Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anybody want a Showman (I think '68) to play around with? It is in need of major overhauling, and I do not know it's current condition. I got it from a friend to do with as I want. No fuse holder cap so I do not know when it was last turned on.

All I want is the shipping cost paid to ...?

Me...email sent.

doh!

Paul, e-mail sent, I did not get yours.

If he doesn't want it, I'll take it. I can fix it myself and put it into proper use.

damn!

Paul is the winner, but I suspect he may need your expertise on this, Greg, as I do not know his knowledge on tube amps. If it is anything like his guitar artistry, the Showman will become one killer amp.

I don't suppose you have a spare Super Reverb in the cupboard?

Hmmm.................................................................................................nope.

I gotta Super Twin Reverb...

Too kind, Jeffrey! I have two great amp techs in the backyard--the guy George uses and our very own Charlie are both in my neck o' the woods.

But Greg is an incredible resource, too, judging from his posts.

Jeez, all of a sudden I've got all of these old Fender amps...good thing I've got space...

I like the 4X10 Super's. 65 watts, I think? Maybe less, but such a sweet sound. Perfect for nice, comfy stage volumes.

I don't think I've heard a Showman in person (certainly have on record). Sounds like quite a nice project to work on.

A Showman for a Showman! A perfect fit. Congratulations Paul. You will be able to put this to very good use with the Surfers!

There seems to be a lot of interest in Showman amps here so I'll do a rather long post..some of the info is debatable. The "Showman" started as a design Leo made for Dick Dale who kept blowing all the amps Leo made for him. It is a 60 watt amp and the first generations had an enclosure with a single 15" JBL mounted with a tone ring and in a ported encloser much like a Hi-Fi speaker..this amp was more powerful than had been seen up to this point. Other changes along the way but the next major one is The Dual Showman as Paul now has (I might add a stunning example of)..wattage increased via a larger transformer and now rated at 85 watts but will punch out at an even 100 watts tube power 4 6L6 power tubes. The cabinet changed from the ported tone ring to a dual encloser with a pair of JBL's. One of my Showman rigs says Showman but is really a Dual (transition model)this is one of the things that adds to the confusion. Several different JBL's were used but for guitar the one to have is the JBL D-130F..w/aluminum centers. The mating of this amp head, the JBL enclosures and a tube driven outboard reverb unit yields a very...distintive tone. As time went on the speaker cab increased in size (not needed) and likely was done to "stand up" next to Jim Marshall's massive stacks. Down the line the Silver face models came out... much like the blackfaces but then the circuit was changed and reverb was added to the head along with a master volume. The tremolo on the black face Fenders is epic..think Empty Heart by the Stones.

George speaks from experience. He has one of the larger (42" tall) cabinets on his black Tolex '60s rig.

The Dual Showman I got from him is a primo cream Tolex/Gold Cloth one. Smaller speaker cab. I don't know the year yet...

The SF WILL make a nice project/spare...then there's the BF Bandmaster, my "realistic" dream amp when I was a youngster...the Dual Showman, like the Jag, were way Out Of Reach and therefore Beyond Dreaming About! It's a Black Tolex one and also mint condition, with covers!