Any Fender 300 PS users here in TB land? Anyone heard one?

MuthaFunk · #1 10-20-2011, 07:48 PM

I have a line on a Fender 300 PS that's in rough shape but I'm confident I could restore it to great shape with some effort and $$ for tubes. As it sits now, it doesn't sound all that great but I believe it's because of the old mismatched tubes in it. It's hard to commit to buying it and investing big $$ in tubes when it's such a rare amp and opinions on it's sound are unheard of. I've found in many cases "Rare" means it sucked and no one wanted to buy it.

Any opinions?

FenderAmpeg · #2 10-20-2011, 08:02 PM

Stuff here can be hard to find, use the search pull down on top and use Google search for fender 300 ps and you will get some thread info.

Lonesomedave · #3 10-20-2011, 08:06 PM

never even heard OF it.

is it like the Fender 400 ps, only with 100 fewer watts?

5StringBlues · #4 10-20-2011, 08:11 PM

I heard a Jazz bass being played thru one by Gary Clark Jr's bassist a few years back.

Sounded fantastic!

@ Dave - I don't know if it's actually 100 watts less,but the two amps are related.

5StringBlues · #5 10-20-2011, 08:12 PM

Fender 300PS Bass Amp

coreyfyfe · #6 10-20-2011, 08:28 PM

There was a recent thread on them and JohnK_10 had some pics of his. I'd try to find that thread or PM John, he'd definitely be able to give you some info on them. You could try a google site search, use the phrase "site:www.talkbass.com" in as part of your search and it will give you only pages on talkbass.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=fender+300+PS+j...w.talkbass.com

try the second and third threads.

johnk_10 · #7 10-20-2011, 09:36 PM

here's a few pics of mine:

IMO, these are great sounding bass heads. it uses pretty much the identical front end of a Super Twin or a Studio Bass with a different power amp section, and it uses a 6V6 as a driver tube for the four 6550A's

and here's the schematic for it (for the electronically inclined

):

300PS

manfish · #8 10-21-2011, 12:35 AM

Hi, Ive owned the 300 and the 400. I preferred my 400 which was also the heaviest amp Ive ever seen... but the 300 is pretty darn cool and may have been even better with new tubes. Its similar to an SVT and Im sure designed to capture that market. The rotary graphic eq is nice. They have punch and power. I wish I still had both of them. It depends how much money youre talking.

johnk_10 · #9 10-21-2011, 12:39 AM

having both the 300 and 400 (both are great IMO), the nicer thing about the 300 is that it gets all of its power with one speaker output, whereas you have to use a minimum of three speakers on the 400 to utilize all of its potential.

MuthaFunk · #10 10-21-2011, 08:33 AM

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Thanks again to John for the pics! I already did all the Internet research before I started this thread. There just wasn't much opinions on the sound posted on the net.

I have a background in electronics and feel confident I could tune this particular 300 PS up to spec but it's cosmetic shape is poor and it's had one of the main filter caps replaced in a sloppy manor (i.e. tywraped in place and electrical tape preventing shorting to the chassis). The second cap is original but is severely swollen and will need to be replaced. The power tube sockets are very loose and would need to be replaced to make it reliable. There is an issue with the grid voltages on the pre-amp tubes upon startup as they light up bright like lightbulbs for 3 seconds before returning to normal glow. It runs now but there is always an underlying distortion. I know these amps are hard on tubes and the ones in it are a blend of two KT88's and two Chinese 6550's. All of the pre-amp tubes are Chinese a well.

The owner is asking $500 but with all the things wrong I figure I'd need to put a lot of time into fixing it up plus roughly $300-$400 depending on what tubes I buy. I guess putting original US made 6550A's is not an option anymore due to their rarity and outrageous cost. What do you guys think? Worth it?

johnk_10 · #11 10-21-2011, 11:07 AM

they have 700V running in there, so they're a bit different to work on than most other fender amps. as long as all of the transformers in it are in good shape, every other part is attainable, but at $500 you could easily have $1K into when its finally up to spec.

MuthaFunk · #12 10-21-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

they have 700V running in there, so they're a bit different to work on than most other fender amps. as long as all of the transformers in it are in good shape, every other part is attainable, but at $500 you could easily have $1K into when its finally up to spec.

Yeah, at that point I'm into used SVT territory or even toss a couple hundred more and get a new Traynor YBA300 with reliability for the next 40 years.

Alex1984 · #13 10-21-2011, 01:25 PM

I thinked used vintage SVTs will run quite a bit higher than $1000. I remember reading up about the 400 PS on a tech's site, and he said GE 6550A's are pretty much the only acceptable tube for these things, and that it is very different from typical tube amps.

solodb · #14 10-21-2011, 01:32 PM

Can anybody confirm the type of tone the 300 and 400ps have? I have read somewhere that they are like a typical Fender Bassman tone except louder. Do they allow the user to shift the mids at different frequencies like Ampeg or are the knobs fixed?

johnk_10 · #15 10-21-2011, 01:53 PM

my 300PS can sound very similar to an SVT. the rotary graphic eq makes it super flexible. you can also get a fender-ish tone out of it if you run the rotary graphic eq flat or bypass it. IMO, the 400PS sounds a bit more like a typical dual showman than the 300 does.

solodb · #16 10-21-2011, 07:05 PM

FYI, there is a Fender 400 PS on E-bay presently with a BIN of $11,500.00! Type in Allman Brothers Band Berry Oakley Fender Bass Amplifier to view.

MuthaFunk · #17 10-22-2011, 10:28 AM

Wow! I love auctions like that. Such history... In that case its obvious the high sticker price is due to the history of that exact amp. I'll be curious to see if anyone deems The Almond Brothers History worth the $11,500. What would a regular 400 PS in good shape typically sell for on the bay in the last couple of years? I wonder if the Almond Bros used the 400PS for recording their first album? I think most studios at the time were still using the trusty Ampeg b-15. Anyone know for sure?

MuthaFunk · #18 10-22-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

I thinked used vintage SVTs will run quite a bit higher than $1000. I remember reading up about the 400 PS on a tech's site, and he said GE 6550A's are pretty much the only acceptable tube for these things, and that it is very different from typical tube amps.

Here's one local to me for $1000. I've seen them at this price a on a semi regular basis.

Ampeg SVT CL head for sale. - Ontario Musical Instruments For Sale - Kijiji Ontario Canada.

Should I be posting this in the Hot Deals forum here on TB?

johnk_10 · #19 10-23-2011, 12:19 AM

while that one's definitely an SVT and a very good amp, i think when you were referring to a 'vintage SVT' most of us were thinking the older original model and not the SVT CL.

KLEIN · #20 10-23-2011, 01:43 AM

Just cut some tracks with one tonight. Sounds very close to my ol 76' SVT.