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Authentic Vintage Fender Bassman Amp?
- Thread starter James Cassidy
- Start date
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
The so-called '59 bassman 410 is more of a guitar amp, IMHO.
IME, if this one is supposed to be an actual vintage amp, the kind of 410 open-back bassman Fender manufactured in late, 1950's, I'm skeptical. The linen is not varnished (or lacquered), which those were, and it just looks dirty and banged up, not actually old, though the photos are not sufficient to be sure about much.
Yes, IMHO, this amp is too new, and was probably made in the first round of reissues, though labels and interior photos of the amp are required. Where is the photo of the label?
They were reissued at least twice, first with a plywood cabinet ('59 reissue) (2006?), and then later (2011?) with a solid pine cabinet and varnished/lacquered linen ('59 LTD reissue), and supposedly more authentic electronics. Both are inadequate in every way for bass, but are pretty good for guitar, though much brighter than the vintage amps with their clapped-out blue frame jensens.
Comments on the 3 photos:
The bare wood under the (dirty) linen looks new—at least not pine from the late '50s, which would be orange or very dark from age.
The linen is not varnished/lacquered.
The control panel has little corrosion.
The grill cloth and handle look lightly used, though they could possibly be replacements.
Most of all, we have no views of the amp itself, the speakers, the back panel, etc.
If this IS a vintage late 1950's 410 Fender bassman, it has been recovered, then beat up, the grill cloth has likely been replaced, and by some process I can't really imagine, there is little wear or corrosion on the control panel—and that is just from 3 limited photos.
All IMHO, YMMV.
IME, if this one is supposed to be an actual vintage amp, the kind of 410 open-back bassman Fender manufactured in late, 1950's, I'm skeptical. The linen is not varnished (or lacquered), which those were, and it just looks dirty and banged up, not actually old, though the photos are not sufficient to be sure about much.
Yes, IMHO, this amp is too new, and was probably made in the first round of reissues, though labels and interior photos of the amp are required. Where is the photo of the label?
They were reissued at least twice, first with a plywood cabinet ('59 reissue) (2006?), and then later (2011?) with a solid pine cabinet and varnished/lacquered linen ('59 LTD reissue), and supposedly more authentic electronics. Both are inadequate in every way for bass, but are pretty good for guitar, though much brighter than the vintage amps with their clapped-out blue frame jensens.
Comments on the 3 photos:
The bare wood under the (dirty) linen looks new—at least not pine from the late '50s, which would be orange or very dark from age.
The linen is not varnished/lacquered.
The control panel has little corrosion.
The grill cloth and handle look lightly used, though they could possibly be replacements.
Most of all, we have no views of the amp itself, the speakers, the back panel, etc.
If this IS a vintage late 1950's 410 Fender bassman, it has been recovered, then beat up, the grill cloth has likely been replaced, and by some process I can't really imagine, there is little wear or corrosion on the control panel—and that is just from 3 limited photos.
All IMHO, YMMV.
Last edited:
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
I might add that the patch cord between the two preamp channels sort of screams "I play loud rock guitar," to me. The country and blues guitarists I knew in the early '70s, who prized the vintage 410 bassman, never did that. It was a thing adopted by younger players who saw Clapton and other heavies doing it with their Marshalls, etc. Now it is practically de rigueur. Darn kids, LOL! 
Any pictures of the inside? I believe the reissues use printed circuit boards whereas the originals are point-point wired. On the other hand, I think there were some reissues that were re-wired point-point. You could probably tell by the components ... especially the caps.
Yeah, I'd definitely want to see pictures of the chassis and speakers with their date codes. Do you have a photo of the sticker? This could well be one of the reissues that has been given a relic treatment.
