'65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

guitarkid

guitarkid

New member
Hey everyone, I am in need of some help with a deal on an amp that I am planning on buying.

First, I will just say that I am really good friends with the people that own my local guitar shop. They have had an amp in the shop for a long time that I have always wanted, and it looks like I am finally going to have the money to get it (also, the amps is part of my friends personal collection, not part of the store's inventory). The amp is a Vintage Blackface Fender Bassman stack. He has many vintage amps in the shop so he gets some of the years confused on them every now and then, since it is hard to keep all of them straight. Lol At first he believed that it was a '64 Blackface with the sought after AA864 circuit, and he had told me a price that he would take for it, so I have just been waiting and saving up the money to get it. After I went over the amp today and looked everything over very closely, I discovered that its actually a '65 Blackface Bassman with the AA165 circuit (which I know isn't worth as much than if it would have been a '64 with the other circuit). Either way, I still really love the amp and I want it! As far as I know, the amp is mostly all original. It has never had any caps or restistors replace or changed and everything else in the circuit is all original except possibly the tubes (he doesn't remember if he has ever replaced the tubes or not, they also say Fender on them, but I not sure what the originals would have been). He has replaced the grill cloth on the original 2x12 speaker cab with the correct grill cloth, and he may have possibly rewired the cab at some point just because the old wire got brittle and wore out. It does have the original Oxford Speakers in the cabinet too. As far as he remembers, nothing else has ever been done to the amp. The amp fires right up, plays, and sounds great, but its does need the pots cleaned badly, a new power cable, and also would probably need to be taken to a tech just to have everything checked over and see if any of the resistors or caps need to be replaced. I would say it is in good shape for its age, but it does have some bumps and bruises, and really just needs to be cleaned up. So with all of that being said, I need some help... I am not looking to get the deal of the century on this amp. I am very good friends with the owner, and I would just like to know what you think is a fair price for the both of us for the amp and just what the going price for this would be....? I would GREATLY appreciate any help or input! :)

Also, they are not the greatest, but I took the best pics of the amp that I could with my cellphone.
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Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

I have that exact same set up. Looks real to me, BUT you need to authenticate the Transformer codes and whatnot, which can be done with some not to intensive research on the internet.
That and have a look at the innards. Any invasive modifications, and they arent that uncommon, can really hurt the value.
You need to have the amp taken out fo the cabinet to look at the guts, and also , like I said, check the transformer codes.
Those amops are amazing amps- not for typiocal blackface deluxe or Super/Pro Reverb sounds, but for gritty MArshallesque sound.
Original transformers are paramount to the overall value of the unit.
BTW, thats not really referred to as a "stacK". Its more like called the Bassman "amp", as opposed to only just the Bassman "head".
 
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Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Looks like ****, probably sounds like balls.

Only an absolute ******** retard would use a Bassman as his main and only amplifier for over a decade.

Seriously? Buying that amp just guarantees you will buy another amp ASAP.

:smokin:
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Paragraphs are your friend. If it's a good deal, buy it. Blackface Bassmans will only go up in value.
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

If you get it, youll hear lots of talk how these old Oxford speajkers are bad. I listened to that, got rid of them, and now regret it. Keep them. They are [part of the charisma od the old Bassman. Are they Ornage label JBl's?..are they Chicago Jensens? ..no, but they have that vintage tone!
attachment.php
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Drool.

Only an absolute ******** retard would use a Bassman as his main and only amplifier for over a decade.
Click to expand...

There are a LOT of absolute ******** retards out there in the guitar world that have and are getting killer sounds out of that.

I could live with my pedalboard and that setup for the rest of my life it I had to, and not be unhappy.

Having original electrolytic caps is NOT a good thing. If that is the case, it definitely needs a cap job to sound right and to not have your transformers in jeapardy. Plan on that as extra expense.

If the transformers are original you are golden. Check the codes on the bell housings. The second set of numbers is the 2 digit year code. The following numbers are the week of the year. 606-66-47 would be a 1966 if that is the newest xformer in the amp, the xformer was made in week 47 of that year. 606 is a manufacturer code telling you that Schumacher made the xformer, which they almost certainly did.

As far as mods, as long as 1) Transformers are original, 2) there are no extra holes in the chasis, don't sweat it. Anything done can be easily put back to stock. If it does have mods and you want it put back to original, go to someone who will use real carbon comps in there and not radio shack resistors.
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Empty Pockets said:
Looks like ****, probably sounds like balls.

Only an absolute ******** retard would use a Bassman as his main and only amplifier for over a decade.

Seriously? Buying that amp just guarantees you will buy another amp ASAP.

:smokin:
Click to expand...
....are you planning on Orpheoing this amp?
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Just out of curiosity, is it common for a 1965 amp to have "DESIGN & CIRCUITS PATENTED 66" on the faceplate?
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

For everyone who doesn't get Empty Pockets' self-deprecating humor, he's referring to himself and his own setup.
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Transformer dates? If it's been used since 1966, chances are that gone through at least one transformer. You can tell if it's the old pine boards and the little label on the side is hard to fake realistic yellowing and or damage over the years.

If you can get it for $1200, it would be a good investment... anything under $1000 is a steal. $800 would be robbery. lol!
 
Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

zenmindbeginner said:
Transformer dates? If it's been used since 1966, chances are that gone through at least one transformer. You can tell if it's the old pine boards and the little label on the side is hard to fake realistic yellowing and or damage over the years.

If you can get it for $1200, it would be a good investment... anything under $1000 is a steal. $800 would be robbery. lol!
Click to expand...

Bassman was a very common amp. Lots of them are chewed up, but most survive intact, w/ original OT ( output tarnsformer) , and PT( power transformer). The formality of checking codes is to weed out the undesirabkles that didnt make it, but usually but not always you can also tell what may be suspect by the condish' of the head and cabinet .If its all messed up, then the amp may also be.

your prices are out of line. You shouldnt have to pay that much in this economy. between eight hundred and a thousand is about what its worth in very goood all original working condition.
 
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Re: '65 Blackface Fender Bassman Stack

Re: a Bassman described as giving a gritty Marshalesque sound: of course. The original Marshall sound was just the sound of a hopped-up Bassman.
 
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