Fender Bassman 10, need MODS.

[CASTERBATOR]

Good day to all.

I have a Bassman 10 that I received in a trade, and well it can stand to use some improvements.

I know nothing about fixing,modding or electrical work. But here is what I'm thinking...

By the way I'm using it for guitar.

1-Rip the amp out of the cab and build an enclosure and make it a head. I'll be playing through a 2-12 closed back with greenbacks.
2-I would like get a tweed crunch from it, if possible.

If this can be done could you point me in the right direction.
Maybe someone could tell me a site to get the schematics for this beast as well.

I know this is vague but I'm not sure how to get my point across.

Feel free to make some suggestions on MODS for this thing. I'm curious to see what can be done with this thing.

Any help would be a start...Thanks.

[Donnie55]

Start with the basics. 1. New Tubes , depending on your budget. NOS like RCA or Jan Phillips. But if you are like most of us, then get some JJ`s in the power section and Tung Sol`s in the pre amp. Replace the speakers , I wouldnt rip it out of the cab. I would put four Ragun Cajun`s in it. And you can jump the inputs also thats always cool. You mentioned yer not a tech. Most any other real mod is gonna cost you Bookoo bucks. Because its going to require the skills of a qualified tech. Start with the simple stuff chances are yer gonna like it just fine.

[rhomco]

I'm interested in that cab if you dont want to keep it.
Rob

[muchxs]

Oh, geez... that Bassman Ten!

I have one right here that someone put some serious time and money into, it includes a "tweed" mod on one channel. I'm not sure what they did to it, I haven't looked lately. I took a quick peek at it when I got it, it had all Sprague Atoms with recent date codes under the doghouse. I set it aside for a future project, that's as far as I got with that one...

Originally Posted by Donnie55

Start with the basics. 1. New Tubes , depending on your budget. NOS like RCA or Jan Phillips. But if you are like most of us, then get some JJ`s in the power section and Tung Sol`s in the pre amp. Replace the speakers.

If it has any of the original tubes they may be better than most of what you can buy today. There are two 7025/12AX7s, a 12AT7 and a pair of 6L6s. Swap a 12AX7 for the 12AT7, that's a start.

Speakers: It has oddball 32 ohm 10" speakers, stock. I like the OT... it's a big chunk of iron and it's set up for an 8 ohm total load. That means the Greenbacks aren't such a bad idea, 2x 16 ohm Greenbacks for an 8 ohm total load.

BTW that chassis is a straight drop-in into a '70s Bandmaster Reverb head cabinet. '70s Bandmaster Reverb head cabinets show up on eBay because people make guts into combos...

http://www.ampwares.com/schematics/bassman_10.pdf

[marshman]

Are Greenbacks gonna be able to handle the power? I seem to recall those being 25 watt speakers, and a Bassman 10 being a 60 watt amp...just thinkin' out loud, of course.

Second, I'm not sure that SF Fenders can have the channels 'jumpered'...some Fender preamps were 'out of phase'. and would just sound really weedy/thin if jumpered. There are a few A/B/Y boxes that are capable of fixing that, but I can't remember any names off hand.

Tubes are tricky. As noted, if it has the original tubes, they may be pretty dogged out. It probably couldn't hurt to have new ones on hand. Plenty of discussion around these parts about the value of NOS vs NP, so I'll leave that to you to check out. And, of course, there's the old Filter Cap argument. The amp is roughly 35 years old--if it has original caps, I'd seriously consider replacing those, as well, before trying to gig the amp.

Usual caveats about not sticking your hand into an amp if you don't know how to safely dischargre caps applies--you can get killed in there if you don't kow what you're doing.

http://www.ampwares.com/amp.asp?id=30

Good Luck

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by marshman

Are Greenbacks gonna be able to handle the power? I seem to recall those being 25 watt speakers, and a Bassman 10 being a 60 watt amp...just thinkin' out loud, of course.

They'll handle the power... unless you totally fall in love w/ the "Dimed Bassman Ten Through Greenbacks" tone. Then they may blow just like 50 watt Marshalls tend to blow Greenbacks.

An option is to switch over to Weber Silver Bells or any of the numerous pseudo Greenbacks. The Webers are available w/ 15, 30, 50 watt etc. voice coils. Just go with 50 watt voice coils, problem solved!

Originally Posted by marshman

Second, I'm not sure that SF Fenders can have the channels 'jumpered'...some Fender preamps were 'out of phase'. and would just sound really weedy/thin if jumpered. There are a few A/B/Y boxes that are capable of fixing that, but I can't remember any names off hand.

Just look at the schematic using the handy link above. Sure looks like they're in phase...

Originally Posted by marshman

Tubes are tricky.

Not really. Just run 'em through a good mutual transconductance tube tester, if they hit the big numbers they're o.k..

Think about it this way... used 35 y.o. tubes have been thoroughly tested, if they've functioned in the amp 35 years, if they're not feeble and they're not noisy... they probably have more life left in them.

Originally Posted by marshman

As noted, if it has the original tubes, they may be pretty dogged out. It probably couldn't hurt to have new ones on hand. Plenty of discussion around these parts about the value of NOS vs NP, so I'll leave that to you to check out.

The original tubes my be dogged out. Then again, they may not be.

If the amp has the tolex flappin' in the breeze, torn grille cloth, cigarette burns and other indications of hard use and / or lack of maintenance yeah, it has probably been used hard. Some of these things spent 25 years of their life in a closet.

Originally Posted by marshman

And, of course, there's the old Filter Cap argument. The amp is roughly 35 years old--if it has original caps, I'd seriously consider replacing those, as well, before trying to gig the amp.

Yup. "Take it to a tech!!"

Originally Posted by marshman

Usual caveats about not sticking your hand into an amp if you don't know how to safely dischargre caps applies--you can get killed in there if you don't kow what you're doing.

Fortunately the filter caps are down under the doghouse so you have to work a bit to get into them.

Never mind. "Take it to a tech!!"