Bruce Amplifiers?

[Ric Vice]

Hello,
I still have an advertising brochure from my past that shows the Bruce Amplifier Line. Does anyone still have one of these amps. They were pretty unique back in the 70's because the cabinets were like the Acoustic 360's with power amplifiers built in.

Ric

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I bought a Bruce bass amp for my first bass amp back in about 1969. Mine had 2 15"speakers and the 100 watt amp built into the back of the cab with the preamp-head sitting on top. You could get them with JBL D 140s but mine had the standard speakers,whatever they were. From what I remember it sounded pretty good but I was playing some pretty poor sounding basses through it,a Conrad beatle bass,a large hollowbody Framus and a Gibson EBO.

A couple of the best local bass players used them back in the late sixties and they sounded great with them. In fact the PA at one of our bigger venues that drew 1000 people on Friday and Saturday nights had a Bruce PA and it sounded pretty good too.

For a 100 watt amp it seemed pretty loud. They were heavy and were made with something like MDF,not plywood.The head was just a preamp and you used a sheilded cable from the head to the poweramp in the back. They also made 4-12 and 6-10 cabinets for guitar players. I think they were a little ahead of their time.

 

[bottomend!]

can you scan the pictures and post them here?

 

[robgrow]

I remember Bruce amps very well. I saw one blow up once (almost literally!) They weren't around for very long as I recall.

Lots of cool stuff from back then that didn't make it unfortunately. I don't know why, but lately I wish still had my Fender Solid State Bassman. Probably died long ago though.

 

[pcoper]

I got a Bruce amp in 1968, and had a Gibson EB-3 Bass, afterwards in 1969 I got a Fender Precision Bass.
Prior to this time and after I played over 700 gigs in clubs.

 

[vmabus]

L-O-N-G Shot! "Bruce" Amps????

 

[Mustangmark]

• I just found a Bruce Bass amp a week ago, was stored for 40 yrs, played for awhile, now I'm on the hunt for a couple Horizontal Transistors for it. Help, sounded amazingly clean and Loud ! I can't find part numbers of the transistors anywhere so far...Help

 

[Paul Cassone]

• I just found a Bruce Bass amp a week ago, was stored for 40 yrs, played for awhile, now I'm on the hunt for a couple Horizontal Transistors for it. Help, sounded amazingly clean and Loud ! I can't find part numbers of the transistors anywhere so far...Help

I have a Bruce Bass amp with 2 x 15s and another I found on Craigslist with 1 X 15. They came from Colorado. Lord Valve may know what kind of transistors would be suitable replacements. (303) 778-1156 They also have epoxied "mystery modules" in them. When the modules go, no more amp, I'm afraid.

As you said, loud and clean. Back in the day they were about the loudest amps out there.

 

[Paul Cassone]

Hello,
I still have an advertising brochure from my past that shows the Bruce Amplifier Line. Does anyone still have one of these amps. They were pretty unique back in the 70's because the cabinets were like the Acoustic 360's with power amplifiers built in.

Ric

I would love to see that brochure. I want to write an article for Vintage guitar magazine about Bruce amps. I have 2 and have played many. Any possibility you could scan and post or photograph and post?