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Post subject: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:26 pm
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I have the opportunity to buy either of the following Bassman heads:-

1. 1967 Blackface Amplifier 50 W (AB 165 circuit) with 2 x 12 Piggyback Speaker Cabinet with Jensen ceramics.

2. 1968 Fender Bassman Export Silverface 50 W.

Interestingly, the Blackface has the same switching on the rear, left as the Export (for UK/Euro voltage).

Did they do this on the Blackface in '67, or may it be a Silverface that's been 'Blackfaced' or whatever they call it?

Assuming that it's genuine, which of these heads would you guys go for and why, please?

The researched I've done would appear to suggest that although the Blackface models are superior (and more expensive), they break up into distortion far earlier than the Silver face and are, therefore, prefered by guitarists, whereas for a clean, tube bass sound, you would be better served by the Silverface?

Without complicating it any more, given that they were built a year apart, may they well share the same AB165 CIRCUIT IN ANY EVENT?

Both heads (and the 2x12) are in excellent, fully working order.

Many thanks everyone.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:26 pm
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For the size and weight they were sort of underpowered and more suited to guitar than bass in a modern band environment. The Bassman 50 2x12's do record very well. Either one would be fine for bass as the circuitry changes are more relevant to guitar players than bassists. The more prominent overdrive characteristics of the blackface aren't as apparent in bass frequencies as when using it for a guitar amp. There is a very slight difference, but with a guitar it is much more noticeable. The tube chart number would be good to check out as that should tell if it started out as a silverface and has been blackfaced. A nice collectible, especially if original. The blackfaced one would be easier to resell. The Bassman 100 watter or the Showman was a far better gigging amp for a bassist. On the plus side, they are lighter plus less expensive to re-tube and maintain than more powerful tube heads. The cabs are very heavy though.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:27 am
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I've asked for a photo of the tube chart, Brotherdave.

How do I attach a photo to a message on here, anyone, please?


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:30 pm
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1967 , Blackface amp , AB 165 , 50 watts

valve data label .... Q C ... production 18

2 x 12'' cab with original Jensens

numbers on amplifier :-

serial number pressed in chassis A 25664

ink no. on chassis top F 110867

ink no. on chassis bottom T 300867

transformer numbers : -

022 699 ( 606-6-40 )

022 871 ( 606 643 )

022 822 ( 606 621 )

Original chassis speakers are Jensen C 12 N A , 2 2 0 5 46 , ( C 8220 - 3 )

Muter Company , Chicago .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

both the amp and cab are very , very original ,

some slight wear , some small marks

some pitting / some rust on some chrome

generally , both very good for their age

the amp works well , the speakers work well ,


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:23 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
The CBS AB165 Bassman head is somewhat different from preceding Leo Fender Blackface heads and is the first CBS Bassman. Some people think the AB165 is not worthy of being in the same family as other blackface amps. None the less it is a blackface, at least till you get into the circuitry!

There are several design changes in this head, some of which were carried over to Silverface heads and others which were one shot deals because they just flat out didn't work well.

I do not recommend buying one of these at a premium price. They have an issue with the bias. CBS set one tube up to have a non-adjustable or fixed bias, and then you
are supposed to adjust the other tube's bias pot to match the fixed one. Seems like a good idea, but in reality it didn't work so well. These amps almost always hum when adjusted so the current to the two tubes matches. Then when you mismatch the bias enough to make the hum go away for some reason you get massive distortion when you turn up the master. To fix this requires a couple of mods. Not worth it to me.


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:46 am
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Location: Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Tennessee seasonally
REDLAWMAN wrote:
I've asked for a photo of the tube chart, Brotherdave.

How do I attach a photo to a message on here, anyone, please?



In order to post an image here, you have to save it in a site such as PhotoBucket or similar after you establish an account there. The saved image will have it's own URL. Just copy the URL for the image and in your new post, click on the [Img] button in the menu button line above your post and paste the image URL between the brackets.

Here's one from the Fender Product Listings as an example...

Image





Hope that helps...


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Post subject: Re: Advice on vintage Bassman purchase, please.
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:06 am
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Thanks Brotherdave and thanks for that PaducahLuke.

I shall take your advice BD.


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