White Tube Amplifier, made by Fender (1958)
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Item # 10742
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White Model Tube Amplifier, made by Fender (1958), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 9099, grey speckled fabric covering finish.
This great-sounding and rather rare little White-brand amp is one of the most obscure Fender products of the 1950s and early '60s. They were named for Fender factory manager Forrest White and intended as a secondary product line to sell to teaching studios. This was still a big market for Fender products at the time, especially for student grade guitars and amps. So as not to undercut franchised Fender dealers in the same town, a special studio-only line (consisting of one steel guitar and amp model) was offered wholesale to these studios only. The story goes that Forrest White was not even aware that Leo had named this line for him until the nameplates arrived at the factory!
The White amp is generally similar to the period tweed Princeton 5F2-A, with a tone and volume control and the classic single ended 6V6 circuit found in both Champs and Princetons at the time. It carries a single 8" speaker and has enough difference in cabinet geometry to give it a unique tonal character of its own. It is a fantastic sounding amp that starts out crisp and quickly slides into growly overdrive. Obscure for decades, these amps have lately become a much sought-after Fender rarity.
Height is 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) width, and 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm.) deep.
Externally, this little amp is very nicely preserved. There is only minor wear to the "frogskin" covering, mostly a few very small scuffs around the edges and corners. The unique blue grill cloth is in great shape with no notable tears or fraying. The original blue leather handle is also present. It shows some wear but still looks to have some life left in it! The control plate has some spots of rust but overall the stenciled graphics are nicely intact. The only major cosmetic change is the back panel is a reproduction, which has been covered and tinted to match the unique (and impossible to find) covering on the rest of the amp as closely as possible.
Electrically, the amplifier is nicely original. This particular amp is an early example wired up in 1958 by Lupe; her masking-tape name tag still present on the chassis pan. The speaker is the original 8" Oxford 8EV-29, bearing the making 465-842, dating it to the 42nd week of 1958. It has been professionally reconed and sounds great. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp; the power transformer is a NYT 5396and the output is a Triad 50265. Both pots date to the 45th week of 1956, stamped 304-645. The amp has seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors and any significantly out-of-spec or worn-out components, a new 3-prong grounded power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power section biased to spec.
The White "Higher Fidelity" Model 80 is a fascinating and mostly forgotten part of the Fender story-amaze your friends with one of the coolest and most offbeat amps of the era that most players have never seen or heard before! Overall Excellent - Condition.
This great-sounding and rather rare little White-brand amp is one of the most obscure Fender products of the 1950s and early '60s. They were named for Fender factory manager Forrest White and intended as a secondary product line to sell to teaching studios. This was still a big market for Fender products at the time, especially for student grade guitars and amps. So as not to undercut franchised Fender dealers in the same town, a special studio-only line (consisting of one steel guitar and amp model) was offered wholesale to these studios only. The story goes that Forrest White was not even aware that Leo had named this line for him until the nameplates arrived at the factory!
The White amp is generally similar to the period tweed Princeton 5F2-A, with a tone and volume control and the classic single ended 6V6 circuit found in both Champs and Princetons at the time. It carries a single 8" speaker and has enough difference in cabinet geometry to give it a unique tonal character of its own. It is a fantastic sounding amp that starts out crisp and quickly slides into growly overdrive. Obscure for decades, these amps have lately become a much sought-after Fender rarity.
Height is 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) width, and 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm.) deep.
Externally, this little amp is very nicely preserved. There is only minor wear to the "frogskin" covering, mostly a few very small scuffs around the edges and corners. The unique blue grill cloth is in great shape with no notable tears or fraying. The original blue leather handle is also present. It shows some wear but still looks to have some life left in it! The control plate has some spots of rust but overall the stenciled graphics are nicely intact. The only major cosmetic change is the back panel is a reproduction, which has been covered and tinted to match the unique (and impossible to find) covering on the rest of the amp as closely as possible.
Electrically, the amplifier is nicely original. This particular amp is an early example wired up in 1958 by Lupe; her masking-tape name tag still present on the chassis pan. The speaker is the original 8" Oxford 8EV-29, bearing the making 465-842, dating it to the 42nd week of 1958. It has been professionally reconed and sounds great. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp; the power transformer is a NYT 5396and the output is a Triad 50265. Both pots date to the 45th week of 1956, stamped 304-645. The amp has seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors and any significantly out-of-spec or worn-out components, a new 3-prong grounded power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and power section biased to spec.
The White "Higher Fidelity" Model 80 is a fascinating and mostly forgotten part of the Fender story-amaze your friends with one of the coolest and most offbeat amps of the era that most players have never seen or heard before! Overall Excellent - Condition.