Bassman 100...

bio_carolyn · April 9th, 2005, 05:18 PM

I am here to display me ignorance :) But I know there's tons of people who know a lot about this so...

I fell in love with this Bassman 100 at a local shop today. I just love the sound, but know next to nothing about the amp.

Amp works great, everything original according to them. But not only do I know nothing about this amp, I know nothing about older amps. (OK, so it's not that old, but still...) They are asking $450, for the head & 4x12 cabinet.

Also, on an unrelated note, what exactly does the word "Portaflex" mean with regard to an amp? What was different about the way these were put together? Is this an Ampeg thing only, or did Fender ever have anything to do with it?

Thanks...

alvis · April 9th, 2005, 06:09 PM

That's not a bad deal these days.Point to point ,made in the USA.Pretty durable.Those amps ,in their stock configuration ,make a really good amp for blues or country pickin.An outboard reverb makes 'em into a great surf amp And after all that ,a handy tech can make 'em into a killa Marshall like mine.The clips below are samples of the modded bassman 100 with a Les Paul,A Strat witha Tele bridge pickup & a p90

http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10524_proj.mp3

http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10521_proj.mp3

http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10522_proj.mp3

4mal · April 10th, 2005, 02:09 AM

If you do an EBay search on completed items or the Bassman 100 you'll find that the heads sell in the 300 range regularly, sometimes close to $400. Fender 4x12 cab's are not all that impressive usually. So dollars wise it is OK not great but OK, about on market. If it were me, I would try to buy the head and leave the cab unless the pair really blew me away ...

Bassman 100's are a great 'modifications platform'. Awfully friggin loud for a guitar amp though ... If you double on guitar and bass and want a wonderful coffee house, blues jam amp for bass that will double as a guitar amp in a pinch - Bassman 100 is a really good choice.

Portaflex refers to the Ampeg FlipTop amps like the B15 and B18. The amp is mounted to the top plate of the cab. The plate itself is attached with latches. You flip the top over and transport the cabinet with the amp upside down in the speaker box, then flip it over and re-latch to play with the amp 'piggyback style'. Strictly an Ampeg thing, probably trademarked ...

If I found a Bassman 100 head in reasonable shape at $300 I'd be on it like white on rice!

alvis · April 10th, 2005, 03:57 AM

yeah ,I forgot about the BSmn 100 4x12 cab.Weird ,with the speakers angled at each other like those star things the girl used to tell your fortune in class back in '72
But you could always do some home improvement and make a new baffle

April 9th, 2005, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
bio_carolyn TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 13	Bassman 100... I am here to display me ignorance :) But I know there's tons of people who know a lot about this so... I fell in love with this Bassman 100 at a local shop today. I just love the sound, but know next to nothing about the amp. Amp works great, everything original according to them. But not only do I know nothing about this amp, I know nothing about older amps. (OK, so it's not that old, but still...) They are asking $450, for the head & 4x12 cabinet. Also, on an unrelated note, what exactly does the word "Portaflex" mean with regard to an amp? What was different about the way these were put together? Is this an Ampeg thing only, or did Fender ever have anything to do with it? Thanks...

April 9th, 2005, 06:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
alvis Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TN Posts: 326	Bassman 100 That's not a bad deal these days.Point to point ,made in the USA.Pretty durable.Those amps ,in their stock configuration ,make a really good amp for blues or country pickin.An outboard reverb makes 'em into a great surf amp And after all that ,a handy tech can make 'em into a killa Marshall like mine.The clips below are samples of the modded bassman 100 with a Les Paul,A Strat witha Tele bridge pickup & a p90 http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10524_proj.mp3 http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10521_proj.mp3 http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Me...10522_proj.mp3 __________________ http://www.myspace.com/alvinyoungbloodhart

April 10th, 2005, 03:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
alvis Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TN Posts: 326	Bassman 100 cab yeah ,I forgot about the BSmn 100 4x12 cab.Weird ,with the speakers angled at each other like those star things the girl used to tell your fortune in class back in '72 But you could always do some home improvement and make a new baffle __________________ http://www.myspace.com/alvinyoungbloodhart

April 10th, 2005, 02:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,197	If you do an EBay search on completed items or the Bassman 100 you'll find that the heads sell in the 300 range regularly, sometimes close to $400. Fender 4x12 cab's are not all that impressive usually. So dollars wise it is OK not great but OK, about on market. If it were me, I would try to buy the head and leave the cab unless the pair really blew me away ... Bassman 100's are a great 'modifications platform'. Awfully friggin loud for a guitar amp though ... If you double on guitar and bass and want a wonderful coffee house, blues jam amp for bass that will double as a guitar amp in a pinch - Bassman 100 is a really good choice. Portaflex refers to the Ampeg FlipTop amps like the B15 and B18. The amp is mounted to the top plate of the cab. The plate itself is attached with latches. You flip the top over and transport the cabinet with the amp upside down in the speaker box, then flip it over and re-latch to play with the amp 'piggyback style'. Strictly an Ampeg thing, probably trademarked ... If I found a Bassman 100 head in reasonable shape at $300 I'd be on it like white on rice!