diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 12:28 PM
Why did I choose a 64' blackface Fender bassman AA864
is no one really used it for lead guitar that I know of everyone is using bandmasters, tremolux, showman but this group has opened a big Ave. and I know now that many of you use a bassman for lead or rhythm guitar and even bass, I use to play a 65' Twin reverb for long time and it rocks but I love the vibe,look and most of all the big tone and sound of the so called piggy back style amps closed backs
the only drag I do have to say is hauling the rig from home to car to show and then here we go back home again, but's worth it 
Inspiration besides surf music in getting into the bassman is Brian Setzer and after seeing Dave Wronski last month @ HBISM playing through a 61'-62' blonde bassman I was like YES this is what it's all about big surf tone YES! A Fender Bassman! I could not Imagine my self playing anything else but a bassman
I play bass guitar as well so what perfect amp to have for bass guitar a Bassman! a guitar & bass amp in 1 package a Bassman!
Bass Instrument side (I play through this side 90% of the time)
(for bass and guitar)
My settings are simple: volume @3 1/2 it's very very loud and no it's very clean and warm no break up what so ever, Tone @ 6 Bass @ 6 1/2
Yeah I know what your thinking why play through the bass channel, man you just have to hear it tone tone tone!
AB165 circut and below tend to sound muddy and not the greatest tone but AA864 is a better circut for bass and guitar in my opinion, also AA864 is very close in sound to showman, bandmaster, tremolux, super reverb circut
here's a link to what I mean tone tone tone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYP6iB5rXEU
The Normal side (10% of the time)
Volume @ 6 to 7 Tone @ 7 Bass @ 7 bright switch off
Tubes I only use JJ's power section and pre amp tubes
they kick!
Please share with us your story and spread photos of your Fender amp guts and all
Bassman cab with Webers
Ralf of The Kilaueas and the band stayed with us last September of 06' and when Ralf plugged into my bassman he told me he has not heard a Bassman sound so good killer tone, he requested to use it for thier set I said SEEEEEEE yesserrrr
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 07:52 PM
Kyle's bassman sounds very good indeed.
I have a '64 Showman that has the most incredible lows I've ever heard on a amp... only problem is that the amp is too trebley. My vibroverb sounds pretty great, its a open back and I don't like the sound of those as much.
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Jon
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 08:52 PM
I bought my Showman because it has the richest, warmest sound I've ever heard from an amp. I love it, and as soon as I build my cab I'm gonna spend every minute of spare time playing.
Slightly off-topic, I was trying to find out what year my amp was made. I was looking at that tube chart or whatever you call it, but parts of it are missing. The only thing I could make out was a part that said "AB763". Would that have anything to do with production date, or is that something that's irrelevant?
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19305
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:08 PM
AB763 is the name of the circuit for the amp.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:38 PM
Jon
Slightly off-topic, I was trying to find out what year my amp was made. I was looking at that tube chart or whatever you call it, but parts of it are missing. The only thing I could make out was a part that said "AB763". Would that have anything to do with production date, or is that something that's irrelevant?
Jon good question
A few years ago I bought a silverface bassman the guitar shop had it advertised as a 1968 the tube chart said AA568 so my amp tech took a look inside and it actualy ended being an AB165 circut all stock, stamped date taken it back to the year of of 67' anyways sometimes the tube chart is wrong for the circut that's inside or when it was built the wrong tube chart was put on, so when you crack open your head you'll see a stamped date inside the body of the chassis and walla the true date and circut are known
Dates on Fender tilt back cabs
Another one as well for those that own a vintage blonde or blackface speaker cab here's a way besides the stamped date inside the cab you can also date your cab by checking the inside of 1 of the tilt back legs and you'll see a stamped date
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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Jon
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:50 PM
Cool, thanks for the info. I think I'll open her up and poke around.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19305
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:58 PM
Jon
Cool, thanks for the info. I think I'll open her up and poke around.
 Be careful Jon...lethal voltages and all that stuff...
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 10:07 PM
Jon I apologize yes indeed take caution just look but don't touch even after a week or more of no use the filter caps and other parts can hold such a charge.
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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Jon
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
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Posted on Nov 14 2006 10:12 PM
No need to worry, fellas. I'll be extra careful. Thanks for the warnings, though!
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surfneptune
Joined: Mar 16, 2006
Posts: 923
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 12:48 PM
64 seems like a magic year for fender amps. If you can get black-plate rca's the tone just gushes. You can plug straight into a non-reverb blackface amp and get great tone.
I have a 64, Concert, Shoman and Deluxe Reverb. That bassman of yours would fit right in at my house! Dig the Weber speakers as well I have one in my dlx, I found a 66 jensen C12NS for my bandmaster cab that I run the showman through and the tone just came alive, the other speaker is a C12N voiced Naylor made by eminence. NExt I am trying a tuned back for the cab, to see if we can get the drummer to hear whats going on better, and get more of a Twin-tone
Thanks for posting your gear!
tom
— THe NEpTuNeS
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Fripperton
Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 270
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 07:41 PM
Just got my blonde 63 Bassman back from the tech bench and gave it a test run. I think I'm in pure tone heaven. I've plugged a few of my amps in to try a multi-amp setup. I'll need to move a few things around but for right now it's a 64 Tremolux into a Carvin 2x12 with British type speakers but I'm digging out my openback Fender 2x12 with some old 1962 C12Ps from a silvertone cabinet to try, a 74 Pro Reverb that's been BF'd and with loaded with C12N RIs and the bassman into a 69 Fender 2x12 loaded with original Oxfords. I have a few more cab combinations to try but I'm sure I'll find something usable. So far I'm really liking what I hear from the Bassman in combination with the Tremolux. Here's pic of my corner of the band room for this week.
image
— There is Surf east of Sepulveda.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 08:22 PM
I bet that Tremolux sounds awesome. If only they were a little more powerful... Really it is the speaker set-ups fault.
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Fripperton
Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 270
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 08:40 PM
Yeah it's not powerful like a Showman but where it does work well is when you're gigging and need to keep the volume under cotnrol. You can get that cool blonde era tone but at a lower db level.
— There is Surf east of Sepulveda.
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 10:45 PM
Fripperton Awesome rig and who cares about the power I bet these sound freakin nice I am drooling man  an nothing beats that Fender wall of sound
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 15 2006 10:47 PM
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 02:16 AM
Hey, I like those tunes on You Tube. Good sound outta that amp, too. The proof is definitely in the pudding, there.
— SSIV
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 02:27 AM
LHR
Hey, I like those tunes on You Tube. Good sound outta that amp, too. The proof is definitely in the pudding, there.
LHR 1st off welcome to  and thank you 
Cheers!!
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 02:43 AM
Hey, thanks. I have been lurking around for awhile...
By the way, do reissue blackface Fenders count? 
— SSIV
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diceophonic
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
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Posted on Nov 16 2006 08:58 PM
Yes for those that have a reissue blackface Twin reverb, Deluxe reverb, Super Reverb, Pro Reverb, Tonemaster, Vibroking or even the Vibroverb in tan & black reissues, Vibrolux custom step right up fill us in on your rig please don't be shy Thank you LHR
— -Kyle
Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Nov 17 2006 01:16 AM
I chose my showman because my Twin broke up a bit on the low end, and I love the punch you can get out of the big ol' 15s. Plus, I found it on ebay, and recognized the zip code, so not only did I get it for a decent price, I saved a mint on shipping. Granted it came with an amber jewel light, but I was able to remedy that quickly enough. I gotta say, when I was setting up my Sweptwing, I was A/Bing it with the Mosrite at show volume in my garage (standing a few feet from the amp) and there's no feeling like that pressure in your chest cavity when you hear that low E really get going.
I had gotten the Twin Reverb before that because, hey, who doesn't love a Twin Reverb?
~B~
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