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The Tremolux and the Bandmaster. They're both around the same wattage. Is the difference in features, circuitry, tone etc...

don't know ... if you're talking about the BF versions, the Tremolux came with 2x10, the Bandmaster was 2x12
a look at the circuits would probably reveal some differences

in the tweed versions, they were quite different amps, but I agree that later they were similar

check here:
from : localhost/www.ampwares.com/ffg/

Yep, the BF or blonde versions. I can't afford the tweed.

I've played tweed (combo) and blonde (head and 1x12) tremolux and a couple of blonde bandmasters.

Both tremoluxes were superb. the tweed one had that beautiful fat tweed tone and the blonde one sounded a lot like my vibrolux, only somehow 'better'.

The bandmasters I've tried have impressed me less. I'm told the tweed bandmaster is considered by some to be the holy grail fender amp, though.

The Tremoloux was the Amp that EC used on the Goodbye Cream Live tour. He played the red 335 thru it. The sound speaks for itself. The trmolux does not have reverb, which IMO is its major downfall. I am not sure what the circuit difference is, but a good buddy of mine has a 1962 all original and this thing is a tone monster espically when cranked over 5. The bandmaster by comparison is much thinner in overall tone, but still agood amp, but the tremolux IMO is just a better choice providing you can live without reverb. Another option is to add a Fender RI reverb tank, that will be an awsome Amp!!

and i was gonna say ask bludave...but he got here before me...

-Mike

bandmaster isn't too bad an amp, with a good speaker and tubes it can really sound great. I have to admit it is a bit thin, but nothing a 5751 tube in the preamp stage can't cure.

I have a '63-'64 BF/blonde transitional Tremolux with original 2x10 cab. It is the fattest sounding BF Fender I've ever heard. Besides the difference in original speaker cnfigurations (2x10 Tremo vs. 2x12 BM), the Tremolux uses a tube rectifier while the BM uses a SS rectifier. I don't much care for reverb, and I love daisy-chaining the two channels of my Tremolux -- especially cool if you run some effects in the midst of the daisy chain (like OD or echo) and blend the 2 channels to taste. The 35 watt Tremolux is a great compromise power level for me -- from clean to crunch with my Teles or Gibbys.

i double checked both schematics and for some reason the Tremolux produces fewer volts out of pin 2 of V1. Could this be because of the nature of the SS rectifier providing more voltage to the tubes?

the only other differences in the schems are 2 resistors.

Wow--thanks guys. I was thinking of picking one of these up because the twin would be just too loud and who the hell wants to spend 2k on a deluxe! I'm not quite satisfied with the Fender patches on my Vetta II. It's great for plexi, rock amp; metal IMO but I've yet to find a patch that satisfies me the way my little 65 BF champ does.

If I got the Tremolux, how do you think it would match up with a cab loaded with two V30's and two G12H30's? Would it shine or to get that awesome Fender (dare I say it) SRV type tone would I have to get a cab (2x12) with some Jensens?

Dunno exactly, but my experiences pairing fenders with v30s have all been positive. One of my fave amps is the fender CS bassbreaker, which is a bassman ri with 2 v30s. Awesome amp.

REALLY? That's very encouraging. There's a Tremolux on ebay now but it's a head with the 2x10 cab and the guy has it listed for $850 with a reserve! It's a 65, but I've got two cabs loaded with speakers already so I'd like to get just the head. I guess I'd wire my cab with a 16/4 ohm switch as long as that can be done. Who knows what the reserve is too plus another cab to store.

you cant wire a cab with an impedance switch, it's the amp's output tranny that decides the secondary impedence. If you want it to be switchable, get a mercury magnetics multitap tone clone replica of the tremolux's OT and you'd have to solder the taps that you want to use onto the speaker output jack.

The only other way you can switch quickly would be to mount a 2 way switch over the ext speaker jack that activates the proper secondary taps.


Originally Posted by 75lespaulWow--thanks guys. I was thinking of picking one of these up because the twin would be just too loud and who the hell wants to spend 2k on a deluxe! I'm not quite satisfied with the Fender patches on my Vetta II. It's great for plexi, rock amp; metal IMO but I've yet to find a patch that satisfies me the way my little 65 BF champ does.

If I got the Tremolux, how do you think it would match up with a cab loaded with two V30's and two G12H30's? Would it shine or to get that awesome Fender (dare I say it) SRV type tone would I have to get a cab (2x12) with some Jensens?

The Deluxe is one of the best all around Fender Amps. Thats why the prices on them are so high. I would certainly pay 2K for the right one

Hey, I come from the days when you could get a 64 deluxe for $200, not $2000. If I'm gonna pay 2K for an amp, I want it to be BIG--it MUST GO TO ELEVEN!!!

The Tremolux output impedance is 4 ohms, so as long as the cab is rated accordingly you should be fine and it should sound fine.

Something to remember about non reverb amps like the Bandmaster and Tremolux is that the reverb circuit adds gain and balls even when the reverb is on zero.

IMO, Bandmaster and Tremolux amps sound a little bland for that reason.

Someone else probably already mentioned this but the Tremolux uses a 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier tube and the Bandmaster uses a solid state rectifier. So the power supply is differant in the two amps and that would account for the differences in voltage on the tubes.

Lew