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Average Price: $10,300

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$300

$701+

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Description

The Fender Bandmaster Narrow Panel Tweed (5E7) is a timeless classic, revered by guitarists for its rich tonal character and vintage flair. This iconic amplifier is a nod to Fender's illustrious history, capturing the essence of the brand's early innovations. Originally launched as a 1x15 combo, the Bandmaster evolved into the beloved 3x10 configuration in 1955, offering a distinctive sound that has resonated through generations of musicians.

Crafted with a narrow panel tweed design, this amplifier exudes vintage charm, while the three 10-inch speakers deliver a full-bodied sound that is both warm and articulate. The 5E7 circuit is celebrated for its responsive dynamics and smooth breakup, making it a favorite for blues, rock, and everything in between. With a modest 15-watt output, the Bandmaster provides ample power for both studio sessions and intimate live performances, ensuring your guitar's voice remains clear and expressive.

Players will appreciate the intuitive control layout, featuring five knobs that allow for precise shaping of your tone. The built-in tremolo adds a touch of vintage modulation, perfect for adding depth and movement to your sound. Whether you're a vintage amp enthusiast or a modern player seeking classic tones, the Fender Bandmaster Narrow Panel Tweed (5E7) is an amplifier that brings history and innovation together in perfect harmony.

Key Features:

  • Three 10-inch speakers for rich, full-bodied sound
  • Classic narrow panel tweed design
  • 5E7 circuit for responsive dynamics and smooth breakup
  • 15-watt output ideal for studio and small venue performances
  • Five control knobs for precise tone shaping
  • Built-in tremolo for vintage modulation effects

Product specs

Brand Fender
Model Bandmaster 5E7 Narrow Panel 26-Watt 3x10" Guitar Combo
Finish Tweed
Year 1955 - 1960
Made In United States
Categories Guitar Combo Amps
Color Family Yellow
Direct Output No Direct Output
Electronics Tube
Model Family Fender Bandmaster
Model Sub-Family Fender Bandmaster Amp
Number of Channels 2 Channels
Number of Inputs 4 Inputs
Output Power (Watts) 26
Power Tube Type 6L6
Reverb None
Series Fender Vintage Tweed Amps
Speaker Configuration 3x10"

FAQs

What is the tonal characteristic of the Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7?

The Fender Bandmaster 5E7 is known for its warm, rich tone with a distinctive midrange presence, thanks to its 3x10" speaker configuration and 6L6 power tubes. It's particularly favored for its dynamic response and ability to produce classic '50s rock and blues tones.

Is the Fender Bandmaster 5E7 suitable for live performances?

With its 26-watt output and 3x10" speakers, the Bandmaster 5E7 is powerful enough for small to medium-sized venues, making it a great choice for live performances where vintage tone is desired.

Does the Fender Bandmaster 5E7 have built-in reverb?

No, the Fender Bandmaster 5E7 does not have built-in reverb. It focuses on delivering pure tube-driven sound without additional effects.

How many channels does the Fender Bandmaster 5E7 have?

The Fender Bandmaster 5E7 features two channels, allowing for different tonal settings and flexibility during performances.

Can the Fender Bandmaster 5E7 handle modern pedal effects well?

Yes, the Bandmaster 5E7 is known for taking pedals well, providing a solid foundation for overdrives, delays, and other effects, enhancing its versatility in various musical styles.

Reviews

Critic Reviews

Fender 5E7 Bandmaster | Vintage Guitar® magazine

vintageguitar.com

The Fender 5E7 Bandmaster stands out with its unique three-speaker configuration, offering more punch than its single or dual-speaker counterparts while remaining compact. Its esoteric appeal and vintage allure make it a collector's dream, despite some practical quirks. The amp delivers the classic "tweedy" sound with early distortion and a rich tone, thanks to its specific phase inverter circuit. Though it may require some component replacements for regular use, its originality and condition are commendable. This amp is a hidden gem for those appreciating vintage tones and distinctive gear.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 1 Rating

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Noel Gallagher uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Noel Gallagher

Singer, Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via reverb.com

According to this gear posting on Reverb from Denmark Street Guitars, Noel Gallagher owned an original 1957 Fender Bandmaster tweed amplifier. The amp was used during the recording sessions for Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, and it can be seen with official verification personally signed by Noel Gallagher.

See how J Mascis uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

J Mascis

Singer, Guitarist

Dinosaur Jr

...
Verified via Archive

"GC: On your most recent release, what guitar do you play and with what pickups?

Mascis: I think it's a '58 Tele. I don't remember the pickup, but I think it was from another guitar from the '50s, maybe '54 through a tweed 310 Bandmaster."

In a 1993 interview with Guitar World, Mascis specified this to be a '59 Bandmaster.

See how Pete Townshend uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Pete Townshend

Singer, Guitarist

The Who

...
Verified via Photo

In this picture Pete can be seen recording through a '59 3x10 Fender Bandmaster gifted him by Joe Walsh prior to the recording of "Who's Next."

From:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/joe-walsh-pete-townshend-guitar-tone/

In a recent interview with the San Diego Reader, Walsh confirmed a famous legendary tale that he had helped Who guitarist Pete Townshend to cement the sound of his now-famous guitar tone.

“Yes. That happened. The James Gang opened for the Who when they performed ‘Tommy’ in Europe. Pete and I are in the same zip code in terms of writing music and playing guitar. He had taken me under his wing as kind of a mentor. But during ‘Tommy,’ he’d locked into a certain amp/guitar setup for touring, and he got stuck there. It was time for him to move on and I sensed that.”

Walsh allows that many rock guitarists of the time were employing the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul as their primary instruments for creating musical destruction. He had a setup that in his mind provided an especially harmonic secret sauce to the guitar playing sound and he shared that with Townshend.

A bright orange ’57 Gretsch Chet Akins model guitar paired with a ’59 Fender Bandmaster amp, both gifts from Walsh, gave Townshend exactly the right sonic mojo that he needed to create the next Who album, ‘Who’s Next.’

See how Joe Walsh uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Joe Walsh

Guitarist, Singer

Eagles

...
Verified via Guitarworld

Another item Walsh gave to Pete Townshend was this Fender Bandmaster amp. This one is mentioned in this Guitar World interview:

"It was also Walsh who laid on Pete Townshend the 1959 Gretsch 6120 and 1959 Fender Bandmaster amp that Pete used to create the unforgettable guitar sound on Who’s Next."

See how Kirk Fletcher uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Kirk Fletcher

Guitarist

The Mannish Boys

...
Verified via guitarworld

Mentioned as a part of his rig in November 2022 Guitar World interview.

See how Cloud Nothings uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Cloud Nothings

Singer, Guitarist

Cloud Nothings

...
Verified via Clevelandmagazine

From article- "A tangle of wires covers the floor, connected to six amplifiers, including a huge 1959 Fender Bandmaster. "

See how Ronnie Montrose uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Ronnie Montrose

Guitarist

The Edgar Winter Group

...
Verified via YouTube

$90.00 Garage sale find 3x10 Bandmaster for the first "MONTROSE" album. Ran "Flat out" (full Volume) with Les Paul straight in.

See how Marty Mcfly uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

Marty Mcfly

Singer, Guitarist

The Pinheads

...
Verified via YouTube

Marty kicks over his amp which looks to be an old bandmaster or clone of some sort.

See how The Bobby Fuller Four uses Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960)

The Bobby Fuller Four

Guitarist, Bassist

...
Verified via Fender® Forums

According to a discussion on the Fender® Forums, The Bobby Fuller Four used a Fender Bandmaster Narrow Panel Tweed (5E7) amplifier during their performances.

Album Usage

The Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960) has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Gibson SG 1968
Gibson SG 1968 Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
Shure SM87
Shure SM87 Condenser Microphones
1
TAMA Camco 6735
TAMA Camco 6735 Bass Drum Pedals
1
Gibson Les Paul Special
Gibson Les Paul Special Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
AKG D12
AKG D12 Dynamic Microphones
1
Beyerdynamic M88
Beyerdynamic M88 Dynamic Microphones
1
Gibson ‘58 Les Paul Goldtop
Gibson ‘58 Les Paul Goldtop Solid Body Electric Guitars
1

1 alternative for Fender 'Narrow Panel Tweed' Bandmaster 5E7 (1955-1960), curated by the Equipboard community.

Benson Amps Benmaster 5E7 35-Watt 3x10" Guitar Combo

$3,200.00

similar sound mod

The Benmaster was a limited run take on the 5E7 Bandmaster circuit, created to celebrate Benson Amps’ 10th anniversary.

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    austinmw

    Gear IQ 5227