Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

[Stratman]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

It has the dreaded AB-165 circuit in it.

I use a Bassman with the 'dreaded' AB 165 circuit and have owed and has stolen a Bassman with that 'good' AB 864 circuit.

Gerald Weber published a book in which he indicated that AB 165 is 'Dreaded", "Awful", and "Worst sounding bassman". (Tube Guitar Amplifier Essentials)

I disagree - the worst Bassman amps are the following amps:

Bassman 10 (1972-1982) - Silverface combo - four 10" speakers
Bassman 20 (1982-1983) - Blackface combo - one 15" speaker
Bassman 50 (1972-1977) - Silverface piggyback head - two 15" speakers, 50 Watts/RMS
Bassman 70 (1977-1983) - Silverface piggyback head - Same as the Bassman 50, with 70 Watts/RMS
Bassman 100 (1972-1977) - Silverface piggyback head - four 12" speakers, 100 Watts/RMS, became the Bassman 135 in 1978.
Bassman 135 (1978-1983) - Silverface piggyback head - Same as the Bassman 100, with 135 Watts/RMS.
Super Bassman (1969-1971) - one speaker cabinet
Super Bassman II (1969-1972) - two speaker cabinets


Now, the Bassman with the 5F6-A has tone up the wahzoo and that is Mo-Better than the AB 165 and/or AB 864 circuits.

BTW- The Bassman RI is nothing like the AB165 or AB 864 circuits or tone.

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

yea I thought the deal with the 72 SF Bassman's was that you were **Lucky** that if yours still has the BF AB165 circuit.. people go crazy over the blackfaces since they break up fast.. the Bassmans got more and more clean throughout the years

I think you guys are referring to the AA864 (not AB864) circuit of earlier BF bassmans.. I could be mistaken.. and yes the 5F6-A narrow panel bassmans are some of the most desired (and expensive!) amps around now.. I've gotten to play one and I agree that the 59 Bassman RI is nothing like the 1958-1960 bassmans, but are good amps nonetheless.. the RI also costs at least 10 grand less.. so jus get yourself a good fuzzbox and a 59 bassman RI!

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

OK. I've put her through her paces and this is what I've found thus far. This amp is too clean. It has very nice cleans, but I want more grind from it. I specifically want the output tubes to get more hip-action. Right now the output tubes aren't pushed at all. It's a very clean 6L6 amp. This amp has serious potential as a tone machine and it does sound really nice just like it currently is, but I'd rather it be more like it's older siblings. I think I may blackface it or turn it into a tweed if possible.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

nice!

i would look at the older bf bassman schematics and see what you have in there

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

I'll open her up and take a gut shot and see what it compares to. I don't have a schematic on it and the sheet with the tubes and circuit info has been totally screwed with age and grime. I'll see if I can clean it up, but I'm not holding my breath. Half the time the tube/circuit sheet didn't match the actual circuit anyway. Sometimes the best way to tell is just to open it up and compare it to gut shots or schematics of known circuits.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Found a nice sounding 72 bassman 50.

After a bit of research, it seems that the transformers aren't the same for this amp and the 5F6A. I'll probably convert the power section to match the AA864 circuit. The AA864 used the exact same transformers as mine does. This means I can make this amp sound exactly like a blackface if I do my homework.