SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 17 2014 01:31 PM
A friend of mine is selling his '69 Silverface Bassman 50 Export amp for a fairly reasonable price, and I feel a stroke of GAS coming on. But I'm not at all familiar with Bassmans, and I find myself doubting if I should jump on this one or not...
It's in pretty good condition, comes with -what looks like- the original 2 x 15" cab, and has recently been restored to original specs, apparently by the tech who services most of my band's equipment.
The thing is, I'm used to playing through high-powered combo amps (a 100W '74 SF Vibrosonic Reverb or a '65 TRRI) and I don't know if the Bassman is going to be loud enough for my taste, or clean enough? Or if it would be any good for playing surf at all ? And if I were to get the Bassman, I would have to sell the TRRI to raise the money to get it, hence part of my doubts.
Of course I'm gonna try it before buying, but I thought I'd ask you friendly folks for some advice and opinions as well. Do any of you have experience with this amp, is it any good, is it worth getting ?
Thanks in advance for your input, cheers !
Sascha
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
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Last edited: Jun 24, 2014 15:20:29
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landlocked
Joined: May 01, 2014
Posts: 18
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Posted on Jun 17 2014 06:02 PM
Does the bassman and cab have a strip of metal trim (dripedge) around the grill cloth? If so you essentially have a blackface circuit ab165. I know the 67 and 68 bassmans were like this, I own a 67. I absolutely love my bassman and the twin 15s, I use it for blues, surf and even bass. being my first tube amp I cant comment how it compares to a TRRI, other than it lacking reverb. It does have a great clean tone and is plenty loud enough to gig with, the bass channel seems clearer to me and I seem to use it the most for surf stuff. I get break up around 6 on the volume knob but the tone never seems to loose its clarity all the way up to 10, just gets a little hairy, and has more gain. you wont be able to have super loud cleans like your 100w vibrosonic, but I thinks with the volume dimed, it retains enough clarity for surf. I would determine what circuit you have before you pull the trigger.
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landlocked
Joined: May 01, 2014
Posts: 18
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Posted on Jun 17 2014 06:22 PM
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 18 2014 08:26 AM
landlocked wrote:
Does the bassman and cab have a strip of metal trim (dripedge) around the grill cloth? If so you essentially have a blackface circuit ab165...I would determine what circuit you have before you pull the trigger.
Yes, head and cab have the aluminum drip-edge frame. That and the fact it has a 2x15" cab dates it to somewhere between the fall of '68 and mid '69, according to Fender's website. Guess that's probably a bit too late to still have the AB165 circuit? Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky, I'll check the tube chart (for what it's worth) when I go try the amp next week.
Thanks for the info already.
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jun 18 2014 09:17 AM
Everyone needs a Bassman! Go for it!
— The Hicadoolas
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 18 2014 09:51 AM
SanchoPansen wrote:
Everyone needs a Bassman! Go for it!
I agree. Tube charts sometimes simply reflect the one that was grabbed because the tube orientation was the same w/o reference to "what circuit are we building today on this stack of chassis I just grabbed from the shelf?"
Some subtle differences but if price is right not that much to make it what you want from what I can tell. Ultimately, it's a hands & ears decision.
Good luck! 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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Hammond101
Joined: Feb 22, 2013
Posts: 342
SoCal USA
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Posted on Jun 18 2014 01:04 PM
Yeah, tube charts are pretty unreliable around those times.
If it has "Bassman 50" on the face plate it most likely is exactly that. There was an interim AC568 circuit and that is possible too.
These things and all model Bassmans are known for hairing up just the right amount with guitar. If you want to be super clean this is probably not the amp for you but they can sound wonderfully clean until pushed. The "50" would by design be cleaner than the earlier models. I like my tubes to sound like they are working a bit so I really like the AB165 Bassman I've been playing lately. To me it sounds like a Vibroverb with out the vibro & verb.
— Keep it Drippy Brothers and Sisters!
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 19 2014 06:39 PM
I have a '67 Silverface AB165 Bassman...had it since 1980. Best amp ever for everything I do. Very clean, if you push it it will get <slightly> raunchy. Mine goes into a Weber 2x12" Californian cab for surf or a 2x12" Celestion cab for everything else.
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Jun 19 2014 08:09 PM
Buy
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 02:08 AM
Hammond101 wrote:
These things and all model Bassmans are known for hairing up just the right amount with guitar. If you want to be super clean this is probably not the amp for you but they can sound wonderfully clean until pushed.
I'm not necessarily looking for "super clean" (I got that more than covered with the Vibrosonic), more for "clean enough". And loud enough  Hell, I wasn't even looking for a new amp, but this seems like too good an opportunity to pass up on.
And judging by the reactions in this thread, this thing might very well suit my sonic needs.
Anyway, I'm gonna try it out on Monday evening and I'll keep y'all posted as to how it went. Thanks again for all your answers!
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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poisonmanu
Joined: May 13, 2011
Posts: 81
Belgium
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 03:33 AM
I have a silverface Bassman 70 that sounds great, warm, clean and perfect for surf.....but I don't use it anymore for gigs => too big and too heavy ! Fender Prosonic combo is the perfect alternative, the tone is very similar. I'm really tired of carrying heavy amps 'coz most of time you cannot use half power of the amp. If your back is ok with 2x15 cab + head, go for it but I don't think it will completly change YOUR sound 
— www.facebook.com/hello.tiki.1
www.facebook.com/SonicNightmare
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 04:52 AM
Hi Manu, yes...the weight...I'm trying not to think about that just yet On the other hand, both my combo amps weigh at least 40kg as well, so my back is used to carrying heavy stuff on stage.
And I'm not looking to change my sound, I see this more as an opportunity to add a second PTP-wired vintage amp to my "collection" so I can have a wider choice of sounds. And I'll be honest with you: I've always wanted a big-ass amp on stage 
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 05:47 AM
SaschaReynders wrote:
And I'm not looking to change my sound, I see this more as an opportunity to add a second PTP-wired vintage amp to my "collection" so I can have a wider choice of sounds. And I'll be honest with you: I've always wanted a big-ass amp on stage
 LOL, I get it completely. I don't gig but I'd still like a big-ass amp. I'd move it in the house (once) & there it would rest, to be enjoyed. (A local lightly used ToneMaster ensemble has been getting my eye for that reason - but I'd get the boys to move the cab upstairs for me. I gotta go play it & see how that selective output thing works... if it sounds half as good as it looks I've got a fun kind of problem.)
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 10:56 AM
Badger wrote:
LOL, I get it completely. I don't gig but I'd still like a big-ass amp. I'd move it in the house (once) & there it would rest, to be enjoyed. (A local lightly used ToneMaster ensemble has been getting my eye for that reason - but I'd get the boys to move the cab upstairs for me. I gotta go play it & see how that selective output thing works... if it sounds half as good as it looks I've got a fun kind of problem.)
Yeah, I know what you mean If I end up buying the Bassman, I'll probably just unload it and park it as close to the front door as possible, where it will stay until I need it for the next gig  And talking about fun problems, I can already imagine the look on the Missus' face when I carry it through the door...
Go for that ToneMaster I'd say, from what I read they're pretty hard to find these days, at least over here in the Old Country. It looks very cool indeed, good luck with it !
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 20 2014 02:32 PM
SaschaReynders wrote:
Go for that ToneMaster I'd say, from what I read they're pretty hard to find these days, at least over here in the Old Country. It looks very cool indeed, good luck with it !
Thanks, and to you as well. Trip to the shop didn't work out so well; they were filming some local show about the shop and doing some interviews all in the back of the store, so didn't get to play it. I ended up with a bigger problem; went off to another room and played this.
Same as after I got an outboard reverb tank, all I can say after that is: I get it. Wow. Makes me want to put my MiM on a diet. (And Martin if you see this, it was one that would be in the "happy" guitar category.)
If you love the sound of the amp - get it. Pay once, cry once.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 24 2014 03:13 PM
Badger wrote:
If you love the sound of the amp - get it. Pay once, cry once.
Played it last night, liked how it sounded and took it home with me And I didn't cry too hard when I payed for it either: 800 Euros for the head and cab. It sounds exactly like all of you described earlier: nice Fender cleans up to a certain point, but it takes on a nice growl once you dial the volume past 5, the bass channel starts breaking up a little earlier than the normal channel. Played it both dry and with my '63 Reverb in front of it, and with the reverb I noticed I had to turn the dwell way down to about 4'ish otherwise it sounded like I was in the Hall of the Mountain King... Maybe that's because of the two 15" speakers ?
Speaking of speakers (no pun intended), I took the back off the cab tonight and it has 2 blue-labeled Fender Special Design speakers in it. Speaker codes are 67-6913, so I guess these are Eminence speakers manufactured in the 13th week of 1969 ? I'd love to know the exact type of speaker though. And for what it's worth: the tube chart states "AB165".
The tolex and metal parts on the corners of the cab and on top of the head could use some TLC, but all in all the amp is in pretty good condition. I'm a happy camper !
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jun 24 2014 03:34 PM
CONGRATS!!!
uh, did we miss the pics? 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 24 2014 03:44 PM
Badger wrote:
CONGRATS!!!
uh, did we miss the pics?
Thanks Wes! I'll try to post some pics tomorrow or so, it's almost time for bed in this part of the world
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jun 25 2014 01:04 AM
Well, well, well, congrats on your new amp! I was sure you'd buy it as soon as you play it. Pics or it didn't happen!
— The Hicadoolas
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Jun 25 2014 12:19 PM
Here ya go Wes & Sancho, some pics as proof of purchase
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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