UNCOVERED: Fender 5D6-A with New Serial Number Series

[Toppscore]

New Fender 5D6 Bassman Serial Number Series Uncovered!

It's known the first three Fender production series of 5D6 and 5D6A 4x10 Bassmans
fall into three distinct groups of Fender prodution dates:
1) 1954 Fender 5D6 "DK November 4x10 Bassmans = SN#0700 to 0783
2) 1954 Fender 5D6 "DL" December 4x10 Bassmans = SN#0001 to 0089
3) 1955 Fender 5D6-A "EA" January 4x10 Bassmans = SN#0100 to 0200(+)

*** The 5D6-A Bassmans started being shipped by Fender
from January through at least March/April of 1955.


BELOW are photos of a 1955 Fender 5D6-A 4x10 Bassman's tube chart data
and the chassis metal serial number stamp:
The 1955 Tube Chart Bassman Info: 5D6-A * EC = 1955 March * Serial Number 0823
This is the very first noted known Fender Bassman amp of any model with a serial number in the 0800 series.


Does any have an idea or theory how this "newly uncovered" serial number series came to be?
Are there others?
Toppscore

[dreric]

I admire your research and it would be great to see the innards of the amp. Sorry I don't have anything to contribute to your serial number inquiry.

Eric

[Toppscore]

I admire your research and it would be great to see the innards of the amp. Eric

Sure. Simply your everyday typical 5D6A

She's been recapped with new front teeth braces . . . .
you know, orthodonic style with Sprague Atoms
and Astron style jupiter tone caps

Originals sprung a leak through their 57+ year old skins



.

[Toppscore]

Sorry I don't have anything to contribute to your serial number inquiry. Eric

No problem. I do not think another 0800(+) serial numbered Bassman exists

And how it got onto an EC 1954 March 5D6A . . . . . we may never know

I do have ideas

[vibratoking]

No idea on the serial number either. That's a bummer that all the Astrons failed...They all leaked?

[Toppscore]

No idea on the serial number either. That's a bummer that all the Astrons failed...They all leaked?

A couple. You have a choice.
To get all six filter caps replaced at once,
or keep checking to see when the next one goes.

[plexi50]

I own this 0823 Bassman and have not come up with a logical answer as to why the serial does not fall into the known serial number info. All the parts (guts) are dated august and september of 1954. We will never know for sure. I spared no expense with the tone caps. These JupiterAstrons sound fabulous. Is this really the only 0800 serial number to be seen? Also the chassis has the preamp tubes scribed into the chassis. The preamp tubes are in reverse of what they show on the chart. The scripting is also in reverse and can not be made out unless you have the chassis removed from the cab.
Pics @ http://www.triodeamplification.com/Bassman.html

[Toppscore]

Hi, Plexi50! Been a few months since we chatted.

The weird part of the 1955 "EC" "0823" 5D6-A Bassman serial number is:
1) "0823" would logically follow the November "DK" 1954 5D6 "0700-0783" Bassman series

2) the "EC 1955 March" build date jumps the December "DL" 1954 5D6 "0001-0089"
Bassman builds and the January "EA" thru April "ED" 0100-0200 serial numbered series.

3) So, Fender built a 5D6-A Bassman in March 1955 (which makes sense).
Gave it a 5D6 "0823" chassis number and a "0823" tube chart serial number.
As well produced a 0800(+) number when nobody had ever seen a Bassman higher than "0783"

IMHO, your amp is a 5D6-A, build in March 1955,
and has the most unusually unaccounted for serial number.

Where are the 0800-0822 chassis?

If Fender mis-stamped a 0723 chassis to a 0823, then,
that mistake 0823 should have a November "DK" 1954 build date, right?

This is a cool mystery to ponder . . . . . .

[plexi50]

Good to hear from you Toppscore. Was this a protoype chassis? I think i have done as much research as you have or anyone else for that matter with no specific answer. We can quess forever. We either need to exhume a past fender employee or find one with intact memory that is still alive. Some one has the answer and Leo's paper work. It was such a sketchy time period where so much was going on all at the same time that we may never know. All the tubes have old stickers on them with the number of the tube in the chain. What i do know is this amp is sweet as a peach and looks like one too. I would never even attempt an Ebay sale considering how bad Ebay has become with there fee's and return policies. Paypal? Not on my life. It's pretty sad what has happened to Ebay. I sell now from my website. Life is good and simple again.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Yes, it's a shame that ebay and paypal (same company) have gotten so greedy. I won't sell on ebay any more either. I think commissions and paypal fees totaled about 13% when I stopped selling four years ago. And I suspect it's worse now. Good old corporate greed at work.

[cbass]

wow that much I was gonna list some stuff but I guess not

[plexi50]

I own a few auction domain names but never got around to getting the servers i needed,Linux and the auction software. I know how to do all of it but my brain is already sucked dry from amp work. I lived without ebay once upon a time and i can live without them now.

[Toppscore]

Yes. I just pulled several Vintage Fender Amps off Ebay.
Got ahead. No need to make low-ball deals and then
pay EBay, pay Paypal, and freakin' package the darn
things in such a way no damage will be done.

This morning I packed and shipped two guitars with HSCases.
Big boxes. Took an hour each to make nice and right.

Best place to sell is Craigslist. No fees, and no shipping.
Plus, my main guitar/amp service center allows me
to meet the customer at their shop and will give us
a room to play at no extra charge ~ safety.
Very cool and ECF "Extremely Craigslist Friendly"

[Toppscore]

Plexi50.
Thanks for sharing and showing your pics.

My bet is your chassis & tag board are 1955 5D6-A.
I'll bet, IMHO, that it is all a 1955 build with earlier
than March "EC" 1955 parts/components.

But, the exciting part is the same and unusual
serial number on both chassis.

Maybe Baby ~ Leo Fender made this special "0823" Bassman for Buddy Holly

. . . . after all, "08" is the eighth "H" letter in the alphabet

[plexi50]

I have been thinking maybe it was a special order for someone as well. You know Leo did give amps away to many 50's bands that were on TV shows playing and showcasing his new amps. Great advertising strategy back then. Maybe these amps were stamped this way for certain 50's players / documetation?

If you look on youtube for 50's bands you will see some of the Bassman amps that were being used on stage. Very interesting possabilities. Some one is bound to have thee answer sooner or later. I still think though mainly it was a prototype. Pretty cool wondering*

I just found another website that lists the serial # this way below:

Bassman 5D6, 5D6-A (tweed)
0600 to 0900 - 1954

http://www.superiormusic.com/page195.htm