F-Fe | Fi-

info    updated 2/12/2011

Fab Amps

Fab amps are made by Rob Franklin of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Hand built, to order, one at a time.

FAB = Franklin's Audio Brigade

FAL

Futuristic Aids Limited.  Took over Roost amps in 1979. [Source: Andy Duke]

http://www.karillon.com/fal.html

Reviews are at Harmony Central

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 are at Harmony Central

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

Farfisa, Division of Lear Siegler, Inc USA

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 are at Harmony Central

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 are at Harmony Central

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

See Fender Guitars

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 are at Harmony Central

Fender forum

http://www.fenderforum.com/

Image 1968 Fender Twin Reverb Solid State eBay:

Fenix

Fenix amps (and guitars) by Young Chang

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

The Fernandes guitar co also made some amps

Reviews are at Harmony Central

Image Fernandes amp Yahoo auction:

FET & Silicon

FET & Silicon Transistar Amplifier Made in Japan 1970s.

Image eBay