Modern amp like the old 60's Blackface Bassman heads?

[warthog]

Hey ... Question for you all..

I used to have a late 60's Fender Bassman head that I foolishly let go of cause I needed a higher powered amp. However, it gave me some of my best tones ever and I was wondering what you guys think could be a comparable modern amp that would be similar.

Is there a company that makes modern "reissues" or something of that nature?

Thanks!

A

 

[ce24]

(link removed)

parts kit to build your own.......:idea:

 

[Ed Boyd]

I was going to say just get a blackface bassman. The Blackface's can still be bought at decent prices BUT you are from Slovenia so things may be different there. I still see them for $700-800 USD. Boutique stuff I see runs more than that.

 

[warthog]

I was going to say just get a blackface bassman. The Blackface's can still be bought at decent prices BUT you are from Slovenia so things may be different there. I still see them for $700-800 USD. Boutique stuff I see runs more than that.

Interesting idea about the kit amp.

Regarding buying a blackface... they are nice and not so much money, but they are getting older. I was wondering if there was anything out there the emulated that amp, but recently built for reliability.

Yeah, I'd need to look at a company that made amps for the European market...

 

[Wally]

Well....the best take on the AB165 BAssman circuit would be a Trainwreck Express.....but they are rare and can be costly! (;^)
IF one doesn't want to buy a vintage AB165 or an of the SF Bassman amps through the AA371 that are much like the AB165, then a new build might be the only reasonable way to go about getting a 'new' one. I have no problem with a vintage Fender...they simply need service and care....as does anything else, ime....new or used.

 

[Ed Boyd]

Around here Fuchs have a good reputation due to having a local high-end amp dealer. I have not played one though.

 

[corliss1]

A good blackface or silverface with a proper servicing will end up sounding great and likely be cheaper than anything you can get/put together new.

The key words are "with proper servicing" - if it's done right it'll be good for another 40-50 years

 

[H. Mac]

I'm in favor of the vintage Fender route, but it seems strange that Fender hasn't reissued a '60s Bassman.

 

[gridlock]

I see Silverface Bassmans for $450 to $500 all the time. Probably very close in tone, especially the early 70's models.

 

[Axis29]

I bought a '76 Bassman 50 a few years ago. It had been recently recapped. I paid $400.

I drag it out all the time. It gets played at an open mic every month. I use it at home (I have a large practice space).

It has performed flawlessly. I have no worries about it. I have no fears of it failing at a gig. I think the older stuff was built better than modern day production stuff, is more easily serviced and sounds great. If you like the sound of a Bassman, get a Bassman.


Fender does make the new Super Sonic, that's supposed to sound like a Bassman.... But, I have zero experience with one.

 

[corliss1]

I'm in favor of the vintage Fender route, but it seems strange that Fender hasn't reissued a '60s Bassman.

I don't think so. They'd never be able to meet the price point. Silverfaces are in the $400-600ish range depending and I don't think Fender could do handwired reissues anywhere near that.

 

[codamedia]

I'm in favor of the vintage Fender route, but it seems strange that Fender hasn't reissued a '60s Bassman.

I don't think so. They'd never be able to meet the price point. Silverfaces are in the $400-600ish range depending and I don't think Fender could do handwired reissues anywhere near that.

To the best of my knowledge, none of Fender reissue amps are handwired. They are all mass produced PCB.

Regarding buying a blackface... they are nice and not so much money, but they are getting older. I was wondering if there was anything out there the emulated that amp, but recently built for reliability.

Even the best recent builds are not going to be more reliable than a vintage Blackface or Silverface. Those amps are made from a solid foundation of components and it doesn't cost much to keep them maintained. All new filter caps and a few resistors cost less than $100... If you can't do this work yourself, Tech costs would not be high on these vintage amps because they are so easy to work on.

 

[waparker4]

To the best of my knowledge, none of Fender reissue amps are handwired. They are all mass produced PCB.

So the PCBs are populated by machines?

 

[codamedia]

So the PCBs are populated by machines?

When I hear the term "hand wired" I am thinking about tag boards, turrets, etc... so I am assuming (maybe wrongly) that "corliss1" was thinking in that direction.

 

[corliss1]

oh c'mon guys, you knew what I meant

You think fender is going to put out a blackface bassman, even in PCB form for $400? The prices on the handwired Tweed reissues should be an indicator of where things need to be, and there are literally tens of thousands of black/silverface bassman heads out there. There's just no way they can compete with their own used market on that amp.

Now, something like a handwired tweed twin, where prices for a vintage model are crazy high, Fender can get into that game. They know people would rather pay 2Kish for a reissue than 10Kish for a vintage, but when you're talking $400-600 for a handwired silverface model that's been serviced, it's just not gonna be in the cards.

 

[codamedia]

oh c'mon guys, you knew what I meant

I do now

 

[MGibson]

Interesting idea about the kit amp.

Regarding buying a blackface... they are nice and not so much money, but they are getting older. I was wondering if there was anything out there the emulated that amp, but recently built for reliability.

Yeah, I'd need to look at a company that made amps for the European market...

Depending on what you consider "recent" the Sovtek MIG 50 is maybe an option you should consider. I used one on the road in the early 90s and it was a great sounding Bassman/early Marshall clone that was built like a tank.

 

[Jack Knife]

So the PCBs are populated by machines?

Yes, nanites scurrying to and fro, carrying precious tone molecules from the input jack to the output transformer. Serious tech.

 

[waparker4]

Yes, nanites scurrying to and fro, carrying precious tone molecules from the input jack to the output transformer. Serious tech.

That must be why my DRRI sounds so good.

When I hear the term "hand wired" I am thinking about tag boards, turrets, etc... so I am assuming (maybe wrongly) that "corliss1" was thinking in that direction.

One should use the term "turret board construction" for turret board construction.. because a PCB amp that is hand wired not baked in the oven, and made of good stuff will be a very nice build. Or should we throw out the baby w/ the bath water?

 

[Ed Boyd]

...


Even the best recent builds are not going to be more reliable than a vintage Blackface or Silverface. Those amps are made from a solid foundation of components and it doesn't cost much to keep them maintained. All new filter caps and a few resistors cost less than $100... If you can't do this work yourself, Tech costs would not be high on these vintage amps because they are so easy to work on.

This.