Freight Train: I am so sorry to hear that you have problems with your amp. Some of us have had the same thing and Fender were amazing to help us out. I am sure they will do the same thing for you.
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Fender Bassman 100T Chapter 3
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I wanted to give everyone a heads up that The Tube Store is having a huge sale this weekend.
They have some great prices on 6L6GC's and 12AX7's
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/6L6-5881-Tube-Types
They have some great prices on 6L6GC's and 12AX7's
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/6L6-5881-Tube-Types
After taking the 100T in for service last Tuesday, I called the shop today to check progress, and the tech was all pissed off because rather than just sending a new auto bias card Fender insisted he "jump through hoops" and do a bunch of tests. I pretty much knew it wouldn't be ready for the gig tomorrow night so I already had a friend's Markbass lined up to borrow. Then he called me late this afternoon saying, what do ya' know, turns out it's the ribbon cable that's the problem. Got it seated properly and glued in and everything tests perfect. And he reports the hot rod Winded C quad I installed after the initial tube blew, and played an entire gig with the auto bias out of whack, tested perfectly and were not damaged, so I'm excited to hear what they really sound like. So we'll see what happens tomorrow night. I'll have the old GK on deck.
Also of note: this tech (Terrence Slemmons, Slemmons Music Services in Dallas) is a first rate, highly experienced tech, and he specialiazes in tube gear. He told me he had a Fender guitar amp in a couple of years back (Showman? I don't remember) that had the auto bias circuit, and he said by his measurements the "normal" bias setting on that amp was way too hot, but when he tested my 100T with the Winged C's he said the normal position was absolutely spot on the proper bias for the tubes. So it sounds like Fender's got it dialed in. Now we'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Also of note: this tech (Terrence Slemmons, Slemmons Music Services in Dallas) is a first rate, highly experienced tech, and he specialiazes in tube gear. He told me he had a Fender guitar amp in a couple of years back (Showman? I don't remember) that had the auto bias circuit, and he said by his measurements the "normal" bias setting on that amp was way too hot, but when he tested my 100T with the Winged C's he said the normal position was absolutely spot on the proper bias for the tubes. So it sounds like Fender's got it dialed in. Now we'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Great news, FreightTrain. Let us know how the gig goes. Sounds like a ribbon cable seating check should be one of the first things to check, I had a friend with exactly tbe same issue on his Super Bassman.
Nope it didn't even make it to the gig. It's not right. Tech didn't check it @ 25 watts and that's where the problem is most noticeable - it' sputting out about 5 fuzzy watts. in 100 watt mode, even though he measured over 100 watts out of it, it has none of it's tone and character. The big clue that something's wrong there is, when it's first turned on the lights blink in sequence as the should, but when you take it out of standby they immediately go solid green, so the auto bias circuit isn't working. Same switching to 25 watt mode, they come up solid green.
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I firmly believe that the new line of Fender Bassmans is the best they have ever put out, I just wish they had not put in an autobias circuit. I have never needed it, and try to ignore that it is there. That said, they seem to have fixed most of the problems now but long term who know??
It is interesting that there have been significantly fewer issues with it in the Super Bassman, but I believe it is fitted differently in that head.
It is interesting that there have been significantly fewer issues with it in the Super Bassman, but I believe it is fitted differently in that head.
Okay I've spent a long time reading this thread and I haven't seen anyone specifically address how this amp handles the low b. Also is anyone using this for fusion? How does the tone work for jazz? I've got a '66 Bassman that I love the tone of but it's way under powered and breaks up on the low b first.
It has been addressed. I'll repeat my personal opinion that the 100T would be the wrong choice for 5-string with a low B. In my experience its 100 watts is just enough on a four string to match volume with drums, driving it just below where the power tubes start to break up. The lower the frequencies you're trying to reproduce, the more power it takes, so I couldn't imagine that the 100T would not totally fart out on a low B if playing anything but supper club level. I may be wrong as I haven't tried it, but it's my educated guess. I would think that if you're all about the low-low tones you would want a strong solid state amp with lots of headroom, or in the tube world a Super Bassman or SVT-CL, because of the extra power you're going to need to pump those low frequences out. As far as whether the 100T's tone is suitable for fusion, I don't hear just one tone from all fusion bassist, so I'll say that is #1 totally a matter of personal preference and #2 largely dependent on the cab you match it with.
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A huge factor that'll dictate whether the 100T handles the low B or not is the efficiency of your cab(s). I would think you would want at a minimum something around 102dB SPL @ 1 watt @ 1 meter. With something like that I could see the 100T doing it. But anything under 100dB SPL I would still be dubious
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I put 4 pounds of Hamond iron transformer in it.
Stock it couldn't handle a low E.
Efficient cabs help a lot too.
I'm trying not to have a nervous breakdown over this, taking nice deep breathes. After my last report of picking the 100T up from the shop with the ribbon cable fix applied, I determined that it still wasn't right because 25 watt mode was obviously putting out an anemic 5 watts or less, and at 100 watts the LED's never blinked after coming out of standby, just went solid green immediately, which told me the auto bias wasn't working. But after posting that I tried resetting the auto bias circuit (hold down both up and down bias arrows for a few seconds while in standby), and then the LED's started working as before, indicating it was biasing. I went ahead and played the gig that night with it, and even though it worked I swear it still was not right. At this particular club, where we play once a month, I usually have the master volume at 5 with my usual preamp volume of 5.5. But at the gig I was having to go as high as 7 on the master. And it just did not seem to have the character I was used to, even though asking musician friends in the audience they said it sound fine. So now I don't know if it could be the difference in sound of the Winged C's I'm hearing there, but I don't think there should be that much difference in volume between them and the stock GT's. If anything I would have thought the Winged C's would have a little more oomph.
I've had too much happening at the studio to get into it since the gig Wednesday night. What I'm afraid of is running into the old dilemma with the technician where he can show it measurably is putting out in excess of 100 watts, and the distortion figures on the tubes look right, but the sound of the amp has obviously changed. Tomorrow my wife is taking me to New Orleans for my birthday, so I'm going to let it go and have a big time, and when I get back next Wednesday I'll dig into it and see what's going on.
Well I hope you get it sorted out, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! have yourself and good strong drink and a good time in nawlins and get your mind off of it for a few days. I believe Fender will replace it if need be! Just enjoy your birthday and have a good time.
Yeh, happy birthday FreightTrain. I am sure you will get it all sorted. I think I have posted this before, but I put Winged Cs in my 100T for a while, then replaced the GTs to sell it and found that I actually preferred the Groove Tubes! Might not have sold it if I had left them in, and yes the Winged Cs do have a clearly different character so you might be noticing that.
Fender made two fantastic heads with the 100T and the Super Bassman, I just wish they had not go so clever with fitting an autobias - it made me nervous from day one and you need confidence in your amp. With the Super Bassman I simply have not touched the autobias at all and don't look at the flashing lights, makes this old Luddite feel better that way
. And I have had no issues at all with it, mind you my original 100T (one of the first to be made) is still getting regular use with its new owner without any issues also.
Fender made two fantastic heads with the 100T and the Super Bassman, I just wish they had not go so clever with fitting an autobias - it made me nervous from day one and you need confidence in your amp. With the Super Bassman I simply have not touched the autobias at all and don't look at the flashing lights, makes this old Luddite feel better that way
. And I have had no issues at all with it, mind you my original 100T (one of the first to be made) is still getting regular use with its new owner without any issues also.
I use my B string all the time using my 100t. There is no breakup or farting out and we play loud. Matter of fact it sounds awesome. I'm also using the matching 610 cab. Nothing but compliments with this rig.
I played my 100T and matching 4x10 for our bands first local bar gig on Friday and it was great. We have a loud drummer and the guitarist was using a 4x12 Marshall cab. The 100T Sat so well in the mix with my P bass. I had the most positive feedback I have ever had. And a lot of it from fellow musicians!
