White Tube Amplifier, made by Fender (1956)
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White Model Tube Amplifier, made by Fender (1956), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 9062, 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!
This is a very early example, with a tube chart dating assembly to March 1956. 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 and tears around the edges and corners, mostly on the top edge of the rear panel and some on the bottom front corners. The unique blue grill cloth is taut and overall in excellent shape with only one VERY small tear towards the center-left of the speaker. The original blue leather handle is also present. It shows some wear but still looks to have plenty of life left in it! The control plate is very clean with only minor signs of wear and practically all the stenciled graphics are nicely intact.
Electrically, the amplifier is mostly original. The tube chart bears the stamp FC, indicating assembly in March of 1956. The speaker is a 8" Jensen C8R, bearing the marking 220-519, dating it to the 19th week of 1965, almost exactly a decade later. The speaker appears to still retain its original cone, which tests great. There is a very small patched repair on the bottom middle of the cone. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp; the power transformer is a NYT 5396 and the output is a Triad 50265. The pots are dates to the 41st and 47th week of 1955. 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! We also have the matching steel guitar available to complete the set! 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!
This is a very early example, with a tube chart dating assembly to March 1956. 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 and tears around the edges and corners, mostly on the top edge of the rear panel and some on the bottom front corners. The unique blue grill cloth is taut and overall in excellent shape with only one VERY small tear towards the center-left of the speaker. The original blue leather handle is also present. It shows some wear but still looks to have plenty of life left in it! The control plate is very clean with only minor signs of wear and practically all the stenciled graphics are nicely intact.
Electrically, the amplifier is mostly original. The tube chart bears the stamp FC, indicating assembly in March of 1956. The speaker is a 8" Jensen C8R, bearing the marking 220-519, dating it to the 19th week of 1965, almost exactly a decade later. The speaker appears to still retain its original cone, which tests great. There is a very small patched repair on the bottom middle of the cone. Both the power and output transformers are original to the amp; the power transformer is a NYT 5396 and the output is a Triad 50265. The pots are dates to the 41st and 47th week of 1955. 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! We also have the matching steel guitar available to complete the set! Overall Excellent Condition.