Fender 5E5 Pro-Amp Tube Amplifier (1955)
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Item # 11121
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Fender 5E5 Pro-Amp Model Tube Amplifier (1955), made in Fullerton, California, serial # S00123, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a truly excellent example of a very early production narrow-panel "Pro-Amp". The single 15" Pro had been the flagship design since the very humble beginnings of Fender, and the most powerful of the holy trinity of the "Woodies" of the late 40s. It was soon sharing the single 15" professional tier with both the earlier Bassman and Bandmaster versions. By the mid-1950's it was only recently supplanted at the top of the Fender line by the newly introduced "Twin-Amp".
The Pro with its single 15" Jensen speaker was still a formidable piece of work putting out plenty of volume and a deep growl with both steel and standard guitar. At $264.50 retail it was priced just above the 2x10" Super and the new 3x10" Bandmaster models. The Pro has for many decades been a beloved choice by many steel players and only in recent history re-discovered by the guitar community as one of the best kept Tweed secrets.
Like it's smaller siblings, the 5E3 Deluxe and 5E9 Tremolux, the 5E5 Pro features four input jacks and two channels, labeled instrument and mic, a volume control for each channel and a master tone control. With its beefed up dual-6L6 power section and bigger cabinet, putting out around 25-30 watts of power into the powerful single Jensen P15N speaker, it can be thought of as a Tweed Deluxe on steroids!
Height is 20 in. (50.8 cm.), 22 1/8 in. (56.2 cm.) width, and 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall. The tube chart bears the stamp "EE" indicating assembly in May, 1955. This amp was wired up by Lupe; her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis. According to serial number records, Fender only made around 700 5E5 Pro models that year, and the new serial numbers starting at S00100, this is likely one of the first 25 or so ever made of this new narrow panel rendition!
Externally the tweed bears an attractive medium-dark patina, and overall in very good shape, showing its scruff at the lower corners and upper sides, as well as the middle of the upper rear panel, where it has frayed a bit and shows more significant wear. The grille cloth shows some light staining in the lower right corner, but otherwise is nicely intact with no notable tearing. The handle is the closest and highest quality reproduction of this era handles we're able to find. The original handle is included with the amp, being at the end of it's lifespan (this is a heavy amp...the original leather handle is nearly always long gone!). The chrome control plate is impressively clean and all the stenciled graphics and lettering nicely intact.
Electrically, this Pro is all original. The original Jensen P15N speaker bears the code 220-506, dating it to the 6th week of 1955. The speaker still retains its original cone and sounds phenomenal. The amp also retains the original Triad-made power and output transformers, bearing the codes 7926 and 1846, respectively. The power switch and fuse holders have been replaced. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all pots, sockets and jacks and biased to spec. We're also now installing inrush current limiter in amps from this era to provide a 'soft start', preserving the power transformer and lower the input voltage slightly closer to what these amps were designed for.
The Pro's deep and lush tone is unlike any other amp from this period, and shades into a massive roar when pushed into overdrive. This amp sounds truly great and in this era of small tweeds is quite an inspiration to play through! Excellent - Condition.
This is a truly excellent example of a very early production narrow-panel "Pro-Amp". The single 15" Pro had been the flagship design since the very humble beginnings of Fender, and the most powerful of the holy trinity of the "Woodies" of the late 40s. It was soon sharing the single 15" professional tier with both the earlier Bassman and Bandmaster versions. By the mid-1950's it was only recently supplanted at the top of the Fender line by the newly introduced "Twin-Amp".
The Pro with its single 15" Jensen speaker was still a formidable piece of work putting out plenty of volume and a deep growl with both steel and standard guitar. At $264.50 retail it was priced just above the 2x10" Super and the new 3x10" Bandmaster models. The Pro has for many decades been a beloved choice by many steel players and only in recent history re-discovered by the guitar community as one of the best kept Tweed secrets.
Like it's smaller siblings, the 5E3 Deluxe and 5E9 Tremolux, the 5E5 Pro features four input jacks and two channels, labeled instrument and mic, a volume control for each channel and a master tone control. With its beefed up dual-6L6 power section and bigger cabinet, putting out around 25-30 watts of power into the powerful single Jensen P15N speaker, it can be thought of as a Tweed Deluxe on steroids!
Height is 20 in. (50.8 cm.), 22 1/8 in. (56.2 cm.) width, and 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall. The tube chart bears the stamp "EE" indicating assembly in May, 1955. This amp was wired up by Lupe; her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis. According to serial number records, Fender only made around 700 5E5 Pro models that year, and the new serial numbers starting at S00100, this is likely one of the first 25 or so ever made of this new narrow panel rendition!
Externally the tweed bears an attractive medium-dark patina, and overall in very good shape, showing its scruff at the lower corners and upper sides, as well as the middle of the upper rear panel, where it has frayed a bit and shows more significant wear. The grille cloth shows some light staining in the lower right corner, but otherwise is nicely intact with no notable tearing. The handle is the closest and highest quality reproduction of this era handles we're able to find. The original handle is included with the amp, being at the end of it's lifespan (this is a heavy amp...the original leather handle is nearly always long gone!). The chrome control plate is impressively clean and all the stenciled graphics and lettering nicely intact.
Electrically, this Pro is all original. The original Jensen P15N speaker bears the code 220-506, dating it to the 6th week of 1955. The speaker still retains its original cone and sounds phenomenal. The amp also retains the original Triad-made power and output transformers, bearing the codes 7926 and 1846, respectively. The power switch and fuse holders have been replaced. The amp has otherwise seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all pots, sockets and jacks and biased to spec. We're also now installing inrush current limiter in amps from this era to provide a 'soft start', preserving the power transformer and lower the input voltage slightly closer to what these amps were designed for.
The Pro's deep and lush tone is unlike any other amp from this period, and shades into a massive roar when pushed into overdrive. This amp sounds truly great and in this era of small tweeds is quite an inspiration to play through! Excellent - Condition.