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Post subject: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:27 am
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Can you plug in an additional speaker cab to this combo? On the back it has 2 input jacks, one has the internal speakers plugged in and says "Speaker - Minimum Load 4 Ohms" then to the right of it is an unused jack that says "Ext. Speaker - Minimum Load 4 Ohms" Am I able to safely plug in another cab to this unused jack or would I have to unplug the internal speakers in order to use another cab? Also.. the amp is rated at 70 watts but it is not very loud at all compared to even the hot rod deluxe at 40 watts? The amp that I have has original tubes from 1979 as well as speakers and caps but is in very good condition. Would you bother replacing the tubes at all to improve tones?


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 11:26 am
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anyone?


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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:48 am
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yes u can

i used one for along time!!


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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:01 am
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As long as the total impedance is at least 4 ohms it shouldn't present any problems to plug in a second speaker. Do you use yours for bass or guitar? I bought a '72 Bassman 10 a few years back for the bass that my daughter ended up never playing. I had owned a '65 bassman back in the 70s (and sometimes consider shooting myself for letting that one get away) and I hoped the Ten would sound similar for guitar, but it really just plain sucks for guitar. It's very loud but the circuit doesn't have enough gain. The amp doesn't sound any better through a different speaker, and the internal speakers sound lousy hooked to a different amp. I bought all new power tubes and NOS preamp tubes and didn't gain anything tone-wise by changing them. I gotta say though that it sounds pretty good for bass, which is the only reason I keep it around. I'm gonna re-cap it and try to make some Blackface type mods and maybe get a little better sound from it. I'll report back at that time.
Good luck with your B-10.


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Post subject: Re:
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:08 pm
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eldorado2001 wrote:
As long as the total impedance is at least 4 ohms it shouldn't present any problems to plug in a second speaker. Do you use yours for bass or guitar? I bought a '72 Bassman 10 a few years back for the bass that my daughter ended up never playing. I had owned a '65 bassman back in the 70s (and sometimes consider shooting myself for letting that one get away) and I hoped the Ten would sound similar for guitar, but it really just plain sucks for guitar. It's very loud but the circuit doesn't have enough gain. The amp doesn't sound any better through a different speaker, and the internal speakers sound lousy hooked to a different amp. I bought all new power tubes and NOS preamp tubes and didn't gain anything tone-wise by changing them. I gotta say though that it sounds pretty good for bass, which is the only reason I keep it around. I'm gonna re-cap it and try to make some Blackface type mods and maybe get a little better sound from it. I'll report back at that time.
Good luck with your B-10.




I have the same amp, I agree it sounds terrible "To Me" for a guitar. Too boomy and with the bright switch on it has the "Icepick In The Forehead" sound. I've had mine since 1985 I bought it to play bass through.
I love it with a P-Bass, but it is lousy with a Telecaster. Not bad with an Acoustic, but to dry without reverb


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Post subject: Re: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:06 pm
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Do you know what speakers your Bassman 10 is equipped with? Are they all connected properly and working?

These amps can be modded into a pretty useful guitar platform or for use with a bass where mega-watts of power are not required. OEM speakers for this model were made by CTS, Oxford, Pyle, and Rola but only the CTS drivers offer any real sonic satisfaction. A quartet of Weber's 10F150's (no doping) would likely put a smile on your face. At 35 Y/O you're likely going to need new tubes, new filter and biasing caps, plus a few odd resistors for the power rail and power-tube sockets. Don't neglect to optimize the bias supply for the best tone from your new glass.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:02 pm
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ijustgothere wrote:
The amp that I have has original tubes from 1979 as well as speakers and caps but is in very good condition. Would you bother replacing the tubes at all to improve tones?


If it is all original, then it needs servicing, new power tubes, probably a cap job, and replacement of any internal components that are out of tolerance...the amp is over 30 years old....it is time.

T2

Edit...+1 What Retroverbial stated...he beat me to it.

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Post subject: Re: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 6:23 pm
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Decades ago, an acquaintance of mine in Sacramento had Skip Simmons (west coast Fender amp tech extraordinaire) mod one these Bassman 10's into a killer guitar platform. He cascaded the bass instrument channel with the normal channel (for a total of four gain stages) and changed the final drive to EL34's. Then he cut two stacked horizontal ovals of 18" x 5" into the rear panel to let the enclosure "breathe". The anemic Rola's were deep-sixed in favor of a quartet of Chicago-made C10P's and the amp virtually roared with authority. It was plenty loud too -- on a good day it would give a Twin Reverb a run for its money. The S/N ratio wouldn't be considered "studio-friendly" but for live stage work it was real tone "muh-cheen".

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: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:02 pm
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My B10 is still my #1 home/practice bass amp, looks good doing it, too. Glad i don't have to lug it around, tho. I found a very nice 66 Bassman for 6-string. All is well again, Bassman-wise.


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Post subject: Re: Bassman Ten Owners..?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:26 pm
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eldorado2001 wrote:
Glad i don't have to lug it around, tho.


Indeed!

They're no featherweight by any yardstick. Prolly as hefty as a Twin Reverb.

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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