Fender Bassman 135 vs Blackface Bassman 50

Bjazzman · #1 09-21-2010, 09:22 PM

i know the 135 has a silverface and blackface model but in general i want to know how these amps stack up against each other. i played a bassman 50 and it sounded awesome with the matching cab. i didn't have the volume cranked that much but i know some people have complained about not hearing themselves enough with the 50 which is why i asked about the 135.

not sure if the stack was worth the $900 the guy was asking though

billfitzmaurice · #2 09-21-2010, 09:29 PM

The amps are very similar except for the 50 having two output tubes and the 135 having four. By today's standards the 50 is considered inadequately powered, the 135 barely.

KramerBassFan · #3 09-21-2010, 09:43 PM

It'd be a good guitar amp for $900, but lacking for Bass unless it was recording.

I'd honestly pass. Not to mention, the speaker cabinet is the weakest link.

will33 · #4 09-21-2010, 10:25 PM

I have a 135. The tone isn't lacking in anyway to me, I like it but to get that at volume it needs high SPL speakers or multiple speakers or both.

chicago_mike · #5 09-21-2010, 10:27 PM

My goodness. I bought a 135 maybe 15 years ago for 100 bucks!

I had a lot of fun learning to do mods and rebuild and do diy amps with my 100 and 135.

900 seems way too high.

fish slapper · #6 09-21-2010, 10:35 PM

Last year I had an itch for old Fender heads. $900 for a 135 head with the matching cab is a tad high but not a rip off. The blackface would go for that alone. Lots of guitar players would snap it up.

As someone old enough to have a 50 watt Fender back in the day, it was barely loud enough to keep up with my garage band. Bands are so much louder now, I can't imagine how it would keep up live. Maybe the 135 with a high efficiency cab would work for small venues.