sonofthebeach
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 17
Pennsylvania
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 06:37 PM
Need some advice. I'm debating between buying the Fender Showman and the Bandmaster amps.
I've read that the Bandmaster is great for small rooms, and can produce rich tones at low volumes. My concern is that, eventually, my band will be playing outdoor gigs. Will the Bandmaster (at 40 watts) have enough power for an outdoor gig, or would the Showman be better suited for outdoor gig? Also, how would the Showman perform in a small club at low volumes?
Just a note: I use flatwound strings.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 06:46 PM
I think the Bassman is a better amp than the Bandmaster. Wattage wise the are similar. So consider the Bassman is possible.
Also, don't take a outdoor gig unless you are going to be mic'd. So a bandmaster would work in that situation as well.
Some people will say the Showman is great for small clubs, I highly disagree. I've found out the hard way. Showman's don't sound 'great' until they are really pushed hard, which is too loud for a small club.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 07:16 PM
I too prefer the Bassman over the Bandmaster...but, there are those who can make the Bandmaster sing beautifully.
For outdoor gigs, the Showman does shine...it really moves large quantities of air in a very powerful manner.
Dick Dale plays Two Showmans, both indoors and out...and as we all know, he's blisteringly loud in either setting!
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 08:51 PM
I like to run stereo rigs indoor and out. This past weekend I played a Theatre in VA. that was a very "live" sounding room. I knew we had a soundman and would have a great monitor mix. I took my Gomez "G" Reverb-Amp 12 Watts w1/12 and stereoed it with a Customized Fender Pro Junoir 15 Watts w2/10's {Newell Custom Cab}and Mercury Magnetics OT. I ran the Pro with my '64 Fender Reverb. Man what a great tone in two small Wattage Amps. I was actually asked to turn down, and the soundman asked if I had enough "Amp" at load in  Two weeks ago we played outdoors and I took my '64 Fender Super Reverb {Bought it for $200.00 in 1988} and stereoed it with my '65 Fender Bassman 2/10 Combo{Newell Custom Cab} with the '64 Fender Reverb thru the Bassman. Man those 6/10 speakers were pushin' some air Just get you a good tube amp and start building some tone, Showman, Bassman , Bandmaster or all three You can check out some of my Goodies at -
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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kenposurf
Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 09:06 PM
At the risk of repeating myself  ...Gomez may have one El Sonido (brownface bassman) left to sell..buy that! or a bassman if you are going to have just the one amp..it will serve you best for a variety of venues. Ive used the El Sonido (55 Watts) for small clubs as well as a football sized outdoor venue last Weekend with great results. I owned a pair of Bandmasters in the past and for what reason I don't know, I could not get as much volume out of them..and was not all that happy with the tone..The Showman amp is a beautiful thing but again, if it's one amp only pass on it...
— www.northofmalibu.com
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 09:17 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 18:40:47
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4570
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 03 2009 11:46 PM
FWIW, the last band I heard live was outdoors at the Tucson Racquet Club. One of the guitarists was using a 22 watt Deluxe Reverb RI which stayed clean and was plenty loud for the occasion.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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casey
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 521
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 05:04 AM
A question for Thunderhead - how did you connect your amps when you use more than one on stage? I've been considering doing the same thing with my Super Reverb and Vibrolux. Nice sound BTW. Thanks, Casey
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 09:05 AM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 18:40:51
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 10:10 AM
casey
A question for Thunderhead - how did you connect your amps when you use more than one on stage? I've been considering doing the same thing with my Super Reverb and Vibrolux. Nice sound BTW. Thanks, Casey
I use a Visual Sounds H2O pedal that has Stereo outs. It is a dual pedal with delay and Chorus in one unit. I use both effects sparingly. It will send a dry siginal to one Amp and the other siginal will have the Effect. I like to set one amp with a little slap back echo just slightly "out of Sync" with the other. Gives you a big sound, especially with a couple of Small amps. Give it a try sometime
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4570
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 10:51 AM
zak
I use two amps frequently, at first I used to simply plug into one amp, run another cable out of input 2 into the second amp. This usually results in a slightly attenuated signal going to amp 2, just enough for you to notice a bit of signal loss. If you like a two-amp setup enough to use it all or most of the time, get an A/B/A+B box with buffered outputs, they're not expensive (or you can just make one yourself). I got so into it that I started doing really quiet gigs with a pair of single-6V6 amps. For tone, not volume.
I think that's a pretty good way to handle it. If I had it to do over again I'd simply have 2 Deluxe Reverbs. For small venues 1 is plenty but if I needed a lot of volume I'd just chain up a second Deluxe.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 11:03 AM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 18:41:08
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Mel
Joined: Feb 25, 2008
Posts: 321
Canada's Wet Coast
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 11:33 AM
casey
A question for Thunderhead - how did you connect your amps when you use more than one on stage? I've been considering doing the same thing with my Super Reverb and Vibrolux. Nice sound BTW. Thanks, Casey
I tried a few unbuffered ABY switch boxes but had impedance loading problems that resulted in a volume loss when both amps were enabled. So a buffered ABY pedal was the way to go as far as I was concerned.
The pedal that worked the most transparent (no volume drop nor tone range loss) for me was the Radial Bones Twin City ABY:
http://www.tonebone.com/bones-twincity.htm
I run two different amps, one solid state, one tube. Completely different sound but sound quite good together or alone.
— Mel
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casey
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 521
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 01:21 PM
Appreciate everyone's excellent advice. Like Zak I experienced the signal attenuation when I just hooked up the amps with a cord from input 2 of the 1st amp to an input on the 2nd amp. Sounds like some type of buffered splitter box is the way to go.
On a related note, I've played outside many times with just a Super Reverb and not found it lacking in volume. Its in the same general class power-wise as the Bandmaster and Bassman. Never used it a at a really large venue, however.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11079
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 01:31 PM
a 4x10 cab has 316 sq inches vs 2x12 with 226. More air equals more volume.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 02:17 PM
Which is louder? A 2x12 at sea level, or a 4x10 on Mt. Everest?
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 02:22 PM
I like Mels suggestion of running a Tube Amp and Solid State in stereo. I've got a really good sounding Mosrite BG-500 I'm going to try this with. Again try a Delay Pedal with Stereo outs also for a panning effect.
www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 02:22 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 27, 2009 18:37:10
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 02:24 PM
Which is why I do this instead of having just the one cab with all of those speakers.
Each of my speakers is a Celestion Green back with the serial numbers in sequential order.
Last edited: Aug 04, 2009 14:56:30
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11079
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 04 2009 02:54 PM
zak
DannySnyder
a 4x10 cab has 316 sq inches vs 2x12 with 226. More air equals more volume.
More speakers in a single cab = more frequency cancellation as well, which can in some cases translate to less cutting power in a dense mix. Particularly with a "scooped" EQ amp like a BF or SF Fender. So more air does not always equal more volume, just better (wider) projection.
Thanks for the clarification. A perfect example of how once you start examining the technical side of gear it's often more complicated than it seemed at first.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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