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Post subject: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:45 pm
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Hi - I'm using a Bassman 50 (Silverface) head into a pair of 10" speakers, and have always been in love with it's endless headroom and clean tones. However, I often use an OD pedal for some dirt, and when I'm practising at home, I use a little 5-watter which I can push into a really nice crunch. My Bassman, having no Master Volume, needs the volume up to about 8 before it breaks up, which, for home/rehearsal/most gigs is waaay too loud.

I want to get my Bassman to break up at around 3 on the volume dial, so I'm looking at a couple of different options;
* An attenuator - these are pricey, and a bit ugly and cumbersome, going by the ones I've seen - any opinions? I'm drawn to the Weber Mini Mass, smaller package, lower price etc.
*THD yellow jackets - seem to do what I need, but opinions online don't seem to favourable.
* Change tubes - this would be my preference, as it means no additional circuitry, but I don't know if this will do that much to change the gain characteristics of the amp - at the moment I've got 2x JJ6L6GC / GE12AT7 / Sovtek and Mullard 12AX7's.

Any recommendations ? Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:18 pm
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An attenuator is about the only way you will easily achieve what you want.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:22 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
An attenuator is about the only way you will easily achieve what you want.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm



+1 Although you could have the amp modded, but don't recommed it unless you find someone you REALLY trust and have heard the mod done to an amp like yours.

FWIW

T2

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:34 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
bluesky636 wrote:
An attenuator is about the only way you will easily achieve what you want.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm



+1 Although you could have the amp modded, but don't recommed it unless you find someone you REALLY trust and have heard the mod done to an amp like yours.

FWIW

T2


That's why I qualified my response by saying "easily". :wink: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:45 pm
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Jeez, people on this forum don't hang about, do they?

Everytime I post a question asking "What's the cheapest/easiest/free-est way for me to do this", in under 15 minutes I'll get 3 replies saying "You can't. Find some money somewhere and do it properly." :wink:

Thanks fellas!


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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:41 pm
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simian wrote:
Jeez, people on this forum don't hang about, do they?

Everytime I post a question asking "What's the cheapest/easiest/free-est way for me to do this", in under 15 minutes I'll get 3 replies saying "You can't. Find some money somewhere and do it properly." :wink:

Thanks fellas!


I don't know whether to to laugh at or be insulted by this post. Right now I am tending toward insulted. If you don't like the answers you are getting, don't waste our time asking the question. :roll:

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:54 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
If you don't like the answers you are getting, don't waste our time asking the question. :roll:


+1!

There's always the jerk-offs at Harmony Central to "fix" these un-fixable issues.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:47 pm
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Can't say if that was Simian's intentention or not. There are some adjustments to the circuit components that can induce an earlier OD onset. But this is a 50watt amp, built to produce a strong clean bass tone. So in a way, you'd be going against the grain. Know what I mean? Will this amp be used for bass or guitar? Art

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:35 am
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Then there are these cool little boxes (low cost) called Overdrive pedals.

Blackface and Silverface Fenders are not known as overdrive machines, just the exact opposite ! super clean is what they do best.

My favaorite OD's Route 66 used about $80 on the bay
The very best I've used Cmatmods Signa Drive $135 shipped brand new
Three clipping chioces and tons of gain !!!

Hit the front end hard with a lot of clean boost with a comp like the Route 66 and you will get some snarl out of any preamp running 12AX7's

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:39 am
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blues bondsman wrote:
Hit the front end hard with a lot of clean boost with a comp like the Route 66 and you will get some snarl out of any preamp running 12AX7's


+1

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:46 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
simian wrote:
Jeez, people on this forum don't hang about, do they?

Everytime I post a question asking "What's the cheapest/easiest/free-est way for me to do this", in under 15 minutes I'll get 3 replies saying "You can't. Find some money somewhere and do it properly." :wink:

Thanks fellas!


I don't know whether to to laugh at or be insulted by this post. Right now I am tending toward insulted. If you don't like the answers you are getting, don't waste our time asking the question. :roll:

Hey, I'm genuinely sorry if my post came across as insulting, it was meant as a joke ! Thanks everyone for your suggestions.


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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:21 pm
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Right this minute I have a 66 and a 67 Bassman 50 watt tube head, i play them through a couple of different 2x12 cabs I rebuilt.

Oh and a 68 Bandmaster reverb :mrgreen:

I push the route 66 comp side full tilt, put my Signa Drive at the lowest gain setting it has and I get sweet, sweet Overdrive at volume #2 still pretty loud with all the clean boost the route 66 puts out.

Pinch harmonics are amazing, and it has a very lively feel to it too and not one mod, unless you count replacing filter caps as a mod ?

I do have some awesome NOS 12AX7's and good 6L6's in there (huge help) !!!

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2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
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1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
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Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:30 pm
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blues bondsman wrote:
Oh and a 68 Bandmaster reverb :mrgreen:


Hey Chris, have you seen this......?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Bandma ... 4d01e265cc

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:12 pm
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No ! I hadn't seen that yet, how did they get four bandmaster covers ???

My wife went by as i was looking and said "Fathers day is coming up just buy it"

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


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Post subject: Re: How to get more gain from my Bassman 50?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:20 pm
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I dunno but that's an outstanding price for an original NOS cover.

Arjay

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