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Fender Studio Bass Club!
- Thread starter gjesse
- Start date
Ah, think I read about somewhere in the Thread. Apropros Power output, if I change the russian tubes into a matched sextett of 6L6GC, do I absolutely have to see a technician to bias them? It's not easy, during these lockdown days...
Yes you should bias the new 6L6’s. If you don’t know how to do it yourselves, don’t. Lots of lethal voltages inside. What you CAN do is adjusting the output tubes matching pot on the backside for minimum hum.
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Okay, I thought so. But the change itself would be possible I think? I don't have to remove the amp chassis out of the Combo, just the four screws and the wooden part from the back?!
Yes you can but....since the current output tubes are non-original it’s very likely that the person who put them in has also changed the original bias circuit to match the Russian tubes. In that case the bias voltage will surely be wrong for the 6L6’s. I would stick to the Russian tubes till you can visit a tube tech to be sure.
Yes, that'll be the best way, you're right. Thank you for answering my questions.
Good night, I'll come back here the next days with some more Information and photos.
Hello again,
good news from yesterday night; just in time for my first rehearsal with the SB I managed to change the preamp tubes. And, surprise: there were all usual tubes, no 6C10 etc. from the Super Twin. So, the sticker was the wrong one! Maybe a tired worker in the Fender factory on a monday morning in 1978 (see serial number!). I put in the 7025s and 12AU7A and 12AT7 and everything worked fantastic! I had a grin on my face the whole night, such a great, nice tone with my Deluxe Precision Fender and my vintage Ampeg 810! (Yes, I know, 4 Ohms only...)
Both, drummer and guitar player were astonished how clear but althoug mighty the bass sounded. It was best sound we ever had! Better than the Fender Bassman 800 Head I used before!
I shot a few pictures, poor quality as the rehearsal room is quite dark.
I also found a technician to change the power tubes during the next weeks.
So glad I bought this amp.
Have a nice weekend and stay healthy!
Matthias
good news from yesterday night; just in time for my first rehearsal with the SB I managed to change the preamp tubes. And, surprise: there were all usual tubes, no 6C10 etc. from the Super Twin. So, the sticker was the wrong one! Maybe a tired worker in the Fender factory on a monday morning in 1978 (see serial number!). I put in the 7025s and 12AU7A and 12AT7 and everything worked fantastic! I had a grin on my face the whole night, such a great, nice tone with my Deluxe Precision Fender and my vintage Ampeg 810! (Yes, I know, 4 Ohms only...)
Both, drummer and guitar player were astonished how clear but althoug mighty the bass sounded. It was best sound we ever had! Better than the Fender Bassman 800 Head I used before!
I shot a few pictures, poor quality as the rehearsal room is quite dark.
I also found a technician to change the power tubes during the next weeks.
So glad I bought this amp.
Have a nice weekend and stay healthy!
Matthias
Attachments
Appears to be in very good condition with still the original +5/-5 EQ knob which I’m missing. Have fun with your SB!
Had a telephone call from the technician last afternoon: he found a damaged resistor and inserted a new one, now the noise is completely gone. He found that the "russian" tubes were not from exact the same type/not matching. He changed them into the Sextett of 6L6GCs. The "Power Output" was measured with a Sinus curve/tone?? (don't know if that's the correct description) it was 135 Watts with the "russian" 6P3S and 150 Watts with the 6L6GC. I'll pick the amp up on Friday, just in time before the rehearsal with my band the same evening 
Last report after my SB has been "serviced": good Job, all noise is gone, the Sound brilliant; but I was surprised, that the Sound with my Ampeg SVT 810 (it's from the early 80s I think, Eminence Speakers, towel grip) sounded not as good as before the technical Service?! There were to much "mids", the clearness was gone - don't know why. Luckily I had recieved an "old, unused bass cab" from a band member (No-Name/DIY I think) but with two excellent working Electrovoice EVM 15 L in it! So I tried this cab instead - and the Sound was fantastic! But still I had the "4Ohm-problem"; what I tried at last (I spent nearly the whole weekend at the rehearsal place, fiddling around with cabs and amps) was sending the line-out-Signal from the SB to another amp (tried out my old Marshall MB450H, but was not satisfied), than into my Fender Bassman 800 Head, this connected to the 2x15 Cab. The Speaker of the SB had been changed to an EV also; I tilted the Combo a bit to an angel at the wall where's my Position during rehearsals, like a "monitor-box", the other cab with the Bassman was positioned on a point in the small room (25m²), where there were no reflections of the deep frequencies hearable (the Drummer Always complains about them). So, in the end I have my SB as a monitor at my Position and don't have to turn the Master/Output more than up to 5 or 6, with the Gain at 6-7. The Signal going to the Fender Bassman can be regulated as the rest of the band likes it. The Sound with 3x 15 EVM 15L is great, I think I'm going to sell the ampeg fridge 
How does that EV speaker sound in the combo?
Why would a cab after service sound worse than before ????
Before ditching the SVT cab ....find out what happened there
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I use a Studio Bass amp with a stand alone Fender EV 15L loaded cab ('77 Fender Fullerton CA build) and it sounds great. It's basically a deconstructed head+cab version of the Studio Bass combo with the EV driver in a cab that is more appropriately sized (bigger) for the driver specs vs the original combo which is on the small side for the EV driver.
There is a great full, tight, mid present (but not overbearing) paper cone type tone to this combination. Classic Fender tone to my ears. Sadly, I don't use it very much as it can be a pain to haul to gigs compared to my also very good sounding and much lighter modern gear (Mesa Walkabout or WD800 and several Berg cab options). But when I do haul it out, it always puts a smile on my face.
I've posted it before but its such a nice pic of this amp along with a MIJ '51 P reissue.
There is a great full, tight, mid present (but not overbearing) paper cone type tone to this combination. Classic Fender tone to my ears. Sadly, I don't use it very much as it can be a pain to haul to gigs compared to my also very good sounding and much lighter modern gear (Mesa Walkabout or WD800 and several Berg cab options). But when I do haul it out, it always puts a smile on my face.
I've posted it before but its such a nice pic of this amp along with a MIJ '51 P reissue.
Tone and functionality can be a very personal issue. Having said that I’ve always loved my SB through either one or two EVM 15 loaded TL606 cabs. They have a unique and beautiful sound. However, I’ve also used Ampeg cabs and they’ve sounded great, too.
Going to 4ohm is fine for the SB in my experience, but then again, each to their own.
Anyway, it’s all good fun. I always love reading about other players using the SB. It’s a fun amp and sounds incredible.
Going to 4ohm is fine for the SB in my experience, but then again, each to their own.
Anyway, it’s all good fun. I always love reading about other players using the SB. It’s a fun amp and sounds incredible.
Can I join the club : )
Here is a pic of my sb's... had to have two because walking to practice just carrying one by the top handle was making me lean to one side, lots better for my posture to carry one with each hand.
And, for sure: You are now able to play in Stereo
Ah, and: could You post your MRI Images, showing your lumbal hernia?
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No joke. I couldAnd, for sure: You are now able to play in Stereo
Ah, and: could You post your MRI Images, showing your lumbal hernia?
I know, so you better don' t carry too many SBs with you. Sorry, it wasn't my purpose to joke about people with a hernia.
