Fender B-300

[funkateer86]

Hey everybody, I was really wanting a tube head and one of my bandmates said he might be able to hook me up with one of these really cheap. I haven't been able to try it or anyting yet, but I can't seem to find any info on it. It isn't one of the newer fender 300 watt tube heads like the pro, its older, I think late 70's-early 80's. If anybody has any experience with these heads or if they know anything about them I would love to hear it.

 

[rodl2005]

AFAIK & I'm definately NO expert- Fender made a Rumble all tube head back then....Then the Bassman 300/sunn 300T The only B series I know of were solid state.
Perhaps someone'll know more- I mean-definately someone'll know more, but hopefully they'll post here!!

 

[funkateer86]

thanks for the info you've got! somebody has got to know something on here with all the random knowledge that floats around this place, lol.

 

[anderbass]

Could it possibly be similar/the same as the fender 300/400PS models?

check this thread out:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106005

 

[rodl2005]

Hoots 8-0 !!!!! What a monster!!! 435w??!!!??!!!!! ALL tube. OMG!!!!

 

[funkateer86]

wow! thats a lotta watts!!!!! that would be cool if that were it, not sure if it is, though. seems like the upkeep would be a bit frustrating, as well as utilizing all that power! still awesome, i really appreciate the help i'm getting!

 

[Fealach]

The Rumble and 300PS are the only older 300 watt tube heads from Fender I know of. The Rumble supposedly sounded great but was prone to problems. Haven't heard of any reliability issues with the 300PS.

The 400PS is another beast altogether, and it takes something of a commitment to own one. I've had no problems from mine - they're actually built like tanks, but because they're so different from other amps sometimes people screw them up by messing where they shouldn't have been. IMO they do in fact slay every other amp, tube or not, I've come across.

 

[funkateer86]

whoa fealach! i saw your post about powering a bunch of cabs at the same time, including two 18's and 2 15's! now i'm intrigued i saw something about them going for around 500 bucks if you can find them, or at least not to pay any more than that, is that true? if thats the case, i'm gonna have to start shopping, ;cause i'm all about big power .

 

[Fealach]

For a 400PS, the Ebay prices have been slowly climbing up. Not too long ago one went to $600 but the reserve was not met, I have seen them sell for $700. Mine was $500 and change, but that was a few years ago. My tech said the components alone should be worth $1200, he couldn't fathom why a vintage, all tube, hand wired Fender with more power than an SVT should be so cheap. Even at $700, if it is in good working order and does not need tubes, I'd think it was worth it - try to get a '71 SVT for that!

On the flip side, $100 for one that didn't work could be too much. Very risky Ebay buys unless the seller is both trustworthy and knowledgeable about the amp. Rich at Time Electronics has commented he has never had one in for service that had bad transformers - but if you did get one with blown transformers, you might as well throw it out, because the only place you'd get a replacement transformer would be in another 400PS. Even Mercury Magnetics, the big name in boutique transformers, has listed in their online catalog under 400PS, not their replacements for sale, but a want ad seeking originals!

As much as I dig mine, I don't tell everybody to run out and buy one. They are their own animal, unlike other tube amps in some ways. Even I don't use mine exclusively - for most of the songs I play on my 4 string, I like either an overdriven British tone or a murky Mesa Boogie tone, where the Fender's one channel is a bit too smooth and subdued and the other channel is too clear and modern. That clean, modern channel is amazing for what I want from my 5 string though. Plus it's nice to know you COULD run 3 8X10s. I've often wondered what a nice Strat would sound like through it, with 3 (or 6!) full stacks.

 

[permagrin]

Hey everybody, I was really wanting a tube head and one of my bandmates said he might be able to hook me up with one of these really cheap. I haven't been able to try it or anyting yet, but I can't seem to find any info on it. It isn't one of the newer fender 300 watt tube heads like the pro, its older, I think late 70's-early 80's. If anybody has any experience with these heads or if they know anything about them I would love to hear it.

IIRC, in the late 80s I owned a Fender B-100 head. I got it to replace a Musicman B100 tube head that sounded great but had serious reliability issues. The Fender sounded okay (I think?) but what I do remember is that it didn't have much power. I sold it and got a Fender BXR-400 around 1990 (and still have that boat anchor.)

 

[danomite64]

This is the only B-300 I know about, but it isn't a tube amp.