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Fender Bassman 100T - chapter 2

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#421
StrangerDanger said:
Just picked up a used Ibanez SR 1000 Prestige. Very nice bass and I love the way it plays and sounds but . . .

I'm getting a lot of unpleasant distortion on the high notes, especially on the G string. I dont know what strings are on there now but I think they are SS DRs (just a guess). Im going to change strings. Any other ideas?

And yes I am plugged into the padded input (#2). Lol
Click to expand...

Is it still there if you lower the preamp gain? Seems like if it's there regardless of master volume setting, you're overdriving the preamp. If it's clean until you reach a certain master volume, it would either be the hf horn, or you're reaching the limit of the power tubes. Maybe in that case try one or two notches cooler on the bias? Just guessing there.
 
#422
StrangerDanger said:
Just picked up a used Ibanez SR 1000 Prestige. Very nice bass and I love the way it plays and sounds but . . .

I'm getting a lot of unpleasant distortion on the high notes, especially on the G string. I dont know what strings are on there now but I think they are SS DRs (just a guess). Im going to change strings. Any other ideas?

And yes I am plugged into the padded input (#2). Lol
Click to expand...

SR 1000 IIRC is active so I gotta ask are the battery/ batteries OK in the bass? Dumb question I know but sometimes we overlook the obvious.

I'm not sure on that model but sometimes inside the cavity there's a small trim pot to set overall gain from the on board active preamp. You might look inside there and see if it has one and if so maybe back it off just a bit and see if that helps.
 
#423
Freight Train said:
Is it still there if you lower the preamp gain? Seems like if it's there regardless of master volume setting, you're overdriving the preamp. If it's clean until you reach a certain master volume, it would either be the hf horn, or you're reaching the limit of the power tubes. Maybe in that case try one or two notches cooler on the bias? Just guessing there.
Click to expand...

Face palm! Totally forgot about the temperature control.
 
#424
60bass said:
SR 1000 IIRC is active so I gotta ask are the battery/ batteries OK in the bass? Dumb question I know but sometimes we overlook the obvious.

I'm not sure on that model but sometimes inside the cavity there's a small trim pot to set overall gain from the on board active preamp. You might look inside there and see if it has one and if so maybe back it off just a bit and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

The battery is ok. I'll check for a trim pot, thanks!
 
#425
Visited Bass Central today while on vacation. Add me to the club!!!

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1365304934.890458.jpg
 
#428
This post will very likely get me in trouble with people loving this amp. To each of their own but I would like to provide an alternative opinion for potential buyers. My word of advice would be test the Fender 100T before you buy it.

I run an Ashdown Little Bastard and an SVT CL. In the past I also owned a Traynor YBA200-2. All these amps are all tube amps as is the Fender 100T.

After reading glowing reviews after glowing reviews for this amp, I was expecting to hear a fire work of tone but that did not happen at all.

I tested this amp in a retail store coupled with the matching 15" cab.

My main grudge with this amp is the tone, I thought it lacked definition (as in muddy sounding) and the tone controls did not provide much range. I also thought the amp was not loud at all compared to its power rating. I liked the blend on the distortion channel (that's a really smart feature) and the quality of distortion but that was about it.

This specific amp might have some issues or simply bad preamp tubes but for an amp of this price I thought the lack of overall tone was not acceptable. The amp did not sound good, it did not sound bad per se but still you would expect a great and very musical sounding amp. I have also noted that these amps are getting resold rather briskly. It's not unusual on Talk Bass but still it might indicate that people are not completely happy with their new acquisition.

Anyways test the amp with your ears before you buy or you might be disappointed, particularly at the price point. I tend to think that people looking for a low wattage head would be better served by the Ashdown at the low range of power or the Traynor YBA200-2 at the other end of the spectrum.
 
#429
Looking to buy a new tube head...really enjoying this thread.

Had a chance to test drive the Fender Bassman 300 loved the tone..not sure if I want the 300 or the 100. For what I do the 100 watt sounds like it would fit the bill. Almost ready to pull the trigger.

I have tried the Ashdown 30 watt Little Bastard..not bad but found the tone controls very limited. If you want to compare apples to apples Ashdown has a 100 watt tube CTM 100amp but costs as much/more than the Fender Bassman 300

Where I am from there are a ton of Traynor amps. I just didnt like the tone of the the YBA200. Sounds scooped and not in a good way. So many used ones for sale at Canada"s largest music retailer.

I found the vintage channel and the modern channel on the Fender very versatile...really easy to dial in a nice warm tone. I didnt find it muddy at all.

My local dealer is getting in a 100T looking forward to giving it a road test.:)
 
#430
Laurent, we are all entitled to our opinions and yours is just as valid as the next person's. It may be that the unit you tested was faulty, as I have found the new Bassmans to be WAY more versatile tonally than any other tube amp I have owned (the list includes Mesa 400+, SVT, Ashdown, Orange....). However, it can take a while to familiarise yourself with it as it is the "overdrive" channel with its active EQ, but not used as overdrive, which IME provides much of the tonal versatility. I have not heard the Fender neo 115, but use mine with the neo 610 which is certainly anything but muddy.
We all have different tastes and although your experience is contrary to most it is still valid and as you say - let your ears be the judge. FWIW I sold my SVT VR after buying the Super Bassman 300, different horses for different courses :)
 
#431
I've also seen a stack of Traynors up for sale here in Oz - they don't seem to stay in their owner's hands for too long. I was tempted to get a YBA200, but the 25W & Silent Recording modes of the 100-T tipped the scales for me.

FWIW, when _I_ tried a Lil' Bastard, the Treble knob was defective - it can happen to anybody ;) I informed the staff at the shop, by the way - did you discuss your experience with the staff in your case?
 
#432
idoru said:
I've also seen a stack of Traynors up for sale here in Oz - they don't seem to stay in their owner's hands for too long. I was tempted to get a YBA200, but the 25W & Silent Recording modes of the 100-T tipped the scales for me.

FWIW, when _I_ tried a Lil' Bastard, the Treble knob was defective - it can happen to anybody ;) I informed the staff at the shop, by the way - did you discuss your experience with the staff in your case?
Click to expand...

Yes I did. One staff was present as I tested the amp.
It did not seem defective to them.
 
#435
rodl2005 said:
Would be the passive EQ (VINTAGE) side IMO. Same as my Studio Bass sorta- usual Bassman passive 2/10/2 eq then a 5 band active eq- operates as a blendable pair or can be two seperate EQ's - footswitchable.
Passives are very interactive. Sometimes it can seem like the treble, OR bass, ain't doin much.
Click to expand...

Not exactly sure what you were saying there, but the two channels of the 100T are totally discreet - they are not blendable, if that's what you were saying. The blend control on the active channel blends between clean and overdrive, not between the two channels
 
#436
My local store just got in a new Ampeg SVT Classic 300 watt head and a 610 cab and I was very excited to play through it. Boy, was it L O U D!!

But my 100T simply smoked it in every other category.

Sometimes you don't appreciate what you have until you compare it to what you think is amazing.

I realize that opinions vary as much as hairlines, but for my money, the Fender Bassman 100T is the best, most versatile amp on the market.

Now if you're touring stadiums, it won't do - but for most of us gigging musicians who play regular gigs, it's the B O M B!!
 
#437
I haven't played one of these yet, but, I could see it being very nice.
I could also see it not being enough power for me.

For those who have had such:
Walkabout: not enough juice for me, but, totally sweet.
GK MBFusion 500: almost always enough power
GK 1001RBII: always more than enough power.

This would have to feel like the MBFusion 500 for me to be happy with it, and, stay pretty dang clean at that level.

If I have to go to the Seuper300 to get that, I just won't go there, as I'm not moving anything that big.
 
#438
Chef said:
I haven't played one of these yet, but, I could see it being very nice.
I could also see it not being enough power for me.

For those who have had such:
Walkabout: not enough juice for me, but, totally sweet.
GK MBFusion 500: almost always enough power
GK 1001RBII: always more than enough power.

This would have to feel like the MBFusion 500 for me to be happy with it, and, stay pretty dang clean at that level.

If I have to go to the Seuper300 to get that, I just won't go there, as I'm not moving anything that big.
Click to expand...

Alan:

While I love the 100T and the SB300, if you are saying that the 100T would have to be at least as loud as the MB Fusion, then I doubt that you are going to be happy with the 100T in terms of output and headroom.
 
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