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[lkb23]

I just got a very nice Fender blackface Bassman amp & cab & am running into an issue when trying to date it. The tube chart contains "OL" stamped in green, indicating it was manufactured in December 1965. However, the marking underneath the pilot light states "circuits patented 1966." What gives? Do I go by the tube chart listing Dec. 1965 as the date, or is there some reason to think this was made later, in 1966? What changes were made to the circuits in 1966?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks...

Lev

[polar_electronics]

The sometimes annoying thing about trying to date sixties Fenders is all the different dates you come up with. By the early 60's Fender was the big company, and was able to buy parts in bulk. So things like pots, trannys, chassis and other stuff could be over 2 years old by the time it went into an amp. The safest bet would be to go by the latest date code, and use that as an estimate of when your amp was completed.

[roknroll]

Look at the circuit board and compare it to one of the many published circuits and you will figure out which one it is just through observation. Whether it is a 65 or a 66 is not really that important.