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Post subject: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:02 pm
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Hello everybody!
I have recently purchased a Bassman AB165 head.
The pilot light is missing, I can see there is a holder inside for a bayonet type of bulb. The "red eye" diffuser is also missing (well, the cover over that bulb, whatever one calls it, and I was told it should be red, is that correct?). What kind/value of bulb is that? I suppose I can improvise a red diffuser to match the size of that hole.
Does anybody know?
Thanks
Geambash
Cape Town, SA


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:36 pm
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Location: My Piece Of Red Dirt
http://www.thevintagesound.com/store/pi ... 2bf26786cf These look like the one on my 1965 Bassman, but can't swear they will fit.You need a red one to keep it stock. Arjay will be along and verify. Congrats on the amp. They kill...........Mike

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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:41 pm
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All vintage tube Fender pilot lamps take a Type 47 incandescent bulb. You can usually find them in a five- or ten-pack on Ebay for five to ten bucks. A stock jewel for these amps is red but you'll find a cornucopia of available alternate colors. The bezel for the vintage jewels is nickel-plated; current re-issues and most aftermarket types are in chrome.

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: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:24 am
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radio shack has the #47 bulbs it's a few dollars. but the jewels you might have to get online


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 4:38 pm
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Thank you all for your input.
I am getting to learn the "jargon" (jewel, bezel, etc)
The amp is great; for speakers, I am using a Fender Showman cabinet, cream in color, which came my way without speakers, mint condition.
I have cannibalized my Fender Pro 185 (solid state, combo, late 80's, 160 W, 2x12" 8 ohm Eminence speakers).
I've removed the speakers and put them into the cabinet. I've connected them in parallel, to get 4 ohms for the Bassman. Is that the correct impedance for the Bassman?
There is nothing written on the amp.
Cheers and thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:00 pm
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If you put a pair of twelves into a Fender cabinet, that cab is likely not a Showman or Dual Showman (at least as far as a stock enclosure goes). The dimensions for a blonde Showman enclosure are 24"H x 36"W x 11½"D and both versions are configured for either one or two 15-inch speakers.

Your Bassman prefers a 4Ω load -- thus, your speakers are wired correctly.

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: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:28 pm
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RJ...how do you type the ohm symbol? :?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:04 pm
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Sorry to butt in. But these are ASCII symbols (remember DOS?) :D

Hold ALT. TYPE 2, 3, 4 = Ω

See:

http://asciitable.com/

For more fun symbols!


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:55 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Sorry to butt in. But these are ASCII symbols (remember DOS?) :D

Hold ALT. TYPE 2, 3, 4 = Ω

See:

http://asciitable.com/

For more fun symbols!


¡Verdad!

Gracias Señor por esa informacíon importante.

8)

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: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:21 am
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Hi Arjay,
My speakers are definitely 2x12", and the enclosure has not been modified.
At a second look, I must say you were right about the cabinet.
Although I was told it belonged to a Showman, the perfectly preserved label says "Tone-Master 2-12 enclosure", and it has a serial number: CR-021027, (maybe an indication of when was it made?); they were definitely Celestions, originally, but as I said, the owner sold the amp and the speakers separately long ago. I got it for the equivalent of $150, it's in mint condition, a little bit of rust/stain under the nickel plated legs for tilting back. That is not so cheap but I got the amp for $200 only from a 82 yrs retired jazz drummer who used it as a...PA system (paired with two tall bins containing 4x8 inch speakers each, which also came with the amp), and lately he used to play his keyboard through it (for fun, at home), thus switching it on from time to time and thus preserving the electrolytics. He thought it's a bass amp. He definitely did not know what he was having there. I could have offered him far less as he wanted to just get rid of it, (he is busy selling his house, moving to a smaller place), but I do have a conscience. I am not rich but I did offer and I paid what I could afford at that moment, and he agreed. A bargain anyway.
I say, all in all, I am very lucky.
Thank you for your mail
Geambash


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:35 am
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Ah yes, the Tonemaster. Those are pretty well-built cabs and good performers. They share exterior dimensions with the old small-box Bandmaster and Bassman enclosures -- 21"H x 32"W x 11½"D. The OEM speakers would've been Celestion G1280s or V30s. Bassmans do really really well with V30's -- if you happen across a pair of 8Ω versions, you might give them a try.

$150 was a great score, congrats!

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: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:49 am
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Arjay, by the way,
I have mentioned prices, they might not look as a big bargain to you living in the USA.
Please be aware that whatever price you see on the USA or international market, we end up paying here (at the far end of the world, and with not so strong a currency) the minimum equivalent of the double that price. Imported stuff and also crippling fees for transportation (sometimes more than the actual price of the item itself).
Coming across something like that old here is more than shear luck.
It cost me $350 without counting the speakers, but I can sell this whole thing for anything between $1000-1500 if I decide to sell, as it is. But I will not, obviously. It came my way for a reason. I play The Shadows, lead, and the sound, as it is, is out of this world.

I also have a modern Vox AC30C2 with 2x12 greenbacks. They sound different.
Thank you again


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Post subject: Re: Fender Bassman Head AB165-pilot light
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:01 am
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geambash wrote:
I play The Shadows, lead, and the sound, as it is, is out of this world.


I trust you have a '57 AVRI in the requisite Fiesta Red?

8)

You've got a fine rig for just about any genre of music -- trust me.

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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