Farty Fender Bassman 100 combo

Powdog · #1 10-09-2011, 12:19 PM

Hi all. Newbie with an amp problem. I've got a mid '90s Fender Bassman 100 combo, the one with the 15" Eminence speaker. It started farting out a while ago. Had the amp checked out by a friend (electrical engineer Student) who swept it and said it was fine. My bass works fine, and I can play an acoustic guitar with active pickup thru it and it sounds loud and clear, even with the Bass control all the way up. But with the bass, it doesn't get very loud and just farts out. Anyone else had this problem? Sound like the amp or the speaker? I sure appreciate any help. Thanks!

Silver9692 · #2 10-09-2011, 12:24 PM

Could be the speaker, could be the setup on the bass. try lowering your pickups on your bass just a tad and setting the EQ at 12 o clock on the Bass amp. Work from there to find out what frequencies ur amp really doesn't like. If you can't seem to find why its making the "fart" noise then take it to a tech and have him look at the speaker.

**B-string** · #3 10-09-2011, 12:35 PM

SS or tube?

Powdog · #4 10-09-2011, 12:59 PM

The amp is a mid-90's solid state combo. I've tried both of my basses thru the amp, one active pickups, one passive. Both make the amp sputter out with little volume. The acoustic guitar is loud and clear.

**B-string** · #5 10-09-2011, 01:05 PM

"Sounds" like the power supply may not have the reserve nessary for bass use. You could have a failing power supply cap. This will not show up on a sweep test as the demand is not nearly as high as that of a bass guitar. Find a actual amp tech or have your friend replace the power supply caps and hope for the best?

schecter5string · #6 10-09-2011, 01:23 PM

I had one of these amp, at lower volumes it was fine, but in a band setting were volume is needed it was a farty POS, that is why I no longer have it.

change-jug · #7 10-09-2011, 05:34 PM

I have a Fender Bassman 100 combo from 2001-2002(?). I bought it as a step up from my 15 watt Crate amp. Man,I wish I had the internet back then. I ended up blowing the speaker the day before my second live show.I had it fixed later that week and played a few shows with it(yay for it`s line out feature). When you`re young and starting out 100 watts sounds like a lot for your bass but in reality it`s not enough.
I dusted it off last month for a jam session and it barely held up in a living room with one guitarist and a key board player.

**BLDavis** · #8 10-10-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schecter5string

I had one of these amp, at lower volumes it was fine, but in a band setting were volume is needed it was a farty POS, that is why I no longer have it.

That was my experience as well. I got rid of that turkey after two gigs and don't miss it one bit. It was brand new so its problems couldn't be blamed on anything being old or worn out. Not one of Fender's better efforts in bass amp design.
B.