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Fender Bassman 100T Chapter 3

#521
A) A watt's a watt
B) That said, to double the volume, you need 10x the watts (roughly).
C) As a tube amp gets closer to max power, the tubes start to distort in a musically pleasing way. When a solid-state gets close, it distorts in a non-pleasing way. So even though the 100t is 'only' 100 watts, it really starts sounding good when you push it. Some players (myself included) love the way it sounds, others want big, clean volume (hence the Super Bassman's 300 watts). You've got to try the 100t for yourself and see if it suits your style.
 
#522
Edit; sorry I should expand on that. Basically I think you'd have the same volume, but it might sound different once you get up to that volume. It might work for you, it might not. For the record, the studio I practice in has a Mark Bass LMIII, and it is a great amp, if I was going for a micro, that would be it. I think if I really wanted to push it, the MB *might* get a bit louder, but I don't think noticeably so. The MB would stay clean longer, but that's not what I'm going for. Hope that helps.
 
#523
TorontoAlex said:
Edit; sorry I should expand on that. Basically I think you'd have the same volume, but it might sound different once you get up to that volume. It might work for you, it might not. For the record, the studio I practice in has a Mark Bass LMIII, and it is a great amp, if I was going for a micro, that would be it. I think if I really wanted to push it, the MB *might* get a bit louder, but I don't think noticeably so. The MB would stay clean longer, but that's not what I'm going for. Hope that helps.
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That helps immensely. I do like my LMII, which is why i'm leaning more towards the Bassman 100t, instead of the orange terror (IMO just a slightly upgraded lmII with less tone shaping, but what a tone). I was looking for a bit o the tube grit in my sound, but volume was going to be a problem with me. For gigs, i've always ran the 2x10,2x12 stack with the lmII and never had to push above half, one or two gigs at 3'oclock volume due to an exceptionally loud guitarist. I just wanted to know that, through the same stack, i'd get similar loudness.

As far as sound, at the same volume will i be able to shape the tone, or does it distort once a certain gain value is reached, and that's pretty much it? I'm trying to find somewhere to demo the bassman now, but its difficult to find.

Thanks for all of your help!
 
#524
I think you'll find you can shape your tone, but keep in mind both channels have their own built in sound, so you can only shape so much. If you're looking for super-dubby lows, or a high-fi sheen, look elsewhere.

I had written a lengthy response, only for the app to crash as I was sending it. Basically to sum up, I play all sorts of rock, in small-ish bars and clubs, and I've been playing for about 16 years now. The 100t is hands down, the best amp I've ever played through. I've played through big SVT/8x10 rigs, and they sound lovely, however I've never had the luxury of playing a stadium, so I can't get the power tubes really going. And again, to me, tube power will always sound better to solid-star power. These, along with other reasons, make the 100t the best 'real world' amp for me.
 
#526
+1. The 100T is a great amp which will satisfy most needs, but if clean headroom is your priority then the SB300 is the answer. Even at lower volumes my SB300 has a weight and authority behind the notes which led me to prefer it over my recently sold 100T. Others may validly differ - horses for courses.
 
#528
Tim1 said:
+1. The 100T is a great amp which will satisfy most needs, but if clean headroom is your priority then the SB300 is the answer. Even at lower volumes my SB300 has a weight and authority behind the notes which led me to prefer it over my recently sold 100T. Others may validly differ - horses for courses.
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Exactly! They are slightly two different tools. However, when I tried the 100T with two Neo410 cabs the sound was simply wonderful in all aspects.

Off topic: How do you compare your SB to your Orange 200B?
 
#529
^ The Orange is much more of a one trick pony than the SB300, but with a passive bass (read my CS 59 Fender P with TI flats) it is sublime. Without a doubt the SB300 is way more versatile and the 100 extra valve watts is nice too, if I could only have one it would probably have to be the Fender for the versatility factor - let alone the extras like a DI.
There just seems to be something magical about the Orange into a Bergantino NV215 that keeps me coming back to it - it is certainly the most plug and play amp I have ever owned. It is nice not to have to worry about the knobs and there simply isn't a bad tone in it. I certainly won't be selling it again.
On another note, the fellow TB'er who now owns my 100T has just told me how delighted he is with it. He has recently been into the studio and used the silent record option which he says was brilliant. He might wish to add something to this - where are you, Steve? I must admit that when I delivered it to him and he played it through his Ampeg 15 bin I was surprised at how good it sounded, I think the Bergantino NV115 that I was using it with did not have the sensitivity of the Ampeg (or Fender?) bins and subsequently I was riding it into overdrive quite early for my gigging demands.
 
#533
I tried mine with a berg ht112er briefly and was not overly impressed. Frankly I preferred the 112 with my Markbass at the time which seemed to give it more punch and control. The 100t sounded way better into the berg nv115 or the Fender neo 610, as you might expect. The neo 610 is my favourite tens cabinet.
 
#534
I have mine back from repair. After almost a year with constant issues I am still holding my breath a little. I've been very happy after a repair a couple of times before. Everything is working as it should now and kept playing for two and a half hours straight. The tones this baby can delivery are simply great.

When I turned it off I thought the switches and cable were quite hot, maybe a bit hotter than before. Maybe I am wrong and too cautious now.

I have to say: technical issues aside, Fender has given me superb customer service. I can't say enough positives about the guy I've dealt with at my regional Fender office. He's been simply great and arranged everything from transport to repair and phone calls. Let's hope the amp stays as great as this guy and his colleagues.
 
#535
Electrophonic said:
I have mine back from repair. After almost a year with constant issues I am still holding my breath a little. I've been very happy after a repair a couple of times before. Everything is working as it should now and kept playing for two and a half hours straight. The tones this baby can delivery are simply great.

When I turned it off I thought the switches and cable were quite hot, maybe a bit hotter than before. Maybe I am wrong and too cautious now.

I have to say: technical issues aside, Fender has given me superb customer service. I can't say enough positives about the guy I've dealt with at my regional Fender office. He's been simply great and arranged everything from transport to repair and phone calls. Let's hope the amp stays as great as this guy and his colleagues.
Click to expand...

Lookin good! Thanks for the kind words to the guys, let us know how it goes!
Cheers,
rob
 
#536
Electrophonic said:
I have mine back from repair. After almost a year with constant issues I am still holding my breath a little. I've been very happy after a repair a couple of times before. Everything is working as it should now and kept playing for two and a half hours straight. The tones this baby can delivery are simply great.

When I turned it off I thought the switches and cable were quite hot, maybe a bit hotter than before. Maybe I am wrong and too cautious now.

I have to say: technical issues aside, Fender has given me superb customer service. I can't say enough positives about the guy I've dealt with at my regional Fender office. He's been simply great and arranged everything from transport to repair and phone calls. Let's hope the amp stays as great as this guy and his colleagues.
Click to expand...

Hi Electrophonic, just picked up my 100T after the second repair. Apparently the tubes that were replaced in October had failed again along with a fuse. Fender service (Rob and Jordan) were great and Fender supplied a new set of JJ's which I appreciate. Just ran the amp in my basement for about an hour, tried both channels, different wattage, and tube settings and seems to be functioning normally. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks again Rob.
 
#537
I bought a 100t and a 610 neo cab on March 3rd and brought it straight to practice. I plugged it in and right away the bias lights would not stop blinking green in standby mode. When I switched it on they stayed green so I used it for a few songs. When I tried it in 25 watt mode the bias lights went all orange and the tubes got brighter and smelled like they were burning. I turned it off and brought it in for repair where I bought it (an authorized Fender repair shop).

*Sigh*

So now they are waiting for the parts and I'm using the only head that has never given me any problems, an Acoustic b600h.

The thing is though, when I was using the 100t the sound that came out of that rig almost brought tears to my eyes. It sounded that good.

How long should it take to get the parts? It's been 2 weeks and we have some pretty big gigs coming up.
 
#538
O-evetS said:
I plugged it in and right away the bias lights would not stop blinking green in standby mode. When I switched it on they stayed green so I used it for a few songs.
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Mine has ALAWYS been like this (bias lights don't stop blinking until I take it off of standby). I called Fender about it and they said it was normal - however the guys who knew for sure were at lunch. I've never put mine in 25 watt or silent mode. The lights have always gone solid green after I take it off of standby.

Is this not the way they normally work?
 
#540
O-evetS said:
According to the manual, the lights should blink for about 20 seconds then go all steady green. If it blinks for longer than 5 minutes there is a bad tube.

Mine blinked for over 20 minutes and showed no signs of stopping.
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There is nothing I see in the manual that indicates specifically whether the 20 seconds is from when you take it off standby or not. It tells you to let it warm up for at least 1 minute before turning it off of standby. Mine will blink left to right forever on standby - then when I take it off of standby they all turn solid green within 20 seconds.

Like you, I was expecting them to blink left to right while warming up on standby, then eventually turn all green - BEFORE I took it out of standby mode. Manual is vague on this, hence my call to Fender.

Can other 100T owners please comment?
 

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