Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $1,000
High-end/Boutique
$300
$801+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
The Fender Dual Showman is a classic choice for guitarists seeking powerful and versatile amplification. Renowned for its all-tube circuitry, this guitar amplifier head delivers the rich, warm tones that have been a hallmark of Fender amps since the 1960s. Its formidable output offers plenty of headroom, making it ideal for both clean and distorted sounds, and perfect for large venues where you need your sound to project with clarity and authority.
With its twin channels and flexible tone controls, the Dual Showman provides a range of tonal options to suit various musical styles. The vibrato channel offers additional depth, making it a favorite among surf rock enthusiasts and musicians who appreciate vintage soundscapes. The robust construction ensures it withstands the rigors of touring, while the straightforward interface appeals to both seasoned professionals and those just starting their musical journey.
Key Features:
- All-tube circuitry for warm, authentic tones
- Twin channels with independent controls
- Vibrato channel for added depth and modulation
- High headroom for clear sound projection
- Ideal for large venues and live performances
- Classic design, true to Fender's legacy
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Dual Showman "Drip Edge" 2-Channel 85-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Silverface |
| Year | 1968 - 1970 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Direct Output | No Direct Output |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Model Family | Fender Showman Amp |
| Model Sub-Family | Fender Dual Showman |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 4 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 85 |
| Power Tube Type | 6L6 |
| Reverb | None |
| Series | Fender Vintage Silverface Amps |
FAQs
-
What are the tonal characteristics of the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp?
-
The Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp is known for its clean, powerful tones with a strong emphasis on midrange clarity, making it ideal for surf rock and clean jazz tones. It lacks built-in reverb, offering a pure tube-driven sound.
-
How much power does the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp deliver?
-
This amp delivers 85 watts of power, providing ample volume and headroom for live performances and larger venues.
-
Is the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp suitable for use with guitar pedals?
-
Yes, the Dual Showman Amp takes pedals well, thanks to its clean and transparent sound, allowing effects to shine without unwanted coloration.
-
What type of tubes does the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp use?
-
The amp uses 6L6 power tubes, which contribute to its robust and clean sound output, characteristic of Fender's classic tube amps.
-
Does the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp have built-in reverb?
-
No, the Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp does not feature built-in reverb, focusing instead on delivering a pure, uncolored tube sound.
Videos
Grayzercaster
Fender dual showman demo
Reviews
PROS
-
Incredible clean channel with ample headroom
-
Advanced features for its time, like selectable impedance and XLR out
-
Works well with extensive pedalboards
-
Unique push-pull EQ knobs on drive channel
-
Big, punchy clean tones
CONS
-
Drive channel challenging to dial in
-
May require patience to achieve desirable drive tones
-
Clean tone might be too powerful for some preferences
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp.
Features and functionality
-
The Dual Showman is essentially a Twin Reverb in a head and cab format, providing similar tonal qualities but in a different configuration.
Source -
Jumping channels together on the Dual Showman provides unique tonal options, unlike the Twin Reverb where they're out of phase.
Source -
The "drip edge" aesthetic is often associated with earlier circuits, suggesting potential high-quality internals, though variations exist due to parts inventory at the time.
Source
Mods and upgrades
Use cases and applications
-
A '68 Dual Showman paired with a 4ohm JBL K130 speaker in a Showman tone ring cab excels for pedal steel and guitar, offering powerful volume and tone.
Source -
The amp is ideal for large outdoor gigs or civic centers, but impractical for home use due to its excessive volume.
Source -
The amp excels in genres like shoegaze, post-punk, and alternative rock, providing a versatile tone that satisfies specific musical styles.
Source
Value and pricing
-
Owners note that the Dual Showman is overpriced at $1200, suggesting a fairer price would be below $900.
Source -
Early Silverface models are recommended for their clean tone and affordability, offering a cost-effective alternative to pricier Blackface models while achieving near-identical results for many users.
Source
Comparisons
-
The Dual Showman is described as essentially a Twin Reverb in head and cab form, but the head's loudness and weight are significant considerations.
Source
User experience
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 8 Ratings
168
A clean, powerful beast
I own one of the late 80's, Rivera-designed, "red knob" Dual Showman heads. The clean channel is absolutely incredible, with headroom for days. The drive channel, with it's push-pull EQ knobs, is very difficult to dial in, but can yield decent tones with a bit of patience and effort. I like to run the drive channel just on the edge of breakup, then use overdrive and fuzz to gain stage.
The features on this amp are very advanced for the time period, with selectable impedance, effects loop, damping switch, and XLR out for recording (all on an amp from the 80's!). This amp is highly recommended for the guitarist with a gigantic pedalboard that wants a stage ready showstopper.
41029
the red knobs really need their own category, I'll take care of it
41029
!
I owned a hacked (by a moron) and then restored (by me and my buddy) '63 Fender Electrical Instruments first-run Dual Showman. Didn't say Dual on it yet, guys, but it was 4 ohms to drive a 2x15 instead of a 1x12 or 1x15 with the 'tone ring'.... Mine was really similar to the ones Dick Dale still tours with. I know this because he and I were comparing notes one time at the Northstar in Philly. I'll say this for my Showman, it had a big, punchy clean tone. Almost too big and too punchy. A twin by any other name is just as stiff....
Artist usage
Add artist
In this rig diagram of John Frusciante's rig circa 2001, one can see a Fender Dual Showman.
Jimi acquired new Fender Dual Showman amps in 1968. He would typically use three of these 100 watt amps with cabinets containing two 15-inch J.B.Lansing speakers. These amps were used in the studio, and on the 1968 Experience tour, together with Marshalls and Sunn. Source Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy by Harry Shapiro.
Jimmy Page uses the Fender Dual Showman amplifier, as detailed on his official equipment page.
In the background of this photo taken at Abbey Road studios John can clearly be seen plugged into one of the two Dual Showman amplifiers given to the Beatles by Fender in the 60s. Try not to stare directly into Yoko, its bad for your eyes!
Used on the You Made Me Realise EP, as mentioned in this May 2018 Sound on Sound article.
“When we did the You Made Me Realise EP, we didn’t really have many instruments,” he says. “I had a Fender Sidekick 65 that I used quite a lot. They were transistor Fender amps and my friend had lent me his [Fender] Dual Showman valve amp. But I actually preferred the hardness of the transistor amps."
Pete Townshend’s use of blackface Fender Showman amplifiers and Fender 2x15 cabinets on the American tour in August–September 1967.
In an interview with Tom Rice for the Gear4music Blog titled "Yes 'Close to the Edge' 50th Anniversary - Steve Howe EXCLUSIVE Interview," guitarist Steve Howe explains his use of the Fender Dual Showman: "I’d already got a Dual Showman. I don’t know that I had two of them. But what I did have was some sort of Super Twin that had four speakers in it – and it was a big thing. Usually, the front pickup would go in that Double Twin and the Dual Showman would take the back pickup. So that’s how we recorded it. Pretty much, (Tales From) Topographic Oceans was the same thing. Somewhere in the late ‘70s, we started using round stages and the Dual Showmans were just too big a cabinet. So I switched to Twins, which the front-of-house engineer just loved because he said the 12’’s were much better for projection than the 15’’s in the Dual Showmans. So I went to Twins."
"Those were red knob reissues of the Dual Showman. I still have a few of those. They’re really cool amps. I know Robben Ford plays those and there are a couple of other people who swear by those amps. There’s a Fender twang to those amps that’s really kind of cool."
Album Usage
The Fender 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp 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 'Silverface' Dual Showman Amp, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursMore Fender Guitar Amplifier Heads
Accessories & Related Items
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Guitar Amplifier Heads
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
julianwolf2Gear IQ 13060
-