I wanted to love the Bassman TV 15 but the LH 500 stole my heart!

father of fires · #1 06-12-2011, 02:46 PM

I went to a store today to try out a Bassman TV 15. I have been thinking about buying a combo and I love old school Fender amps so it seemed like a good match. I managed to get some decent tones out of it but overall it felt boomy and thin sounding.

I decided to try out an LH 500 they had since they share similar preamp topologies. This thing killed. I have heard a lot about these heads and I even played one before but after trying the Bassman TV this head gave me what I was hoping to get out of that combo without even trying.

I tried the LH with several cabs:

Hydrive 410
Hartke AK 410
SVT 15E
Vintage Flatback 810
New Ampeg Neo 210

The only combination I didn't like was the LH 500 and the Ampeg Neo 210. My favorite cab was the AK410.

I could be happy with the Bassman TV but for $600 cheaper (minus the cost of a cab) the LH 500 is a no brainer.

I also learned that I love that Fender scooped sound. I started with the mids on 10 and kept backing it off until I had all of the knobs at 12:00. This eq setting plus the AK410 gave my G&L SB-1 with tired old strings some new life. Plenty of throaty lows and top end zing.

Just a small review. YMMV.

ric3xrt · #2 06-12-2011, 02:53 PM

Haven't pulled the trigger yet on a new LH 500 ,Did try one a friend lent me his So I tried it here at home with the old VX cabs(4x10,1x15,8x10) loved it with all of em. also tried it with My SWR 2x15.....Awesome sound.

JimmyM · #3 06-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Fender should have made those Bassman TV combos expandable with extension cabs. It's nice but that kills it for me. But if you're into the Fender tone stack, it's really hard to beat an LH-500 for the money.

RickenBoogie · #4 06-12-2011, 04:53 PM

+1 to that- I would never consider a combo amp unable to expand as any sort of gigging amp.

father of fires · #5 06-12-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Fender should have made those Bassman TV combos expandable with extension cabs. It's nice but that kills it for me. But if you're into the Fender tone stack, it's really hard to beat an LH-500 for the money.

Agreed!

ed Stripe · #6 06-12-2011, 06:11 PM

I have 2 LH500's, one at my house with a VX410 and one where we practice with an Eden 410XLT. I really think there is no better amp for the price. They sound great.