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Fender 70's Bassman 100

sleevey55

sleevey55

Supporting Member
Nov 21, 2009
2,158
1,499
55
Billings Montana
#1
Hello, Im new to here, but wow, what a great site! My question is this: What cab was used (preferred) in the late 60's early 70's for the bassman 100? I have a Bassman 50, 1972 model and Im using the matching 2x15 D140 JBL speaker config cabinet that fender made. Anyone got any opinions or thoughts??? Thanks a million!
 
#5
The Bassman 100 was paired with the 4-12 cab that had the speakers mounted at odd angles throughout the cab. The consensus on a thread on here is that no one liked them. I played one about a year ago and thought that is just OK. The Bassman 50 was paired with a 2-15 cab that either had the stock Rola speakers or the optional JBL D140F speakers. BTW, the factory JBL cabs had that fact noted on the speaker cab info metal plate. These straight forward cabs were much better IMO. :cool:
 
#6
I had one of the pyramidal 4x12 cabs, as said above it was ok, not great. I didn't have it the same time as my bassman, so I can't give you a good approximation of the bassman/412 sound, but I played my V4 through it and it was definitely better on guitar. Ended up selling it to a guitar player who played 70's style rock and wanted that particular sound. If you're going to get a bassman 100, just play it through that JBL loaded 2x15, that will probably sound pretty good.
 
#8
I had a Bassman 100 with the matching pyramidal 4x12. I bought it more or less purely on reputation - it was "the rig" to have in 1977 (that or an Acoustic 371) and there was a Store in South London importing them into the UK (as well as Fender Rhodes pianos) for a lot less than list price at the time. In the cold light of day it sounded OK - nothing special, a bit lacking in punch. I used it for a couple of years and eventually replaced it with a Traynor 1 x 15 combo that had a far better (tighter) sound.

The other issue was the sheer size of the Cab - you needed a van to move it and it took up a fair amount of space on the stand - you should have seen the flight case I had made for it :-).

I eventually sold it to the Bass Player in the other band on the cruise ship I was working on - mainly so I didn't have to transport it home!!.

Go with the 2 x 15" JBL cab - it'll sound MUCH better.
 
#9
I have a Bassman 50, 1972 model and Im using the matching 2x15 D140 JBL speaker config cabinet that fender made. Anyone got any opinions or thoughts???

that's a grrreat rig, love d140's
 
#10
I used to own the 100 with the 412 pyramid cab also, gee we should start a club. ;) IMHO the cab sucked with very little bottom end, each speaker had maybe 1 sq ft of area behind it. I wish I had the head again, very clean sounding, but the cab never did it justice.

That cab was also a bear to transport.
 
#11
I still have the Bassman 100 and the 4x12 cab. The cab is passable but nothing great (it sounded great in the '70's). I keep it for sentimental reasons.

The head, on the other hand, when paired with my 2 GS112's sounds great! I plan on keeping them both.
 
#12
pgk said:
I have a Bassman 50, 1972 model and Im using the matching 2x15 D140 JBL speaker config cabinet that fender made. Anyone got any opinions or thoughts???

that's a grrreat rig, love d140's
Click to expand...

If it's the real Bassman 50 cabinet, it's way under-sized for a pair of 15" speakers. The Bassman 50 box was a very small cabinet, about the size of a typical modern 4x10, only a lot more shallow (front-to-back). There just ain't enough room in the box to work right no matter what speakers are in there.

Now, there was a 2x15 cabinet Fender made that was like the Dual Showman cabinet for bass. It's a LOT taller with the speakers arranged vertically instead of diagonally like the Bassman 50 cabinet. Those boxes sound pretty good even if they're not a great design. But the small box is pretty useless.

Useless, that is, unless YOU like how it sounds. That trumps everything.
John
 
#15
JTE said:
If it's the real Bassman 50 cabinet, it's way under-sized for a pair of 15" speakers.
Click to expand...
The original 2x2 Bassman cab was very small, but it was enlarged in '67. The 2x15 was the same size as a Dual Showman, and usually was sold with Super Bassman heads starting in '69, though some dealers might have matched it with a 50. The cab was adequate in size and for that matter wouldn't be half bad loaded with 3015s today, but it would have to be ported and braced, as they weren't very well made. The original Jensens/Utahs/CTS/Oxfords etc. were cheap drivers, not worth trying to use.
 
#16
well, i dont know why ppl are bashing the 4x10 'pyramid' cabs. Mine blows away any other amp i've ever heard (with '73 Bassman 100). Sweet vintage tone out of this rig, man.

More tone than youre going to get out of modern amps for sure. I played thru my buddy's Carvin/4x10/1x15 and yeah, it had TONS of punch, but no tone at all. Now, it would be interesting to hear my amp on that speaker rig, and I cant wait for the next jam night to try it out.

From years of gigging and shlepping (i used to carry that cab up 27 stairs by myself, regularly), the pyramid parts, (the wood pieces that form the pyramid) had come loose and were making an awfull racket. But some sealant and some well placed deck screws tightened it back up to its early 70's prime.
 
#19
i have a Bassman 135 and use the vertical 2x15 reloaded with tight Emminence speakers. Cab is strengthened on seams and strutted front to back - it sounds fantastic. I use a Randall bright box (4 horns) to brighten up the sound too. The 2x15 is very big & heavy though; so I use an old 1x15 ported MusicMan cab (HD115?) too; this Fenderoid combination works great for a more portable option for home and smaller gigs. Those 70s Bassman heads are gorgeous!
 

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