Bassman Fun

Lance · May 7th, 2005, 06:36 PM

I've never done this before but I brougt my '66 Bassman head and matching 2x12 bottom to band practice. Everyone got very wide-eyed with fear that I'd be blowing down the walls.

Hooked it up and used my 50 watt Weber Mass to take down the volume.

Holy cow! Whatta tone. Mostly, I was playing my '54 Goldtop last night...added an E-H Holy Grail for a little 'verb and the Klon for rock. The Rat sounded great through it (better than with any of my other amps) It was a killer setup.

What I did find was that the 2x12 was VERY directional. Much moreso than my '65 Deluxe Reverb. I'm thinking I'll need to get that bottom off the floor a little to hear myself better also.

But....tone to die for...

Wally · May 7th, 2005, 06:59 PM

Closed-back cabs=directionality. Make another back for and leave the middle third out of one side thereby making separate closed and open back 1X12's. You might be able to leave the Holy Grail unplugged due to the liveliness of such a cab.

Bluesbob · May 8th, 2005, 11:35 AM

Get a 2X10 custom cab for it. You can always put it back into the original head shell, but you won't want to because it will become your favorite mid-to-large gig amp. Sit it on top of the 2X12 for outdoor party and/or stage volume. Do the math. 2X10 plus 2X12 in 2 pieces equals :D :D :D :D.

Lance · May 8th, 2005, 09:58 PM

I actually have a BF Virbolux Reverb with 2x10s. Although...I think the bassman just rock more. It's thought though!

Gearjoneser · May 10th, 2005, 03:48 AM

One trick I've learned, that I use on Plexi's and my Bassman LTD is this.

Use a Holy Grail to bridge the two channels. Plug into the 1st input, send the 2nd input into the Holy Grail, then out to the 2nd channel's 1st input. That way, you get the direct amp tone, but can mix in some verb and warmth by bringing up the second volume to taste. Just use that bridge as a pseudo FX loop! What a killer thing, to be able to have a nice subtle reverb on a Plexi or Bassman!

JTM45blues · May 10th, 2005, 11:42 AM

Put the 2x12 up on end and it will dispurse the sound MUCH BETTER.

I used to do this with my 61 Bassman and 62 Bassman cab.

Paul in Colorado · May 12th, 2005, 12:42 PM

Back in junior high school, everyone who played a Bassman or Showman turned the cabinet vertically and sat the head on top. Better projection and got the sound up higher so you could hear it better.

Wally · May 12th, 2005, 01:40 PM

Turning the cabs on end doesn't actually change the dispersion pattern but rather reorients it. The broadest pattern is now vertical as opposed to horizontal. Yes, the player can hear it better, but this vertical orientation actually narrows the dispersion ACROSS the room. A closed back cab presents problems in small rooms without micing. A closed back cab also restricts stage volume which almost demands miking so that monitoring through the PA system can allow band members to hear each other. This problem leads players to keep turning that amp up because they and/or the rest of the band can't hear what that amp is producing. Stand beside or behind a closed cab while playing. What do you hear? Stand in front of it on stage or at a playing distance of a few feet? What do you hear? Go wireless or get a long cable and walk perpendicular to the cab across the room maybe 20-30 feet away from the cab? What do you hear and more importantly where do you hear it? If you do these same experiments with an open-back cab, the results are vastly different. Each to his own.... imho, closed back cabs belong on huge stages at large venues....especially 4X12's...because of their focussed patterns. No matter where, they need to be miked for 'fill' and monitoring purposes. I have walked across small clubs where a player was wringing everything he could get out of a 100-Marshall through 4X12's. He really couldn't hear himself, the band couldn't hear him, and those to the sides in the audience couldn't hear him. However, on a line 30 feet in front of that cab, the blast almost knocked me over and definitely caused ear pain. Keep on walking...to the sides, to the back, or out of the club.

May 7th, 2005, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,197	Bassman Fun I've never done this before but I brougt my '66 Bassman head and matching 2x12 bottom to band practice. Everyone got very wide-eyed with fear that I'd be blowing down the walls. Hooked it up and used my 50 watt Weber Mass to take down the volume. Holy cow! Whatta tone. Mostly, I was playing my '54 Goldtop last night...added an E-H Holy Grail for a little 'verb and the Klon for rock. The Rat sounded great through it (better than with any of my other amps) It was a killer setup. What I did find was that the 2x12 was VERY directional. Much moreso than my '65 Deluxe Reverb. I'm thinking I'll need to get that bottom off the floor a little to hear myself better also. But....tone to die for... __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

May 8th, 2005, 11:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bluesbob Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East Suffolk L.I. Posts: 1,072 20 Photos	Combo-ize it! Get a 2X10 custom cab for it. You can always put it back into the original head shell, but you won't want to because it will become your favorite mid-to-large gig amp. Sit it on top of the 2X12 for outdoor party and/or stage volume. Do the math. 2X10 plus 2X12 in 2 pieces equals :D :D :D :D. __________________ What, me worry?

May 8th, 2005, 09:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,197	Well.... I actually have a BF Virbolux Reverb with 2x10s. Although...I think the bassman just rock more. It's thought though! __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

May 10th, 2005, 03:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gearjoneser Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Hollywood, Ca. Posts: 109	One trick I've learned, that I use on Plexi's and my Bassman LTD is this. Use a Holy Grail to bridge the two channels. Plug into the 1st input, send the 2nd input into the Holy Grail, then out to the 2nd channel's 1st input. That way, you get the direct amp tone, but can mix in some verb and warmth by bringing up the second volume to taste. Just use that bridge as a pseudo FX loop! What a killer thing, to be able to have a nice subtle reverb on a Plexi or Bassman! __________________ Fender, Gibson, G&L, Bogner, Matchless, Klon, Fulltone, Line 6. My Gear

May 7th, 2005, 06:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Closed-back cabs=directionality. Make another back for and leave the middle third out of one side thereby making separate closed and open back 1X12's. You might be able to leave the Holy Grail unplugged due to the liveliness of such a cab.

May 10th, 2005, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
JTM45blues Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 421	Put the 2x12 up on end and it will dispurse the sound MUCH BETTER. I used to do this with my 61 Bassman and 62 Bassman cab.

May 12th, 2005, 12:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 4,446 3 Photos	Back in junior high school, everyone who played a Bassman or Showman turned the cabinet vertically and sat the head on top. Better projection and got the sound up higher so you could hear it better.

May 12th, 2005, 01:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Turning the cabs on end doesn't actually change the dispersion pattern but rather reorients it. The broadest pattern is now vertical as opposed to horizontal. Yes, the player can hear it better, but this vertical orientation actually narrows the dispersion ACROSS the room. A closed back cab presents problems in small rooms without micing. A closed back cab also restricts stage volume which almost demands miking so that monitoring through the PA system can allow band members to hear each other. This problem leads players to keep turning that amp up because they and/or the rest of the band can't hear what that amp is producing. Stand beside or behind a closed cab while playing. What do you hear? Stand in front of it on stage or at a playing distance of a few feet? What do you hear? Go wireless or get a long cable and walk perpendicular to the cab across the room maybe 20-30 feet away from the cab? What do you hear and more importantly where do you hear it? If you do these same experiments with an open-back cab, the results are vastly different. Each to his own.... imho, closed back cabs belong on huge stages at large venues....especially 4X12's...because of their focussed patterns. No matter where, they need to be miked for 'fill' and monitoring purposes. I have walked across small clubs where a player was wringing everything he could get out of a 100-Marshall through 4X12's. He really couldn't hear himself, the band couldn't hear him, and those to the sides in the audience couldn't hear him. However, on a line 30 feet in front of that cab, the blast almost knocked me over and definitely caused ear pain. Keep on walking...to the sides, to the back, or out of the club.