FT Fender Bassman 135 Tube Head: trade for solid state bass head.

Navybass · #1 03-05-2009, 06:32 PM

It kills me to do this, but I need something with a more "modern" tone. This amp nails that vintage tube tone perfectly.

First the bad, It has been re-covered in cream vinyl and the screen was redone also by the previous owner, but it's a real good job and looks great.

Now the good. I recently had it retubed and biased with Sovtek power tubes and EH preamp tubes. The amp works great and sounds awesome. It's very powerful with 135 all tube watts. It has 2 channels and a master volume. I can't say enough about the awesome tube tone this thing puts out. I've used it with a 2x15 cab or a 4x10 and 1x15 cabs and it sounded great with any of them.

What I'd be interested in is a newer solid state amp head such as:

Peavey BAM head
Peavey BAM Combo
Peavey Kilobass head
Peavey Pro bass head
Peavey T-Max head (+ cash)
Peavey Megabass Head (+ cash)
Trace Elliot Bass head (Preferably older ones with the fluorescent tube)
SWR Bass head
GK bass head

Or, run something by me.

RobertPaulson · #2 03-05-2009, 06:50 PM

whats this worth? just out of curiosity mainly, but might have something to trade...

Navybass · #3 03-05-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

whats this worth? just out of curiosity mainly, but might have something to trade...

I've seen them in worse condition go for around $500 to $600. I'd value this one at around that. The tubes and re-bias cost me about $125.

Let me know what you have and we can discuss it.

Stinsok · #4 03-05-2009, 07:06 PM

Gotta a Warwick Pro FET IV (400 watts) and a Hartke 3500. I'm just sayin'.....

acphipps · #5 03-05-2009, 07:57 PM

How about a Hughes and Kettner QT600 head? I've got the cabinet as well if you have something else to trade? FS/FT Hughes and Kettner QT600 & QS2115PRO $1,400

Let me know. Cheers
Rocky

Navybass · #6 03-05-2009, 08:57 PM

Might also consider a good preamp like an Eden or preamp and power amp combo.

tommy gilstrap · #7 03-05-2009, 09:37 PM

SWR 750X with footswitch for sub octave and overdrive, still have the original box.

Navybass · #8 03-07-2009, 12:01 AM

Navybass · #9 03-07-2009, 04:50 PM

Nobody has a BAM they want to part with??

The ONLY reason I'm getting rid of this amp is because I'm going on a 6 month deployment soon and don't want to take this baby on a shipboard environment.

As I stated earlier, all the tubes have been changed and rebiased. The power tubes are a matched quad set. The tech also looked over all the caps and deemed them good. The amp works great. I'll take the tubes out and package them in bubble wrap to protect them during shipping.

I would also be interested in a cool preamp or preamp and power amp.

sebastian · #10 03-07-2009, 05:46 PM

I take it then there is no trade interest in the GK1001 RBII with case and conditioner then?

SLUGGO · #11 03-08-2009, 08:31 AM

What is the model year?? Any other pics of the inards??

Navybass · #12 03-08-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLUGGO

What is the model year?? Any other pics of the inards??

According to what I found online, this amp has a serial number of A8XXXXX and the A8 means the amp was made in 1978. I can take pics of the back showing the tubes, but I'd rather not take the chassis out of the case because I don't want to break anything. When I had it serviced, my tech said that everything looked good inside.

bob204955 · #13 03-08-2009, 02:23 PM

carvin B1500?

jamesy · #14 03-08-2009, 03:43 PM

I have a Marshall 3530 Silver Jubilee 300 watt head that might work for you. Has the best sounding EQ i've heard, and is capable of many different sounds. They're also rare as hen's teeth. Look them up and let me know if you're interested.

jamesy · #15 03-08-2009, 03:49 PM

Also, the sound of these things compares favorably to a GK. I've owned both, and found the Marshall to have much more life and complexity to the sound. I only ever use the Marshall along side my Traynor YBA3, as I'm a tube guy myself.
You may also reach me through email at
jamesylewisATgmailDOTcom. E-mail is probably best. Let me know either way!

badsneakers · #16 03-11-2009, 05:09 PM

any consideration to a sale?

sleepy_monkey · #17 03-11-2009, 10:24 PM

As the previous owner (and the guy that re-tolexed this and put the screen on it), this amp rocks!! The ONLY reason I sold it was b/c I wasn't gigging much and had my mind set on separates.

The amp sounds awesome. I pushed an SVT410HLF with it and it would push that for days. I also hooked it up to an SVT810 and it sounded great!!

Almost tempted to make an offer...haha. NavyBass I just sold a nice preamp too!!

Navybass · #18 03-14-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepy_monkey

As the previous owner (and the guy that re-tolexed this and put the screen on it), this amp rocks!! The ONLY reason I sold it was b/c I wasn't gigging much and had my mind set on separates.

The amp sounds awesome. I pushed an SVT410HLF with it and it would push that for days. I also hooked it up to an SVT810 and it sounded great!!

Almost tempted to make an offer...haha. NavyBass I just sold a nice preamp too!!

Thank you very much. This amp is awesome, the only reason I'm getting rid of it is because I don't want it to get ruined from being on a ship (salt air...etc.).

Just got a solid state amp now, so I'd be looking more for a straight sale or possible trade for a bass. I'd sell her for $550 plus shipping. As I said before, I just had her completely retubed and biased. The tech checked all the caps and electronics and deemed them good.

RobertPaulson · #19 03-15-2009, 01:10 AM

how about a warwick vette

bob204955 · #20 03-15-2009, 11:35 AM

would you trade a carvin B1500?