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Post subject: value of 1973/74 Bassman 50 Amp?
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:07 am
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toying with the idea of selling my amp

it is a 1973 or 1974 (don't recall exactly) Bassman 50 Silverface. The cabinet contains 2 15" speakers.

I am the original owner of the amp and everything is original, except way back when, I put 4 casters on the cabinet. Even the amp to cabinet cable is original.

NOT sure if the thing is working properly - turned it on the other day and the fuse blew...BUT like a dummy, I flipped both switches at the same time. Did not let the tubes warm up.

Need to get new slo-blo fuses to see if the amp works like it did last time I turned it on - which was about 5 years ago.
What do you think I should price this thing at if it works properly?

What do you think I should price it at if it doesn't work properly? Local tech quoted me $150 - $250 repair depending on what he replaces

Thing is in very good condition. Cabinet material does have some rips on the back from dragging it in and out of a hatch back car.

Thanks

Ed Geary
Orlando, Fl


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Post subject: Re: value of 1973/74 Bassman 50 Amp?
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:47 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
NOT sure if the thing is working properly - turned it on the other day and the fuse blew...BUT like a dummy, I flipped both switches at the same time. Did not let the tubes warm up.


This is not suppose to blow the fuse unless it is a very old fuse

The 2006 vintage guitar price guide said $425 for head and cab in very good condition. IMO the price are almost the same today


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Post subject: Re: value of 1973/74 Bassman 50 Amp?
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:38 am
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I would not try another fuse. Instead it needs to be checked out by a tech.

Around here broken it is worth about $150 at the very most and working it would be worth up to maybe 400 or 450 in extra nice shape. If you are going to sell it the buyer will be apt to pay more if you have had it recently serviced and have a list of what was replaced.

Vintage tube gear that works fine and then sits idle for a year or five and then blows fuses will almost always mean bad filter cap(s) in the power supply section. Torres engineering suggests replacing caps once every 12 years so you are probably overdue there. They do degrade over time, but sitting idle for months or years and then slamming them with full voltage is never a good idea even within that 12 year window.

GOOD vintage amp techs will have a Variac device which is a trade name for a variable AC transformer device that gradually brings an old amp up to operating voltage over a period of several hours to "reform" the proper operation of the capacitors while watching for signs of trouble. This is a pretty standard bench item for vintage amp techs.

Once they go, bad filter caps caps can sometimes cause arcing within the amp and usually cause way out of bounds voltages either of which can damage perfectly good components. At the very least the out of bounds voltage is what is blowing the fuse and this situation probably isn't going to be corrected without replacing the filter caps at the least.

Instead of trying another fuse (which I am pretty sure is going to blow almost instantly too) it would be a better idea to have it checked out by a qualified amp tech with the correct gear, including a Variac or similar variable AC transformer device. Any vintage tube amp brought out of storage after many months should go on a Variac for a few hours.

Any vintage amp tech will be able to fix it as they see this issue all the time. Caps are usually cheap relative to the labor charge. Fortunately your amp is very common and the correct value caps are usually readily available even if the tech has to order them. If the tubes check ok there is no need whatsoever to replace them and actually it is advantageous to have good original tubes in there.

Often kits to totally replace all caps and resistors in a Fender Bassman 50 amp can be bought on eBay or from Torres Engineering for about $150 to $200. However since you are looking to sell, I suggest instead JUST fixing what is broken and leaving the rest alone. If I was going to keep it I might do the complete cap and resistor overhaul, but since you are selling I'd just get it working right again.

The best preventative maintenance on a tube amp is to USE IT REGULARLY. It is a good idea to fire them up weekly or at the least monthly. It actually extends component life and keeps them off the shop bench. If they have been unused for more than a few months they should be taken to a tech and put on a Variac to be brought back up to voltage gradually.


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