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Post subject: Get a little grit from a Bassman LTD w/out going deaf?
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:40 pm
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Ever since playing a Bassman LTD a few times at my local guitar shop, I've got an itch to get a Bassman. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to be able to turn the amp up past "2.5" or so on the either volume dial. And I'm concerned with all of the posts I see about how deafening Bassmans are. Before I go back and check it out again and turn it up, at what point can I expect the Bassman to get some hair on its chest with single coils?

I don't want full on distortion, just a little grit when I dig in is all I need. But to get to that point will it still be overkill for small/medium club un-miked?

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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:03 pm
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It's as loud and as punchy as a Super Reverb. You'll need some stompboxes and/or an output attenuator if you expect a 5F6-A to grind at low volume.

Arjay

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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:43 pm
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Well mine gets just enough hair on it right at 3 with my compressor pedal on.
not distortion, just a lot of sustain and a little growl when I dig in.
gotta got to 5 to get big growl and then your LOUD !!!! and then some.

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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:49 am
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blues bondsman wrote:
Well mine gets just enough hair on it right at 3 with my compressor pedal on.
not distortion, just a lot of sustain and a little growl when I dig in.
gotta got to 5 to get big growl and then your LOUD !!!! and then some.


+1. Get a Dr. Z Brake Lite in there in the back and dial down your output to get the power tubes working.

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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:12 am
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Thanks for the advice. I'll give the Bassman another go at the shop and maybe try it with some overdrive pedals. If the Bassman really is too much power for my needs, I might try to find a used tweed 5E7 Bandmaster clone or build one if I get the courage. The tweed Deluxe is not an option becuase it breaks up too quickly. I just want light/medium natural overdrive yet not too loud. On another Fender themed forum there is a rumor that Fender is coming out with a reissue of the tweed 5F4 2x10 Super. That might be the ticket if it isn't one of the handwired break-the-bank ones. It's just a rumor though so I'm not holding my breath.

For comparison's sake, I'm currently using a Mesa-Boogie Blue Angel 2x10 and since it's power section is designed to overdrive very quickly, it doesn't suit the semi-clean tones I'm looking for old school rockabilly.

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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 10:26 pm
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nedorama wrote:
+1. Get a Dr. Z Brake Lite in there in the back and dial down your output to get the power tubes working.


Brake Lite is a no go with a 2 ohm amp. Would love to install one on my Super Reverb. :roll:


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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:42 am
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You could try and pull a power tube out, if that works with bassmans. Someone verify it please.

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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:45 pm
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Its the same old song, we all want the sound of the big amps and the overdrive of a champ.

After all of these years you would think some amp manufacture would come up with one (modeling ss junk does not count).

My suggestion is to get the Bassman and a Champ

Play gigs with one, record/practice with the other.

So far the closest amps I have found that have decent overdrive without a visit from the cops are the (go ahead and laugh) Crate V-16 and my new found Peavey Classic 50 and the peavey is kinda loud too.

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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:53 am
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Big The Cat wrote:
You could try and pull a power tube out, if that works with bassmans. Someone verify it please.


That only works with some amps with 4 power tubes, and you pull the inside or outside pairs.

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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:11 pm
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Try swapping the power tubes with NOS (US made) Tung Sol 5881's. The reissue TS 5881's aren't bad either but not quite as good as the originals. However, they are much cheaper than the US made tubes. This just may be an easy way for you to get the extra grit you're looking for in those punch lines. You might want to experiment with different bias settings too being that the LTD has an adjustable bias. You can also try swapping one or more of the 12AX7's with 5751's which will bring on the grit sooner. 5751 is a drop in replacement for the 12AX7 but has a much lower gain factor (60 as opposed to 100 for the AX).


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