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Fender BXR-300C. New amp day.

whitespikebass

whitespikebass

Boy Orbision
Feb 19, 2013
205
37
Austin, TX
#1
I've been looking for a smaller amp to take on the road. I was going to save for either a PF-500 and cab or an Ashdown. I know it's probably not as good, but I ran across a Fender BXR-300C combo for $300. Store said I could try it at tomorrow's gig and return if it isnt up to par.

Sounded really good in the store. Took it home and went back in forth with my blueline SVT. It's no contender, but it really sounds pretty good! I appreciate the detachable casters as well.

At 75 pounds and smaller than my V4 cab alone, I think it'll do the trick. Anyone else like these?
 
#2
No experience with these but I owned and totally abused a Fender BXR Dual Bass 400 head. It was 400 watt full range and 200w/200w in bi amp mode. I ran it full range into (2) Ampeg 410 cabinets and it actually was a great sounding solid state head IMO. It had a graphic EQ which I hated but otherwise was ok. Played a Precision Bass Plus through it. Now I'm missing the old bass!!
 
#3
I have a bxr 200 head and bxr 115 cab. I love these bxr amps. The controls are simple and effective and it is my favorite sounding amp series. I also used to own the bxr60 combo. I leave my grafic eq aloe alone and use the high and low eq knobs. Bxr was a great series. Now I just gotta get a second 115 cab.
 
#6
I paid about 300 for mine about 8 years ago. I'm in Phila, PA. Decent combo weighed a ton. From what I remember you can add an extension cabinet. Depending on condition and age it sounds like a like a bit much. Not sure how long ago they were discontinued but its been a while.
 
#7
The red knob version I believe is newer. I could be wrong.

My local GC, Clearwater, had one for a while.. Last I saw it the price was $150. A couple on CL went for about the same.. GC in PA has one listed for the same price. I paid $250 for mine in '05 and it was mint.. Only issue I ever had was a bad input jack...
 
#8
greengoblin said:
The red knob version I believe is newer. I could be wrong.

My local GC, Clearwater, had one for a while.. Last I saw it the price was $150. A couple on CL went for about the same.. GC in PA has one listed for the same price. I paid $250 for mine in '05 and it was mint.. Only issue I ever had was a bad input jack...
Click to expand...

Red knob is the older version. Good solid amp if yo can find one cheap. Works real well with preamp pedals.
 
#9
The 300c was my first amp twenty-odd years ago.

I used it for years as a combo, and then I pulled the amp out when I got a couple of Hartke cabs and used it as a head. I had to duct tape a piece of wood onto the open side and found a steel handle that happened to line up perfectly with two of the screws on the transformer.

Carried that amp all over Boston and then all over Chicago.

I think it's still in my parents' basement somewhere, and the cabinet is up in their barn...probably with a racoon living in it.

It's a good sounding and super-reliable amp.
 
#13
Glad to hear the good appraisals. I'll be playing it at the show tomorrow to test it out. Kinda skeptical, not sure how I will adapt to a 15 inch speaker. Definitely missing that special tube warmth and bigness that is an SVT with a 4x12.

That being said, I think I've dialed in a couple of good tones. The real test is how it sits in the mix.
 
#14
whitespikebass said:
That being said, I think I've dialed in a couple of good tones. The real test is how it sits in the mix.
Click to expand...

You've nailed the issue on any rig. Playing alone tends to be different than with the band. I can't tell you the number of times I've found the mix playing alone, only to find that I'd have to make adjustments when the other members of the band were playing along. That perfect EQ always needed some adjustments. Not necessarily bad, just different. :cool:
 

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