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Dynacord BS412

dave_anderson

dave_anderson

Jan 11, 2001
63
173
55
U.K.
davidanderson.webs.com
#1
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Dynacord BS412 amp. 250watt (350 peak) combo From the 80s. Comes in it's own flightcase. Unbelievable German high end studio quality. Managed to get this one after searching for many years and a quick day trip to a very rainy Skegness (U.K.) secured it. Someone had over painted the flightcase aluminium but that came off with a blunt flat blade driver.

Its a great sounding amp with a fantastic onboard compressor. I've never really liked onboard ones but this is fantastic.
I tried one at a rehearsal room about 30 years ago. I also saw many on touring band stages so I presume they were popular in hire stock. After buying many amps and cabs that I lusted after years ago but being bitterly disappointed when I bought and tried them, I wasn't holding out much hope for this but it's every bit as good as I remember, if not much better.
 
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#2
dave_anderson said:
View attachment 4037706 View attachment 4037707 View attachment 4037708 View attachment 4037709 View attachment 4037710 View attachment 4037711 View attachment 4037712 Dynacord BS412 amp. 250watt (350 peak) combo From the 80s. Comes in it's own flightcase. Unbelievable German high end studio quality. Managed to get this one after searching for many years and a quick day trip to a very rainy Skegness (U.K.) secured it. Someone had over painted the flightcase aluminium but that came off with a blunt flat blade driver.

Its a great sounding amp with a fantastic onboard compressor. I've never really liked onboard ones but this is fantastic.
I tried one at a rehearsal room about 30 years ago. I also saw many on touring band stages so I presume they were popular in hire stock. After buying many amps and cabs that I lusted after years ago but being bitterly disappointed when I bought and tried them, I wasn't holding out much hope for this but it's every bit as good as I remember, if not much better.
Click to expand...

Cool looking rig. For some reason I associate that name with accordians.
 
#4
dave_anderson said:
Its a great sounding amp with a fantastic onboard compressor. I've never really liked onboard ones but this is fantastic. . . . . . . . it's every bit as good as I remember, if not much better.
Click to expand...

I played one of these from the late 80's to the late 90's. One of the best sounding rigs I've owned and the only amp or cab that I regret selling. Sadly, it weighed more than a small planet! But what a tone.
 
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#5
Last night, I traded my ESP Ltd B155-DX bass (plus a few €€€) for a DynaCord BS412 amp. Mine isn't quite in such good shape (the case has a few scratches), but the amp and 15" speaker can still shake the room.

The guy selling the amp called it "a battle tank", which I fully understood when I tried to lift it.

Anyway, it's now down in my practice room.

Did you happen to get any paperwork with yours? I haven't had any luck finding anything other than the schematic online.

I'd really like to get my hands on a copy of an owner's manual. Does anyone have one lying around, and would consider running it through a scanner?
 
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#7
Well, I'm actually in Germany, but that doesn't surprise me. The Dynacord website doesn't even mention the BS model line anymore. Looking at the company history, they've gone through several hands since 1990. According to their (German) Wikipedia page, they were sold in 1990 to Telex Communications, which was then acquired by Bosch in 2006. Through the various mergers and acquisitions, discontinued product lines tend to get purged...
 
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#8
I know this really doesn't have anything to do with the topic, but year ago my local music store bought a Dynacord PA system. It was like a ground stacked line array (best I can describe it). I was really impressed with the output it had for it's size. Very well constructed too. Anyway, enjoy your amp!
 
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#10
dave_anderson said:
View attachment 4037706 View attachment 4037707 View attachment 4037708 View attachment 4037709 View attachment 4037710 View attachment 4037711 View attachment 4037712 Dynacord BS412 amp. 250watt (350 peak) combo From the 80s. Comes in it's own flightcase. Unbelievable German high end studio quality. Managed to get this one after searching for many years and a quick day trip to a very rainy Skegness (U.K.) secured it. Someone had over painted the flightcase aluminium but that came off with a blunt flat blade driver.

Its a great sounding amp with a fantastic onboard compressor. I've never really liked onboard ones but this is fantastic.
I tried one at a rehearsal room about 30 years ago. I also saw many on touring band stages so I presume they were popular in hire stock. After buying many amps and cabs that I lusted after years ago but being bitterly disappointed when I bought and tried them, I wasn't holding out much hope for this but it's every bit as good as I remember, if not much better.
Click to expand...
That's not something you see every day.
 
#12
chris_b said:
Hi Dave, @dave_anderson Guess what I found in my chaotic filing system. . . . .

It's not big on technical detail, but I guess players didn't ask for that kind of info in the 80's. Cheers


Dynacord Catalogue circa 1984
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User Manual
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That's fantastic thanks Chris. You don't want to sell it do you?
Cheers
 
#15
If anyone is in the area in southwestern Germany, I have decided to sell my BS 412.

Photos and information (in German) -- Dynacord Bassverstärker BS 412

Basically, I bought the BS 412 at the end of last year, thinking that I could use it for gigs or band practice. It works fine (a couple of the pots are a bit "noisy", but technically it works great). The main issue is the weight - the BS 412 is built like a battle tank, and weighs about the same.

I finally caved and bought myself a Markbass 104HF cabinet and Little Mark head - both together are still about 25 lbs lighter than the BS 412.

The BS 412 is standing in my practice room (my basement) and looking for a new home with someone who will take good care of it.
 
#17
Hi folks, first time posting on here, yet I have been playing bass for the past 24 years :). I have recently become obsessed with the Dynacord BS-412 combo and am possibly going to buy one. The thing is, the amp for sale does not have it's original speaker driver, but a replacement with an aluminium dust cap. It reminds me of an old RCF or Fane driver. Do any of you know the specs of the original driver? Manufacturer, model etc. I had read somewhere that it was Electrovoice maybe?? I would like to fit the original driver as the box would have been designed/tuned for it.

Thanks! Vinny
 
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#19
Treb said:
Electrovoice indeed, EVM15B as mentioned in the manual. I have no experience with this combo but back in the day (mid 80's) it was highly regarded. I think there's more than enough modern gear that's just as capable, I don't think the BS412 is as mythical as some people think it is. YMMV as always.
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Thanks a lot for the answer, and in fact I have exactly one of those drivers in stock, so that will bring the amp back to it's original state. Yes, for me I am not taking up any myths about the 412, I just rather like how brutal and ugly it looks :).
 
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