1960 Fender Pro-Amp for sale in Wichita, Kansas

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$1,850

This amp has a date code on the tube chart of JF (June 1960) and the rare 5G5 circuit. This is the short-lived, 5 preamp-tube circuit that immediately followed the late, narrow-panel tweed version and preceded the darker, chocolate brown tolex one. While these other designs were in production for 2-3 years each, this early brown circuit was only in production for about 10 months making it among the most short-lived and uncommon Fender production amps. It is fully functional, fab. clean tones, working vibrato (no foot pedal), heavy/sweet tone when driven.

As usual for this kind of barn-find there are some original and some replacement parts.

The good news is this one is not
butchered or a complete Frankenstein.

Here's what's straight-from-1960:

The grill cloth is original. It had been painted but the paint has been carefully removed. I have included a "before" pic so you can see how it looked before some work.

That is not dirt on the front - the dark areas were the original grill color showing through!

The choke is correct (606 9 43) and has the manufacturer's date code indicating 43rd week of 1959.
The PT (power transformer) is original, 67233 is the number and that is 100% correct.
The circuit board is in really fine original shape.

Collectors and tone freaks want to see those yellow ASTRON capacitors in there. They are crucial for the tone. I think it is a beautiful looking circuit.

The tube sockets have been replaced, which is not huge. The amp came with a small bag containing the originals. That is always good. A few little items replaced here and there but that is to be expected and the work looks good.

Here is the not-so-good news if you are a collector - although some of this is great news if you want to play the amp:

The output transformer is likely from a Blackface or Silverface Pro Reverb, like 1968 or so. It is a great OT, perfect for the job, just not original to the amp. You will likely not be able to find, much less buy, the original one (Triad 45217) so don't worry about that (one turned up on e-Bay this week for a cool $1000.00). A replaced OT is not the end of the world, the original TRIAD brand transformers were a weak point.

They blew up/short circuited. That's why Fender went to Schumacher the following year or so. They made a stronger OT. And this one is a Schumacher.

The speaker is not original but it is a correct Jensen P15N, date code 1959.

It has been reconed within the last few months by Weber.

The power cord had already been upgraded to 3-prong.

The top and bottom back panels are replacements. They are a different tolex, the one Fender is currently using on their reissue amps. The tolex on the cab is more tan in color, and it was only used for the first 8 months in 1960, so it is rare - and unlike the grill it has not been painted.

There were strips of the correct original tolex inside the amp in the back that were used to make patches for the sections on the front that were torn or missing (you can see the original torn sections in the "before" photo).

So... there are only three things I had done:

1. cleaned the grill
2. got the right speaker in there
3. repaired the tolex

SPECIAL thanks to Prof. Paul L. in H'burg for the forensic work and restoration work on this one!

Call

or email. Local sales only, cash only, all sales final.


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