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Post subject: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:23 pm
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Just received my "working" 69 Bassman head and looking to build a cabinet. I will probably acquire a Mojo 2x12 cabinet. I know that during the 60's Fender was using Jensen C12Ns as well as various Oxford and Utah speakers in these cabinets. I could be wrong, but I believe all of these various speakers are considered "musical instrument speakers", NOT bass speakers or woofers. Has anyone ever tried placing bass speakers into one of these cabinets? (obviously to be used with bass guitar)

Yeah, I know that by today's standards, the 50W Bassman is not much of a bass amp. But in a home or studio environment I'm thinking 50 watts should be enough. And I know I could get a 4 ohm Marshall Bass cab for about the same price, but why would I want to do that?

For six string guitar, I figure I could use a Fender VK 212 cabinet (designed for Vibro King Custom..)

Thanks,
Art


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:09 pm
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Do you want to play bass through this amp or do you want to play guitar through it? Likewise with whatever cabinet you buy or build?

There is no "magic bullet" that will cover either contingency without some compromise.

The small-box (ie: original) Bassman cab is ill-suited for bass because it lacks sufficient internal volume for the speakers to resonate long-wave bass notes below 75 Hz. The big-box Bassman cab was an improvement, with more internal volume and a ported baffle, but did not really perform to expectations until FMI upgraded the design from 12" to 15" speakers in 1968. Either of the big-box versions sounded "okay" for use with a guitar but the highs were attenuated to an audible degree by the speakers themselves.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:39 pm
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Thanks Arjay
Understand what you are saying. I play both guitar and limited bass. Bassmans can be great for guitar, but the AB165 is usually the last choice depending on what sound you are looking for. This one was relatively inexpensive, so will probably be used for bass.

The whole Bassman thing always seemed like a compromise to me. I suspect the best way to go is to use a cab designed for whatever instrument is going to be used for best effect.

I also hear the the older AA864 circuits bass channel was "voiced" more in favor of a bass guitar than the AA165 and AB165 circuits bass channel. Not saying I have a lemon. Just not the "most desired" model.


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:52 pm
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The AA165 and AB165 Bassman's are still pretty righteous amps, especially so for guitar -- and especially so if wired up to a Marshall 1960 stuffed with a quartet of V30s.

That said, to get the most out of this chassis as a bass amp, you'll stand (or fall) on the configuration of the cab and the type of speakers in it.

For a "dual-use" rig, here's my recommendation:

Build or buy a small-box Showman-sized enclosure (24" x 36" x 11.5"). Adapt it to stand vertically and stuff it with a pair of 12-inch Eminence ceramic-magnet bass speakers. It will sound great for bass (at low-to-medium volumes) yet should still produce acceptable mids and highs for guitar.

I have a '66 Bandmaster running a similar arrangement but with Celestion V30s for guitar use only. The cab is plenty loud and resonant and should work well for 12" bass speakers too.

Image

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:10 pm
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Thanks Arjay
I have seen that photo on here a few times. Nice collection of gear.

That is pretty much what I was thinking. Unfortunately, the Mojo Bassman is only 20" wide when stood up on end. So I look for (or build) another cab. Bass and Blues should play well through there. If I really want highs for regular guitar, I always have the Twin Reverb. :D

Or I could plug the Bassman into the Fender VK 212 cab that I mentioned earlier.
For bass only, Avatar makes some nice cabs as does Marshall that are ready to go at 4 ohm. Why does everyone make 8 ohm cabs now days? :cry: Ahhh, so they can make me buy two.

I'll be looking for a Showman cab it looks like. I will let y'all know how things work out. The lil' woman hates it when I get a GAS attack.


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:40 pm
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Art1 wrote:
The lil' woman hates it when I get a GAS attack.


To assuage your "guilt", treat her to a new pair of shoes.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:35 pm
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It's worth a try. But not too sure it will help. 8)


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:55 pm
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OK, So found a '71 Bassman cabinet 2X15. What would be the best "modern" replacement speaker for bass use, with occasional guitar use? Do you still recommend the Emminence?


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:38 pm
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For a low-cost alternative, the Emi's are probably the best bet. JBL D/K140's or Altec 421HB's would be the ideal for a "dual-use" rig since they both have usable highs up to around 3.8kHz.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Building 60's Bassman Speaker Cabinet
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:53 am
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Thanks. I'll be picking this up on a trip up north in April. Then start working from there.

Art


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