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Post subject: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:09 pm
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Well Iv always wanted a Marshall JTM45/100, came close to pulling the trigger on a clone but became realistic that the 100Watts would be unusable. I then became very interested in the JTM45 "Bluesbreaker" Combo but after reading a lot of reviews decided the reissue wasn't that honest to the original in sound and I don't want to drop the big bucks on a vintage old amp, that runs the risk of repairs and so on. I then read up on the JTM45 and the history and discovered it was heavily based upon the Fender Bassman. Well the local guitar shop had a '59 Bassman reissue and I decided what the heck and went to go try it out for fun... I came home with it. Iv been craving the tone, sound, crunch and power that Jimi Hendrix had at the '67 Monterey pop festival. I never imagined Id truly get as close as I have with a 50 watt Fender amp. I mean cmon, he had a cranked modified JTM45/100 Marshall with 2 4X12 cabinets. Well this Bassman gets so damn close it gives me goosebumps, with the volume maxed you get a great over driven sound that's almost like a warm fuzz pedal, you roll off the presence and mids and you get a real dark "Marshall" sound, add a fuzz pedal to get a tiny bit more oomph and it can nail that Monterey and early Hendrix sound. This amp also responds and behaves dynamically almost identically to the JTMs I have played, With the volume maxed if you play softly you get clearer clean sound, add some heavier picking and the fuzzy overdriven tone comes alive, which makes for some fun picking techniques and sounds. Drop the volume, pull up the presence and mids, you get that amazing bright signature Fender clean sound, jump the 2 channels and you can get even more tones by blending the 2 channels. This amp has tons of junk in the trunk when it comes to bottom end. FAT lows that make for a great thick and full rhythm. This amp almost lets the guitar hold its own without a bass, so once blended in with a full band this thing really makes for a thick sound... Oh yeah and this amp SLICES thru the mix. It always heard in the mix almost no matter what, very handy if you really want to be heard :D. This amp also loves pedals, very simple and straight to the point amp. Plenty of power, plenty of tones, 4X10s makes this thing sound BIG and it really projects yet this thing isn't a pig of an amp which makes it great for hauling to gigs. Tho its still a littler more power than most people will ever need doing small and medium venues its a great versatile amp and will always be my gigging and recording amplifier. Only thing I wish was different from the get go would be the ability to drive another cabinet, It would just be plain sweet with another 4X10 cab underneath it but I understand them sticking to originality.

I will be replacing the Jensens with Celestions and the power tubes with KT66s like the early JTM45s just to get a little more honest to the British style but still as is, this is an amazing amp. I was so impressed I had to write my own little review. This is my first Fender amp, I am hooked!


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:36 pm
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Maggot_Brain wrote:
Iv been craving the tone, sound, crunch and power that Jimi Hendrix had at the '67 Monterey pop festival...I mean cmon, he had a cranked modified JTM45/100 Marshall with 2 4X12 cabinets.


I was there, pal. Stage left, right at the foot of the runway. About ten meters away from Jimi.

He was playing a helluva lot more than that!

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: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:39 am
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Arjay,you're only the second person that I know who was there....that was an historic night....I can only imagine what it was like....I loved reading the post where you described the festival. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:36 am
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I posted that narrative primarily at your behest, Reb.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:58 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Maggot_Brain wrote:
Iv been craving the tone, sound, crunch and power that Jimi Hendrix had at the '67 Monterey pop festival...I mean cmon, he had a cranked modified JTM45/100 Marshall with 2 4X12 cabinets.


I was there, pal. Stage left, right at the foot of the runway. About ten meters away from Jimi.

He was playing a helluva lot more than that!

Arjay


He had one Marshall JTM45/100 stack and thru out the concert you can see 2 silverface Fender amps to the left of the Marshall. Iv never been sure if he was also running thru those as I never could see a glowing jewel light.

Are those bassman, showman, twin? :shock:


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:30 pm
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The Marshall was a Super Lead Plexi (100-watt), wired to a 1960A slant-front upper cab with a TV-front 4 x 12 below. To Jimi's right (stage left) were several Fender Dual Showmans -- some blackface, some silverface. Behind the Marshall stack (not visible from the front of the stage or the general seating area) was a second identical Marshall rig, presumably a spare should Jimi's primary amp self-immolate (which happened frequently). The following year I saw the Experience again and he was using Sunn and Fender, as was Noel Redding.

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: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:34 pm
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I have heard that the recording of Voodoo Child-Slight Return on Electric Ladyland was done using a Bassman. There's a book out that lists some gear that Hendrix used, I'm sure musician's friend has it in their book list if you want to check it out. Don't forget a fuzz face, octavia, uni-vibe, and wah pedal.


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:21 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
The Marshall was a Super Lead Plexi (100-watt), wired to a 1960A slant-front upper cab with a TV-front 4 x 12 below. To Jimi's right (stage left) were several Fender Dual Showmans -- some blackface, some silverface. Behind the Marshall stack (not visible from the front of the stage or the general seating area) was a second identical Marshall rig, presumably a spare should Jimi's primary amp self-immolate (which happened frequently). The following year I saw the Experience again and he was using Sunn and Fender, as was Noel Redding.

Arjay


I see, 4 cabs and heads total, pretty cool, not to sound like a Hendrix nazi but I discovered in '67 he was using JTM45/100s with KT66s not the 1959SLP "super lead" which he started using later after the fender/sunn phase. Here is a clip of Jimi's JTM45/100 actually used at Monterey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dwyrs5pRaI

That video always makes me drool, the owner said there are some modifications and a freak transformer that give it that signature sound. I'm just thankful to get close to it but to actually capture it with a separate amp is like chasing a rainbow, that amp is one of a kind.

I have to say I went out and got myself a fulltone OCD and the bassman loves it, good drive without muddying up the amps personal tone, behaves great and allows this amp to be alot more versatile being a single volume "clean" amp.


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:33 am
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I was there, pal.

I saw the fooking amps with my own two eyes. And I talked with Chas Chandler prior to the Experience taking the stage who told me they were Marshall SLP's from England (I'd never seen one before).

You prefer to believe some anonymous video posted by whothefuckknows, that's your business.

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: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:51 pm
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Wow people get so offended so easily! :lol: :lol:

So... I should trust this anonymous poster on a Fender forum saying he was there more so than anyone else on the internet... 8)

I don't doubt you were there nor you were told they were SLPs but with some research you'll discover its been documented quite well as Rich Dickinson is the owner of this famous JTM45/100 SN#7026, Jimi's first Marshall.

As for seeing them with your own eyes... the JTM45/100 and the 1959SLP look identical....

I'm not on some ego trip, this is just what leads me to believe what I believe. I totally respect your statement but Iv found more evidence of it being a JTM45/100. Listen to Jimi in 66-67 (JTM45/100) and listen to Jimi in 69-70 (SLP) their is a big difference in not only clean tones but overdrive tones. I honestly don't think it was a SLP in the early days.

Back on topic, Ill post some sound clips of the Bassman in action, Iv been so busy playing it with my stratocaster I haven't tried my LP jr. until recently, I must say this guitar sounds pretty bland thru the Bassman compared to the strat, muddy and lifeless is what I'm experiencing with the humbuckers playing clean. A little better on the bridge pu using some distortion or drive. This amp really sounds great with single coils and the OCD pedal.

unfortunatly the on lightbulb has died already...


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Post subject: Re: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:04 pm
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Maggot_Brain wrote:
As for seeing them with your own eyes... the JTM45/100 and the 1959SLP look identical....


The backs were removed from the Marshall heads -- both contained a quartet of KT66's (a power tube I was unfamiliar with at the time).

Good day to you

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: '59 Fender Bassman Reissue
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:50 pm
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Ok?... JTM45/100 also used 4 KT66 power tubes...


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