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Fender Bassman 100T - chapter 2

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#781
Have a problem with power tube 1B slot. It fried the one tube, so I replaced it with a Tung sol. Red plated it immediately. Put in the other GT from the pair.. Red plated it.

It will run with the pair pulled out. Sucks.. Guess I'll have to send it back for a replacement head. It sounded awesome for about an hour. I'm thinking there's an issue with the auto bias.
 
#782
Looks like Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam has jumped on the 100t train. At about 4:59 you can clearly see the 100t on the vintage channel:



He has some other amps in his rig, so I'm not sure how he's utilizing it in his set-up (ie, only with certain basses, songs, as an overdrive etc). However, as far as I know Jeff isn't a FMIC endorsee, and he can obviously buy whatever head he wants, so to see him using the head is a sign of how good it really is IMO.

As for my own 100t, I've put lots of hours on it since getting it about 6 months ago, usually through an Ampeg 8x10. Knock on wood not a single issue with it so far. Sorry to hear all the stories in this thread of bad tubes, ribbons and auto-bias lights. Hopefully Fender gets the kinks out of these, when a 100t is fired up, I don't think there's a better amp out there today.
 
#783
TorontoAlex said:
Hopefully Fender gets the kinks out of these, when a 100t is fired up, I don't think there's a better amp out there today.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much why I'm toughing it out - the Vintage channel just has THAT tone I've had in my head, and I love the Overdrive channel. I have it dialled in like the mother of all Rat pedals. It may be a PITA right now, but once it settles this going to be a keeper.
 
#785
Just to keep things in perspective, we have heard from maybe four or five (?) people who have had bias or tube issues. These seem to have been quickly fixed by Fender under warranty and I would imagine the new production ones are all sorted. Naturally enough the people who have had no bias etc. problems do not post. I have owned a 100T and a Super Bassman 300 from the first runs and they have given me no problems at all. Just saying....
 
#786
I just finished a 2 hr practice with 2 power tubes, 2 SVT210av's, and my 70 P.

Best tone I have ever had in my life. Not kidding. I have been searching and searching and this it. This from a guy who has owned several vintage Ampegs.

And my amp is not even working correctly! Maybe the preamp tubes have something to do with it, don't know.

Side note.. The rubber handle broke on me tonight, so be careful carrying this head.
 
#787
Tim1 said:
Just to keep things in perspective, we have heard from maybe four or five (?) people who have had bias or tube issues. These seem to have been quickly fixed by Fender under warranty and I would imagine the new production ones are all sorted. Naturally enough the people who have had no bias etc. problems do not post. I have owned a 100T and a Super Bassman 300 from the first runs and they have given me no problems at all. Just saying....
Click to expand...

+1 no probs at all with my SB300 do far.
This last page of the 100T thread is a li'l depressing, but yes perspective is needed.
So the 100T has a rubber handle rather than the 2 spring loaded end handles eh?
 
#788
Depressing? It's depressing for me, because I love this head an want mine to work! I hate packing stuff up and shipping it.

Just real world experiences. I love the head and will get another. I'm sure it will be fine. However, this happened. If anything, it's some positive press for MF due to their quick action and for the 100T and the tonal quality of this head, which is the best I've ever had.
 
#789
Totally agree mate. Perhaps I was being a bit melodramatic with 'depressing' :rolleyes:
I was really simply agreeing with Tim1 in that ppl post re problems far more than they'll post re normal operating conditions.
I'm LOVING my Super Bassman & if I was made of money I'd have a 100T as well. But I need clean headroom, lush tube tone and so the SB300 fit MY bill.
One day I might sell some other gear & grab a 100T. Damn, that'd be sweet. Both a SB300 AND a 100T. Tim1 you're a lucky man:thumbup:
 
#790
Tim1 said:
Just to keep things in perspective, we have heard from maybe four or five (?) people who have had bias or tube issues. These seem to have been quickly fixed by Fender under warranty and I would imagine the new production ones are all sorted. Naturally enough the people who have had no bias etc. problems do not post. I have owned a 100T and a Super Bassman 300 from the first runs and they have given me no problems at all. Just saying....
Click to expand...

+1 With regard to the SB300, our bench tests are pretty brutal, and I would definitely expect them to reveal any tube/biasing issues. Plus, Tom Lees is also very good at ferreting out problem designs when he sees them, and he was very pleased and impressed with the SB300's design and layout. I'd have to think that much of this would carry over to the 100T, as well.
 
#792
Mojo-Man said:
:cool:

What's up with this amp?
I've gassed for one, but after reading all the problems people are have with the Bassman 100T.
Did Fender put this out to soon?
Click to expand...

I got mine early on and haven't had a single problem with it. I push it hard too.
I swapped out my tubes right out of the box.
Like Tim said, there are only a few people that have had problem.

At least Fender didn't tell them not to turn the knobs past half way!
 
#794
I had an auto bias issue, so I posted, hoping to get info from others with resolved issues. The amp sounded great while the light issue was happening. I now have a new auto bias module, according to the shop, and it still sounds great! I would not hesitate to try one if you are interested.
Other manufacturers have some runs of bad parts, i.e. the Orange bt1000 and 500 capacitor blowing issue.
I experienced that 1st hand too. I would still own one though. I take a backup micro head to all gigs regardless of what amp I am favoring. Stuff happens;)
I agree that auto bias issues are experienced by a small fraction of owners.
 
#795
+1 I wouldn't hesitate to grab one myself if a 100w tube amp was on my list.
Shame I can't speak for the 100T, but the SB300 sounds UNREAL! AND I thank Tombowlus & others for steering me in its direction.
They both (SB300 & 100T) have Fenders transferable 5 yr warranty, so no probs there either.
I'm also glad & thankful for Tom's mag- Bass Gear Magazine- great review & ?, and as Tom states above -rigorous testing. Which not only showed it was a well thought out amp, but also described its functions & features really well & in an easy to understand manner. :thumbup:
 
#798
I still have issues with the bias. It is frustrating that I don't get a straight answer from Fender on how to solve the problem.

But:

I recommend the 100T amp to everyone. When mine works properly (more often than not) it is the amp I have always wanted. It is just perfect.

Once the issues are solved I can see myself keeping this for a very long time.
 
#799
My 100T reliability report: Got mine mid April 2012, 60+ gigs, power trio. Stock tubes, sounds fantastic. No problems at all.
I abused it pretty severely once - in a low light situation, and having poor eyesight anyway, I plugged the cab into the external speaker jack by mistake while setting up. When I wasn't getting any sound, like a total jackass I was cranking up preamp gains and even jacked the master volume up full, whanking away on the bass and cursing, when I finally thought about checking the back. The bias lights were going crazy. I saw the speaker cable in the wrong jack and my head nearly exploded. I powered down and plugged the cable into the proper speaker output. I just knew I had f'd it up. I switched on and the bias lights flashed orange for about 15 seconds then started the regular green sequential flashing. Switched out of standby and everything was fine. This was over a year ago. I don't have a lot of experience with tube amps, and maybe I've exaggerated their delicateness in my mind, but I was impressed that this didn't fry something. Is that unusual or are tube amps more impervious to stupid s**t like this than seems to be rumored?
 
#800
Mojo-Man said:
:cool:

What's up with this amp?
I've gassed for one, but after reading all the problems people are have with the Bassman 100T.
Did Fender put this out to soon?
Click to expand...

I don't know. I hope to have my replacement by the end of the week.

What's strange is that it worked fine after playing on it last Tuesday when it arrived. I couldn't play on it again until Fri, and put the new preamp tubes in. It worked fine.

Then on Sat morning, I was really testing it out.. Switching between channels, cranking it up, switching to 25 watt mode and back to 100 watts. My issue happened after about 45 minutes. Tube 1B flared up, and the amp main fuse blew. Then I went out and blew $30 on a replacement 6L6GC, and it red plated immediately after switching out of stand by.

It sounded perfect with that pair pulled, so I'm wondering if when the first tube lit up like a fireworks show, it jacked something up in that socket. I think it was the tube that messed mine up.

When the new one arrives, I am going to test it with the GT tubes just to make sure everything is good. Then I'm replacing every tube in the amp. Ordering some GE power tubes today.
 
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