Thoughts on Fender Bassman 10?

[micahlives]

There's currently a silver face bassman 10 on reverb locally listed at $450 and I just want some more insight into the amp and what would be a good price?
this is the listing: Fender Baseman ten 1972-1982 https://reverb.com/item/64629033-fe...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=64629033
I'm both a guitarist and a bass player who has the ability to make a new cabinet and hopefully mod the amp, but I'm also saving up for a Gibson in the future so I'm not sure if I want to spend that much money. Should I offer less after trying it out or is it best left to someone with the space and cash?

 

[schmee]

In today's world it seems like a decent price really. The cabinets are dog doo, particle board and VERY heavy. Not sure I would consider it a good bass amp but with the closed back may be workable for that. I think most had CTS alnico 10's and they would not be a good candidate for bass, but great for guitar. IIRC the speakers in those were oddball impedance... 16 ohm? 32 ohm?
If there were one locally for $450 here I would buy it to play around with.

 

[Short on cash]

Snag it.
If you hate it you can always sell it.

 

[Powdog]

This was a Bassman Ten once.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

There's currently a silver face bassman 10 on reverb locally listed at $450...

Looks like a fair/good deal to me - but only if you have the use for something like that.
It needs a visit to the amp-doctor PLUS a revision of the cabinet - like, you can´t possibly drag that thing around in real life
So you´ll have to spend money on top of the $450 to get something useable out of this.
If you ´re actually saving money for something else, I´d say don´t buy it.

cheers - 68.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

If it was just a bit closer to me I would be tempted.

 

[micahlives]

thank you all for the responses! I think I've decided to not get the amp. it would be a solid modding platform and would be epic to make into something more guitar centric but there's just too much wrong and the sound is too clean for the price. I like the sounds from my cheap peavey amps more just straight in and I'm going to save my money and probably sell some things

the only reason I'd buy it would be to resell, but I'm just not sure about that

 

[ETMusic777]

There's currently a silver face bassman 10 on reverb locally listed at $450 and I just want some more insight into the amp and what would be a good price?
this is the listing: Fender Baseman ten 1972-1982 https://reverb.com/item/64629033-fe...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=64629033
I'm both a guitarist and a bass player who has the ability to make a new cabinet and hopefully mod the amp, but I'm also saving up for a Gibson in the future so I'm not sure if I want to spend that much money. Should I offer less after trying it out or is it best left to someone with the space and cash?

I have a 1974 Bassman Ten, 4x10 all original. I bought it off of Ebay earlier this year, because the price was way too low and the amp way too nice for me to pass up. Its in all original condition and it sounds great. However, the caveat is that I do not like the closed back cabinet for guitar. I guess its OK for bass, but as a guitarist (who also plays bass) I do not like that cabinet. I've run the head through a Fryette PS100, and cranked everything and it gets a great breakup, typical mid-70s Aerosmith type guitar tone. The speakers are CTS 10" ceramic, 32 ohm. They are OK speakers, but not like the famed CTS alnicos from the Super Reverb. These are more voiced for Bass.

I am going to be listing it for sale sometime in the next few months, probably for around $500, once I am done with my current recording project. $500 seems to be the sweet spot for selling the Bassman Tens. I see them listed at $750 and they sit for months and months and months.

Cool amp, but would be better served in an open cabinet or cut down as a head.

The bass player for Khruangbin plays one.

 

[LonglandPattern]

I had one, used it for bass and guitar. I think its a great buy at $450. Sadly I sold it when I moved into a small apartment.

 

[Gerick Guitars]

I got this 76 a couple years ago at a good deal but the baffle was broken,Tolex was ripped and peeling. The grill cloth had been painted, and the speakers were miss matched, so I decided to do a complete overhaul and changed all the speakers to new efficient guitar speakers, redid the grill and tolex, and added some drip edge. The circuit is still all original. In fact, I had it checked, and all the capacitors are fully functioning and not bleeding so at this point not changing. New power tubes, and a couple pre amp tubes,, other than the new look. This is pretty much just a guitar amp now. These amps are clean for surfy or country, love this thing

 

[brookdalebill]

They’re great amps!
My late childhood friend John Carlisle had one, and he made it sing.
John hipped me to the melodic side of Hendrix.
I’m eternally grateful.
RIP, and thanks, John.

 

[eldorado2001]

I've had a '75 Bassman Ten for about 20 years. I use it at home for a bass practice amp, I think it sounds great for that. I never liked it for guitar, it was way too clean sounding compared to a blackface Bassman I owned in the 70s. For my needs I consider it a great amp.

 

[Lynxtrap]

Here's mine Couldn't find a better pic right now. Heavily modded both inside and outside.

 

[Liriodendron]

meh - not a vintage amp guy. If you can make cabs learn how to make amps, or find someone to do it for you. I'm not seeing much value there - needs new tubes... losing volume when warm = PT issue? Probably needs a full recap.

Guess if you like that Fender name...

 

[torodurham]

This was a Bassman Ten once.

View attachment 1073460

I have aquired bassman 10 72'..
Interested in what you did to yours.

 

[Powdog]

I have aquired bassman 10 72'..
Interested in what you did to yours.

Gutted most of the circuit, built a new two channel non-reverb BF Super with a “Marshally” voiced channel and Super channel. Master Volume and Presence control.

If you wanna see a gunshot PM me. Here is the first one I built in action a few months ago (stage right).

Interestingly, I rebuilt the amp using Orange Drops and it sounded pretty bad. Swapped in Sozo blues and now it rocks.