It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:46 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 47 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:29 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:07 pm
Posts: 37
Hello Everyone,

Long time Fender fan, first time poster. So I run a 2 amp rig. Not stereo, dual mono into a stereo port city OS 212. I rely heavily on looping for my music and usually have my clean amp looping while playing dirty parts over top. Currently I run an Orange Tiny Terror for my dirty tone, and a Traynor IronHorse for my clean tone. Running through the preamp on the IH there just isn't enough headroom to provide clarity at stage volume with multiple layers of looping. I then decided to bypass the preamp and run direct into the power amp. Tone improved considerably, but the amp itself is super dark with or without the preamp (even with treble maxed). I then ordered an AMT F1 to run into the power amp, but it sounds way too harsh even with the treble rolled off.

Anyway, I need a new amp head. I really wanted something portable/lunchbox style but I don't think what I need exists. Keep in mind this amp is only for clean tones, so I don't want to spend a fortune for a dirt tone and never use it. I've been shopping for used Fender heads but haven't found all that much in my area. I've known about the BB45 for a while now, but never really looked into the features. It looks perfect (except the size, but I can get over that). Pretty much a single channel amp, with no bells and whistles, just what I'm looking for! So my question is does anyone have any experience with this head, and how is the clean headroom when set to max wattage?

My only experience with Fender amps are the Blues Jr, Supersonic 60, and 100. the BJ doesn't have enough headroom, and the SS has such a ripping dirt channel it would be a shame to only use it for cleans. I would also appreciate any other suggestions if you have them. Head has to be portable, simple, and clean all the way up. Also needs to jive well with a Vintage 30 as that is what I currently have in the Port City. So no more than 60 watts.

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the wall of text. Just been on the hunt for over a year now and really want to find something!

Oh and if this is anything like the Orange forum I will need to prove my brand loyalty haha. I have a early 2000's Am Std Tele, and a recently acquired NOS Stratosonic Rattlecan Jr. Love both of em dearly!

:)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:05 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:05 pm
Posts: 18
Might look at a used Bandmaster or Bassman. There is also a Vintage Modern Bandmaster head.
Used Music Man heads can be had pretty reasonable too.
I don't have any experience with the Bassbreaker series, but if you're looking for new loud higher wattage I cant think of much else from Fender.
Unless you're specifically wanting Fender (which is great) Peavey makes the Classic 30 head. It can get pretty loud and stay relatively clean. Older models are USA made too.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:01 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Take a look at Fender's Deluxe Reverb head. I'm not sure that they're still in production but I see them on Ebay all the time. That will give you traditional classic cleans and should match well volume-wise with your Tiny Terror. They sound pretty smooth driving a Celestion V30.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:32 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:05 pm
Posts: 18
Retroverbial wrote:
Take a look at Fender's Deluxe Reverb head. I'm not sure that they're still in production but I see them on Ebay all the time. That will give you traditional classic cleans and should match well volume-wise with your Tiny Terror. They sound pretty smooth driving a Celestion V30.

Arjay

That would probably be my choice for his situation. Been kinda wanting one of those myself. I don't think they're still in production, but they're pretty recent. Should be some mint ones out there.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:33 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:07 pm
Posts: 37
They are still available in my area but are only 22 watts as far as I can tell. I need maximum clean headroom. Not sure this would be able to keep up which is why I was looking at the 45 watt.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:09 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:05 pm
Posts: 18
Boy_Narf wrote:
They are still available in my area but are only 22 watts as far as I can tell. I need maximum clean headroom. Not sure this would be able to keep up which is why I was looking at the 45 watt.

The Bandmaster VM and some of the vintage Bandmaster are 40 watts. The VM has 2 12ax7 and 2 6l6, The Music Man has a solid state preamp.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 3:35 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Paul Strat wrote:
The Bandmaster VM and some of the vintage Bandmaster are 40 watts. The VM has 2 12ax7 and 2 6l6, The Music Man has a solid state preamp.


ALL vintage Bandmasters are 40 watts. And the "Violated/Molested" version isn't a Bandmaster at all -- it's a hybrid modeling amp with cheezy digital effects, much like the Super Champ X2.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:07 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:05 pm
Posts: 18
Retroverbial wrote:
Paul Strat wrote:
The Bandmaster VM and some of the vintage Bandmaster are 40 watts. The VM has 2 12ax7 and 2 6l6, The Music Man has a solid state preamp.


ALL vintage Bandmasters are 40 watts. And the "Violated/Molested" version isn't a Bandmaster at all -- it's a hybrid modeling amp with cheezy digital effects, much like the Super Champ X2.

Arjay

Agreed...lol
Not recommending, just trying to put out what's available from Fender. Couldn't remember if there was a higher wattage vintage BM or not.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:07 pm
Posts: 37
Thanks. Which music man head are you guys referring to? Anyone in particular?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:35 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 4:05 pm
Posts: 18
Boy_Narf wrote:
Thanks. Which music man head are you guys referring to? Anyone in particular?

If memory serves me correctly they made a 50 and 65 watt head. That might fit your needs. Also higher wattage, seems like 75 and 130.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:38 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Paul Strat wrote:
Couldn't remember if there was a higher wattage vintage BM or not.


The Bandmaster Reverb is a 45-watt platform but it's not really a Bandmaster either -- the circuit layout is near identical to a Super Reverb but with the 4-ohm O/T of a Pro Reverb. Many people have used these BMR heads to build clones of the '64 blackface Vibroverb.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:47 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
I have both the DR head, and Bassman head, both are great, but I would lean toward the Bassman for the most headroom at higher volume. Meaning, the latest onset of breakup. I do run my Bassman through a 2x12 with V30s, pretty sweet cleans.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 6:14 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:12 am
Posts: 28
My BB45 has plenty of clean headroom. Just plug in to the normal channel and set the output to 45w. It is large and heavy though.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:49 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:07 pm
Posts: 37
Yea I saw that it was quite heavy. I found a 70's Bassman 50 head for a decent price that might make the cut. I'll check it out and report back.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Bassbreaker 45 Clean Headroom?
Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:30 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Look something like this? This is a '68, AC568 circuit.

Image

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 47 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: