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Post subject: V.T. BASSMAN 15" cab :?:
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:12 am
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I recently got this old 2x15" bass cab that was... well... it looks like it went through both World Wars... The plate on the back is very scratched but I can read " V.T. BASSMAN 15" " along with the serial # and speaker impedance. I couldn't find anything about any V.T. BASSMAN on the internet. Oh! There is also "TINMAN" painted on the back. Couldn't find anything on that either. The two 15" subwoofers are blown *but the cones are still in great shape* and found out last night that they are CTS speakers made in 1971 (the code on them). The cab had a custom grill... if you would call it that... it was just a piece of fencing cut to fit. I'm trying to fix it up and any information will be most helpful.

Oh and is the "TINMAN" painted on the back really Fender?

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Post subject: V.T. Bassman 15"
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:13 am
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Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:19 pm
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Location: Austin, TX
I bought the shell of one yesterday out of the storeroom of a shop in Austin for $50.00. It had blue-white-black grill cloth with Aluminum edging and Fender logo still intact which leads me to thinks it's a 1969. My serial number reads: 2219.

I'm not having any luck finding info on this cabinet as they seem to have been initially part of a packaged piggyback deal. I bought and sold these in the late 70's and kept one until around 1988 so I know people bought them separately; my high school had one for thier Rhodes piano. Every music store I used in those day sold them separately.

Keep in mind too that this thing was designed for a 50w amp and later, JBL D140F speakers were added for the 100w & 135w Bassman amps. I used one for many years with a Bassman 135 and I reloaded mine with EVM Pro Series II 15" speakers.

However, this cabinet will never be worth more than $400 to $500 resale regardless of condition. Why? For the same reasons you are considering an upgrade: It's a poor design. Very mid-rangey. Pank-pank. I used the same Peavey head for a time too with mine after the EVM upgrade and it did perform better but still distorted and vibrated at higher levels. BTW, I also used that head with an Ampeg SVT 8x10"Cabinet for a time.

Remember, any upgrade and investment will be absorbed by you since it has no resale value. I also wouldn't get in the habit of second guessing Fender's engineering. Nor would I bother with the 15" and mid and crossover, that fellow sounds like a tech-type who would glue arms back on Venus di Milo, and though it may work & work well, I wouldn't waste your time. He's probably a genius, what do I know?

I think your best bet would be to just turn it. Sell it to somebody who plays blues or old school r&r and would appreciate it for what it is. Craigslist it for $400 and go buy a Peavey cabinet to match that amp or maybe a used SWR Big Ben single Bagend 18" 500w or used Ampeg SVT. You could later use a slave power amp with your Peavey and drive the everlivin' snot out of it. Thunderous.

Regardless, you need more power and should consider that down the road. 400w RMS would be a minimum for the type of music you play, competing for air space with two guitar players, and the fact that you want to fill the room with stage volume. This approach works fine in small to moderate venues but when you get to bigger rooms you will quickly piss off a soundman. Whenever possible, go through the mains; lower stage volume works better and is more professional.

Oh, and "Tinman" was probably the name of a band or possibly a person. During the 70's & 80's (and still today) people commonly steniled band names on gear to help roadies direct things faster, to prevent theft at festivals and to make themselves feel like rockstars; it was usually the latter.

Best of luck, whatever you do.

Ken Sicher - Austin, Tx


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