Fender Bassman 800: Power Amp In Issue

[Sailor Ripley]

Hi Everyone:

I recently acquired a Fender Bassman 800 head, intending to use one of my preamp pedals through the power amp input. I tried this out yesterday and I discovered that once I did this, the master volume control stopped working. Does anyone know if the head is designed to do this for some reason? Does it seem like something may be wrong with it? Thanks in advance!

 

[basscooker]

Probably by design. I've had a few heads with no volume control when used this way.

 

[agedhorse]

Yes, some Fender Rumble and Bassman models have an effects return that’s post-master volume control. I don’t recall the Bassman 800 being this way though, and the documentation shows it as pre-master.

By chance are you using the AUX input? The effects return is the power amp input for the application your are describing.