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Need help- 1972 Fender Bassman
- Thread starter bfidel
- Start date
Price seems on the high end, having recently sold one of these. Decent sounding amps, the super/100 adds some more versatility with the mid control and more power. As said above if the amp hasn't had a recent service budget that into the asking/offer price (would budget a hundred or two if it needs a cap job). Power tubes should last a few years with average use.
I bought a Bassman new in '69 and still have it...it still has the original preamp and phase inverter tubes, but they really don't make 'em (tubes) like that anymore. Still, you can expect years and years of service, even with modern tubes, which can vary wildly in quality. I still like the sound of the Bassman, but it can't really keep up in a loud guitar/drum set situation, IMO. And $600 is a bit high for a '73 Bassman, at least compared to what they're going for around here, which is more like $450-500, USD. There's a '68 Bassman here on the local Craigslist, and the guy is asking (but not getting) $600 for it, but it's been extensively rebuilt, including a completely new Mojotone chassis and 'Blackface' control panel. And he's including the original chassis and parts if you wanted to try to restore it, although that seems an unlikely prospect for something that's been modified this much. Bassmans from the Blackface and Silverface era tend to hold their value pretty well...a side effect of their being so desirable for guitar players, who love the 'crunch'.
And...it occurs to me to wonder how you know it's a '73? It seems to me that by that year, Fender had started calling what was the original Bassman the 'Bassman 50'.
And...it occurs to me to wonder how you know it's a '73? It seems to me that by that year, Fender had started calling what was the original Bassman the 'Bassman 50'.
How much use you can get from a 50W head of any manufacture depends on the speaker cabinets you use it with. It’s also a 4Ω only amplifier.
I bought a blonde Blackface Bassman with it’s twin 12” matching speaker cabinet in 1968. The thing looked gorgeous but it sounded so bad it lasted only a weekend before I returned it. If you like the sound of a clean bass, think Motown, for $600 there are much better options available to you.
I bought a blonde Blackface Bassman with it’s twin 12” matching speaker cabinet in 1968. The thing looked gorgeous but it sounded so bad it lasted only a weekend before I returned it. If you like the sound of a clean bass, think Motown, for $600 there are much better options available to you.
But honestly, don't you wish you had it now?
Not in the least. The system that I use is light years better than anything Fender ever put out!
OP
What model Bassman is it? I believe by that time they had a dual 6L6 one (Bassman 50) and a quad 6L6 (Bassman 100). That makes a big difference in value and utility.
What model Bassman is it? I believe by that time they had a dual 6L6 one (Bassman 50) and a quad 6L6 (Bassman 100). That makes a big difference in value and utility.
I've observed in these pages before just how funny it is that Fender never did really figure out bass amplification.
I played in a combo in '68-69 with a guy who had a Blackface Bassman and two of the older, smaller 2-12 cabs. It worked well enough, but it retrospect, it was swamped by his brother, the lead player's, Pro Reverb. I really wanted one of those small cabs back in the early 70's, when about the only small, decent bass amp was a B-15, and they were dang scarce (read 'highly valued') around here. I guess I was lucky I never found one of those small 2-12 boxes, because I would have bought it and ultimately been disappointed by it. I did make a similar error in my early '70's-era quest for a small amp to tote around to my folk-rock trio and jazz gigs, though; I bought a brand new '73 Bassman Ten...the original 'reissue'. I still have it, too...can't really figure out what to do with that one. It's a real turkey, but I can't quite bring myself to part with it for what it would sell for...which I think is only about $200 or so, at best. And that would have to be to a... well, let's just say it would have to be to a 'somewhat-less-knowledgeable' buyer. I'm told there's one born every minute, but I can never find one when I need one.
I played in a combo in '68-69 with a guy who had a Blackface Bassman and two of the older, smaller 2-12 cabs. It worked well enough, but it retrospect, it was swamped by his brother, the lead player's, Pro Reverb. I really wanted one of those small cabs back in the early 70's, when about the only small, decent bass amp was a B-15, and they were dang scarce (read 'highly valued') around here. I guess I was lucky I never found one of those small 2-12 boxes, because I would have bought it and ultimately been disappointed by it. I did make a similar error in my early '70's-era quest for a small amp to tote around to my folk-rock trio and jazz gigs, though; I bought a brand new '73 Bassman Ten...the original 'reissue'. I still have it, too...can't really figure out what to do with that one. It's a real turkey, but I can't quite bring myself to part with it for what it would sell for...which I think is only about $200 or so, at best. And that would have to be to a... well, let's just say it would have to be to a 'somewhat-less-knowledgeable' buyer. I'm told there's one born every minute, but I can never find one when I need one.
I just bought an ‘81 Bassman 70 and matching 215 today. It seems quite loud. Looking forward to trying with other cabs.
It's the 100 (forgot to mention that in origanal post) the only way seems to be the fender logo with the tail. According to the internet, that stopped doing that in 73 is their any other way to tell? Cant deem to find it. Thanks!
Check out the ampwares site. Bassman 100 was only made from 72-76, was the Super Bassman before and 135 after.
Fender Silverface Bassman (Super, 100, 135) – Ampwares
'73 would probably be right then. I only questioned it because you hadn't mentioned that it was a Bassman 50 or Bassman 100, or whatever. I've never actually played on a Bassman 100, but I always liked the Dual Showman head as a bass amp and it also has a quad of 6L6 output tubes...I doubt there is much difference in the two. With it being a 100-watt head, maybe $600 isn't too far out of line. Do keep in mind (as @BassmanPaul wisely pointed out) that it needs to see a 4-ohm load. Edit: Maybe a pre-'72 Bassman 2-15 cab, but with real drivers...?
I haven't personally owned a 100 watt bassman, but, I have several tube amps and really, they're not too unreliable provided you service it before using it. I have a 100 watt Pignose I love and adore, and when we were doing smaller places with less gear it was adequately loud, I think for most bassists it would probably be fine. I'm in SVT land now, however.
You can pick up older 4 ohm 215s, that should get you in the ballpark of the vintage sound.
You can pick up older 4 ohm 215s, that should get you in the ballpark of the vintage sound.