What material for backplates on Fender combos

[jakamp]

What material does Fender use for their backplates on combo amps?
I used plywood for a bassman build, but that's not the best material to use for that.

Thanks,
Jan

[stingray_65]

Which Fender combo amp are you talking about?

Old tweed's used pine. other models have had plywood and some of their late model cheapo's use particle board.

Plywood in my opinion is an excellent choice, but plywood comes in many grades. I use void free Baltic birch.

It is extremely strong, cuts and machines nicely, even can finish it with stain if that's your fancy.

Do not confuse the "birch" plywood you find at home depot or lowe's with Baltic birch plywood. Ive always been suspect of the inner plies and have been told by my hardwood supplier that indeed the inner plies are made of rubber tree. before 2008 the wood was considered useless, not even fit to burn as a heat source. That is until they could ribbon cut it so thick as to make less plies in the same thickness of plywood. it is alternated with birch so you see a thin/thick/thin arrangement.

Baltic birch is very hard compared to other birch trees due to the slow,short, cold growing season. the plywood itself is composed of 13 plies in a 3/4"sheet, compared to 7 from a chain store lumber yard.
I could go on about the merits of Baltic birch, but that would be boorish :)

Ray