There's so much talk on the internet about "Fender cleans" especially Blackface and even more so Silverface, but your clips (at serious volume) show that these amps are much more versatile than most give them credit for. I also noticed the Tweed sounding less like a Marshall than the Blackface with a definite mid-punch I didn't expect. Most wouldn't believe it unless they heard it with their own ears. You do such a service to the guitar community! I love this deep dive and comparison video and especially like your impressions on the sound. Great, GREAT video!
gonna be honest, (in my EXTREMELY humble opinion) the only fender amp that doesn't sound like complete crap when not almost completely clean is a tweed champ. "fender cleans" is the real deal. blackface twin set no higher than 2 lol, that's my shit. (*edit*) i lied, cause the les paul makes the blonde bassman sound pretty decent here. still, not my thing.
@@Somnospeed it's not bad. i was never a fan of that style of music, tbh. i really prefer either crystal clean giant fenders, or cranked tiny tweeds. i've been on a 50s country western kick, i might get a tele with some deangelo dynasonic type pickups somehow.
I owned a mid 70's Silverface years ago, and absolutely loved it. A bandmate of mine had a AB165 that was really great as well. Bassman amps, in my opinion, are some of the best amps ever made, both in terms of tone and construction. Each model and update was a bit different from one another, but they're all great in their own way.
@@JohanSegeborn I've decided to mod my bandmaster to BF bassman specs. New mercury OT transformer and ab165 circuit change. All done by my amp tech. I like the bandmaster, just looking for a little more umph in the mids and tighter bass. Although, of all of them, the blonde has a lot of nice characteristics as well.
I’m vintage dealer since ‘78 and Professional player since ‘76 … Have owned multiples of these bassmans every iteration of fender from tweeds to modern -every vintage marshall heads and combos-reissues..Vox’s vintage to the HW2 series a couple dozen Boogies all MK’s and a few lonestar( no rectifiers ) Matchless -65-Legend-THD -Top Hat -Divided by 13 -HK’s -traynors -Sunn Ceriatone -dozens of custom boutique builders and yes even two Dumbles - many more that I’ve forgotten .. Your demo was excellent. Today 3/3/24 I bought another a ‘62 blonde bassman with the matching 212 cabinet today in Fullerton California..Tuesday I’m driving to San Diego Ca to buy a transition 64 blonde black face witchhat knobs with 2x12 cabinet and an additional single 15” cabinet loaded with aD140 jbl. i’m definitely a blonde and brown Fender proponent. At the moment my back line I’m using it’s a ‘66 virbroluxe reverb and a Suhr Hombre w his 2x12 cab..I have a very large collection of Vintage guitars and amp..My all time favorites amps ( most often used) are my fender 6G3 brown deluxe my ‘67 50 watt marshall tremolo hd my original Boogie ’78 60 watt w EV -‘82 Legend rock n roll 50 combo. -(‘83 Dumble ODS just because I have It )..
I built my own ‘59 Basman clone and it’s by far my favorite amp in this wattage range and I’ve owned several black and silver panel fenders. I agree with your description that the ‘59 design is more even or has more definition vs. frequency. Additionally I find the ‘59 tone vs. volume musical at ANY setting and has the smoothest transition into breakup vs. the others which I need to find a “sweet spot” with. So glad the ‘59 circuit design one can only assume was intended for use as a bass amp is the best design mistake ever made for a guitarist - ha!
Brilliant video, Johan. As usual, great playing, great amps, great recordings, but with the added bonus of the great video format and your clear, perceptive editorialising. Just perfectly executed. I can (and often do!) come back again and again to your videos to hear these beautiful amps demonstrated so well. You're doing the Lord's work my friend! Please never stop!
Bassman amplifiers are great sounding, fun to do reversible mods on and swap output tubes. I used to run a SF Bassman into a Marshall 4-10 cab and it really rocked. 👍
My favorite was the Brownface then Silverface in the first section. Through the Marshall cabs with the Les Paul, my favorite was the Silverface for the rhythm overdrive, but the Brownface for lead soloing. And then there's the Tweed....My God
I have a silverface bassman and thanks to your past demos just added a 65 blackface ab165. I just finished servicing the ab165 and am powering it up for the first time as I watch your video. Keep it up
Well done Brother! " Kinda like judging a bikini contest, How do you pick just One?" Love them All! Thanks for using the Strat! Enjoy your Weekend and Be Well All!
Awesome comparison! I love the Bassman series of amps. I've been building my own 60s Bassman from the ground up: a hybrid of the AB165 and AA864 circuit with some tweaks for stabilize the overdrive and lower the noise floor. Final plan is to put it in a 1x12 pine cabinet with a Warehouse speaker.
I tend to agree with your observations here. I also highly agree with your statement that, with many riffs, the tuxedo/brownface amps can be "harder to play" but sound better when you nail the take.
I use a tweed 5f6-a Bassman clone as my stage amp and it’s a amazing amp and will do either a beautiful, warm clean or a vintage Marshall crunch. I played through a early Silverface Bassman 50 that had the tone stack modded to more guitar friendly values and a mids control added to the back panel that was a amazing amp. I’ve wanted to pick up a pre Ultra Linear silverface Bassman and mod it ever since.
This is an excellent introduction to Fender amps and sound, for us who "only" play Marshall. Really good starting point, to explore new territory (hope it won't be expensive). Really well made demo, and you got great sound out of all amps (both with Strat and LP)!
Johan I played thru a Silverface Combo amp back in the 70s. I believe it had 4 10s in it...There was magic in that amp.. Used to ride it down a hill to band practice... 😆
I really liked the silverface at the lower gain levels during that part of the test. But at higher gains it was too loose for me and the brownface won out. Overall its hard to choose, because at each step of the tests, I could relate them to different classic rock sounds -- even if I can't really relate them to specific songs. I think, if I had to pick an overall winner, it would be the brownface. Also just want to say that this is exactly the kind of content that makes you stand out from other channels. The variety of classic gear and classic comparisons you show is amazing.
Spot-on - was thinking the same thing when I heard the amps. I like the drive on the brownface best. The silverface produced a nice clean tone, but I liked the drive of the silverface the least of the three. I thought the blackface was in between the brown and the silver.
I usually run my late ‘67/early ‘68 Bassman (silver front panel, ‘67 transformers and serial number) at ~4 on the Normal channel, treble ~6, bass just over 3, Bright switch off. It breaks up some with most guitars at full vol but cleans up nicely by rolling off the vol a little. I use dirt pedals at fairly low gain to push it into more serious breakup. The amp never oversaturates when used this way and has all the volume I can use and then some.
Just got a 68’ Silverface from an estate. Original Sylvania tubes and very clean. Needed a grounded plug and I had the original caps replaced with F&T’s. Sounds amazing.
This is a cool video. I like these kinds of comparisons. Amp designs changed in significant ways over the years, and there's so much bad info out there on...everything. Hearing them played back to back even briefly like this helps a lot.
PRESENCE circuit comes off the output transformer. I once bought a tuxedo Bassman and a pre-CBS blackface for $75 total for both. The power transformer was bad in the tux and the output transformer was bad in the blackface. So I put the tux OT on the blackface and for the hell of it I put the presence circuit on the blackface, knob on back. Sitting on a 2-12" Utah filled Fender tiltback cab. My double cutaway '62 Gibson all natural mahogany finish Les Paul Jr. single P90 pickup guitar sounded PERRRRFECT!
My initial favorite set up was the Tuxedo with the Marshall 412 with the LP but then that 59 Bassman came in at the end my eyes got big. I think with a Proco Rat punching it in the face it could be something really special.
I currently have an '80 Twin 135 on my healing bench. Its getting some extensive but reversible mods. Besides a recap, putting the bias circuit back to being fixed adjustable instead of balancing, repurpose the ground switch to give 3 nfb modes, give both channels access to reverb and trem, change normal channel eq to 5f6a... It is amazing, especially with negative feedback reduced or switched off. And that master vol makes it very useable
I paid $100 dollars for my 1969 Bassman head in 1988. For years, I only used it for bass guitar, but it does great on guitar as well. Recently re-capped it as one of the doghouse caps failed after sitting idle for 6 years, so I decided to change all the electrolytics and the resistors in the Doghouse.
I most certainly agree with your Tuxedo comment, that amplifier being more difficult to play. Many times I’ve found a tighter amp while not as forgiving does in most instances record a little better. Like most things a person can overcome that characteristic if it’s providing the sonic profile they are looking for. Overall just a really great deep-dive comparing the different Era Bassman amplifiers. Again, just can’t thank you enough Johan.
I just found your channel a few months ago. Whether I became interested in JBL Speakers or Bassman's, or almost anything, I have found you to have posted very good reviews and information about it. It is very valuable. Thank you. Also, you have great tone.
brown face has that 1.5khz pultec style magic to it. tighter in the low end, less flubby low mids. black face is great through Marshall cab with overdrive pedal ala Social D. That 59 bassman sound with LP was the best I've ever heard! Wow!
Great demo! However the volume knob is not the gain knob it just pushes the power amp distortion the higher you get it. I have a 64 bassman, the trick is dial in a great clean then use some pedals to drive it to the desired distortion and they scream. The original guvnor and the carl martin heavy drive work great and the danelectro breakdown as well. Also try it through a high wattage 1x12 with an open back and it really shines. Changing the power tubes to el34 will make it sound more marshall like. I currently have 6550s in mine and until they failed recently they sounded even better. The sweet spot is around 4.5 to 6 depending on what pickups you are using. You are also correct when using the power amp distortion it fights you but it's worth effort. The 59 unadorned is this best with no mods and cranked. The others are great pedal platforms if you dont need an effects loop. You can also run both channels at the same time for some added grind.
There is quite a bit of preamp distortion going on too though. In these amps, the volume knob controls the preamp gain. Right after the first gain stage. It's the only knob, though, so cranking it will yield more power (volume), preamp distortion, and power amp distortion eventually. All gain/volume/master knobs simply reduce the signal level of the guitar before it hits later stages. Just depends on the amp where the knob is in the circuit.
GREAT THANKS JOHAN ! I love these Fender amps, but I'm not abble to choose the one I do prefer....I keep this video in fav so I will look at many times!
Hello Johan, thanks for this interesting comparison video. Just to cut hair in four, as we say in french : I think a Tuxedo is a 6G6-B circuit with a black faceplate and white buttons, but also with all other Blackface cosmetics (black Tolex, silver grill cloth, embossed logo and flat handle). Very beautiful and quite rare amps. The last batches of 6G6-B in 1964 were full Tuxedo, but the cosmetic transition started earlier, quite randomly, with the black faceplate, flat handle, and embossed logo. Mine is a 1964 6G6-B with Blonde rough Tolex, wheat grill cloth, black dogbone handle, black flat logo, black faceplate and white buttons.
I love the new format you're using on this and the last video, it really highlights the differences for an easier comparison! The Brownface amps seem to consistently be coming into this great sweet spot as my favourite Fenders, just a bit more refined than the Tweeds but with more mids and more familiar to my British-attuned ears than the later amps.
all great amps, the Tuxedo did sound great for the neck pickup Hendrix style. To me nothing beats the Blackface head through a Marshall 4x12, all the tones of each amp are useable and great. I am pleasantly surprised by the Silverface. Appreciate the time and effort on this video, Johan, great guide for which one suits the best for anyone. Thanks for sharing, have a great weekend
I have a 1963 Fender Bassman so naturally I thought it wins. I run the '63 stereo with a 1994 Matchless DC-30. Those are the easiest amps I've ever owned to make sound good. Very loud and heavy rig though.
I have a 62 Blonde Oxblood head and 2x12, and out of all the other Fenders I've owned or played the this head comes out on top! It almost doesn't sound like a Fender at certain higher levels, which is understandable because it's a different circuit. I love this amp! Fantastic video Johan, thanks!
you make the best demo's true comparisons you have great ears and great player and GEARHEAD with the goods thank you always great unbiased references BRAVO JOHAN
First off, great video. There’s so many factors involved with amp EQ. Tube bias is the first factor that comes to mind. I think all these amps sound excellent, my guess is that if you spent time with each EQ you could get each amp to sound nearly identical.
Thank you. Great video! All of them shine at times in their own way, but the 59 Tweed thru the Marshall cab just kills. The Tuxedo is the second most useable IMO … tho they’re all fantastic heads.
Back then Distortion was a bad thing so they kept working on getting rid of it. That's how they ended up with the silver face. My dream amp is a brownface Deluxe.
Everyone says that the AC568 is one of the worst circuits, but every time I pull out my 69 Bassman drip edge, I forget what "they" say. It's a lot of amp for a little money.
If there’s one thing that was solidified to me from watching your shootout of the Bassman is that I don’t like the bassman with single coils. It sounds great with a humbucker though. I’ve been thinking about trying one for years but I’ve always played teles and Strats. I recently got an uptown strat with the two humbuckers and it would probably make a perfect companion for it. I was sold on not buying a vintage Bassman but once again, I’m glad I saw YOUR video on them. I see the silver face Bassman’s pop up for sale a lot and this video showed me that I don’t really care for them. I’ll go for a blackface, thanks Johan.
i had a silverface.. powerful..super duper clean.. took a lot of volume to breakup and didn't sound fantastic then..but with a good treble booster type pedal it was magic
Great comparison video, Johan. Descriptions are good, but hearing them one after the other really helps. My favorite was the blackface through a Marshall cab. I borrowed a Bassman 70 for a gig one time, through a Marshall 2x12 cab, and it sounded heavenly. I should have bought that amp!
Very interesting and detailed explanation of what each one of these amps can do. I quite preferred the sound through the Marshall cab than the Fender cab. I think all of these heads with overdrives, compressors and other effects pedals would sound amazing. I also agree with you that the tuxedo had the best and most punchy sound, but all of them sounded great in their own right. God bless and rock on 👍😎🎸
Awesome video Johan! Thank you for demonstrating the tonal differences. The Tuxedo sounded the best, but for my type of playing, the Blacface seems a better fit. I also agree that Strat tones sounded the best on the SF. I’ve been jonesing for a Bassman like crazy lately. This surely will add to my obsession.
I'm really surprised, but I actually liked the tuxedo the best. Normally I'm not a big fan of the brown face amps (although I do think the tuxedos had the best look, and I love harmonic tremolo), but I felt like the tuxedo was the most well-rounded of the bunch and gets tones that I dig more consistently than the others.
thanks for this video. this is how amp demos should be. all amps sound great, it is hard to say I like one more, anyway, they all sound better with the marshall cab for me. don't know how old the tubes are in these amps, but I guess they will sound even better with a fresh & well-biased set of good tubes. so sorry you live in sweden, if you would be closer to me, I could send or borrow you my amps for some more great videos. keep doing what you do, we can learn so much... :o)
To me the 59 tweed does sound quite early jtm45/bluesbreaker with the sort of saggy breakup but that blackface you could full many as a late 60s plexi I think. Fantastic vid Johan
Splendid video! I see you have the drip-edge export model. I have an export model too but not the drip-edge one and it's in need of some repairs. Feeling very excited after watching this video as it gives me an idea of the tones that I can get out of that amp :) Then again, that 1x15 cab is equally as important and I don't have it haha. Thank you, Johan.
I like the Tweed and the Brown the best. Both sound amazing through the Marshall cab. That Black really does have a lot of mids though, and Blackface amps are known for being scooped...thus the reason why a TS sounds so good into them. Bassman is a different circuit and beast altogether.
I didn't have time to watch this one before now. What a great comparison Johan. You can certainly hear the lineage in each even though they each have differences between them. I am lucky to have a '65 blackface Bassman and do love that sound. I still am shocked how it compares to the 59, though it does record with a bit more presence or air than the 59 (to my ears). The tweed and blonde Bassman's are just amazing amps, I can only hope that Fender does some reissues of the blonde amps sometime. I bought the Suhr Hombre because it is a clone of the 6G3 Deluxe and it sounds glorious!
Johan! Have you ever tried a lefthand guitar inverted ( like Jimi had right-handed )? I noticed that it has a different angle on the picking hand, there is no slope. I've experimented with many pick positions during last 20yrs+, try to invert the tip of the pick as well. For eg. Hetfield's picking hand angle is the secret to the sound - when you hold the pick the right way, there is no scrating/iritating sound in the sound itself. Only nice "singing" tone with sustain. I toured with a reagge guy as well, and his picking was flawless - always with a proper angle on the bridge and the picking hand always glued to the guitar... have a go with the wrist on the top of the bridge - the sounds will become automatic.
Hi Jacek! I actually use both inverted picking position (like George Benson for instance) as well as standard for different riffs. It is indeed a really important factor
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There's so much talk on the internet about "Fender cleans" especially Blackface and even more so Silverface, but your clips (at serious volume) show that these amps are much more versatile than most give them credit for.
I also noticed the Tweed sounding less like a Marshall than the Blackface with a definite mid-punch I didn't expect. Most wouldn't believe it unless they heard it with their own ears.
You do such a service to the guitar community! I love this deep dive and comparison video and especially like your impressions on the sound. Great, GREAT video!
Thanks! I’m glad to hear that!
gonna be honest, (in my EXTREMELY humble opinion) the only fender amp that doesn't sound like complete crap when not almost completely clean is a tweed champ. "fender cleans" is the real deal. blackface twin set no higher than 2 lol, that's my shit.
(*edit*) i lied, cause the les paul makes the blonde bassman sound pretty decent here. still, not my thing.
@@zhou_sei Blues god SRV and his devine tone disagree. lol
@@Somnospeed it's not bad. i was never a fan of that style of music, tbh. i really prefer either crystal clean giant fenders, or cranked tiny tweeds.
i've been on a 50s country western kick, i might get a tele with some deangelo dynasonic type pickups somehow.
I owned a mid 70's Silverface years ago, and absolutely loved it. A bandmate of mine had a AB165 that was really great as well. Bassman amps, in my opinion, are some of the best amps ever made, both in terms of tone and construction. Each model and update was a bit different from one another, but they're all great in their own way.
Yeah all classics indeed
@@JohanSegeborn Johands!
@@JohanSegeborn I've decided to mod my bandmaster to BF bassman specs. New mercury OT transformer and ab165 circuit change. All done by my amp tech. I like the bandmaster, just looking for a little more umph in the mids and tighter bass. Although, of all of them, the blonde has a lot of nice characteristics as well.
I’m vintage dealer since ‘78 and Professional player since ‘76 … Have owned multiples of these bassmans every iteration of fender from tweeds to modern -every vintage marshall heads and combos-reissues..Vox’s vintage to the HW2 series a couple dozen Boogies all MK’s and a few lonestar( no rectifiers ) Matchless -65-Legend-THD -Top Hat -Divided by 13 -HK’s -traynors -Sunn Ceriatone -dozens of custom boutique builders and yes even two Dumbles - many more that I’ve forgotten .. Your demo was excellent.
Today 3/3/24 I bought another a ‘62 blonde bassman with the matching 212 cabinet today in Fullerton California..Tuesday I’m driving to San Diego Ca to buy a transition 64 blonde black face witchhat knobs with 2x12 cabinet and an additional single 15” cabinet loaded with aD140 jbl.
i’m definitely a blonde and brown Fender proponent.
At the moment my back line I’m using it’s a ‘66 virbroluxe reverb and a Suhr Hombre w his 2x12 cab..I have a very large collection of Vintage guitars and amp..My all time favorites amps ( most often used) are my fender 6G3 brown deluxe my ‘67 50 watt marshall tremolo hd my original Boogie ’78 60 watt w EV -‘82 Legend rock n roll 50 combo. -(‘83 Dumble ODS just because I have It )..
I just got a silverface with original cab for $650 right now in Anaheim.
I am stoked writing this in my car with it in the backseat smiling at me.
This is by far the best video on bassman amps.
Thanks! I’m really glad to hear that!
Although the 6G6-B doesn't have a ton of gain, it is such a glorious sound. I am so glad I finally pinned one down.
Congrats!
I built my own ‘59 Basman clone and it’s by far my favorite amp in this wattage range and I’ve owned several black and silver panel fenders. I agree with your description that the ‘59 design is more even or has more definition vs. frequency. Additionally I find the ‘59 tone vs. volume musical at ANY setting and has the smoothest transition into breakup vs. the others which I need to find a “sweet spot” with. So glad the ‘59 circuit design one can only assume was intended for use as a bass amp is the best design mistake ever made for a guitarist - ha!
I have a '67ish Silverface Bassman, ab165 circuit, just love it!
Same here. Silverface cosmetics, ‘67 transformers, AB165 circuit.
Brilliant video, Johan. As usual, great playing, great amps, great recordings, but with the added bonus of the great video format and your clear, perceptive editorialising. Just perfectly executed. I can (and often do!) come back again and again to your videos to hear these beautiful amps demonstrated so well. You're doing the Lord's work my friend! Please never stop!
Thanks my friend, it really makes my day to hear that!
Bassman amplifiers are great sounding, fun to do reversible mods on and swap output tubes.
I used to run a SF Bassman into a Marshall 4-10 cab and it really rocked. 👍
Stock speakers in the 4x10”?
My favorite was the Brownface then Silverface in the first section. Through the Marshall cabs with the Les Paul, my favorite was the Silverface for the rhythm overdrive, but the Brownface for lead soloing. And then there's the Tweed....My God
Thanks! ;-)
I have a silverface bassman and thanks to your past demos just added a 65 blackface ab165. I just finished servicing the ab165 and am powering it up for the first time as I watch your video. Keep it up
Glad to hear it! Hope you like it! Cheers
Well done Brother! " Kinda like judging a bikini contest, How do you pick just One?" Love them All!
Thanks for using the Strat!
Enjoy your Weekend and Be Well All!
Hahaha! Have a great weekend my friend!
Awesome comparison! I love the Bassman series of amps. I've been building my own 60s Bassman from the ground up: a hybrid of the AB165 and AA864 circuit with some tweaks for stabilize the overdrive and lower the noise floor. Final plan is to put it in a 1x12 pine cabinet with a Warehouse speaker.
Thanks Matt! That sounds like an interesting project! Cheers
I tend to agree with your observations here. I also highly agree with your statement that, with many riffs, the tuxedo/brownface amps can be "harder to play" but sound better when you nail the take.
I use a tweed 5f6-a Bassman clone as my stage amp and it’s a amazing amp and will do either a beautiful, warm clean or a vintage Marshall crunch. I played through a early Silverface Bassman 50 that had the tone stack modded to more guitar friendly values and a mids control added to the back panel that was a amazing amp. I’ve wanted to pick up a pre Ultra Linear silverface Bassman and mod it ever since.
Now where have I seen an SB 50 that matches that very description. Hmmmmm...I wonder? lol
This is an excellent introduction to Fender amps and sound, for us who "only" play Marshall. Really good starting point, to explore new territory (hope it won't be expensive).
Really well made demo, and you got great sound out of all amps (both with Strat and LP)!
Thanks Bengt! Yeah this is indeed the intersection between Marshall and Fender! Have a great weekend!
Fender and Marshall are both awesome
Johan I played thru a Silverface Combo amp back in the 70s. I believe it had 4 10s in it...There was magic in that amp.. Used to ride it down a hill to band practice... 😆
Cheers Guy! ;-)
I really liked the silverface at the lower gain levels during that part of the test. But at higher gains it was too loose for me and the brownface won out. Overall its hard to choose, because at each step of the tests, I could relate them to different classic rock sounds -- even if I can't really relate them to specific songs. I think, if I had to pick an overall winner, it would be the brownface.
Also just want to say that this is exactly the kind of content that makes you stand out from other channels. The variety of classic gear and classic comparisons you show is amazing.
Thanks, really good to hear that!
Excellent comment!!!
Spot-on - was thinking the same thing when I heard the amps. I like the drive on the brownface best. The silverface produced a nice clean tone, but I liked the drive of the silverface the least of the three. I thought the blackface was in between the brown and the silver.
I usually run my late ‘67/early ‘68 Bassman (silver front panel, ‘67 transformers and serial number) at ~4 on the Normal channel, treble ~6, bass just over 3, Bright switch off. It breaks up some with most guitars at full vol but cleans up nicely by rolling off the vol a little. I use dirt pedals at fairly low gain to push it into more serious breakup. The amp never oversaturates when used this way and has all the volume I can use and then some.
Thanks David
Just got a 68’ Silverface from an estate. Original Sylvania tubes and very clean. Needed a grounded plug and I had the original caps replaced with F&T’s. Sounds amazing.
This is a cool video. I like these kinds of comparisons. Amp designs changed in significant ways over the years, and there's so much bad info out there on...everything. Hearing them played back to back even briefly like this helps a lot.
proud owner of a blackface batsman and I gotta say my favorite was the tweed through the Marshall cab. Love the punch and clarity.
Bassman*
Thanks!
My god the dynamics and definition on that 59 are insane.
PRESENCE circuit comes off the output transformer. I once bought a tuxedo Bassman and a pre-CBS blackface for $75 total for both. The power transformer was bad in the tux and the output transformer was bad in the blackface. So I put the tux OT on the blackface and for the hell of it I put the presence circuit on the blackface, knob on back. Sitting on a 2-12" Utah filled Fender tiltback cab. My double cutaway '62 Gibson all natural mahogany finish Les Paul Jr. single P90 pickup guitar sounded PERRRRFECT!
I had a silverface and it was a beautiful clean and crunch pedal platform.
This is their beauty.
My initial favorite set up was the Tuxedo with the Marshall 412 with the LP but then that 59 Bassman came in at the end my eyes got big. I think with a Proco Rat punching it in the face it could be something really special.
Yeah the 59 is the greatest amp ever especially through its own cab: ruclips.net/video/vgqrOCUQzH0/видео.html
@@JohanSegeborn I modded the useless bass channel on my 67 AB165 to 59 5F6-A tweed specs, now I get the best of both worlds!
I currently have an '80 Twin 135 on my healing bench. Its getting some extensive but reversible mods. Besides a recap, putting the bias circuit back to being fixed adjustable instead of balancing, repurpose the ground switch to give 3 nfb modes, give both channels access to reverb and trem, change normal channel eq to 5f6a...
It is amazing, especially with negative feedback reduced or switched off. And that master vol makes it very useable
Bought one these in the 70s and used as guitar amp and was amazed at what came out of it...
I paid $100 dollars for my 1969 Bassman head in 1988. For years, I only used it for bass guitar, but it does great on guitar as well. Recently re-capped it as one of the doghouse caps failed after sitting idle for 6 years, so I decided to change all the electrolytics and the resistors in the Doghouse.
I'd love to see a decibel meter placed in the room for these videos. Just to get a sense of how insanely loud these amps must be.
I most certainly agree with your Tuxedo comment, that amplifier being more difficult to play. Many times I’ve found a tighter amp while not as forgiving does in most instances record a little better. Like most things a person can overcome that characteristic if it’s providing the sonic profile they are looking for.
Overall just a really great deep-dive comparing the different Era Bassman amplifiers.
Again, just can’t thank you enough Johan.
Thanks man, I’m glad you like it! Cheers
I just found your channel a few months ago. Whether I became interested in JBL Speakers or Bassman's, or almost anything, I have found you to have posted very good reviews and information about it. It is very valuable. Thank you. Also, you have great tone.
You can rock n roll with any of em. They sound pretty great when hit with an od, too.
brown face has that 1.5khz pultec style magic to it. tighter in the low end, less flubby low mids. black face is great through Marshall cab with overdrive pedal ala Social D. That 59 bassman sound with LP was the best I've ever heard! Wow!
I’m digging the brown/ blonde…there all like fine wine.👍
Thanks!
Great demo! However the volume knob is not the gain knob it just pushes the power amp distortion the higher you get it. I have a 64 bassman, the trick is dial in a great clean then use some pedals to drive it to the desired distortion and they scream. The original guvnor and the carl martin heavy drive work great and the danelectro breakdown as well. Also try it through a high wattage 1x12 with an open back and it really shines. Changing the power tubes to el34 will make it sound more marshall like. I currently have 6550s in mine and until they failed recently they sounded even better. The sweet spot is around 4.5 to 6 depending on what pickups you are using. You are also correct when using the power amp distortion it fights you but it's worth effort. The 59 unadorned is this best with no mods and cranked. The others are great pedal platforms if you dont need an effects loop. You can also run both channels at the same time for some added grind.
Thanks, interesting feedback!
There is quite a bit of preamp distortion going on too though. In these amps, the volume knob controls the preamp gain. Right after the first gain stage. It's the only knob, though, so cranking it will yield more power (volume), preamp distortion, and power amp distortion eventually.
All gain/volume/master knobs simply reduce the signal level of the guitar before it hits later stages. Just depends on the amp where the knob is in the circuit.
Blackface for me - great comparison Johan !!!!
Thanks David!
Hi, Johan!
I was very impressed with the Brown one, good thing, but the Black is really the best. Have a nice weekend! See you!
Zigfrid
Have a nice weekend brother!
The videos has really got improved! This type of videos is much better than before.
Thanks, I’m glad to hear that! I realized the complexity of many of these topics needs sone commentary to be able to follow. Cheers
Thnks you for your work mr Sweden... appreciated.. Greetings from Finlandia
GREAT THANKS JOHAN ! I love these Fender amps, but I'm not abble to choose the one I do prefer....I keep this video in fav so I will look at many times!
Thanks Kjeld! Great to hear that!
Johan, this in depth comparison videos are amazing! I would love to see more of those! Thank you
Thanks, I’m glad to hear that. I’m trying this format and it seems to work really well. Cheers
Hello Johan, thanks for this interesting comparison video.
Just to cut hair in four, as we say in french : I think a Tuxedo is a 6G6-B circuit with a black faceplate and white buttons, but also with all other Blackface cosmetics (black Tolex, silver grill cloth, embossed logo and flat handle). Very beautiful and quite rare amps.
The last batches of 6G6-B in 1964 were full Tuxedo, but the cosmetic transition started earlier, quite randomly, with the black faceplate, flat handle, and embossed logo.
Mine is a 1964 6G6-B with Blonde rough Tolex, wheat grill cloth, black dogbone handle, black flat logo, black faceplate and white buttons.
Thanks Florian!
Absolutely correct, I have a last production 6G6-B Full Tuxedo livery, my favorite look. They also made a Princeton, and a a Champ in that combo.
I love the new format you're using on this and the last video, it really highlights the differences for an easier comparison! The Brownface amps seem to consistently be coming into this great sweet spot as my favourite Fenders, just a bit more refined than the Tweeds but with more mids and more familiar to my British-attuned ears than the later amps.
Thanks Anthony, I’m glad you like the new format! I think it will be easier to follow the videos this way. Cheers
all great amps, the Tuxedo did sound great for the neck pickup Hendrix style. To me nothing beats the Blackface head through a Marshall 4x12, all the tones of each amp are useable and great. I am pleasantly surprised by the Silverface. Appreciate the time and effort on this video, Johan, great guide for which one suits the best for anyone. Thanks for sharing, have a great weekend
Thanks my friend, you have a great one too! Cheers!
JTM45 is my favourite bassman version
Bassman through Celestions is hard to beat indeed
@@JohanSegeborn ;)
I'm kinda partial to the YBA Bassman!, lol
@@cchavez248 traynor bassmaster
@@kosmicwizard yes, but I was trying to stick to the acronyms! lol
I have a 1963 Fender Bassman so naturally I thought it wins. I run the '63 stereo with a 1994 Matchless DC-30. Those are the easiest amps I've ever owned to make sound good. Very loud and heavy rig though.
I try myself an fender bassman export amp like that. And cranked. It was tone heaven, i didnt know fender amp can do that.
I have a 62 Blonde Oxblood head and 2x12, and out of all the other Fenders I've owned or played the this head comes out on top! It almost doesn't sound like a Fender at certain higher levels, which is understandable because it's a different circuit. I love this amp! Fantastic video Johan, thanks!
Thanks for a very informative video
Fascinating
As a seasoned bassist it’s opener my eyes up
Thanks! Glad to hear that!
Owned a ‘67 silverface for a while. Phenomenal sounding amp.
you make the best demo's true comparisons you have great ears and great player and GEARHEAD with the goods thank you always great unbiased references BRAVO JOHAN
First off, great video. There’s so many factors involved with amp EQ. Tube bias is the first factor that comes to mind. I think all these amps sound excellent, my guess is that if you spent time with each EQ you could get each amp to sound nearly identical.
Thank you. Great video! All of them shine at times in their own way, but the 59 Tweed thru the Marshall cab just kills. The Tuxedo is the second most useable IMO … tho they’re all fantastic heads.
Thanks Michael!
Best amp comparison video on youtube
Thanks! Glad you like it!
If you carry out this type of test in the future might I suggest a small piece of day-glo green tape on each knob’s “5” position.
That’s a great idea!! Thanks’
Omg thank you for actually using a cab and not a sim!
I own a 1961 bassman brown face with the 2-12” cabinet love the video where you calling the brown face tuxedo in the vid
I've had both blackface ('67) and transition blackface/black tolex/white knobs ('64 I think) in my time and both were monsters.
you catch the guitar and amp tones like almost no one on youtube, it's a pleasure to listen
I love the fender brownface amps. They break up the best. Perfect mix between Tweed and blackface.
Yeah it was generally my favorite too
Spot on. Absolutely agree
They are also the most expensive!
Back then Distortion was a bad thing so they kept working on getting rid of it. That's how they ended up with the silver face. My dream amp is a brownface Deluxe.
Everyone says that the AC568 is one of the worst circuits, but every time I pull out my 69 Bassman drip edge, I forget what "they" say. It's a lot of amp for a little money.
It’s a killer amp indeed
If there’s one thing that was solidified to me from watching your shootout of the Bassman is that I don’t like the bassman with single coils. It sounds great with a humbucker though. I’ve been thinking about trying one for years but I’ve always played teles and Strats. I recently got an uptown strat with the two humbuckers and it would probably make a perfect companion for it. I was sold on not buying a vintage Bassman but once again, I’m glad I saw YOUR video on them. I see the silver face Bassman’s pop up for sale a lot and this video showed me that I don’t really care for them. I’ll go for a blackface, thanks Johan.
As always, great stuff!
Thanks Dan! Great to hear that!
i had a silverface.. powerful..super duper clean.. took a lot of volume to breakup and didn't sound fantastic then..but with a good treble booster type pedal it was magic
Awesome hearing that LP paired with the '59 Bassman.
Great comparison video, Johan. Descriptions are good, but hearing them one after the other really helps. My favorite was the blackface through a Marshall cab. I borrowed a Bassman 70 for a gig one time, through a Marshall 2x12 cab, and it sounded heavenly. I should have bought that amp!
Thanks Dan!
Thank you Johann! I prefer the brown face through the marshall cab.
Thank you. I love the video. I play a Mesa Mark 1, which is a modified Blackface Bassman.
59 Bassman EVER ! no harsh; great balance; sweetness+ punch+ warmth
Yeah the 59 is the holy grail
That was great presentation, as always, great stuff.
I liked all the amps.
Fantastic as always Johan! Love you demo's!
Very interesting and detailed explanation of what each one of these amps can do. I quite preferred the sound through the Marshall cab than the Fender cab. I think all of these heads with overdrives, compressors and other effects pedals would sound amazing. I also agree with you that the tuxedo had the best and most punchy sound, but all of them sounded great in their own right. God bless and rock on 👍😎🎸
Thanks my friend, rock on!
Great video as always Johan! These are great amps!
Awesome video Johan! Thank you for demonstrating the tonal differences. The Tuxedo sounded the best, but for my type of playing, the Blacface seems a better fit. I also agree that Strat tones sounded the best on the SF.
I’ve been jonesing for a Bassman like crazy lately. This surely will add to my obsession.
The professor of rock n roll 🙇♂️
Cheers my friend!
I'd take any of the heads with the marshall cab. That close back sound has always been my preference!
I prefer the ivory knobs with the more bass personally. Thank you for the video.
I'm really surprised, but I actually liked the tuxedo the best. Normally I'm not a big fan of the brown face amps (although I do think the tuxedos had the best look, and I love harmonic tremolo), but I felt like the tuxedo was the most well-rounded of the bunch and gets tones that I dig more consistently than the others.
In my experience the brown amps are the best
thanks for this video. this is how amp demos should be. all amps sound great, it is hard to say I like one more, anyway, they all sound better with the marshall cab for me. don't know how old the tubes are in these amps, but I guess they will sound even better with a fresh & well-biased set of good tubes. so sorry you live in sweden, if you would be closer to me, I could send or borrow you my amps for some more great videos. keep doing what you do, we can learn so much... :o)
Thanks Frank, glad to hear that! I think most of the amps have had a recent service.
Great demo Johan! I really like the warm punchy tone of the brownface but definitely still prefer the overall tones of the blackface amps.
Thanks Andrew!
I would consider any of these my dream amp.
1959 Bassman through the 1960 - WOW!!!
Thanks Angela!
‘59 Tweed Bassman excels at EVERYTHING!!!
To me the 59 tweed does sound quite early jtm45/bluesbreaker with the sort of saggy breakup but that blackface you could full many as a late 60s plexi I think. Fantastic vid Johan
Really cool demo
Absolutely cool amps
Great sounds
Very interesting test - thank you Johan !
Splendid video! I see you have the drip-edge export model. I have an export model too but not the drip-edge one and it's in need of some repairs. Feeling very excited after watching this video as it gives me an idea of the tones that I can get out of that amp :) Then again, that 1x15 cab is equally as important and I don't have it haha. Thank you, Johan.
Thanks Jevin, great to hear that!
I like the Tweed and the Brown the best. Both sound amazing through the Marshall cab. That Black really does have a lot of mids though, and Blackface amps are known for being scooped...thus the reason why a TS sounds so good into them. Bassman is a different circuit and beast altogether.
Thanks Michael!
I didn't have time to watch this one before now. What a great comparison Johan. You can certainly hear the lineage in each even though they each have differences between them. I am lucky to have a '65 blackface Bassman and do love that sound. I still am shocked how it compares to the 59, though it does record with a bit more presence or air than the 59 (to my ears). The tweed and blonde Bassman's are just amazing amps, I can only hope that Fender does some reissues of the blonde amps sometime. I bought the Suhr Hombre because it is a clone of the 6G3 Deluxe and it sounds glorious!
Great work! I am learning a lot! Thanks for your work❤
The clarity on Backface archived by decreasing the bass, in about 2. The mid on two way eq depends on bass first of all.
excellent and comphrehensive as usual
Thanks Joel!
Johan! Have you ever tried a lefthand guitar inverted ( like Jimi had right-handed )? I noticed that it has a different angle on the picking hand, there is no slope. I've experimented with many pick positions during last 20yrs+, try to invert the tip of the pick as well. For eg. Hetfield's picking hand angle is the secret to the sound - when you hold the pick the right way, there is no scrating/iritating sound in the sound itself. Only nice "singing" tone with sustain. I toured with a reagge guy as well, and his picking was flawless - always with a proper angle on the bridge and the picking hand always glued to the guitar... have a go with the wrist on the top of the bridge - the sounds will become automatic.
Hi Jacek! I actually use both inverted picking position (like George Benson for instance) as well as standard for different riffs. It is indeed a really important factor
Great video as always Johan. My preference has always been the brown amps. However, the b/f has my interest. If I see a b/f, I may pursue it. Cheers 😀
Thanks Ken!
I really like the tweed.. but the black bassman sounded great with the marshall cab to me.
I like the blackface the best. Great video Johan!
great comparison! keep up the good work...
Thanks, glad to hear it!
I need to find a 4x10 cab for my 67, something magic in those cabs.
Massive video Johan. Quite excellent. I do wish fender would make a 59 Bassman Tone Master!