A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

No amp runs off of 3 power tubes...

Also, don't pull one of the tubes in a Bassman...trying to run one 6L6 in a Bassman will lead to problems...

You can't put 6V6's in a Bassman the voltages are simply to high, if you want to drop the wattage of a Bassman the quickest, easiest and most cost effective thing to do is put a set of Yellow Jackets in it and run a pair of EL84's, tha will drop the wattage to around 15-18 or so watts.

Sounds like an idea, but will i not loose that famour Bassman growl that we all love ?

See, my problem is this, i do not gig at the moment, but still would love to get a bassman, and 45Watts is way more than i need.
My Blues Jr. is about the vol. that i want/need, but a Bassman it is not !!!
I might get an Attenuator then, but will it colour the tone, at all ?

Thanks again for all the feedback, keep 'em comming !

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

An attenuator is a good idea but depending on how much you want to drop the volume it might not be the best idea...the more attenuation you use the more it messes with the tone. Yellowjackets will change the tone a bit but it might be something that you're ok with, also the 5Y3/6V6's might be a good idea for you...againit will change the tone a bit but you might dig it.

Best advise I can give you is to try one of the ideas and go form there...

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

Thats what I thought aswell, but why does my WEM have 3 power tubes?

Hey there, what Wem do you have.

I had one aswell.
A bloody monster combo, 2x12, 50watter.
Kinda like a Twin Reverb, as that mutha just did NOT want to OverDrive, come hell, high-water or " 10 ", on the vol. knob !!!

Headroom made in heaven, and also kept it there . . .

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

the attenuator is a pain in the backside cause there are four pairs of wires.
you cant pull one of the tubes since its a push/pull design. at very low volumes you could run just one tube and it will force the amp to run single ended class a but it will probably smoke your transformer so even though it makes sound, DONT DO IT!!!

i used to have a bassman ltd and the best way to get low volume is this...
put a 5y3 recto tube, 6v6's and rebias. it will cut the volume and the amp will break up more quickly since the voltages are lower. it will change the tone but it still thought it sounded great

THANK YOU SOO MUCH JEREMY . . .


That sounds like a fantastic idea !

Less vol. & earlier break-up is just what the doctor ordered, and what i want !

Now that i know it can be done, second question :

What is the best bang for my buck ?

Used or new ?
I do not mind to get a 2nd hand one, just want good value for my money !
Will be in the US from Jan. 07, and this amp that i will be getting, will finally live in Toronto - yes, folks, i'm moving there, as the long-term girlfriend is Canadian.

( . . . for some reason she does not like armed, car hi-jackings on a dailly basis - funny that !)

Again, thanx to all !

 

[jeremy]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

get a used LTD if you can. if it was me i wouldnt even look at the other fender bassman RI. the ltd has better speakers, cab and has a bias pot.
i use jj 6v6's in my dr and they sound good but i think brimars or mazda or even jans sound better and put out a little less volume which in your case is a good thing.

the jj's will handle much higher plate voltages. the 6v6 is rated at like 360 volts and my dr was running the jj's at 445 volts and the tubes didnt mind at all.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

. . . for some reason she does not like armed, car hi-jackings on a dailly basis - funny that !)

Why can't women just get along ???

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

get a used LTD if you can. if it was me i wouldnt even look at the other fender bassman RI. the ltd has better speakers, cab and has a bias pot.
i use jj 6v6's in my dr and they sound good but i think brimars or mazda or even jans sound better and put out a little less volume which in your case is a good thing.

the jj's will handle much higher plate voltages. the 6v6 is rated at like 360 volts and my dr was running the jj's at 445 volts and the tubes didnt mind at all.

MMmmmm, a used LTD you say !

I like the sound of that ! :smokin:

I'll start looking into the eBay-thing and see for how much they go these days !

With the 6V6's, does any one know by how much the vol. will drop ?
By Wattage or rough percentage ???


Thanx

 

[ES350]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

2 6V6 in fixed bias---around 22-25 watts; really not a big difference when it comes to 'domestic use'. I would disconnect or rewire two of the speakers as well for a 4 ohm load and to lower the volume some...

BTW, I was gigging one night when one of the 7581A's fell out of the socket in my low power Twin---it worked for a whole set, sounded like really early Freddy King, although I was sure I had blown both speakers. On the break, I checked and sure enough, it had been running on one power tube. Really crummy almost square wave distortion, but it worked...

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

OK, not a "TRUE" 4x10 Bassman, i know, but i've neever seen these before !? Does anyone know more about them ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Bassman-...0QQihZ013QQcategoryZ38074QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



First to come up on eBay : $550.00 - i can live wth that ! OK, so it is not an LTD, but things are looking good so far !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-59-Bassm...7QQihZ019QQcategoryZ38074QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



Not a 4x10, but a 1965 BLACKFACE head for $400.00 in working cond. !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1965-Fe...7QQihZ012QQcategoryZ38074QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Aghrrrrr . . . my head is gonna explode !

So many amps, so precious few minutes in one life-time !

What am i suposed to do ? ? ?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

Well...that Bassman 20 might be a cool amp but it isn't gonna have thetone of a Tweed Fender at all. That Blackface is nothing like a Tweed either, cool but nothing special IMO, not really great for crunch. The reissue Tweed is not an LTD and IMO the LTD is a better amp but I hae heard many of the older reissues sound great after someone tweaked them out a little but to be honest i'd hold out for the LTD if for no other reason it has the pine cab...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

I thought you already had a Bassman but wanted to being the volume down a bit...if you don't already own a Bassman why don't you get something else that might be better suited to waht you want?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

I thought you already had a Bassman but wanted to being the volume down a bit...if you don't already own a Bassman why don't you get something else that might be better suited to waht you want?

Good question !

I always loved the look of the 4x10 Bassman - long before i picked up the guitar. I'm talking mid-80's !

There is also that barking/growling tone of a Bassman that i love, and i have not play'd with enough amps (very difficult in SA !) to know if there are any other Fender amps that i will like !

Like i said, i am not gigging now, but would like to get a Psychobilly band (Horror Pops, Meteors, Reverend Horton Heat, Cramps - does "Jack Off Jill", count ?) together asap !
I think a Bassman would be a great starting point, because, except for the Psychobilly band, i also love the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion modern-twisted take, on the blues theme !!! :smokin:

So i think (HOPE more like it) the Bassman will be a good amp for BOTH styles !

Any oppinions ?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

All that taken into account a Tweed Bassman is a damn fine startin point...you nught just have to deal with maybe using a pedal at home for crunch at lower levels.

May I ask what your budget for an amp is? The LTD is a much better amp IMO than the NON-LTD reissue but there are still better Bassman amps out there if you have the cash for them.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

That Blackface is nothing like a Tweed either, cool but nothing special IMO, not really great for crunch. .

. . . and that is what i love about the Fender tone. That Fender Crunch !!!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

It seems to me that if you want a low wattage tweed, you can find a used Deluxe 5E3 out there for a lot less than a bassman LTD. Granted it's only a 1x12, but the low headroom, early breakup thing is spelled "5E3".

I've spent a lot of time chasing my tail trying to get a piece of gear to do something it was not designed to do. At the end of teh day, I end up disappointed, sell the gear in question and reimind myself to quit taking a financial loss on things experience tells me don't work out so well.

Just my two cents.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

All that taken into account a Tweed Bassman is a damn fine startin point...you nught just have to deal with maybe using a pedal at home for crunch at lower levels.

May I ask what your budget for an amp is? The LTD is a much better amp IMO than the NON-LTD reissue but there are still better Bassman amps out there if you have the cash for them.

Like i said, i'll be in the US in Jan/Febr 07, and hopefully by Jun, i'll be living with the gf in Toronto.

Would like a get an amp within those six months, and a realistical budget will be +/- $1000.00 US (for new or used)
If push comes to shove, i can go to $1500.00, but i'll have to save much harder then !

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

Granted it's only a 1x12, but the low headroom, early breakup thing is spelled "5E3".

I like the spelling !

Wattage ?
What do they go for these day ?
And do you think this amp in question will suite my style of music ?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

I like the spelling !

Wattage ?
What do they go for these day ?
And do you think this amp in question will suite my style of music ?

A Tweed Deluxe is about 1215 watts

A real tweed Deluxe goes for a good bit but there are loads of clones and kits out there that can be had for a decent price.

The deluxe will get you very close to the tone of the Bassman but no where newr the volume, I wouldn't try to gig with one...

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

It seems to me that if you want a low wattage tweed, you can find a used Deluxe 5E3 out there for a lot less than a bassman LTD. Granted it's only a 1x12, but the low headroom, early breakup thing is spelled "5E3".

I've spent a lot of time chasing my tail trying to get a piece of gear to do something it was not designed to do. At the end of teh day, I end up disappointed, sell the gear in question and reimind myself to quit taking a financial loss on things experience tells me don't work out so well.

Just my two cents.

HOLD ON . . .


. . . Scott_F, don't you have a Fender-like, low wattage amp in your range ?

Something with a nice crunch (not Marshall crunch though), like a Bassman, or even a 60's Black Face ?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: A '22Watter' Fender Bassman, possible ?

HOLD ON . . .
. . . Scott_F, don't you have a Fender-like, low wattage amp in your range ?
Something with a nice crunch (not Marshall crunch though), like a Bassman, or even a 60's Black Face ?

I'll let Scott tell you what all he builds but keep this inmind,,,if you want crunch you do not want a BF Style Fender, those amps are great for clean and maybe a light OD but not for crunch...tweeds crunch!