Fender "Tube Bass" TB600 Head

[aledeville]

The Fender TBP-1 is a great preamp, but you have to switch the stock tubes. With the Fender tubes, there is even with 0-10-5 too much bass in the signal. Unbelievable how much bass this thing pushes!

I have now in the v1 position a tt12ax7 and a jj12ax7 in v2. It's much more balanced now.

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Fender is ALWAYS excepted from GC/MF sales

That bites.

[idoru]

Brief update: this amp still kicks serious butt, guys. It's taken everything I can throw at it - thousands of kilometres of travel, heat-stroke inducing conditions, dust storms, drunk idiots etc and never missed a beat. Even through a re-coned SWR Goliath Jr II, I usually need to turn down or risk overwhelming the band - through the 215 Pro I'm grinning ear to ear

c-

[calypsocoral302]

Originally Posted by idoru

Brief update: this amp still kicks serious butt, guys. It's taken everything I can throw at it - thousands of kilometres of travel, heat-stroke inducing conditions, dust storms, drunk idiots etc and never missed a beat. Even through a re-coned SWR Goliath Jr II, I usually need to turn down or risk overwhelming the band - through the 215 Pro I'm grinning ear to ear

c-

With all those good things to say about that amplifier, why did you only give it a "C-"? Not even a "B" or "C+"?

I've been eying the Fender Pro series for a while now, especially that 2x15" cab. Nothing says "Rock the F*&% OUT" like one of those!

[pgk]

a Fabulous amp. i'm not all that crazy about the light show but it is well executed. my regular local bassist picked one up. i think it's by far the finest modern style head fender has ever made, and i've seen/played 'em all thru the years. make no mistake, this is Not their typical cheep "build it to a price point and call it a bassman" effort here! i really think they pulled out all the stops with this one, as if to prove a point. every single thing about it Screams quality, every feature very well thought out and useful. it is a top tier professional overbuilt amp of the highest caliber, and i hope they can turn some people on to this latest effort because man it kills. i want one very bad. and hell yeah on that 2-15 too!

[idoru]

Originally Posted by calypsocoral302

With all those good things to say about that amplifier, why did you only give it a "C-"? Not even a "B" or "C+"?

I've been eying the Fender Pro series for a while now, especially that 2x15" cab. Nothing says "Rock the F*&% OUT" like one of those!

That's not a grade, it's an initial

The only problem with owning the 215 Pro is I keep eyeing off the all-tube Bassman 300 head...

c-

[idoru]

Zombie-update: nearly two years on, and I've dabbled in Class D amps... and sold them. I'm sticking with this beast, the tone and reliability is worth the extra weight.

[chewy teeth]

Originally Posted by idoru

Zombie-update: nearly two years on, and I've dabbled in Class D amps... and sold them. I'm sticking with this beast, the tone and reliability is worth the extra weight.

I've also been using a TB600 for at least two years and have yet to have a single problem. This amp has spoiled me and I get really bummed if I have to use someone's backline.
'51 P reissue, flats, BassLines pickup into the TB with EQ set to 10-2-10 (not o'clocks) into a Schroeder 1212R is shocking. Serious BOMP. I put the same into a Fender 410 Pro SL and some notes rattle me like I'm on an Electric Footlball game.

My only wish would be for a two ohm tap to run another 1212.

[aledeville]

Have you tried new tubes? I've got a JJ in the first position and it's aaaawesome. Together with the MicroThumpinator this is a controlled beast.

I bought the preamp a second time, just in case. It's so good!

[chewy teeth]

I did some tube rolling too. Two used old Mullards completely changed the EQ and the low frequencys were big, soft, and billowy.
I put two Electrohome 12ax7's and haven't tried any others yet. They are really strong tubes and really well made.

I recently had to use an non vintage SVT/Ampeg 410 backline for a gig. My overwound pickup and flats were making that amp really unhappy and farty. Same deal with a Mesa/Boogie M9 into a GB 1x15. It started cutting out on me into the second song. I mean that thing just gave the hell up. I engaged the pad and it got marginally better but still cut out a lot. Those amps sounded good for their owners, and i'm not knocking them as much as I am saying that the TB600 never, ever gives me any trouble. It always hangs tough with the front end getting slammed and always makes great sound.

[tsunami1052]

I did some tube rolling in my TBP-1 about a year ago. I ended up running Preferred Series 7025's (thetubestore).

[pgk]

is that small transformer in the back for the di signal?!? MAJOR props to fender if it is!

[tsunami1052]

"is that small transformer in the back for the di signal?!? MAJOR props to fender if it is!"


Yes, I believe the TBP-1 has a Jensen Line Out Transformer.

[pgk]

Wow I am Seriously impressed. Again it goes to show that Fender pulled out all the stops on this head. Tranny driven di's are very rare on any but the most expensive of heads, let alone a Jensen. Wow

[pgk]

iow this head basically has the guts of a Radial JDI DI built right in

[aledeville]

Jep, the Jensen is just great. It doesn't get better.

[bassakwards]

Amp schematics are free downloads from the support page at fender.com. The schematic for the TPB-1 does show a transformer for the DI. For the TB 600/1200, the DI is just an output from an op-amp or a chip.

[pgk]

oh i misread the whole thing above, sorry

[steamthief]

I put a pair of used Telefunkens in mine, which really smoothed out the hi-mids and treble.

What cabs are you guys using with your amps? I'm currently using an Orange OBC410, but I'm looking to go lighter.

[tombowlus]

Yup, these heads (and the TBP-1) are real sleepers, IME/IMHO. The all solid state 800 Pro is likewise excellent and "over made."