Repost from the Super Bassman 300 thread:
New amp was just delivered today--here's how it looks on its temporary home: the 1966 Guild Thunderbass 2x15 cab. 3 grill cloth colors not looking too bad for now.
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Fender Super Bassman + '66 Guild 2x15
- Thread starter bmax
- Start date
Repost from the Super Bassman 300 thread:
New amp was just delivered today--here's how it looks on its temporary home: the 1966 Guild Thunderbass 2x15 cab. 3 grill cloth colors not looking too bad for now.
The guild cab actually sounds pretty good and plenty loud for what it is. It's from 1966, so it's before T/S parameters where involved in cabinet design. So it's extremely shallow (the Super Bassman actually sits about an inch off the back) and it's "ported" with a 4"x15" rectangle cut out of the baffle. Inside are 2 no-name PA drivers. And somehow it sounds decent, haha.
My only other cabs on the past have been an Ampeg 610 and 810, and I don't have them anymore to compare.
I have a matching Thunderbass head sitting in the office. In needs some work, but I'll probably end up trying to sell if eventually. It has PLENTY of mojo and tone, though.
I wouldn't have minded opening it up to find that
But my upcoming project is a 4x12 cab with Deltalite 2512's. I think I may separate the 2 pairs with an internal baffle. The bottom pair will be ported and the top pair will be sealed with a tweeter. Matching tolex and grill cloth, and tilt back casters.
yep i love those old guilds. i had a 65 thunderbass head and 69 thunderstar cab (half of you cab and mine had a jbl d140f). sounded amazing.
also i LOVE the 2 tone grill cloth. so classy.
also i LOVE the 2 tone grill cloth. so classy.
That's very cool. I'll eventually put some new speakers in this cab, but it's not really ideal for the Super Bassman, anyway. It barely fits on the top of the narrow cab, feels like it's going to tip the whole thing if it gets bumped. But it'll make an incredible guitar cab for the Hiwatt I'd like to own someday.
I still have the '66 Guild Thunderbass that this cab came with. When it works it has a really cool vibe--but it's been crackly lately. Definitely need it looked over... but the 8417 power tubes are annoyingly rare.
Mine had 8417 as well. They are amazing tubes. I've read a lot about them and they came out just as the solid state thing took off so they never gained a following but they basically can put out almost twice the amount of 2 GLG and are super durable and rugged.
The tone I got from mine was super punchy and present. Mid range on tone dial and bass side was mid focused and low end beefy. Top dial on tone dial was mid scooped and bright punchy. I never jumped channels but I should have. Very clean amp.
Hmm, I'll keep reading up on them. What I've read so far was that the 8417s were extra fragile because certain internal parts are closer together than on other types of tubes. But I guess time will tell. Right now I'm dealing with the sound cutting to less than 1/2 volume and getting super fuzzy anytime I play with anything more than moderate attack--like using a pick or digging in fingerstyle. The guitar channel has been doing it since I got the amp, but now the bass channel is unplayable too. Both 8417s seem to be lighting up properly though.