Fender Bassman 500 good for heavy rock?

[Aidan Donnellan]

I've been eyeballing a Fender Bassman 500 with the Neo 115 cab at my local music shop for a couple of months now. I've played it a few times at lower volumes and it sounds great and I love the look of it. The only thing is, I play heavy rock/doom rock. I'm not sure if this amp is the best for achieving the "doom" sound, however.

The head and cab are very well priced and in great condition. I would love to have this amp in my arsenal, but I want to hear opinions from others who are into more of a stone rock genre and know this amp.

Thanks!

 

[rodl2005]

I've a Super Bassman which has same pre amp sections as the 500. So I think the amp'll be great.

The cab is a real vintage-ey sounding 115. I love em, but perhaps a Bassman 410 or 610 might get you deeper.
The 115s are great, but imo, not real deep sounding. Which is great for me.

Tho they'll certainly handle it if you dial them in.

Bottom line, I think it'll sound great, but you really need to try it, and with yr band.

 

[Qlanq]

I've got a Bassman 500, what an amp.
Does a great job, not been used in a band setting but I know it will work.

 

[Funk With Me]

If the band is loud you will probably need two of those cabs. Other than that it seems like a good idea.

 

[G-Dog]

I've got a Bassman 500 & Neo 115 and truly believe it can do well anything it's EQ'd to do. The tube pre-amp and choice of vintage or active (overdrive) channels make it very versatile. But, of course, "the best for doom" is so subjective that only your own ears can be trusted to your own satisfaction. It is "only" up to 350 watts with a single 8 ohm cab, but some dooms may require the full 500 watts from two 8 ohm cabs.

For live gigs, I honestly find my Rumble 500 combo very comparable to the Bassman 500 with a single cab, at a much lower price point and lower weight. The Rumble is just not quite as tonally flexible, or tube-creamy, as the Bassman, though that distinction is negligible in loud live venues. But, for recording, the Bassman definitely takes the prize tonally.

 

[droo46]

I've been eyeing a tube head for a while, and I'm between the Bassman and an SVT. I'm absolutely shocked that there is not a decent comparison video or whatever anywhere. I think my local shop stocks both so I need to and A/B them at some point.

 

[chaosMK]

If you are going to d00m it out I'd probably use a pedal

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I owned a Bassman 500, it was super flexible and the overdrive was fantastic. I'm not a doom aficionado, but I'm confident you'll find a sound you like. I used it with a hard rock band and the overdrive killed.