I have two Bassman amps, a '65 Blackface and a '69 Silverface. I've had the Silverface since 1980 - bought it out of the Recycler here in L.A. for 150 dollars with the 40" cab!
I'm in love with my Bassman 10! I never name my gear but she's the exception. I had a cat growing up named mariah who would sit on my amps whenever I played, she was deaf so the volume never bothered her and I think she liked the vibration and the warmth of the tubes. Once I brought my bassman home I cranked the volume and felt the whole room around me rattle, I knew it had to be her name!
When you said they can still be found for “reasonable” prices and showed the one for sale for $1500, it just made me remember in the 90s seeing black and silver panel Bassman heads in my local store for $350 on a regular basis.
Hell, I bought a '68 drip edge 50 watt head with its original cab (just one speaker in it, though) for $700 flat back in 2015. Flipped the speaker, replaced the caps, a couple of bleeding resistors, and put two Eminence speakers in the cab (can't remember the models). It sounded great.
I once traded a 1x12 Marshall Valvestate 40 watt hybrid combo for a clean blackface Bassman with one of those oversized 2x12 cabs in the mid 1990S. Man, looking back I should have kept it, but blackface Fender amps were easily gotten in those days…
@@joshuamihalow6054 I have a 1966 Princeton Amp that I got on even trade for an ‘80s solid state Marshall Lead 30 in the late 90s. And I had gotten that Marshall for free, so basically I got my 1966 Princeton for nothing. Those days are over, ☹️
Just remembered the brand of speaker that cabinet came with...Altec Lansing (same brand Randy Rhoads used, but it wasn't the same model speaker). Couldn't remember it for the life of me!
I stumbled onto a 1967 BF piggyback at a Music-Go-Round store in KC back in the late 90s...for $350. Even had the OG hang tags. I still have it and will never let it go. It's the perfect amp.
I remember meeting Shawn Lanes sister when I worked at Shiloh Music near Nashville. She was looking for a Bassman head or Bandmaster for her brother, Shawn Lane. He was known to pick a note or two. Later Bob Gjinka made him a Power of 10 amp. Good show Keith.
I've owned several Bassman heads over the years and still have 2 '66 heads but the silverface Bassman 50 are still some of the best sounding ones I've owned and played.
My brother had an old 60"s Fender Bassman head with matching 2x15 cabinet which was an amazing amplifier. I used to love using his amp for my guitar with an overdrive in front it sounded great.
A black panel Bassman head and a Marshall 4x12” cab (with greenback Celestions) is a formidable and classic guitar sound. I used that combination for two decades. Now I’m too old to carry that 4x12” beauty, but it’s alive and well! Great combination of amp and cab, and with any guitar.
Celestion has several different options that are similar to the green back. You could probably find a 50 W option and put it in a close back 112 and you might be able to manage that more.
I've been enjoying these little history of videos recently so thanks for making them. I have a Pignose G40V based on a 59 Bassman circuit and love it. Paid about $200 for it. That amp, a guitar and a fuzz/boost pedal really makes me smile, especially with an external cab. I was struck by a comment you made around the 5:30 mark in this video re: the Beatles. You say that while they had the new Fender they also still had their trusty Vox amps and that you can't be sure which was used on what songs/tracks. That statement alone should really make people think hard about chasing tone and spending money on expensive "vintage" gear. Those amps are so different from each other and have unique characteristics that should be audible but aren't obvious in a mix. I bet most people can't tell either.
I work enough to "age" your videos a day or so. And then savoring the moment, Keith, I "lean" in!!! In the faith world we use the word conduit to convey efficiency and sharing and living the truth. I hope you know you ring that bell for me. It keeps me coming back for the service you share. Two wonderful vintage Fender Amps, retired, adorn my living room. Some think I am a bass musician, others wonder how far back my acoustic devotions go. But you... you capture it all in the way that encourages each viewer to take note and preserve heritage for a use in the present day. Hey! I'll just say it with no blush at all. God Bless you, Tim, Robin, and each and every presenter you share with us to define the icons of music reinforcement in a way the benefits our play. Wow... just, Thanks again Keith. Sam. Ok, I'm gonna play this one a third time. Seee ya!
It's been quite a while since i first heard "I just make the videos", and i've watched every video since. I've never been disappointed. Thanks, Keith, for another fantastic video!
Keith, this is one of your best documentaries. So many questions I had were answered here….I own a 62 Princeton brown face, a 64 DR, a 62 oxblood Bassman and a 64 wheat bandmaster, and a 63 wheat Tremolux….while guitars come and go, my amps only come…:)
My favourite part of the bassman story that you didn't mention is that I own a pair of 78 silverfaces- a 50 and a 135. I call the big one 'the monolith' and run it through a 2x15 cab with a pair of 500-watt drivers in it. People know about it when you turn that thing on. Absolute beast.
This is a dream amp for me, a buddy of mine ran a late 60s bassman head thru a mesa 2x12, a tech 21 drive pedal, a carbon copy delay and a 7 string for a covers gig, best tone I’ve ever herd!
I’ve got a 66 with the AB165 circuit and I also had a 72 with the same circuit, and these amps definitely have personality, in fact, when I jump the two channels it gives me such versatility, pure Fender cleans and over the top Marshall gain all with just your pick attack.
I have one of the 68 reissue Vibrolux that had a “custom” channel which is a bassman circuit. I love fender amps. The reissues are pretty damn good. I have tried all the “classic” amp brands, Vox, Orange, Marshall, I always come back to a Fender. Maybe I’ll get a two rock one day, but for now, it’s fenders.
After years of searching, the 6G6B is my favorite amp of all time. Super versatile, simple and easy to maintain. I own a 62, 63 and a tuxedo (just in case).
I have never used a Fender Bassman, but this was all great knowledge, and content. I also want to add the music by Tim Pierce was great along with Tim's huge smile which I have never seen him without. Awsome content Keith.
Excellent as usual, I'm ready for the Short History of the Band Master!! I have a 1968 head combined with a 4x10" Marshall closed back cab. Thanks Brother
I love these amps. Especially the Blackface Bassman head. There is a common modification that gives one of the channels a Marshall flavor. Great video 🤩
I’ve had a 1970 Bandmaster with original matching cab for about 20 years now. I’m am the second owner who bought it directly from the original owner who’d had it since highschool. It is in Immaculate shape. I also fairly recently acquired a 68 drip edge Bassman with original matching cab. It came out of an old church and I don’t think it was ever moved at all until I got it because it is literally showroom condition. Best part is I only paid $150 for it. I tried to give them more and they said just treat it well and play it at your church in the band because we feel you need this and wanna bless you with it. I also have an acoustic370 head with matching 301 cab so I can augment my bass rig or my guitar rig just by adding the Bassman to one or the other. Boy oh boy does that amp scream! Especially when patching inputs 1 to 1 and plug into 2input on channel two!!!
Keith, that was an outstanding installment of "A Short History". Thank you for getting into the detail of the changes in the mid '60's to the amp. In fact, I am in the process of evaluating a 1966 Bassman. Many thanks for all you do. I look forward to your next installment of "A Short History".
Great presentation. I picked up a 1974 BASSMAN 135 years ago. The head cab was trashed and it was sitting on a homemade speaker cab which had a 15” EVM-L speaker and 2 horns. It was used by a church choir for many years before I traded a 15 watt Peavy amp for it. I went to the Fender Custom Shop page and found combo cab dimensions to fit the amp. Built all new combo cab for the amp and 15” EVM-L. Everything new, Tolex, grill cloth and all hardware including kick back legs. Turned out to be a great guitar amp and is very loud with plenty head room and a very good tone. This may be one of kind as I have never seen another BASSMAN 135 Combo.
I didn’t catch it in the intro but @ 16:57, there I was, watching Tim do his thing and thinking to myself, “that looks like a Strat but doesn’t actually LOOK like a Strat and then a few moments later my suspicions were confirmed as I realized he’s playing a Nash S-63. Nash Guitars are seriously good guitars.
Absolutely! I'm guessing they helped inspire the (probably) custom color white Ampeg amplifiers used by the Rolling Stones and The Faces in the seventies, plus the white Peavey amps of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In 1960, my brother went to a pawn shop on Main Street in Jacksonville, Florida, and bought a new Jazzmaster and a PRO amp. I attached myself to those pieces somewhere around 1961, whenever he wasn't using them to play out with the original Classics. What a great sound!! I also got to play through two nearly new brownfaced Concerts somewhere in there, as well. My son has a silverfaced Bassman which he is very enthusiastic over! Me. I prefer my 1962 Bandmaster. Sounds incredible. And it shimmy-shakes!!
Luckily for me I was gifted a 67 bassman with extra tubes and a 2x12 cabinet with Jensen speakers! It is my clean amp for a les Paul and Strat! Even our juno 6! Great job as usual Keith!! The best
I loved this pair of videos on the Fender Bassman - and I'm a little bummed it stopped around the end of the sixties. Like many other commenters, I have owned or used Silverface Bassman Ten and Bassman 100 amps, and they worked great for my bass. I suppose by the seventies, there were plenty of other options for guitarists, and the Bassman became just an amp for bassists... but I'd still like to hear you talk about them! As an aside, I had no idea until reading the comments of this video, that Fender had a Bassman 50 and Bassman 70 model in the seventies - such a wide array of amps for the age of funk and disco.
First off. Tim kicks ass!!! Love his playing and his discussions. This is an Excellent Video. Very interesting and educational. Very well presented. I have subscribed. Thank You.
Yeeeeah! Mo' amps!! IT would be great to have a little episode on ALL the Piggybacks, the great forgotten amps of the Blonde and Blackface line: the Tremolux, Bandmaster, Bassman, Showman…!! Keith if you want to do one I'm ready to provide research and playing examples from my '64 Tremolux 😃
great vid .. I really do love the Bassman ... just to mention tho , that fender never used point to point as you mentioned around 15:30 , fenders amps always used an eyelet board/ circuit board, unless there was something I missed ... Point to point doesn't mean "hand wired" , but, where it is wired/soldered up with no board and each component is connected directly to the next , it does look very messy and is harder to work on and trace back .. Thanks ..
I had a brand new Bassman 50/2x15 in 1969. I was 13, playing bass in a Texas Country>Rock band that played the dancehalls. It was a horrific bass amp, with a drummer, organist, 2 guitars and a sax. I had a red Coronado (2?) bass. The 50 couldn't move much air, and I fought with farting and feedback with the hollow body bass. In 1972, I (and my folks) bought a new honey/gold Explorer, and THEN i discovered what it could do. (on 10) I had a Big Muff, but I had a weird little in-line (LPB1) boost that i could get a more jagged tone with, but it was MUCH better straight in. I would trade a little toe for that rig today. Thanks for yet another relaxing and informative show!❤
“The most music, from the least gear.” Essentialism. Not only a great philosophy for music, but life. Love what you do Keith, thanks for being. EDIT: I don’t know if you’ve covered this yet, but I’m interested in hearing your take on some new innovations like NuTube tech. My reasoning is that I’m at that stage in my musical life where I’m looking for my “forever gear”, and the tube crisis we’re in is making me hesitant in investing in something that could become an expensive paperweight in the future. The Vox NuTube amps sound great to me, and I currently use a NuTube equipped Vox Silk Drive pedal to add that tube harmonic sparkle to my Boss Katana.
Might add that the original '61 6V6 tube rectified Bassman 1x12 cab had a "Tonering" around the speaker. A metal ring with a continual slot/port around the edge. The Tonering was the exact size of a 15'' speaker. Fender claimed this was to allow more of the sound to escape from the sealed cab. I always wondered if this was really a spacer to act as a fix for baffles that may have been originally cut for a 15'' speaker, whether form a failed test at using a 15'' or cut by mistake. Quite possible since Leo hated to waste anything.... I owned this amp for a handful of years and is the one I still miss the most.
The thing about Gretsch guitars, is that you can set the pot volumes where you want and you still have a master volume for "touch" control. Basically, it allows one to turn the amp all the way up, wide open, full crunch, and control everything from the guitar.
I love my Bassman 800 but there is another part of that amps story. After Fender bought (and eventually retired) Sunn, they took the Sunn 300T bass amp and rebranded it into the Bassman 800/Super Bassman 300. Current users of the amp include Dan Briggs of BTBAM and Andy Prince of Manchester Orchestra. Funny story about Andy, he sometimes plays with a local guitarist here in the Florida Panhandle and brings the Bassman with him to gigs. I had preordered one on a random Sunday last August and the band the bar I work at had him and the local band playing that same day. The sound guy introduced us and I got to try out the amp I had literally just bought.
Great video....I'd love to see you interview Mike Ness. He's an old acquaintance of mine and sold me my first Les Paul back in '87. He's got an amazing amount of gear and his studio is full of music history that's right up your alley.
I have a 1963 Fender Blonde Brownface piggy back Bassman amp and love it! I've had it for about 10 years. Its sounds amazing. Keep up the great work! I love the videos.
I like that you can tell that the air can be felt moving in some of these demo clips. This is something a lot of people even older ones may never experience. I know I always had issues finding some place that would allow me to go above 2.5 when just messing around on some of my amps (none are video worthy). But I think it's an experience most real players and guitarists should get to experience at least once.
I’d like to see a vid on Fender Concert amps. Basically, the original Concerts were a Super Reverb with no reverb-a 4X10”, open back combo amp. The amps were discontinued at some point, but in the early ‘80s returned in a different form. The “Concert 2,” as it’s called, is a black panel combo with 1X12”. It puts out 60 watts and was designed by Paul Rivera, who was working for Fender at the time. I bought one, new, in 1983 for $500.00 cash at E.U. Wurlitzer Co.,(the best music store EVER!), Boston. List was around $700.00, a lot of money then. Today that would be a boutique amp costing over $2K. Keith, you’d do a bang up vid on the Concert history. Like Deluxe Amps (no reverb allowed!), they’re fairly rare and highly valued.
I had the Fender Bassman 50 watt and had it paired with a 2X15” JBL’s in a Sunn cab , I remember turning it on to warm up for a while before practice and when i would power it up man what a warm sound, yes, it could’ve used a few more watts but boy the sound was there something I regret selling to this day. I hope somebody’s playing out of it somewhere.
Thank you, Keith! I watched both parts and it was very helpful. I'm saving for a Bassman . You really helped me know how the models differ, but I'll probably buy based on condition/repairs rather than a specific model. I'm a new subscriber. Thanks again!
I own a '68 Drip Edge Silverface Bassman head. I paired the Bassman head with a 2X12 Avatar open back cabinet loaded with Weber 12F150 speakers, each rated at 50 watts. I play through the normal channel on input 1, but have also experimented with jumping the Bass Instrument side of the amp with the Normal side. I usually come back to using input 1 in the Normal channel. The amp does well as a pedal platform. I'm a blues player so clean tones are a must. If I want to dirty up my tone I push the amp into higher volume breakup, and/or us an overdrive pedal (Nobles ODR-1, Menatone Red Snapper or Blue Collar, and a Keeley modified BOSS BD-2). As far as tubes go, I installed old stock tubes in the preamp portion of the amp; RCA 12AX7As, along with a GE JAN 12AT7WA phase inverter. The power tubes are Groove Tube GT 6L6GEs. These are Groove Tubes attempt at reproducing the original GE 6L6GC. They sound pretty good in this amp. I have a pair of mid sixties GE 6L6GCs in my '74 Pro Reverb that sound wonderful. The only mod my amp tech did was to remove the negative feedback loop. I couldn't be happier with this amp and my setup.
Thanks Keith! A great follow-up to the Tweed Bassman. I really love the history. I'll most likely never have a serious vintage amp like this. However, hearing the musicians playing through them is makes me dream!🙂
Recently came into possession of a 50W Silverface in near mint condition. Waiting on a fuse to check it out. By near mint, I mean the enclosure . The chassis is super clean with what looks like all original caps.
I have a 71' SF 50w head that I picked up practically free in the mid 80s. Had it recapped about 10 years ago but not modified. I run it thru a homemade open back pine cab with a Weber Cali 15". Awesome pedal platform. It sounds great cranked but I value my ears so I rarely do that.
These all have the potential to be amazing amps. I own a 1970 silverface bassman and the key to it sounding its best is to make sure it’s working properly electronically and valves / bias etc and then pairing it with the right speakers for your sound / guitar. Also there’s so many circuits, some parts of which stifle the tone - it’s worth experimenting with capacitors in critical areas to open up the amps sound. Obviously you need the safety and electronics knowledge of working on amps or a good tech.
You should do a short history of the echoplex or tape delay in general. I just got a very very nice echoplex EP-2 that sounds great through a blonde bassman.
Really nice video. I've played a few Fender Bassman's and have always really liked the tone of the older models. At one point I had a Massie / St George Squire amp reported to have been designed by Ray Massie an ex-Fender amp designer. It was a great amp and similar tone to the Bassman and I regret selling it.
Great video I noticed some Outlaws and Kiss style links in the demos which was a fun bonus. As always wel done Keith. Still waiting excitedly for those Dean and Carvin short histories. Blessing pal!
I picked up a '78 bassman 125 last year. I got the greatest deal traded a couple pedals and a lil hayden mofo for it. The pervious owner modified it down to half power but its still outrageously loud. I run my bass through it into a 4x10 warwick cab and it's incredible 👌
I used to have a really nice silverface Bassman 70 with a master volume. I would push it with a Boss Super Overdrive. It roared like a Marshall when cranked up. I later acquired a silverface Bassman 100 that was in rough shape. I restored the cabinet on it and retubed it. I sold off both amps in the late 90s. Sure wish I had kept them!
I sense a Dumble short history coming in the future. Looking forward to it! If you already did it then please direct me to that link. As always, an entertaining and informative bit. Thanks!
It's a good day whenever a new episode of "A Short History" is released. 👍 I hope you consider doing a video on "Modelers: A Short History." The time is now, as things are moving fast, and there is already a lot to cover. Thanks
I’ve got the Bassman 800 and the 410 that goes with it. It truly sounds like a 60’s rig with the right bass guitar! There’s also a full tube 300W model called Super Bassman and there used to be a Bassman 500 hybrid before the 800 watt version. The 500s still float around on the used market!
Good grief Keith! I like all of your videos but the Fender history (with lots of Japan info) and this are incredibly well researched and clearly presented! Thank you very much for these. Keep it up!
My first amp was a '67 Bassman with the horizontal 2x12s. I still kick myself for trading that off! Great video, Keith, as usual. It was informative and gave me more reasons to kick myself. LOL
Great videos as always Keith! As a Guitarist and Bassists, I've played my fair share of Bassmans on gigs and i love the sound of a bassman on both my favorite reissue 57' P-Bass and my go-to Parts-Caster Tele! Lately I've been in my anual summer Neil Young obsession and it be amazing to see a video of a history of his guitars, amps, and pedals! Keep up the amazing work as always Keith!
Funny I’m going through a retro Neil phase at my acoustic jam. The guys look at me when it’s my turn to call a tune and go « that Neil Young guy again? » as I launch into The Thrashers.
I bought a used 68 Drip Edge, Blackline, Silverface Bassman 50 watt head in a pawn shop in Houston in 1988 for $100. (still have the receipt). Finally did a cap job on it a couple years ago. I built a 2 x 12 cabinet and loaded it with UK made Celestion Vintage 30's. If I play bass thru it I use a 2 x 15 Peavey cabinet, that also sounds decent for guitar.
I have a '73 Fender Bassman tube amp head. It is 100 watts. But has a master volume knob. I use a Fender Rumble 4x10 cab with 1000 watt max ; 500rms. Has a 3 wat switch in back of cab - full , off ,and -6db . I use it for Bass and Electric.
![Dan Chooses A New Amp For His Wet-Dry Rig [JTM45 Vs Tweed Bassman Vs Sovtek MIG-50]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/S_1xnJsTQ5s/mqdefault.jpg)
Arguably one of the greatest amps of all time. This, a Tele, and a fuzz is all you need.
I’d say a bassman, a les paul and a delay is all I need
@@calebfisher7345 that works quite well too! 😎🤙
Amen to that.
@drsrsv8884 This for that instant Elvin.
@@breilly66 I top mine off with a tube reverb unit and all is right in my world.
The more and more I listen to Robben Ford the more I ralize he is a special player.
I have two Bassman amps, a '65 Blackface and a '69 Silverface. I've had the Silverface since 1980 - bought it out of the Recycler here in L.A. for 150 dollars with the 40" cab!
I'm in love with my Bassman 10! I never name my gear but she's the exception. I had a cat growing up named mariah who would sit on my amps whenever I played, she was deaf so the volume never bothered her and I think she liked the vibration and the warmth of the tubes. Once I brought my bassman home I cranked the volume and felt the whole room around me rattle, I knew it had to be her name!
When you said they can still be found for “reasonable” prices and showed the one for sale for $1500, it just made me remember in the 90s seeing black and silver panel Bassman heads in my local store for $350 on a regular basis.
Hell, I bought a '68 drip edge 50 watt head with its original cab (just one speaker in it, though) for $700 flat back in 2015. Flipped the speaker, replaced the caps, a couple of bleeding resistors, and put two Eminence speakers in the cab (can't remember the models). It sounded great.
I once traded a 1x12 Marshall Valvestate 40 watt hybrid combo for a clean blackface Bassman with one of those oversized 2x12 cabs in the mid 1990S.
Man, looking back I should have kept it, but blackface Fender amps were easily gotten in those days…
@@joshuamihalow6054 I have a 1966 Princeton Amp that I got on even trade for an ‘80s solid state Marshall Lead 30 in the late 90s. And I had gotten that Marshall for free, so basically I got my 1966 Princeton for nothing. Those days are over, ☹️
Just remembered the brand of speaker that cabinet came with...Altec Lansing (same brand Randy Rhoads used, but it wasn't the same model speaker). Couldn't remember it for the life of me!
Even up to 2010’s
The only thing missing for me, a bassist, was a demo with a bass, after all it's a Bassman.
Exactly my thoughts
McCartney played through them on the two albums Keith mentioned. Also he played through a silverface on Abbey Road.
Black panel Bassmans are, believe it or not, one of my favorite amps for heavy modern rock and metal. Boosted properly, it rips for heavy music.
Absolutely..!!!
Please continue this amp series Keith! Twins, vibroluxs, Concerts, Pro's, and super reverbs need their stories told by you.
Don't forget the tremolux
The 6G16 Brown Vibroverb deserves its own video. Tube driven spring reverb with bias vary tremolo was basically everything wonderful and Fender.
When I was in 7th grade, I got to try a 1965 black-panel Bassman and it seemed like heaven to me!
I stumbled onto a 1967 BF piggyback at a Music-Go-Round store in KC back in the late 90s...for $350. Even had the OG hang tags. I still have it and will never let it go. It's the perfect amp.
can I be in your WILL?
@@catzdollz9810 🤣
I got a 67' from Midwestern music for $500 in 2012.
I remember meeting Shawn Lanes sister when I worked at Shiloh Music near Nashville. She was looking for a Bassman head or Bandmaster for her brother, Shawn Lane. He was known to pick a note or two. Later Bob Gjinka made him a Power of 10 amp. Good show Keith.
I've owned several Bassman heads over the years and still have 2 '66 heads but the silverface Bassman 50 are still some of the best sounding ones I've owned and played.
BTW, every Bassman head sounds 10x better through Celestions than Jensens.
My brother had an old 60"s Fender Bassman head with matching 2x15 cabinet which was an amazing amplifier. I used to love using his amp for my guitar with an overdrive in front it sounded great.
A black panel Bassman head and a Marshall 4x12” cab (with greenback Celestions) is a formidable and classic guitar sound. I used that combination for two decades. Now I’m too old to carry that 4x12” beauty, but it’s alive and well! Great combination of amp and cab, and with any guitar.
Celestion has several different options that are similar to the green back. You could probably find a 50 W option and put it in a close back 112 and you might be able to manage that more.
I've been enjoying these little history of videos recently so thanks for making them. I have a Pignose G40V based on a 59 Bassman circuit and love it. Paid about $200 for it. That amp, a guitar and a fuzz/boost pedal really makes me smile, especially with an external cab. I was struck by a comment you made around the 5:30 mark in this video re: the Beatles. You say that while they had the new Fender they also still had their trusty Vox amps and that you can't be sure which was used on what songs/tracks. That statement alone should really make people think hard about chasing tone and spending money on expensive "vintage" gear. Those amps are so different from each other and have unique characteristics that should be audible but aren't obvious in a mix. I bet most people can't tell either.
I work enough to "age" your videos a day or so. And then savoring the moment, Keith, I "lean" in!!! In the faith world we use the word conduit to convey efficiency and sharing and living the truth. I hope you know you ring that bell for me. It keeps me coming back for the service you share. Two wonderful vintage Fender Amps, retired, adorn my living room. Some think I am a bass musician, others wonder how far back my acoustic devotions go. But you... you capture it all in the way that encourages each viewer to take note and preserve heritage for a use in the present day.
Hey! I'll just say it with no blush at all. God Bless you, Tim, Robin, and each and every presenter you share with us to define the icons of music reinforcement in a way the benefits our play. Wow... just, Thanks again Keith. Sam. Ok, I'm gonna play this one a third time. Seee ya!
It's been quite a while since i first heard "I just make the videos", and i've watched every video since. I've never been disappointed. Thanks, Keith, for another fantastic video!
Keith, this is one of your best documentaries. So many questions I had were answered here….I own a 62 Princeton brown face, a 64 DR, a 62 oxblood Bassman and a 64 wheat bandmaster, and a 63 wheat Tremolux….while guitars come and go, my amps only come…:)
My favourite part of the bassman story that you didn't mention is that I own a pair of 78 silverfaces- a 50 and a 135. I call the big one 'the monolith' and run it through a 2x15 cab with a pair of 500-watt drivers in it. People know about it when you turn that thing on. Absolute beast.
This is a dream amp for me, a buddy of mine ran a late 60s bassman head thru a mesa 2x12, a tech 21 drive pedal, a carbon copy delay and a 7 string for a covers gig, best tone I’ve ever herd!
I prefer the late 50’s high watt tweed twin. But, I think Joe Bonamassa bought them all.
Have one built. That's becoming the only way to do an early design these days.
I’ve got a 66 with the AB165 circuit and I also had a 72 with the same circuit, and these amps definitely have personality, in fact, when I jump the two channels it gives me such versatility, pure Fender cleans and over the top Marshall gain all with just your pick attack.
I LOVE my silver 67 AB165.
...I've a '66 head currently undergoing restoration - can't wait until it's done!
I have one of the 68 reissue Vibrolux that had a “custom” channel which is a bassman circuit. I love fender amps. The reissues are pretty damn good. I have tried all the “classic” amp brands, Vox, Orange, Marshall, I always come back to a Fender. Maybe I’ll get a two rock one day, but for now, it’s fenders.
Same thing with the 68 reissue Deluxe Reverb! The Bassman circuit on the custom channel is a gem. Love it.
The Bassman videos were amazing, just like all the Short Histories. Would love to see one about the Ampeg SVT
I plan to make the B-15 and the SVT
After years of searching, the 6G6B is my favorite amp of all time. Super versatile, simple and easy to maintain. I own a 62, 63 and a tuxedo (just in case).
I have never used a Fender Bassman, but this was all great knowledge, and content. I also want to add the music by Tim Pierce was great along with Tim's huge smile which I have never seen him without. Awsome content Keith.
These short history videos are the absolute best. Love hearing what was and still is. Great job making these. Love it.
I have a 1972 Silverface 100W with 4x12. It's the first thing any of my musician friends want to hear when they come over.
Great video Keith! Would love to see a short history of the Analogman King Of Tone. Looking forward to the next one!
Excellent as usual, I'm ready for the Short History of the Band Master!!
I have a 1968 head combined with a 4x10" Marshall closed back cab.
Thanks Brother
RESPECT TO THE MAGICAL TONE CREATED BY BASSMANS AND THE MARSHALL'S THAT FOLLOWED IN THEIR GIANT FOOTSTEP!!!!!
I always loved Brian Setzer's sound and his amps looked super cool too. Thanks for another awesome video Keith, rock on!
I do own a Tweed Bassman Reissue. I also have a Blonde Tremelo Head & Cab. As always, Thank you so much! WooF!!🐶🐶
I love these amps. Especially the Blackface Bassman head. There is a common modification that gives one of the channels a Marshall flavor. Great video 🤩
I’ve had a 1970 Bandmaster with original matching cab for about 20 years now. I’m am the second owner who bought it directly from the original owner who’d had it since highschool. It is in Immaculate shape. I also fairly recently acquired a 68 drip edge Bassman with original matching cab. It came out of an old church and I don’t think it was ever moved at all until I got it because it is literally showroom condition. Best part is I only paid $150 for it. I tried to give them more and they said just treat it well and play it at your church in the band because we feel you need this and wanna bless you with it. I also have an acoustic370 head with matching 301 cab so I can augment my bass rig or my guitar rig just by adding the Bassman to one or the other. Boy oh boy does that amp scream! Especially when patching inputs 1 to 1 and plug into 2input on channel two!!!
Keith, that was an outstanding installment of "A Short History". Thank you for getting into the detail of the changes in the mid '60's to the amp. In fact, I am in the process of evaluating a 1966 Bassman. Many thanks for all you do. I look forward to your next installment of "A Short History".
Love all these videos…..glad to see the part 2 to the bassman
Hey Keith, thanks for your videos, you sparked my love for vintage gear and your videos are always such a tasteful and relaxing time out for me😊
Another fascinating presentation. Gotta love instrument history when it’s wrapped up as very solid entertainment
Woah. I will be digging into lots of your videos. So cool! That guy at 9:55-what a hack!
Ha! You’re welcome Justin!
Great presentation. I picked up a 1974 BASSMAN 135 years ago. The head cab was trashed and it was sitting on a homemade speaker cab which had a 15” EVM-L speaker and 2 horns. It was used by a church choir for many years before I traded a 15 watt Peavy amp for it. I went to the Fender Custom Shop page and found combo cab dimensions to fit the amp. Built all new combo cab for the amp and 15” EVM-L. Everything new, Tolex, grill cloth and all hardware including kick back legs. Turned out to be a great guitar amp and is very loud with plenty head room and a very good tone. This may be one of kind as I have never seen another BASSMAN 135 Combo.
I didn’t catch it in the intro but @ 16:57, there I was, watching Tim do his thing and thinking to myself, “that looks like a Strat but doesn’t actually LOOK like a Strat and then a few moments later my suspicions were confirmed as I realized he’s playing a Nash S-63. Nash Guitars are seriously good guitars.
Another absorbing episode of 5 watt world,thanks Keith.
Man ! It's like you read my mind ! Friends and I were just talking about these amps ! Always Always ... Always ... such great content !
The piggyback blonde Bassman is about the coolest looking amp ever. Really stands out on a stage. Simply iconic!
Absolutely! I'm guessing they helped inspire the (probably) custom color white Ampeg amplifiers used by the Rolling Stones and The Faces in the seventies, plus the white Peavey amps of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
When I was a child, my dad had one in the living room displayed, it's now in mine 😅. Awesome looking amp!
Hypes, I wish I could find one of these. Tim’s sounds amazing!🔥🔥🔥
He really does.
Tim makes everything sound amazing!
Was happy to see some love for the Tuxedo Bassman. Mine is home base as well.
@@JustinOstrander home Bassman?
Are we to really believe Rick doesn't have one? We've all seen his studio.
In 1960, my brother went to a pawn shop on Main Street in Jacksonville, Florida, and bought a new Jazzmaster and a PRO amp. I attached myself to those pieces somewhere around 1961, whenever he wasn't using them to play out with the original Classics. What a great sound!! I also got to play through two nearly new brownfaced Concerts somewhere in there, as well. My son has a silverfaced Bassman which he is very enthusiastic over! Me. I prefer my 1962 Bandmaster. Sounds incredible. And it shimmy-shakes!!
Thank You, Tim Pierce, for the awesome music:)
Luckily for me I was gifted a 67 bassman with extra tubes and a 2x12 cabinet with Jensen speakers! It is my clean amp for a les Paul and Strat! Even our juno 6! Great job as usual Keith!! The best
Thanks!
I loved this pair of videos on the Fender Bassman - and I'm a little bummed it stopped around the end of the sixties. Like many other commenters, I have owned or used Silverface Bassman Ten and Bassman 100 amps, and they worked great for my bass. I suppose by the seventies, there were plenty of other options for guitarists, and the Bassman became just an amp for bassists... but I'd still like to hear you talk about them! As an aside, I had no idea until reading the comments of this video, that Fender had a Bassman 50 and Bassman 70 model in the seventies - such a wide array of amps for the age of funk and disco.
First off. Tim kicks ass!!! Love his playing and his discussions. This is an Excellent Video. Very interesting and educational. Very well presented. I have subscribed. Thank You.
Yeeeeah! Mo' amps!! IT would be great to have a little episode on ALL the Piggybacks, the great forgotten amps of the Blonde and Blackface line: the Tremolux, Bandmaster, Bassman, Showman…!! Keith if you want to do one I'm ready to provide research and playing examples from my '64 Tremolux 😃
great vid .. I really do love the Bassman ... just to mention tho , that fender never used point to point as you mentioned around 15:30 , fenders amps always used an eyelet board/ circuit board, unless there was something I missed ... Point to point doesn't mean "hand wired" , but, where it is wired/soldered up with no board and each component is connected directly to the next , it does look very messy and is harder to work on and trace back ..
Thanks ..
I’ve been looking forward to watching this for a few days! I used to own a Bassman 70 head and loved it.
I had a brand new Bassman 50/2x15 in 1969. I was 13, playing bass in a Texas Country>Rock band that played the dancehalls. It was a horrific bass amp, with a drummer, organist, 2 guitars and a sax. I had a red Coronado (2?) bass. The 50 couldn't move much air, and I fought with farting and feedback with the hollow body bass. In 1972, I (and my folks) bought a new honey/gold Explorer, and THEN i discovered what it could do. (on 10) I had a Big Muff, but I had a weird little in-line (LPB1) boost that i could get a more jagged tone with, but it was MUCH better straight in. I would trade a little toe for that rig today. Thanks for yet another relaxing and informative show!❤
I just acquired a 1968 Bassman silver face, one of the less desirable ones and its the best tone I have ever had after owning 15 tube amps.
“The most music, from the least gear.”
Essentialism. Not only a great philosophy for music, but life. Love what you do Keith, thanks for being.
EDIT: I don’t know if you’ve covered this yet, but I’m interested in hearing your take on some new innovations like NuTube tech. My reasoning is that I’m at that stage in my musical life where I’m looking for my “forever gear”, and the tube crisis we’re in is making me hesitant in investing in something that could become an expensive paperweight in the future. The Vox NuTube amps sound great to me, and I currently use a NuTube equipped Vox Silk Drive pedal to add that tube harmonic sparkle to my Boss Katana.
Might add that the original '61 6V6 tube rectified Bassman 1x12 cab had a "Tonering" around the speaker. A metal ring with a continual slot/port around the edge. The Tonering was the exact size of a 15'' speaker. Fender claimed this was to allow more of the sound to escape from the sealed cab. I always wondered if this was really a spacer to act as a fix for baffles that may have been originally cut for a 15'' speaker, whether form a failed test at using a 15'' or cut by mistake. Quite possible since Leo hated to waste anything.... I owned this amp for a handful of years and is the one I still miss the most.
The Black Panel "Showman Amp" with a single 15 inch speaker had the same type of speaker mounting ring .
The thing about Gretsch guitars, is that you can set the pot volumes where you want and you still have a master volume for "touch" control. Basically, it allows one to turn the amp all the way up, wide open, full crunch, and control everything from the guitar.
I love my Bassman 800 but there is another part of that amps story. After Fender bought (and eventually retired) Sunn, they took the Sunn 300T bass amp and rebranded it into the Bassman 800/Super Bassman 300. Current users of the amp include Dan Briggs of BTBAM and Andy Prince of Manchester Orchestra. Funny story about Andy, he sometimes plays with a local guitarist here in the Florida Panhandle and brings the Bassman with him to gigs. I had preordered one on a random Sunday last August and the band the bar I work at had him and the local band playing that same day. The sound guy introduced us and I got to try out the amp I had literally just bought.
Great video....I'd love to see you interview Mike Ness. He's an old acquaintance of mine and sold me my first Les Paul back in '87. He's got an amazing amount of gear and his studio is full of music history that's right up your alley.
Knowing we’ve got some sweet Tim Pierce outro playing to look forward to always helps us hang with you to the end.
I have a 1963 Fender Blonde Brownface piggy back Bassman amp and love it! I've had it for about 10 years. Its sounds amazing. Keep up the great work! I love the videos.
Again thank you for this video. People don’t realize how many amps today are a bassman type circuit
Great video as always. I’m lucky enough to own a AA864 ‘64 Bassman, it’s incredible. My favourite amp and the one I will never part with.
I like that you can tell that the air can be felt moving in some of these demo clips. This is something a lot of people even older ones may never experience. I know I always had issues finding some place that would allow me to go above 2.5 when just messing around on some of my amps (none are video worthy). But I think it's an experience most real players and guitarists should get to experience at least once.
Love the bassman sound!
I’d like to see a vid on Fender Concert amps. Basically, the original Concerts were a Super Reverb with no reverb-a 4X10”, open back combo amp. The amps were discontinued at some point, but in the early ‘80s returned in a different form. The “Concert 2,” as it’s called, is a black panel combo with 1X12”. It puts out 60 watts and was designed by Paul Rivera, who was working for Fender at the time. I bought one, new, in 1983 for $500.00 cash at E.U. Wurlitzer Co.,(the best music store EVER!), Boston. List was around $700.00, a lot of money then. Today that would be a boutique amp costing over $2K. Keith, you’d do a bang up vid on the Concert history. Like Deluxe Amps (no reverb allowed!), they’re fairly rare and highly valued.
I had the Fender Bassman 50 watt and had it paired with a 2X15” JBL’s in a Sunn cab , I remember turning it on to warm up for a while before practice and when i would power it up man what a warm sound, yes, it could’ve used a few more watts but boy the sound was there something I regret selling to this day. I hope somebody’s playing out of it somewhere.
Man, I had one of the early 59 Reissues....what a fantastic amp. I kick myself for letting it go years ago. GAS got the better of me 😢
Happens to everyone.
Thank you, Keith! I watched both parts and it was very helpful. I'm saving for a Bassman . You really helped me know how the models differ, but I'll probably buy based on condition/repairs rather than a specific model.
I'm a new subscriber. Thanks again!
I have a Drip Edge Twin just like those in the Beatles Get Back, chassis date is 67. It's magnificent and LOUD. Great history Keith
I have a 68 drip edge bassman
@@captainkirk70 nice. Too bad we can't make a record like them....🤣
I own a '68 Drip Edge Silverface Bassman head. I paired the Bassman head with a 2X12 Avatar open back cabinet loaded with Weber 12F150 speakers, each rated at 50 watts. I play through the normal channel on input 1, but have also experimented with jumping the Bass Instrument side of the amp with the Normal side. I usually come back to using input 1 in the Normal channel. The amp does well as a pedal platform. I'm a blues player so clean tones are a must. If I want to dirty up my tone I push the amp into higher volume breakup, and/or us an overdrive pedal (Nobles ODR-1, Menatone Red Snapper or Blue Collar, and a Keeley modified BOSS BD-2).
As far as tubes go, I installed old stock tubes in the preamp portion of the amp; RCA 12AX7As, along with a GE JAN 12AT7WA phase inverter. The power tubes are Groove Tube GT 6L6GEs. These are Groove Tubes attempt at reproducing the original GE 6L6GC. They sound pretty good in this amp. I have a pair of mid sixties GE 6L6GCs in my '74 Pro Reverb that sound wonderful. The only mod my amp tech did was to remove the negative feedback loop. I couldn't be happier with this amp and my setup.
Thanks Keith! A great follow-up to the Tweed Bassman. I really love the history. I'll most likely never have a serious vintage amp like this. However, hearing the musicians playing through them is makes me dream!🙂
Recently came into possession of a 50W Silverface in near mint condition. Waiting on a fuse to check it out. By near mint, I mean the enclosure . The chassis is super clean with what looks like all original caps.
I have a 71' SF 50w head that I picked up practically free in the mid 80s. Had it recapped about 10 years ago but not modified. I run it thru a homemade open back pine cab with a Weber Cali 15". Awesome pedal platform. It sounds great cranked but I value my ears so I rarely do that.
"Shimmered like a California sunset." Nice touch, Keith.
You Are very Welcome:)
These all have the potential to be amazing amps. I own a 1970 silverface bassman and the key to it sounding its best is to make sure it’s working properly electronically and valves / bias etc and then pairing it with the right speakers for your sound / guitar. Also there’s so many circuits, some parts of which stifle the tone - it’s worth experimenting with capacitors in critical areas to open up the amps sound. Obviously you need the safety and electronics knowledge of working on amps or a good tech.
You should do a short history of the echoplex or tape delay in general. I just got a very very nice echoplex EP-2 that sounds great through a blonde bassman.
Really nice video. I've played a few Fender Bassman's and have always really liked the tone of the older models. At one point I had a Massie / St George Squire amp reported to have been designed by Ray Massie an ex-Fender amp designer. It was a great amp and similar tone to the Bassman and I regret selling it.
Great video I noticed some Outlaws and Kiss style links in the demos which was a fun bonus. As always wel done Keith. Still waiting excitedly for those Dean and Carvin short histories. Blessing pal!
I picked up a '78 bassman 125 last year. I got the greatest deal traded a couple pedals and a lil hayden mofo for it. The pervious owner modified it down to half power but its still outrageously loud. I run my bass through it into a 4x10 warwick cab and it's incredible 👌
My 90's era ri '59 ltd still screams. All the same speakers and a reintroduced tube rectifier. Just an amazing amp all around.
In the 60's I used a Fender Bassman along with a Leslie as an organ amp. Worked great. You rarely mention keys.
I just got a 6G6-B bassman amp with cabinet and cranked it sounds so amazing with any guitar.
That’s one of the good ones.
I used to have a really nice silverface Bassman 70 with a master volume. I would push it with a Boss Super Overdrive. It roared like a Marshall when cranked up. I later acquired a silverface Bassman 100 that was in rough shape. I restored the cabinet on it and retubed it. I sold off both amps in the late 90s. Sure wish I had kept them!
Great content, presentation, writing and quality production. Really cool stuff.
I sense a Dumble short history coming in the future. Looking forward to it! If you already did it then please direct me to that link. As always, an entertaining and informative bit. Thanks!
It’s coming…
Great vid, Keith.
Future subject: AMPEG.
Portaflex
Gemini
V-4
SVT
Don't forget the reverberocket, one of the best sounding reverbs ever put in a combo amp
It's a good day whenever a new episode of "A Short History" is released. 👍 I hope you consider doing a video on "Modelers: A Short History." The time is now, as things are moving fast, and there is already a lot to cover. Thanks
I’ve got the Bassman 800 and the 410 that goes with it. It truly sounds like a 60’s rig with the right bass guitar!
There’s also a full tube 300W model called Super Bassman and there used to be a Bassman 500 hybrid before the 800 watt version. The 500s still float around on the used market!
Great story, Keith! It’s all about the big iron. 🎸
Good grief Keith! I like all of your videos but the Fender history (with lots of Japan info) and this are incredibly well researched and clearly presented! Thank you very much for these. Keep it up!
My first amp was a '67 Bassman with the horizontal 2x12s. I still kick myself for trading that off! Great video, Keith, as usual. It was informative and gave me more reasons to kick myself. LOL
Great videos as always Keith! As a Guitarist and Bassists, I've played my fair share of Bassmans on gigs and i love the sound of a bassman on both my favorite reissue 57' P-Bass and my go-to Parts-Caster Tele! Lately I've been in my anual summer Neil Young obsession and it be amazing to see a video of a history of his guitars, amps, and pedals!
Keep up the amazing work as always Keith!
Funny I’m going through a retro Neil phase at my acoustic jam. The guys look at me when it’s my turn to call a tune and go « that Neil Young guy again? » as I launch into The Thrashers.
I bought a used 68 Drip Edge, Blackline, Silverface Bassman 50 watt head in a pawn shop in Houston in 1988 for $100. (still have the receipt). Finally did a cap job on it a couple years ago. I built a 2 x 12 cabinet and loaded it with UK made Celestion Vintage 30's. If I play bass thru it I use a 2 x 15 Peavey cabinet, that also sounds decent for guitar.
Awsome vid as always, fantastic Tim kickin' ass with that amazing strat tones!
I have a '73 Fender Bassman tube amp head. It is 100 watts. But has a master volume knob. I use a Fender Rumble 4x10 cab with 1000 watt max ; 500rms. Has a 3 wat switch in back of cab - full , off ,and -6db . I use it for Bass and Electric.
I would have loved to hear more about the silverface Bassman 50, 70, 100, etc. amps and their story.
I have a '71 super bassman, 100 watts non-master volume...stupidly loud, nothing but warm clean headroom...the perfect pedal platform
Early silver face drip edges?