Bassman with a bass

Goluphi · February 9th, 2008, 03:59 PM

I know the Fender Bassman was originally designed to amplify bass guitars, and that conventional guitarists eventually started using them to amplify their guitars. But does anyone actually use Bassmans to amplify basses? Are the reissues better at either one? Is it even safe to do this?

trag-o-caster · February 9th, 2008, 04:27 PM

I'm going to venture a guess that it's probably not even safe for the amplifier to play bass through a tweed Bassman - RI or otherwise, through it's stock speakers. Even the later Bassman heads worked out better for guitar than for bass - but that depends on what speakers are hooked up to it.

JamonHamon · February 9th, 2008, 04:45 PM

I know Victoria 45410 amp can be used as a bass amp it says so on there web site

bluesfordan · February 9th, 2008, 05:19 PM

what? are you some kind of sicko?

franchelB · February 9th, 2008, 06:02 PM

I don't know of anyone that uses a '59 Bassman to amplify their bass guitars, simply because of its notoriety as a guitar amp now. But if I had one, I wouldn't be shy using it as a bass amp. Problem is, at 45 tube watts, it's not enough to power today's bass player...

jh45gun · February 9th, 2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franchelB

I don't know of anyone that uses a '59 Bassman to amplify their bass guitars, simply because of its notoriety as a guitar amp now. But if I had one, I wouldn't be shy using it as a bass amp. Problem is, at 45 tube watts, it's not enough to power today's bass player...

Well if it had the tone your looking for for small rooms it would be fine for larger places run a DI box out of the speaker out to a larger amp for that sound amplified. My SS bassman is 60 watts and it is loud for a ss 60 watt amp. Plus it has the line out in back for running to a larger amp or PA for more volume. Its all I need for bass since I have other options to make it louder if need be.

4 Strings · February 10th, 2008, 04:00 AM

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Bassman_Myths.htm

This guy writes a few lines about the Bassman as a bass amp (the original as wella s the RI).

For low volume use at home or in the studio I believe the Bassman could be a great sounding bass amp. I even like to play the bass through my 5E3, but I wouldn't turn the volume knob past 3-5.

For many years I had a SF Bassman 50 as my one and only bass amp, and I can assure you it didn't make me happy. On the other hand, the SF Bassman 100 that I switched to sounds great through an Ampeg SVT 410-HLF cab. But then again I've never had the chance to try an SVT, a V4B or a B15-N...

JohnnyCrash · February 10th, 2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Strings

http://www.tone-lizard.com/Bassman_Myths.htm

This guy writes a few lines about the Bassman as a bass amp (the original as wella s the RI).

For low volume use at home or in the studio I believe the Bassman could be a great sounding bass amp. I even like to play the bass through my 5E3, but I wouldn't turn the volume knob past 3-5.

For many years I had a SF Bassman 50 as my one and only bass amp, and I can assure you it didn't make me happy. On the other hand, the SF Bassman 100 that I switched to sounds great through an Ampeg SVT 410-HLF cab. But then again I've never had the chance to try an SVT, a V4B or a B15-N...

Wow, that link was irritating. What the heck is wrong with that sarcastic guy?

You can use a Bassman as a bass amp if you keep the volume down. As the posts here mention, it will not be very loud (but may sound great for mic'ed bass recording). Blow a speaker? Maybe if you turn it up really loud... but for a '50s era bass amp sometimes that happened :)

It was originally designed as a bass amp in the '50s when ported cabs were not common knowledge (though they did exist). It wasn't designed cheaply to be sold shilled off on the public, it was seriously designed as a bass amp at a time when electric basses were still relatively new. Fender's marketing folks were probably scratching their head at the tech info Leo spouted to them, the link's attacks are a bit much.

As far as the history of the bass and Leo Fender's amp designs... the mass-produced electric bass was made by Fender himself in the early '50s (I think '51 - coincidentally I own a '51 reissue P-Bass)! Solid state amplification wasn't really around then and tube amps had limitations - not just considering how primitive amp design was back then.

As far as the link ripping the RI amp to shreds, that is also unfair in some regards. It is reissued as a guitar amp (not a bass amp) so using a 12AX7 in the 1st preamp slot isn't some sort of cheat on the public. Also, the voltages may be higher since home AC may be a bit higher than it was in the '50s.

'50s bass amps are not ideal for playing bass in modern band scenarios. That was all they had in the '50s, but today I'd recommend something else. If you do use it for bass be gentle with the volume control :)

Tim Swartz · February 10th, 2008, 08:03 AM

About 15 years ago I get a call from an older gentleman who wants to have his amp serviced and proceeds to tell me it was a Fender Bassman he bought new in '61. I was expecting a 6G6 head, but he comes in with a '60 tweed, and man the thing is clean. He explained how it's lost a bit of its pep. He also explains that he is a bass player and has used it to gig with about 2 times a week since he bought it. I metioned that his particular amp was #1 on guitarists list and that they were going for a lot of dough (about $2k back then). He said he knew it was a popular guitar amp and that he had a nepehw who played guitar that had interest in it. I also explained that they were going up in value and that he might consider putting the thing in a plastic bag in his closet and buying something like a Peavey combo which would probaby be better suited for bass. The ironic thing is that I also had a '66 4x10 Bluesbreaker in the shop! I did not waste the opportunity for some A/B testing... and man those amps were sonically very close.

Boogie · February 10th, 2008, 12:10 PM

I think the Bassmans were adequate bass amps for their time, but as soon as early 60's blues rockers discovered how killer they sound cranked up with a 6-string, they became the standard for rock guitar amplifiers. (Early Marshall prototypes duplicate the circuit and even the control layout of the 5F6-A Bassman exactly.) That rendered the Bassman inadequate for bass amplification. Bassists now needed more power and more efficient speaker/cabinet design to compete, thus the higher-powered piggyback Bassmans that followed. (Some of which also make killer guitar amps!)

SEK_Hakuna · February 10th, 2008, 01:09 PM

I built a Tweed Bassman from a Mojo kit. I think it sounds pretty good as a bass amplifier, (although I prefer my Tele plugged into it). It has an "old school" sound with bass guitar. There is not much punch to the sound, kinda soft almost upright bass sorta tone. It would probably sound good with a quiet country band or a southern gospel band.

4 Strings · February 10th, 2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEK_Hakuna

...kinda soft almost upright bass sorta tone.

Hmm, sounds good SEK_Hakuna! I'm afraid my next build will have to be a 5F6-A to be used as a bass amp

.

Ain't no better place to go to than TDPRI when you want to find reasons justifying another couple of $$$ spent on yet another amp build.

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread, but what would a closed back 5F6-A sound like with bass? Anyone tried it?

RomanS · February 10th, 2008, 06:08 PM

Well, I sometimes use my Weber 6M45 (a JTM45-clone - and the JTM45 is basically a 5F6A with some minor differences - trannies & tubes, mostly) through a 1x10" Eminence Delta-loaded closed-back bass cab for practicing with my Precision at home - and at low volume that's a GREAT bass tone, very full, warm, and punchy (after all, the JTM45 has tons of low-end on tap...)

SEK_Hakuna · February 10th, 2008, 06:49 PM

4Strings,

Mine is for sale if you want to save a bunch of money.

Stubbs · February 10th, 2008, 09:55 PM

My first bass amp was a Fender Bassman 60, I think it was an early seventies model. The cabinet was a 2 15" sealed. Had great tone, not real loud, not real punchy. I wish I still had that head.

Tim Armstrong · February 10th, 2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Strings

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread, but what would a closed back 5F6-A sound like with bass? Anyone tried it?

Actually, I was just going to post that, if I had a '59 Bassman RI and wanted to play bass through it, I'd probably run it into one of my bass cabs, as those speakers are optimized much better for bass. I'd think it'd be quite possible to blow the RIs speakers at any kind of volume...

I used to gig a '68 Bassman head, and purely loved it!

Cheers, Tim

4 Strings · February 11th, 2008, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEK_Hakuna

4Strings,

Mine is for sale if you want to save a bunch of money.

Thank you SEK_Hakuna. But the designing and building process is half the fun, esp. since I hope to score a pair of beefy trannies from a friend's amp carcass within soon. But I appreciate your offer!

SEK_Hakuna · February 11th, 2008, 06:03 AM

I hear ya 4strings!! I really enjoy building amps too. I wish they were easier to sell though :(

I built a Princeton Reverb clone and it is by far my favorite amp. I'd like to build a twin someday, the low powered version. But until I give away a few of these other builds...........I'll just have to dream about it.

Chris Callahan · February 11th, 2008, 08:12 AM

I have a homebrew 5F6-A that I use to record bass (open backed cab, 4 Jensen Ceramic speakers). Sounds dreamy.
I've tried the RI live with bass (where I was playing with a dude on acoustic)and found it to be rattly.

chriscrob · February 11th, 2008, 09:43 AM

It really depends on which bassman... the big bassman 100 may work just know that if you get an early 50 watt bassman head its going to break up fairly no matter what speakers you have. I have a 68 Bassman and it breaks up a little early for me with guitar. If you like the fuzzy bass sound thats great but if you want the modern clean sound you'ld probably be better off with a modern (uglier) fender 100 watt SS bass amp. Mines like a Gx-100 or some gay title like that (thats a guess). I use it for bass before the bassman. It doesn't look as good but it sounds infinitely better.

You're gonna wanna replace the stock speakers (maybe even the whole cab) in just about any bassman if you're using it for bass. I had the 4x12 bassman 100 cab for awhile...even that massive cab sounded like poop for bass. (with stock speakers)

psychetelec · February 11th, 2008, 10:11 AM

I used one for several years with my Jerry Jones 6-string bass.

Tim Armstrong · February 11th, 2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEK_Hakuna

But until I give away a few of these other builds...........I'll just have to dream about it.

I'm here to help you fulfill your dreams! Give them away to me!!!

Tim

SEK_Hakuna · February 11th, 2008, 12:01 PM

errrrrrrmmmm..........I was making a joke. But you knew that. :)

I will probably keep the Bassman. I am for sure keeping one Tweed Deluxe, (I have two of them), and the Princeton Reverb.

That leaves just two amps to sell/give away. A Tweed Champ and a Tweed Deluxe. I'll probably give them to relatives.

If anyone can prove they are a descendant of Betsy Ross the flag maker, (I am), I would consider giving an amp to them.

February 9th, 2008, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Goluphi TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 85	Bassman with a bass I know the Fender Bassman was originally designed to amplify bass guitars, and that conventional guitarists eventually started using them to amplify their guitars. But does anyone actually use Bassmans to amplify basses? Are the reissues better at either one? Is it even safe to do this?

February 9th, 2008, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,439	I'm going to venture a guess that it's probably not even safe for the amplifier to play bass through a tweed Bassman - RI or otherwise, through it's stock speakers. Even the later Bassman heads worked out better for guitar than for bass - but that depends on what speakers are hooked up to it. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

February 9th, 2008, 06:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
franchelB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 43 Posts: 1,836	I don't know of anyone that uses a '59 Bassman to amplify their bass guitars, simply because of its notoriety as a guitar amp now. But if I had one, I wouldn't be shy using it as a bass amp. Problem is, at 45 tube watts, it's not enough to power today's bass player... __________________ Feel free to visit my homepage! http://www.myspace.com/francisbalagtas

February 10th, 2008, 08:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,775	About 15 years ago I get a call from an older gentleman who wants to have his amp serviced and proceeds to tell me it was a Fender Bassman he bought new in '61. I was expecting a 6G6 head, but he comes in with a '60 tweed, and man the thing is clean. He explained how it's lost a bit of its pep. He also explains that he is a bass player and has used it to gig with about 2 times a week since he bought it. I metioned that his particular amp was #1 on guitarists list and that they were going for a lot of dough (about $2k back then). He said he knew it was a popular guitar amp and that he had a nepehw who played guitar that had interest in it. I also explained that they were going up in value and that he might consider putting the thing in a plastic bag in his closet and buying something like a Peavey combo which would probaby be better suited for bass. The ironic thing is that I also had a '66 4x10 Bluesbreaker in the shop! I did not waste the opportunity for some A/B testing... and man those amps were sonically very close. __________________

February 10th, 2008, 06:08 PM	#13 (permalink)
RomanS Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vienna, Austria Age: 36 Posts: 2,671 14 Photos	Well, I sometimes use my Weber 6M45 (a JTM45-clone - and the JTM45 is basically a 5F6A with some minor differences - trannies & tubes, mostly) through a 1x10" Eminence Delta-loaded closed-back bass cab for practicing with my Precision at home - and at low volume that's a GREAT bass tone, very full, warm, and punchy (after all, the JTM45 has tons of low-end on tap...) __________________ http://www.pbase.com/romans http://www.myspace.com/romans212

February 9th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,290	I know Victoria 45410 amp can be used as a bass amp it says so on there web site

February 9th, 2008, 05:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
bluesfordan Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 455	what? are you some kind of sicko?

February 10th, 2008, 04:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
4 Strings Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gossip County Posts: 234	http://www.tone-lizard.com/Bassman_Myths.htm This guy writes a few lines about the Bassman as a bass amp (the original as wella s the RI). For low volume use at home or in the studio I believe the Bassman could be a great sounding bass amp. I even like to play the bass through my 5E3, but I wouldn't turn the volume knob past 3-5. For many years I had a SF Bassman 50 as my one and only bass amp, and I can assure you it didn't make me happy. On the other hand, the SF Bassman 100 that I switched to sounds great through an Ampeg SVT 410-HLF cab. But then again I've never had the chance to try an SVT, a V4B or a B15-N...

February 10th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Boogie Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The Late Great Golden State Posts: 172 14 Photos	I think the Bassmans were adequate bass amps for their time, but as soon as early 60's blues rockers discovered how killer they sound cranked up with a 6-string, they became the standard for rock guitar amplifiers. (Early Marshall prototypes duplicate the circuit and even the control layout of the 5F6-A Bassman exactly.) That rendered the Bassman inadequate for bass amplification. Bassists now needed more power and more efficient speaker/cabinet design to compete, thus the higher-powered piggyback Bassmans that followed. (Some of which also make killer guitar amps!)

February 10th, 2008, 01:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
SEK_Hakuna Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Age: 51 Posts: 176 15 Photos	I built a Tweed Bassman from a Mojo kit. I think it sounds pretty good as a bass amplifier, (although I prefer my Tele plugged into it). It has an "old school" sound with bass guitar. There is not much punch to the sound, kinda soft almost upright bass sorta tone. It would probably sound good with a quiet country band or a southern gospel band.

February 10th, 2008, 06:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
SEK_Hakuna Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Age: 51 Posts: 176 15 Photos	4Strings, Mine is for sale if you want to save a bunch of money.

February 10th, 2008, 09:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
Stubbs Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 207	My first bass amp was a Fender Bassman 60, I think it was an early seventies model. The cabinet was a 2 15" sealed. Had great tone, not real loud, not real punchy. I wish I still had that head.

February 11th, 2008, 06:03 AM	#18 (permalink)
SEK_Hakuna Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Age: 51 Posts: 176 15 Photos	I hear ya 4strings!! I really enjoy building amps too. I wish they were easier to sell though :( I built a Princeton Reverb clone and it is by far my favorite amp. I'd like to build a twin someday, the low powered version. But until I give away a few of these other builds...........I'll just have to dream about it.

February 11th, 2008, 08:12 AM	#19 (permalink)
Chris Callahan Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Age: 43 Posts: 416	I have a homebrew 5F6-A that I use to record bass (open backed cab, 4 Jensen Ceramic speakers). Sounds dreamy. I've tried the RI live with bass (where I was playing with a dude on acoustic)and found it to be rattly. __________________ Chris

February 11th, 2008, 09:43 AM	#20 (permalink)
chriscrob Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Newnan, Georgia Age: 22 Posts: 110	It really depends on which bassman... the big bassman 100 may work just know that if you get an early 50 watt bassman head its going to break up fairly no matter what speakers you have. I have a 68 Bassman and it breaks up a little early for me with guitar. If you like the fuzzy bass sound thats great but if you want the modern clean sound you'ld probably be better off with a modern (uglier) fender 100 watt SS bass amp. Mines like a Gx-100 or some gay title like that (thats a guess). I use it for bass before the bassman. It doesn't look as good but it sounds infinitely better. You're gonna wanna replace the stock speakers (maybe even the whole cab) in just about any bassman if you're using it for bass. I had the 4x12 bassman 100 cab for awhile...even that massive cab sounded like poop for bass. (with stock speakers)

February 11th, 2008, 10:11 AM	#21 (permalink)
psychetelec Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Austin,Texas Age: 50 Posts: 126	I used one for several years with my Jerry Jones 6-string bass.

February 11th, 2008, 12:01 PM	#23 (permalink)
SEK_Hakuna Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Kansas Age: 51 Posts: 176 15 Photos	errrrrrrmmmm..........I was making a joke. But you knew that. :) I will probably keep the Bassman. I am for sure keeping one Tweed Deluxe, (I have two of them), and the Princeton Reverb. That leaves just two amps to sell/give away. A Tweed Champ and a Tweed Deluxe. I'll probably give them to relatives. If anyone can prove they are a descendant of Betsy Ross the flag maker, (I am), I would consider giving an amp to them.