ax7, 1 x 12at7 and 1 matched quad of 6L6GC.