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info    updated 2/8/2010

Fame

Fame amps are made in China?

Laboga (in Poland) makes the Fame tube amps while Yerasov (Russia) makes the solid-state amps. [Source: Petrucci Forum]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fame

Image eBay:

Fane

Fane Acoustics Ltd was founded in 1958 and specialized in high powered speakers from early 1960s.  Based in Bately West York, England

Image eBay:

Farfissa

Farfissa.org while focussing on organs has a collection of Farfissa catalogs and pricelists from the 1960s

http://www.fetishguitars.com/mrt/index.html

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Farfisa

Fargen amps

"The company was started in 1998.

Dating Fargen Amps
All amps from 98-2004 have a tag on the inside of the cabinet with the serial # and model.
All amps from 2004-current have a tag on the inside of the cabinet with the serial # and model + another tag on the side of the chassis with the serial #.model and order details
[Source: Benjamin Fargen, Fargen Amplification Inc, email 26/6/2008 ]

Fargen amps lineup 2010

Ben founded Fargen Amplification in 1998, which has become a thriving boutique company that ships custom-built amplifiers to discerning players on four continents.  Ben has developed a reputation as one of the top engineers and visionaries in the amplifier space.  He also provides world tour and studio amp support to many of the world’s most celebrated guitarists including Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, and in fact, designed Steve’s Legacy II amplifier that was launched by Carvin in January 2009.  In addition, Ben recently launched Sonic Edge in March 2010, to focus on manufacturing best-in-class guitar and bass effects pedals.

 Product Recap:

 Fargen Mighty Plex, Blackbird 30 and Custom Shop Epic 30 amps.

 Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive and Tumbleweed guitar effect pedals. [Source: Fargen Amps Press Release June 2010]

Image Fargen Minplex amp eBay:

FatBoy

Made by Norb Funk in Deerfield, Illinois before the FATBOY company moved operations to Texas.

Fatboy tribute page

From Norbert Funk's resume:

5/92-5/95 Tube Amplifier Specialists, Inc. “Fatboy Amps” Deerfield, IL, President
• Design and manufacture High-End Vacuum Tube Amplifiers for professional musicians
Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fatboy

Image 1995 amp - eBay:

Fatkat amplification

Custom built guitar amplifiers based on vintage designs. Specializing in early tweed amplifier design. Oklahoma, USA

FBT

Made in Italy

Image eBay:

Fender

Leo Fender was a radio repairman, then a general electronic retailer. With partner Doc Kauffman their first amplifier and steel guitar was made in 1945. The brand was established in 1946 in Fullerton, California USA. Kauffman left soon after and the Fender Electric Instrument company was established in 1946 in Fullerton, California.
Fender was purchased by CBS in December 1964 with Leo staying on as a consultant till 1970. In March 1982 Fender Japan (Fuji Gen Gakki) was established.
In 1984 CBS sold Fender to an investment group (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation) for less than they bought the company. However, the sale did not include production facilities. USA guitar production was very limited in 1985 with most made in Japan. The new factory in Corona, California commenced manufacture in 1986.
Mexican production began in 1990. Fender instruments are now made in USA, Mexico, China, Korea and Japan. [Source: Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers ]
Fender amplifier dating/Fender amp serial numbers

As there is massive interest in older Fender amplifiers there are a number of on-line resources to assist with dating your Fender amp.  Here are the best resources I am aware of.

http://www.fender.com/support/amplifiers.php

Fender amp reference books at Amazon

Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years

The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps (Book & CD)

The Fender Amp Book

Fender Amps

Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A, Third Edition

Fender Amp Field Guide  http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/contents.html

http://www.superiormusic.com/page195.htm

http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/vintage_amps.htm

http://www.ggjaguar.com/fendamp.htm

Pre CBS http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile577.html

Princeton Reverb - how many made and when http://www.geocities.com/princerev2/howmany.html
Fender Transformers, Speakers and Potentiometers http://www.svvintageamps.com/dating.php

Fender amp catalogs

Fender amp catalogs 1955, 65-66, 69 http://www.classicamplifiers.com/

Fender amp brochures and catalogs 1959 - 72 http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/catalogs.html

Fender amp manuals

http://www.21frets.com/catalogs.html

Fender amp schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

http://www.geocities.com/twoseriesfenders/

http://www.drtube.com/guitamp.htm

Fender amp pricelists

1967 Fender amp pricelist

2001 Fender amp pricelist

2003 Fender amp pricelist

2004 Fender amp pricelist

2005 Fender amp pricelist

2005 Fender Bass amp pricelist

2006 Fender amp pricelist

2006 Fender Bass amp pricelist

Prepal Used Prices

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fender

Fender forum

http://www.fenderforum.com/

Image 1968 Fender Twin Reverb Solid State eBay:

Fenton Weil

Fenton-Weill amplifiers were made by Henry Weill in London in the early 1960s. [Source: Vintage Hofner ]

http://vintageamps.com/va/cool_amps.html

http://www.vintageamps.com/va/cool_amps.html

http://www.chambonino.com/fentonwork.html

Images eBay:

Fernandes

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fernandes

Image Fernandes amp Yahoo auction:

FET & Silicon

FET & Silicon Transistar Amplifier Made in Japan 1970s.

Image eBay

First Act

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/First+Act

Image First Act amplifiers eBay:

Fischer Amps

Fisonic

Fi-Sonic amps were made by Phil Dreoni in a shop in Marrickville, Sydney, Australia. [Source: Ozvalveamps]

Here are some comments made by Phil at a Harmony Central Review in 2007:

"I Philip Dreoni was the manufacturer of the fi sonic range of amps and they were built between 1959 and 1969 when the business was sold to a major company who decided in their wisdom to stop making guitar amps and concentrate on cosumer product ( bad unwise mistake )any one that need any technical support are quite free to contact me on pdreoni@bigpond.net.au . In Sydney I have a repairer that has a lot of  experience in these product (M B Electronics ph (02)95683248.
It warms my heat to see some of my creations still in use"

1966 example

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fi+Sonic

Image Retrovox:

Flot-A-Tone

1946-1960s. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Flot-A-Tone

Images Flot-A-Tone amp from 1954 Lo Duca Brothers Catalog from eBay:

Fonovox

Fonovox amps were made in Canada.  This example of a Fonovox solid state amp Model GT501 from eBay:

Ford

Ford amps were made by Ford Music Co, Montreal Canada.  This one mid 1960s ? made by Pepco/Pine electronics

Images eBay:

Forton Amplification

Mike Fortin, Fortin Amplification, Inc., Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Foxrox

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Foxrox

Images eBay:

Framus

1946-1977, 1996 to present. Amps made in Markneukirchen, Germany.

http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/modells/modells.php?classID=23&typeID=178,179,181&katID=4674&cl=EN

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Framus

Frantone

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Frantone

Fred

1984-1986. Name used by Bedrock Amps on first 50 amps. Flinstone fans will understand.

see Bedrock

Freedman

Australian made speakers.

Image eBay:

Frenzel

Handwired tube amps made in USA since 1952. Made by Jim Frenzel

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Frenzel

Image Frenzel preamp eBay:

Fresher

Fresher amps made in Japan by Princeton Musical Amplifier - Prince Tushinkogyo Co Ltd.

http://www.sk.aitai.ne.jp/~luesan/AI13.htm

Images Yahoo auction:

Frudua

Frudua guitar works, bass amplification. Made in Germany and Italy since 2008. [Source: GF, email 28/7/2010]

Fryette

As of 1 July 2009 the name of VHT amps.

see VHT

Fuchs

Since 2000. Fuchs Audio Technology started in 1999 as a repairer, before starting to make their own line. Until 2007 located in Bloomfield New Jersey, currently Clifton, New Jersey.

See manufacturer web site for reviews.

Fulltone

"Manufacture commenced 1993. Every one has a date on the bottom plate and/or inside' [Source: Michael Fuller, President Fultone Musical Products, email 19/3/2008]

OCD History and versions P.A.S.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Fulltone

Fulton-Webb

Since 1977.Steve Fulton and Bill Webb, Austin Texas.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Fulton-Webb

Futurama

http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/gallery3/sel5.html