New older amp day

**fuzzy beard** · #1 11-01-2011, 04:18 PM

Well i went and played the Fender bassman 20 even though i couldnt find anyone who used it for bass. so i get there not knowing what to think and i tell you what i was not ready! This thing loud for 18 watts! Alot louder than some would lead you to think. Dont get me wrong this isnt a rock band rig with no P.A but it can do any acoustic, jazz, blues, blue grass, church, or dive bar gig i have ever seen!

So i bought it!

It is in very good shape it has a couple scuffs in the tolex. Origanal fender tubes and a upgraded 3 prong cable. It is missing light for power jewl, has a rattle i think is the grill, and one scratchy pot. Also look like the factory speaker. Real nice tone!

So this is what i know about it. It is 18 watts. It is a 1x15. They made about 500 of them. And the guy who designed it left fender and now builds high end tube amps. S/N is F311092 any ideal how to date it?

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185089

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185061

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185061

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185077

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185074

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1320185089

Alex1984 · #2 11-01-2011, 04:27 PM

How does it compare to the Portaflex?

**fuzzy beard** · #3 11-01-2011, 04:38 PM

Well i am still waiting on parts from flip tops to get her going so i cant really say. But i can say i played a ampeg b15 at mikes music in Cincinnati Ohio and volume wise its to close to call. Tone wise there was no contest in my mind b15 all the way. But i even dream about that portaflex tone!

Dont get me wrong the bassman 20 sounds great and has good tone but with any thing it is a different tone.

**fuzzy beard** · #4 11-01-2011, 06:16 PM

Anyone have an ideal what bulb it takes for the power jewl?

johnk_10 · #5 11-01-2011, 06:19 PM

i would guess a #47. radioshack carries them in a two pack.

**fuzzy beard** · #6 11-01-2011, 06:38 PM

Thanks! Hey johnk you have any experiance with the bassman 20?

**fuzzy beard** · #7 11-01-2011, 06:53 PM

Also from what i can tell from S/N it is a 1983.

johnk_10 · #8 11-01-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

Thanks! Hey johnk you have any experiance with the bassman 20?

i really don't consider the Bassman 20 as a vintage amp, but it was based on one, the second generation musicmaster bass amp, only with a little heavier duty speaker and a sealed cab for the speaker.

IMO, the first generation musicmaster bass amps with the 6BQ5 output tubes and the wimpy 12" alnico speaker weren't very good as a bass amp, but they are awesome for guitar, especially when cranked into distortion (they sounded like a mini marshall). the gen 2 used 6V6's like your's and made it a little better bass amp, but not as cool as a guitar amp as the earlier version. your's is probably better than the two musicmaster's for bass since it has the sealed cab, but IMO, nowhere near as good as a B15N (but you already knew that

).

**fuzzy beard** · #9 11-01-2011, 07:56 PM

Yeah i wrote vintage before i pinned down the date. Thought i was early 70s i only missed by a decade! Also is it true there were only 500 or so made? And that this is a Rivera design?

Also it is not a sealed cab it is a ported cab. It is pretty bassy for what it is!

4Mal · #10 11-01-2011, 07:58 PM

Cool amp to have round the studio no doubt!

**fuzzy beard** · #11 11-01-2011, 08:03 PM

Changed thread title to new older amp day.LOL

Yeah it really has its own tone. Cant really place it and i dont have the experiance to do so. But its not like any bassman i have heard.

Also for he acoustic only settings i am in this is more than loud enough! I dont think it will se as much time as my SB-12 but for the price i couldnt leave it there!

lokerola · #12 11-01-2011, 08:29 PM

Cool amp, looks very nice! Tube and fender - how can you go wrong?

**SoComSurfing** · #13 11-01-2011, 08:38 PM

Very cool. I really like those Rivera-era Fenders. The Super Champ will always be one of my favorite small guitar amps.

**fuzzy beard** · #14 11-01-2011, 09:08 PM

Have you ever tried the bassman 20? With a bass LOL?

SactoBass · #15 11-01-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

This thing loud for 18 watts! Alot louder than some would lead you to think.

Dude.....18 tube watts is like 3000 solid state watts!

(uh oh...the "a watt is a watt" police are gonna hunt me down!)

Seriously, nice amp!

**fuzzy beard** · #16 11-02-2011, 08:43 PM

beans-on-toast · #17 11-02-2011, 10:38 PM

That isn't a bad little amp. The price is usually pretty good for what you are getting. Because of that, people use them as a platform for mods and builds.

**fuzzy beard** · #18 11-03-2011, 10:30 AM

What would you say is a good price?

johnk_10 · #19 11-03-2011, 10:42 AM

the last two on ebay sold for $315 and $350 so you might base what you think is a good deal on that.

**fuzzy beard** · #20 11-03-2011, 08:55 PM

Thanks johnk 10 i feel good about what i payed after seeing those! Also beans on toast i think i will leave it stock. I like it as it is and with there being so few of them made, mine being stock in such good condition, And hearing alot of people change and mod them i think it will add to the value long term.