Fender Bassman 300 vs. Mesa 400+

[Luissss]

So bass dudes and dudettes, I'm hunting for a new, loud, reliable head and I've just stumbled upon two heads I've lusted after for awhile for sweet sweet prices, the Bassman (older Sunn 300t type, not new Super) is going for $650 USD which is almost too good to pass up (I think) and the Mesa is going for $800. From what I've gathered the higher wattage from the Mesa isn't all that considerable, but I have no means of comparison. I'm not too familiar with the difference in eq sections, but guessing is learn to live with either. My signal chain is basically: Warwick German Corvette $$ 5>a mess of bit crushing,octave,dirt,ring mod pedals>Amp

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[HOOLIGAN]

The Fender has more watts than the Mesa. Never tried the old Fender but have read they are pretty awesome.
I had the Mesa but never got along with it- Too many options to easily dial in a good tone. Mine stayed too clean for my taste at any volume (others have said the opposite). I currently have the Super Bassman and LOVE it.
Among your choices I'd go with the Fender- Great price!

 

[Luissss]

I appreciate it man! Yeah the reviews on the Mesa are definitely mixed, I just couldn't find many of the 300 to compare. I know dudes who swear by their 400+'s's's, but I've remained a little skeptical, I think I'm going to go the Fender route, she is definitely a beaut and a beast

 

[Luissss]

And god damn it a Sunn 1200s just popped up for $500

 

[jdubbass38]

I'd get the fender, been playing the SB for some time now. I've heard the old fender is not to far from the newer SB.

 

[FNHScar17s]

Ive got the fender bassman 1200 pro (sunn 1200s) and the fender bassman 300 pro while the 1200 is a stellar amp nothing beats the sound of driving the power tubes. I would pick up the fender 300 it is a very awesome rig capable of dirty tube drive and super clean high headroom antics. I've have been kicking around the idea of getting the Mesa 400 to aby with my fender 300. I am also rocking a warwick 6 string thumb nt fretless with rounds... I'd say the combination of the warwick sound and fender is quite spot on and capable of many different sounds

 

[deathness]

There are two different sunn amps that go by 1200s: one from the late 60s/early 70s all tube and one from its fender-owned days hybrid tube pre/ss power. If the 1200s you mention is the all tube version def give it a spin. Vintage sunns sound great and were built like tanks. In any case, theres almost no way id recommend buying a tube amp without a chance to play it and poke around in its innards.

 

[mikerophone]

a Bassman 300 for $650 is a GREAT deal. Really good sounding amp. I only got rid of mine because of the size, and I miss having it.

 

[Luissss]

Thanks for all of the help dudes! So I absolutely went with the Bassman 300 Pro and my god. The power alone really is nuts, I've toured on SVT CLs, Marshalls VBA400 (definitely the worst), and gigged out of friends all tube bass heads and none of them touch this guy on power. And now my favorite part...loud and CLEAN, I used to play only fender fretless jazz basses and i was okay with my tone always being a bit gritty, but after updating to the warwick and some other stuff I've been after fundamental clean lows (of course to throw fuzz/dirt/bit crushing/ whatever on top) but hadnt played through the right gear with the right amount of output. all of that with a usable tone shaping and a compressor that does in fact even things out (never seen separate low/hi comp on a head, pretty neat) Ill stop now but I'm beyond stoked on this amp. and the dude i purchased it from was super super nice and the amp is in MINT condition, i couldn't believe the price and took all necessary precautions to make sure it wasn't stolen, luckily the guy was legit and just didn't have a use for the head anymore. my only gripe thus far is my hunt for a cab/cabs to pair the old girl with considering its 25.5" wide. those clever bastards...thanks again friends. if anyone has any tips on the head I'm all ears

 

[Luissss]

Ive got the fender bassman 1200 pro (sunn 1200s) and the fender bassman 300 pro while the 1200 is a stellar amp nothing beats the sound of driving the power tubes. I would pick up the fender 300 it is a very awesome rig capable of dirty tube drive and super clean high headroom antics. I've have been kicking around the idea of getting the Mesa 400 to aby with my fender 300. I am also rocking a warwick 6 string thumb nt fretless with rounds... I'd say the combination of the warwick sound and fender is quite spot on and capable of many different sounds

you and i are on the same page my friend! your fretless thumb is my dream bass man, i found my german corvette $$ 5 for a price that couldn't be beat so i scooped it up and have since fallen in love with it, still saving for the thumb though. Jereon Thessling changed the game for me, hah.

 

[FNHScar17s]

you and i are on the same page my friend! your fretless thumb is my dream bass man, i found my german corvette $$ 5 for a price that couldn't be beat so i scooped it up and have since fallen in love with it, still saving for the thumb though. Jereon Thessling changed the game for me, hah.

I agree I am a big obscure fan. I bought my thumb used for about 2800 mint condition 2004 nt. I then bought bartolini pickups and bartolini 3 band preamp had the bass wired for individual pickup volume control. I then took it to the best luthier in my state and paid him to defret and polyurethane it and create hidden side markers but keep that blank fretboard look with the ebony. Absolutely love the fretless growl on that beast using roundwounds. All in I paid 4200 which ain't too bad considering the new cost. Save up one day you'll find a used beauty and the wait will be all worth it. I waited a long time to have the funds then I waited a long time to find the right one then I waited 3 months for the defret to get done (which sucked because two weeks after getting the bass it sits at the luthier for 3 months). All in all it was everything I expected it to be when it was all done defretread and all I am amazed by the depth of sound, tone, mwah and sensitivity to my hand pressure that really changed my view on fretless (I've had other fretlesses before). To this day I still sit there and play notes super slow to hear the beautiful envelope. The luthier said I was his best work he's done and said it is one of the best fretlesses he's heard in a long time told me to never sell it (which surprised me bc he's worked on Carl thompsons n such). The wait is worth it trust me I'd find a used fretTed and convert it will be way cheaper.


Oh btw here's some bass porn I'm still in the honeymoon phase 6 months in lol

 

[Rocksolid]

And god damn it a Sunn 1200s just popped up for $500

Great amps. Switchable channels and eq which is dual band. Sold mine on a quest for a 300 and ended up with a Super Bassman.