New Fender Book

[Barry Schaede <barrys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There's a new Fender amp book just out.  If you collect them (Fenders) or 
play them or are just into the minutiae of the different models this book 
is a must have.  One of the many wonderful features of this book is that 
it exceeds the self published low quality standards that are the norm in 
the music publishing field.  Another novel feature is the presence of an 
actual index.  The back of the book also includes a model by model 
identification guide and the body of the book has many good quality 
photos of lots of the assorted Fender models.  There's a fairly detailed 
history and chronology of the Fender company that starts with the K&F 
company beginnings and goes until present day.  The amount of information 
there for the gleaning is simply astounding.  My only true niggle with 
the book is it's smal size.  This book is currently available mailorde 
from Nickeus Park Books at (800) 295-0622.  The title of the book is The 
Fender Amp Book by John Morrish edited by Tony Bacon, the cost is $17.95 
plus $2.00 postage ($3.00 if you're in a hurry)


Among the many true Fender facts available in the model identification 
guide is the information that Fender didn't make a 4-10 Bassman in 1953.  
The original Bassman was introduced as a single 15" speaker model in 1951 
and was only made until 1952.  It was called a TV front model beacause of 
the resemblance of the front of the amp to the current curved corner 
televisons made at the time.  It was replaced in 1953 with the wide panel 
Bassman also a single 15" model.  The narrow panel Bassman that we all know 
better as the 1959 tweed type was first introduced in late 1954 and was 
in the classic 4-10 speaker configuration.  BTW the narrow panel Bassman 
circuits changed during the production run and the 1959 configuration is 
considered by many to be the best tube amplifier ever made.  FJM