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Buying a Fender Bassman Ten. Advice needed

wostbass

wostbass

Nov 27, 2006
14
4
Utrecht, NL, EU
#1
Hi all,

Hopefully someone can help me out with this. I have the chance to buy a 50W Fender Bassman Ten. I've played through one of these during a recording session and really loved it. (But other than that session I have limited experience with tube amps)

So i was wondering if there are any pitfalls or issues I should be aware of when buying one? The seller says it's completely original, early '70s.

edit: and says it hasn't been used for long time.

Thanks in advance!
 
#2
wostbass said:
Hi all,

Hopefully someone can help me out with this. I have the chance to buy a 50W Fender Bassman Ten. I've played through one of these during a recording session and really loved it. (But other than that session I have limited experience with tube amps)
So i was wondering if there are any pitfalls or issues I should be aware of when buying one? The seller says it's completely original, early '70s.
edit: and says it hasn't been used for long time.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Which fender Bassman 10 are you refering, is it the vintage models ie Eddie Cochran/Buddy Holly or somthing more modern?
 
#3
I had one of those once. The wattage, flimsy speakers, and tiny (for a 4 x 10"), archaic cabinet design limited it to practice (alone) for me. If you intend to do anything beyond bedroom volumes and maybe recording with it, I would pass. The bottom end is just too anemic.

I sat down with a few amp gurus and explored various modifications, but the cabinetry would have required an upgraded output transformer to be mounted inside the cab itself, since the slanted shelf between the speakers and head left so little room. The speakers are voiced too low for guitar, and they are way too wimpy for any kind of undistorted bass, so everyone agreed it was better not to plow any money into it.
 
#4
yeah, that's probably a much better guitar amp. If you want a bassman, you can still find real blackface 50w heads for $500. Those sound good through bigger cabinets. I've got a '68 bassman head, I love it, but I don't push it too hard either.
 
#5
tombrien said:
I had one of those once. The wattage, flimsy speakers, and tiny (for a 4 x 10"), archaic cabinet design limited it to practice (alone) for me. If you intend to do anything beyond bedroom volumes and maybe recording with it, I would pass. The bottom end is just too anemic.
Click to expand...

I had one back in the day and this was my memory too. (reinforced by paying one at a music store a couple years ago) Although, I played successfully in a Jazz big band and a high school garage band, I don't think it would be sufficent for "professonal" needs.
 
#6
Thanks for your opinions. Interesting, seems like most of you suggest not get it in the first place.

The thing is, I don't have any plans for performing in the near future. And certainly no pro gigging. So I thought the amp could suit my (humble) needs. I guess I'll try and make an appointment with the seller, and try it with your opinions in mind.

Considering the 10" speakers I can understand why it might not be that great for bass. But is it really that bad for guitar?
 
#7
wostbass said:
Thanks for your opinions. Interesting, seems like most of you suggest not get it in the first place.

The thing is, I don't have any plans for performing in the near future. And certainly no pro gigging. So I thought the amp could suit my (humble) needs. I guess I'll try and make an appointment with the seller, and try it with your opinions in mind.

Considering the 10" speakers I can understand why it might not be that great for bass. But is it really that bad for guitar?
Click to expand...
If it's the old vintage Bassman that you'r talking about more people have used them for guitar down the years than for Bass.
 
#8
Yeah, I think this is what you could call an old vintage one. Here's one of the pictures the seller sent me

bassmanten.gif
 
#9
Hi guys, just a reply to let you know I didn't buy the amp. I guess you were right about the sound character of the amp. Right now I have the feeling I should save just a little more to get a 'real' bass amp.

I really appreciate all your help. Thanks!
 
#10
Just to add to this, I bought a Bassman Ten as a project a few months ago. It didn't have any tubes, the speakers were all blown, it was missing the grillcloth, and the baffleboard brace was broken off.

After replacing electrolytic caps, all new tubes, biasing the tubes, and installing new speakers, it has turned out to be a good rehearsal/studio rig. I also added some insulation inside the cab where it had none originally.

That said, if I hadn't bought it at a good price as a fixer-upper, done my own electronics work, and then stumbled upon a great deal on a set of new Eminence PA speakers, it would have been an expensive proposition with little payoff for bass.

The amp runs at a higher voltage than the Bassman 50 and has a different EQ section...it's actually better sounding and has more volume before breakup.

I remember trying one a few years ago that farted out at low volume and didn't sound so good even then.
 
#11
wostbass said:
Yeah, I think this is what you could call an old vintage one. Here's one of the pictures the seller sent me
bassmanten.gif
Click to expand...
That shot appears to be the 70s model, basicly the Bassman 50 with a middle control on the 2nd channel. I've just been looking at my 70s Fender catalogue It's alongside the Bassman 50 + 2x15 cab
Even in the 70s it would be grossly underpowered especialy with the speakers available those days.
 
#18
I have a Fender Bassman Ten that I bought back in 1976. It stopped working two years ago. Last week, I took it to a repair shop and asked them to give me an estimate to fix it. After rebiasing it, oputting in two new 6L6s, a new 12ax7, a new lamp, and basically cleaning it up, they called me and told me to pick it up.

I picked the cheapest bass in the store to test the amp with -a cheap Squire, and let me tell you, that amp has never sounded that good! It's still light ont he bottom end, but it sounds great otherwise. Now that it works well, I'll probably use it for my jazz guitar and continue using my Eden stuff for the bass.
 
#20
tornado bass, that amp was the one that I sold to Jim. It was owned by the school I work for the 30+ years since it was new. The chassis on that thing was clean as all get out. I serviced it right after I got there. It would have cost me more than it was worth to get it running after it's two year stint with one of my bass players. I don't think her little brother was very kind to the cts speakers. I couldn't figure out why she kept stalling on wanting to bring it back. I'm glad it has gone to good use. That big heavy tube amp just didn't work very well in a school situation. The students needed something bulletproof and easily portable. I took the casters off and I'm sure it never went over in the school on my guard during the last 3 years. But you are right it had a hard life. I'm not sure it got much play time since the 80's though.

My cousin just picked a later...1980ish bassman 10 for 50$. We got that one working....His guitar player was loading it into the car and set it down to hold a door open. That amp was on casters and it took a belly flop right on concrete. Bam!! I checked it out, put a tube back in the socket and it fired right back up. Topheavy is right.

From poking around that amp I couldn't believe all the changes made chassis wise from that earlier 10 that tornadobass now has and this one.
 

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