I’ve always hated the term “workhorse” in reference to guitars and amps. The notion of taking out a less elegant instrument because you might ruin your “boots” in the field seemed lame to me. In terms of strength and reliabilty here is a case where “workhorse” is an apt description, it’s the blackface Fender Showman made between the ’63 and ’67. This particular amp was acquired in a trade for a drum set. It was previously owned by a cousin of Steve Cropper, he got it from a friend in the San Francisco Bay Area, and who knows before that. The tubes are a mix of new and old, the amp tech said that all the components date from 64, but the chart says 66 (PF, P for 1966, and F for June).

First of all these amps were built like tanks, lots of real-estate inside and sturdy eyelet boards all hand-wired in a heavy metal chassis. Finger jointed solid pine construction covered in tough old Tolex. Many stories are told of the Twin falling off the truck and still making it to the gig, Leo wanted his amps to last, and you can see it here.

The faceplate is as luxurious as a non-reverb Fender got in the ’60’s; Volume, Treble, Middle, and Bass, along with a usable vibrato at the end. The normal channel is just bare bones Volume, Treble and Bass.

The best part of this amp is the tone. Clean to a fault, but when the tubed with vintage glass it’s big with huge luscious bass, and enough treble on tap to make any Tele twang. Somehow the clean tone doesn’t sound sterile like some Twins can. The big transformers and all that glass is like a V12 motor; mucho muscle on tap with all the grace that headroom affords. Put a few pedals in front, and matched with your favorite cab, it becomes clear that these 85 watts are plenty for any sized gig a guitarist could encounter.

I have used this amp as insurance on gigs more times than I can count, in a pinch a showman makes a great bass amp, a showman could even be a small PA.

I often wonder who owned this amp first, why the chart and the chassis seem to be a couple of years apart, and what the heck possessed the guy who stenciled “Funk” on the top. I think it was meant to be an expression of affection. I totally get it.