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GAS strikes again (tube content)

brndn123

brndn123

Sep 7, 2010
560
21
Northern California
www.brandonmichael.info
#1
I've always been intrigued by tube amps. I've played through a few and like most, fell in love. So I had my eye on the American Heritage. Figured I would save up and "do it right" the first time; make some payments and it would be mine. Then, out of nowhere, I come across a Fender Bassman 300 pro for cheap. Now, as previously mentoined, I've played through a few tube amps and relatively know what I'm getting into, but considering neither of these amps are within driving distance for me to test out, I reach out to you guys. So...

Save up for a new Heritage or score a Fender Bassman 300pro for cheap

What would you do?
 
#2
I own & LOVE my 300t(same as 300pro). Love it. US made without the pricetag of the Ampeg - I'm assuming that's what you mean by American Heritage...as in the American Made Heritage SVT Classic?

Regardless, I love the 300pro/t. Super versatile, lots of great tones, heavy & oversized as hell, but totally worth it.
 
#3
xjeremiahx said:
I own & LOVE my 300t(same as 300pro). Love it. US made without the pricetag of the Ampeg - I'm assuming that's what you mean by American Heritage...as in the American Made Heritage SVT Classic?

Regardless, I love the 300pro/t. Super versatile, lots of great tones, heavy & oversized as hell, but totally worth it.
Click to expand...

Do you have any issues with overheating? A few other tbers mentioned the necessity of adding a fan to prevent the amp from getting too hot.

As for the American Heritage, street price is a bit high but its really well put together. I think the catch is it is "assembled" in the US and overall, has higher inspeciton points. I've never been in to collecting gear, I just want to get a quality tube amp and be done with it, ya know?
 
#6
brndn123 said:
put it this way...

For the street price of a Heritage new, I could purchase 3 used bassmans (at the deal I was offered) and a few accessories.

Is the Ampeg THAT much better?
Click to expand...

It only is if you like it 3 times better. No one on a forum can tell you what sounds good to you; you need to hear it yourself.
Getting a tube amp isn't just "getting a tube amp"; while they are generally more dynamic and, well, musical than transistors, the characteristics can be greatly different beween amps.

Get the Fender. If you can buy it that cheap, you can turn it and get the Ampeg if the Fender doesn't work for you, maybe even make a couple of sheckles.
 
#8
edbass said:
It only is if you like it 3 times better. No one on a forum can tell you what sounds good to you; you need to hear it yourself.
Getting a tube amp isn't just "getting a tube amp"; while they are generally more dynamic and, well, musical than transistors, the characteristics can be greatly different beween amps.

Get the Fender. If you can buy it that cheap, you can turn it and get the Ampeg if the Fender doesn't work for you, maybe even make a couple of sheckles.
Click to expand...

This is my feeling as well. I'd get the 300 pro. And then you may love it, or you can flip it and come out even or ahead.

Also (purely IMO) it might makes more sense to go with the fender because you can still find vintage SVT's for the price of a new heritage, especially if you have time to wait for the right deal to come along.
 
#9
ZachM said:
This is my feeling as well. I'd get the 300 pro. And then you may love it, or you can flip it and come out even or ahead.

Also (purely IMO) it might makes more sense to go with the fender because you can still find vintage SVT's for the price of a new heritage, especially if you have time to wait for the right deal to come along.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with that one . Grab a bargain first then, if the sound doesn't not fit your ears, grab a vintage Ampeg (new sound like crap compare to old ones, IMO only).
 
#12
I have a Bassman 300 and I have a Ampeg SVT II Pro, both great amps, but different amps, the Fender is a pretty clean sounding amp even when pushed, where as the Ampeg will get grindy when pushed, but that's the Ampeg sound .... it all boils down to $$$$$ .... as a side note the heat build up in the Bassman is really not an issue ... IMHO

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