Fender Pro-Amp 5C5 Tube Amplifier (1953)
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Fender Pro-Amp 5C5 Model Tube Amplifier (1953), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 4675, tweed fabric covering finish.
This is a truly excellent example of a very early wide-panel Fender "Pro-Amp", one of the most powerful amplifiers of the early 1950s. The single 15" Pro had been the flagship design since the very humble beginnings of Fender, the most powerful of the holy trinity of the "Woodies" of the late 40s. It was soon sharing the single 15" professional tier with the earlier Bassman and Bandmaster models. By the mid-1950's it was finally supplanted at the top of the Fender line by the newly introduced "Twin-Amp".
The Pro with its single 15" Jensen speaker was a formidable piece of work for the time putting out plenty of volume and a deep growl with both steel and standard guitar. The model has been a beloved choice of many steel players for decades but only fairly recently re-discovered by the "regular" guitar community as one of the best kept Tweed secrets.
Like it's smaller sibling, the Deluxe, the 5C5 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! It offers a warm, deep and powerful sound but still retaining the top end definition characteristic of Leo Fender's creations.
Height is 20 1/4 in. (51.4 cm.), 22 in. (55.9 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall, especially for being over 70 years old. The tube chart bears the code CJ, indicating assembly in October 1953. According to available information, Fender only made just over a thousand 5C5 Pro models that year. This amp was wired up by Julia and her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis.
Cosmetically the tweed covering is in nice shape, still bearing a lighter patina and showing moderate wear along with some light signs of staining towards the bottom edge of the cabinet. The chrome control plate is nicely clean showing only minor wear and retaining practically all of the stenciled graphics. The grille cloth is nicely taut with no notable punctures or tears, showing only some discoloration and staining around the edges. The handle is a high quality reproduction; this is a heavy amp, so the original leather handle is nearly always long gone! The cabinet also appears to have had protective metal strips added to the front lower edges at some point in its lifetime, likely long ago!
Electrically, this Pro is all original. The original Jensen P15N speaker bears the code 220-340, dating it to the 40th week of 1953. Both the Triad-made power and output transformers are original, bearing the codes 6516 and 1846, respectively. Visible pot codes all date to the 8th week of 1953. 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.
The Pro's deep, 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! Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a truly excellent example of a very early wide-panel Fender "Pro-Amp", one of the most powerful amplifiers of the early 1950s. The single 15" Pro had been the flagship design since the very humble beginnings of Fender, the most powerful of the holy trinity of the "Woodies" of the late 40s. It was soon sharing the single 15" professional tier with the earlier Bassman and Bandmaster models. By the mid-1950's it was finally supplanted at the top of the Fender line by the newly introduced "Twin-Amp".
The Pro with its single 15" Jensen speaker was a formidable piece of work for the time putting out plenty of volume and a deep growl with both steel and standard guitar. The model has been a beloved choice of many steel players for decades but only fairly recently re-discovered by the "regular" guitar community as one of the best kept Tweed secrets.
Like it's smaller sibling, the Deluxe, the 5C5 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! It offers a warm, deep and powerful sound but still retaining the top end definition characteristic of Leo Fender's creations.
Height is 20 1/4 in. (51.4 cm.), 22 in. (55.9 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) deep.
This is a very nicely preserved example overall, especially for being over 70 years old. The tube chart bears the code CJ, indicating assembly in October 1953. According to available information, Fender only made just over a thousand 5C5 Pro models that year. This amp was wired up by Julia and her signature is still intact on the masking tape tag inside the chassis.
Cosmetically the tweed covering is in nice shape, still bearing a lighter patina and showing moderate wear along with some light signs of staining towards the bottom edge of the cabinet. The chrome control plate is nicely clean showing only minor wear and retaining practically all of the stenciled graphics. The grille cloth is nicely taut with no notable punctures or tears, showing only some discoloration and staining around the edges. The handle is a high quality reproduction; this is a heavy amp, so the original leather handle is nearly always long gone! The cabinet also appears to have had protective metal strips added to the front lower edges at some point in its lifetime, likely long ago!
Electrically, this Pro is all original. The original Jensen P15N speaker bears the code 220-340, dating it to the 40th week of 1953. Both the Triad-made power and output transformers are original, bearing the codes 6516 and 1846, respectively. Visible pot codes all date to the 8th week of 1953. 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.
The Pro's deep, 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! Overall Excellent - Condition.