I recently bought a fender bassman 135, and i really liked the tone and such. But when i brang it to my band practice it wasnt as loud as my recent amp head which was a gallien krueger backline 600. Granted, it sounds much better at higher levels. I was just wondering if i changed the tubes out (they are 15 years old) would it sound much louder? I am new to tube amps so be nice haha.
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Fender Bassman 135
- Thread starter insane bass
- Start date
Hi, insane bass.
Welcome to TalkBass.
There's a few factors to tube amps as regarding the volume, and tubes are just only one of them.
While it might be true that the 15 year old tubes are weak, that can only be determined by testing the amp (or the tubes), prefeably by a competent tech who's familiar with tube amps.
The lack of power is often a result of a poorly maintained amp where the bias is incorrect for the tubes, and the capacitors have lost their capability to perform as they're supposed to.
Some tube amps (the circuit) are rather unforgiving when it comes down to the correct cab impedance. The 135 I had as a youngster wasn't that happy with 8Ohm Marshall cab (or the DIY ones I had), unless there were two parallel to a single socket, giving the amp the 4Ohm load is designed to. The volume was roughly the same, as is the case with all the tube designs, but the frequency behaviour made the finding of the good tone a challenge.
I'd say that a trip to a good tech is in order to get the most of that fine amp. IMHO of course.
It's (at least was for me) a great amp when paired with a well matched cab.
Regards.
Sam
Welcome to TalkBass.
There's a few factors to tube amps as regarding the volume, and tubes are just only one of them.
While it might be true that the 15 year old tubes are weak, that can only be determined by testing the amp (or the tubes), prefeably by a competent tech who's familiar with tube amps.
The lack of power is often a result of a poorly maintained amp where the bias is incorrect for the tubes, and the capacitors have lost their capability to perform as they're supposed to.
Some tube amps (the circuit) are rather unforgiving when it comes down to the correct cab impedance. The 135 I had as a youngster wasn't that happy with 8Ohm Marshall cab (or the DIY ones I had), unless there were two parallel to a single socket, giving the amp the 4Ohm load is designed to. The volume was roughly the same, as is the case with all the tube designs, but the frequency behaviour made the finding of the good tone a challenge.
I'd say that a trip to a good tech is in order to get the most of that fine amp. IMHO of course.
It's (at least was for me) a great amp when paired with a well matched cab.
Regards.
Sam
- May 9, 2008
- 4,081
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are very variable things some require about a kilowatt to make much happen at all and others need just a sip of power to drown the guitarists.
You haven't told us what you are using.
PS the amp provides both eight and four ohm outputs, is a tube amp and therefore provides exactly the same output power at either impedance.
Adding another cab at eight ohms to the other output socket increases dispersion and the area of the column of air you are moving, its good for an extra couple of dB.
The trick with this sort of amp is to use cabs with an SPL of
103dB I watt I meter. If it still isn't loud enough its very simple, get another amp and cab.
But the advice about the electrolytic caps being old and tired and the tube bias being possibly incorrectly set and checking the emission of each tube is great advice but don't change the tubes unless they are bad.
We tube boys don't have power to throw away, every watt we have is precious its just up to us to make the best of each superior toned watt.
You haven't told us what you are using.
PS the amp provides both eight and four ohm outputs, is a tube amp and therefore provides exactly the same output power at either impedance.
Adding another cab at eight ohms to the other output socket increases dispersion and the area of the column of air you are moving, its good for an extra couple of dB.
The trick with this sort of amp is to use cabs with an SPL of
103dB I watt I meter. If it still isn't loud enough its very simple, get another amp and cab.
But the advice about the electrolytic caps being old and tired and the tube bias being possibly incorrectly set and checking the emission of each tube is great advice but don't change the tubes unless they are bad.
We tube boys don't have power to throw away, every watt we have is precious its just up to us to make the best of each superior toned watt.
haha sorry my bad i was really tired when i wrote this...i am using a Gallien Krueger Backline X-II. My guitarist said that it may be the problem because it is a pretty cheap cab.
damn i think i found the problem.. i dont think the ohms are matched up. I THOUGHT THEY WERE RIGHT!
booooo
booooo
also, keep in mind that the Bassman 135 is really more of a 100w head with hot voltage. I used one back in the day, and while I liked it ok, particularly through 1 or 2 2x15 cabs where it would move some air, the 135w rating was seen more as a Fender marketing conceit. Fender was getting bashed in the market by higher powered Sunn and Marshall amps, so they took the Bassman 100, which put out a pretty honest 100w, and just upped the plate voltage (??) but kept the same number of 6L6 tubes in the output stage and called it the "all new Bassman 135".
The other advice about making sure it's well tuned up, is all good.
good luck
Just sayin'
The other advice about making sure it's well tuned up, is all good.
good luck
Just sayin'
Think it may just need some new tubes. they are 15 years old
I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. My 1972 V-4 has tubes in it from 1987 (GEs).
What are the power tubes in there now? If they are more recent, then maybe. But you may just need a cap job and a tune up. I had a 135 and it sounded great, but not really enough power for me.
.
The entire Fender 135 watt series (and the 75's too) were a direct response to Music Man. Between Leo Fender's association with Music Man and the higher power ratings (MM had 65 WRMS and 130 WRMS amps using 6CA7/EL34 tubes and big honkin' transformers) Fender was getting killed. So they changed the transformers, upped the voltage, and hyped them. The 50 WRMS amps (dual 6L6) and the 100 WRMS (quad 6L6) amps became 75 watts and 135 watts. It was as pfshcim says, mostly marketing.
And the Bassman 135 was never a really good bass amp. It didn't have the acoustic output of an Ampeg V4-b, nor the Music Man HD-130. The pre-amp didn't sound particularly good either. And the stock 4x12 cabinet was awful!
jte
And the Bassman 135 was never a really good bass amp. It didn't have the acoustic output of an Ampeg V4-b, nor the Music Man HD-130. The pre-amp didn't sound particularly good either. And the stock 4x12 cabinet was awful!
jte
well i think it sounds great..better than having a solid state gallien krueger backline 600...i like the tube sound better...but yeah i have 2 ruby tubes and 2 groove tubes(6L6b), and uh the other 3 are also groove(i forgot what they were called haha).
