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In looking for a GREAT blues tone, I've come across an actual 59 Fender Bassman for $1200. The tech I was going to buy it from is going to put a power cut switch to cut it from 50 to 25 watts when you want to. Does this effect the sound at all?

What do you guys think of this amp for guitar? Is it really as good as they say? I'm looking for that good clean but slightly overdriven SRV sound for chords and my tube screamer gives me any level of drive I need for soloing so that's not a worry. What is a 59 Bassman known for?

Thanks everyone.


Originally Posted by 75lespaulIn looking for a GREAT blues tone, I've come across an actual 59 Fender Bassman for $1200. The tech I was going to buy it from is going to put a power cut switch to cut it from 50 to 25 watts when you want to. Does this effect the sound at all?

What do you guys think of this amp for guitar? Is it really as good as they say? I'm looking for that good clean but slightly overdriven SRV sound for chords and my tube screamer gives me any level of drive I need for soloing so that's not a worry. What is a 59 Bassman known for?

Thanks everyone. I'd be careful of a real 1959 Bassman for $1200...a half power switch can be done in several ways...I am guessing that in this case he is gonna do a pentode/triode switch which IMO sounds pretty bad. A 59 bassman has a killer clean tone that starts to break up and blooms into a killer crunch, like all Tweed Fenders they are very touch senative and have a tone and a vibe that is out of this world, and equelled by nothing else.

Hard to believe. A '59 Bassman for $1200.?

Is this a real tweed 4 x 10 Bassman?

Sounds like a fish story. But if it's legit, don't let your tech touch it. If he's willing to install a switch in a real '59 5F6-A Bassman he's gotta be a hack because no tech in thier right mind would devalue an amp like that with that type of mod.

Those amps are worth a minimum of $2000 in less than original condition and I've seen them as high as $4000. or $5000. in pristine condition.

Lew

The cab looks like an offset 2x12 so it's probably a bassman head in another cab, though it is a real beat up tweed. I haven't had a chance to look at it closely yet but he knows the value of a real 59 as do I. Been going to him for close to twenty years and I'm one of his oldest customers. He also knows I know a bit about amps!

Yes it is a triode switch he mentioned, which isn't in the amp yet. I was looking for something at a lower volume but I was afraid of how the sound would suffer. I never liked the idea of pulling a tube to cut volume but I don't know what this switch does. If it's in the off position does the amp go back to normal with no effect to the sound?


Originally Posted by 75lespaulThe cab looks like an offset 2x12 so it's probably a bassman head in another cab, though it is a real beat up tweed. I haven't had a chance to look at it closely yet but he knows the value of a real 59 as do I. Been going to him for close to twenty years and I'm one of his oldest customers. He also knows I know a bit about amps!

Yes it is a triode switch he mentioned, which isn't in the amp yet. I was looking for something at a lower volume but I was afraid of how the sound would suffer. I never liked the idea of pulling a tube to cut volume but I don't know what this switch does. If it's in the off position does the amp go back to normal with no effect to the sound?the fender Custom Shop offerd an amp a few years ago called a Bass Breaker...it was a 59 Bassman head (reissue) in a 2x12 set up covered in tweed...it is a killer amp and $1200.00 is about right for those amps...there is a 59 Tweed Bassman here in town that looks like hell and it's $3700.00...and IMO worth every penny! In a tube amp with 4 power tubes you can get a pentode/triode switch to cut the power in half or a switch that simple shuts off 2 of the 4 tubes..the latter is far better IMO. Being that a Bassman has 2 power tubes shutting half (1) of them off is not only a bad idea, it won;t make it 25 watts! Being that he is talking about a pentode/triode switch I say don't do it. To be honest...Im with Lew no one sould EVER mod a real tweed, and the truth is a Bass Breaker (If that's what this amp is) is also pretty rare and should not be cut up either!

Cool...well he hasn't done it yet. I was gonna check it out tomorrow. If it is a real 59 Bassman what kind of sound can I expect and how loud is it. He said it's REALLY loud. Will this amp get the kind of sound I want?

I was going to ask him if I could borrow it for a few days which I'm sure he'll let me do. Then I'll really have a chance to check it out. I'll post some photos if he lets me.

I have a feeling this is going to turn out to not be a real 1959 5F6-A tweed Bassman when all is said and done, but something else.

Are the controls on top of the amp or on the front of the amp?

They would be on top of the amp if it's a real '59 Bassman - not the front.

Are the transformers original?

I'm telling you: if it's a '59 do not mod it.

If you want power reduction get a Weber Mass or something along those lines to soak up a little power. You hook 'em up between the speaker output and the speakers.

Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarI have a feeling this is going to turn out to not be a real 1959 5F6-A tweed Bassman when all is said and done, but something else.

Are the controls on top of the amp or on the front of the amp?

They would be on top of the amp if it's a real '59 Bassman - not the front.

Are the transformers original?

I'm telling you: if it's a '59 do not mod it.

If you want power reduction get a Weber Mass or something along those lines to soak up a little power. You hook 'em up between the speaker output and the speakers.

Lew 1
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I wouldn't mod a reissue...at least THAT mod...pentode/triode switches just do not sound very good...they give the amp a very fake sound buzzy/fuzzy crunch!

That's what I was afraid of. I don't want the tone altered, just the volume! Yeah Lew, the controls are on the top. The cab sure did look like a real tweed. It's got the look of something that only 46 years and a LOT of abuse can do! Like I said, I only saw it for maybe a minute from about five feet away, but it looked real.

Anyways, if it IS real, does it give that kind of tone I'm looking for? I just don't want to go there (35min drive one way) lug it home and not get close to the sound I'm after. Also how loud would you say it would be compared to say a Marshall Bluesbreaker.

I own a real '59 Bassman and it's not quite as loud as my 50 watt Marshall 2 x 12 combo amps were. But it's still to darned loud to crank up at home.

THAT'S another thing I was wondering. I've got a 50 watt Blue Voodoo but of course it's a master volume amp. I live in a burb and got rid of non-master amps because of this like the twin.

I've got a Line 6 Vetta but the Fenders leave something to be desired. Well, I'm going to pick it up later today if he'll let me try it out, or buy with a few day grace period to return it.

Hey Lew--does it still sound fat at low volumes


Originally Posted by 75lespaulTHAT'S another thing I was wondering. I've got a 50 watt Blue Voodoo but of course it's a master volume amp. I live in a burb and got rid of non-master amps because of this like the twin.

I've got a Line 6 Vetta but the Fenders leave something to be desired. Well, I'm going to pick it up later today if he'll let me try it out, or buy with a few day grace period to return it.

Hey Lew--does it still sound fat at low volumes

Extremely fat! It's a Bassman. The tweed Bassman has a 250 mfd cathode cap on the first tube and that makes it very bassy. When I play my Bassman I have to keep the bass turned almost all the way down. In fact, it's to bassy IMO. I plan on selling this amp if I can get enough for it. I'd like to see it get $3000 or more. But I'm not quite ready to part with it...maybe this summer. I'll be selling lots of my stuff, including my home, and I'm moving from Boulder to the Taos or Santa Fe or Moab area. Big changes coming up in my life. Lew

Good for you Lew! I hope these changes are your choice. It seems like summer brings better prices for gear, at least around here in NJ. Thanks for the info on the amp.

BTW I never got those Fralin woodstock pickups you warned me about. You had some good points there as I've heard some strats from the late sixties and don't like them nearly as much as a pre CBS. Same with the amps. I listen first before I judge but I like the sound of my pre-CBS Champ better than my 67 twin reverb!

Just pull the back cover off the amp. If you see a circuit board, walk away. I got my old Fender Custom Shop Bassbreaker 2x12 for about 700-800 bucks used (about a year or two ago).

I thought it was a good amp, but it was a bit boomy on the bass. Very much Fenders answer to the Bluesbreaker. I ran some KT66HP power tubes in it and thought the results were much better. It had a laquered tweed pine cab, light as a feather, had a lot going for it. They originally came with a solidstate rectifier plug, but you could pull it and run a real rectifier tube.

But, as it was, I started playing with a local rock cover group and found the amp to be inadequate for what i was trying to do.


Originally Posted by Scott_FJust pull the back cover off the amp. If you see a circuit board, walk away. I got my old Fender Custom Shop Bassbreaker 2x12 for about 700-800 bucks used (about a year or two ago).

I thought it was a good amp, but it was a bit boomy on the bass. Very much Fenders answer to the Bluesbreaker. I ran some KT66HP power tubes in it and thought the results were much better. It had a laquered tweed pine cab, light as a feather, had a lot going for it. They originally came with a solidstate rectifier plug, but you could pull it and run a real rectifier tube.

But, as it was, I started playing with a local rock cover group and found the amp to be inadequate for what i was trying to do.Scott..tell me more. I really want a tweed bassman, but the 2x12 thing really has me going!

Oh Yeah! I'm pretty learned in what to look for. I just haven't HEARD the majority of pre-CBS amps. I've read some reviews on HC about real bassman amps but was wondering if any of you guys had ever played through one and if it really gets the tone I'm looking for before I pull this thing out of the shop!

Circuit board--turn up my nose. I'm pretty sure for the cost this is far from original, but again my ears should tell me the whole story. I love this forum!!!

OKAY--------I got the amp. It is NOT an original 59 Bassman . It is a hand wired PTP 59 clone. Like I said, I only looked across the room at it. I also got the price wrong. He wanted $1450 but took the $1200. The amp sounds fantastic and she's real purty. He gave me a seven day trial period so I've only got myself to blame after that! He gave me the option in the future of doing the upgrades to it he was going to do for the $1450 like NOS tubes, 4/8/16 ohm switch, tride power cut switch--which he swears sounds good but will take it out if I don't like it. Any advice he's ever given me has been right on the money so I trust him. People have told him that amps actually sounded better after he put the triode switch in so again, it's not an original so I'll try it out! The circuitry is beautiful. It's got four speaker outs! Luckily he had it wired to 16 ohms so I can put it through my 16 ohm G12H30/V30 4X12 cab.

When I told him I love the sound of my 65 Champ he said he could put a direct out in the champ and I could use that as a preamp to the Bassman. My Champ at one point by a previous owner had a direct out, but it was removed and the hole plugged so again, no butchering to an original. All players stuff here! Anyone ever try something like that How did it work out

I'll try to get some photos up this weekend.

A good kit would run you about a Grand or so to put together. Add 200 for labor and you've got a deal.

Skip the NOS tubes he's trying to sell you. Grab a pair of those small bottle TAD 6L6WGB's from Bruce at Mission Amps or from Mojo. You'll thank me later. Excellent tubes for that amp. I'd be interested in what kind of Rectifier tube it has in it. As far as the preamp tubes go, mix and match till you find a combo you love.

As far as that Fender Custom Shop Bassbreaker goes, it was a nice 2x12 with two Vintage 30's in it, circuit board same as the regular 59RI Bassman. Outputs for 4 ohms total instead of 2 ohms total. Lightweight, laquered pine cabinet. No reverb. Essentially a stock 59 Bassman RI in a 2x12 config. Nothing different at all.

You can steal these off ebay at times for 700 or so.

True about the eBAY thing but at this price range I'd rather see and hear first before buying. I try to limit myself to one big (over 1K) purchase a year as long as I've sold enough stuff to cover it previously. I also don't mind paying a premium to get what I want. That's a premium, not raped.

He spent quite awhile with me this morning trying different tubes and dialing in sounds until we got what I was looking for. You won't get THAT service at GC or MF. At least not around here you won't. He had a bassbreaker there and I played through a real 59 Bassman at the local GC before I went there just to see what it, or at least what that one, sounded like. That one did have the 4x10 cab. The bassbreaker just wasn't anything close to what I wanted, and he knew that, while the bassman--well, it's an original and the one he built sounded way closer to the real thing IMHO, lol.

I'll tell ya, I had a lot of fun mixing and matching the tubes and I thought it was cool that he did that for me. I can tell you that it's not a Fender but a Marshall transformer in the amp also. I for one can't really tell the difference because to me, it doesn't sound like a late sixties or later Marshall but since the Marshall was modeled after the Bassman, maybe they used the same trannies? A strat through this amp sounds different than a strat through a Marshall. I just let my ears do the judging though and they were VERY happy for now... It's going to get the real hammer test tomorrow.

When I mess with it tomorrow I'll let you know what tubes are in it. Thanks for the tube advice also. I'll probably get those soon just to hear what the difference/improvements are.