Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

[guitarboy883]

Ok so I'm going to purchase a new amp. That fact is certain. What's not certain is whether I get the Reeves Custom 12 or the '59 Fender Bassman Reissue. I'm going to need a great power tube overdrive at bedroom levels. I also need it to be pretty versitile; jazz, blues, indie-rock, and classic-rock.

The Reeves Custom 12 is able to do this because of its Power Scale feature. Sounds like an old Hiwatt. Great chimey cleans and overdrives. I like the voicing and obviously the tone of power tube overdrive is better than a pedal driven amp, but I might need the extra wattage and the price of head plus cab is a bit higher than the Fender.

With the Fender I will be using a pedal to get the overdrive tones. I will be using the Fulltone OCD. This amp is cheaper and has the power to play above a loud drummer, but obviously tone not as good as the Reeves but still pretty epic.

Let me know what y'all think!

 

[guitarboy883]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

Sorry the title of the thread should be "Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 12"

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

I would guess that the Reeves will have a far superior build quality. I would go with the Reeves.

30 tube watts is F-ing LOUD! If you need more volume, just add some speakers.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

Yeah, the difference in volume between 30 and 50 watts isn't going to be super noticeable, I'd go with the reeves. But I'm a big fan of that hiwatt sound, just my .02

 

[glassman]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

The Bassman won't even begin to fill out at bedroom levels...with or without a kick in the teeth from a dirt box.

It sounds to me like the Reeves meets all of your criteria...and I can't imagine a situation where you would ever need the full 30 watt output it has.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

a tweed bassman is just about the worst bedroom amp you could get, at full roar it can be fantastic but it needs to be turned up to sound its best

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

Your post is highly contradictory. You want power tube overdrive at bedroom levels (you won't even be able to turn the Bassman up past 1 at bedroom level), but then you say you will be getting your overdrive from a pedal. You also want to be able to be heard over a drummer, which the Bassman can definitely handle, but no amp on Earth will be able to give you power tube break-up at bedroom levels AND be heard over a drummer.

I think you need to re-examine your priorities regarding your amp before you make a decision.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Amp Advice Fender Bassman vs. Reeves Custom 30

a tweed bassman is just about the worst bedroom amp you could get, at full roar it can be fantastic but it needs to be turned up to sound its best

This is why guitarist who don't play clubs sell bassman amps cheap.... hehhehe

Makes them cheaper to buy on ebay.

Bassman is a great club amp, but I gotta agree with Jeremy, not a good bedroom amp.