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Just bought a Fender Bassman 100T

T

Tim1

Sep 9, 2005
4,531
3,750
New Zealand
#1
Well, after testing one briefly a few weeks ago and thinking it did not have enough headroom for my needs I returned with my trusty (and new to me :) 68 Jazz to give it a decent workout. Took along my guitarist who is always happy to spend someone else's cash.
This time round I had spent the time to read up on the Bassman 100T's controls etc., and before I went in I spent a while playing into my Orange AD200B and SVT VR /Bergantino rigs so that I had some point of comparison. I have no intention of getting rid of the VR, but thought the Orange might go if the Fender impressed me. Well, long story short I walked out with the 100T. As usual I got a great deal from Richie at the Music Machine in Napier ( a little plug for a great shop). It sold itself to me firstly because of the vintage channel which is just as I remember them to be, then it clearly had a ton more clean volume than I had thought the first time. Tried the modern/overdrive channel ( I am by instinct a "clean" player) and immediately found some useable tones blending overdrive and clean. I bought it, the importers are only five minutes away from me so servicing is not a problem and it just sold itself to me in a way that amps sometimes do.
I was less impressed with the Bassman 610 neo cab in the shop, it just seemed a bit wolly and to struggle slightly to my ears - but this may well have been the shop environment. Now this is real interesting - got the amp home and plugged it into my Bergantino NV215 and what a match! Tight, punchy and clear. Similarly with the NV610 although focused a little lower and a tad louder at the same volume.
Unfortunately I cannot report in a playing situation for a while as lead guitarist has his wrist in plaster. Decision for me now is whether or not to sell the AD200. I cannot really justify having an Orange AD200, Bassman 100T, Ampeg SVT VR and Markbass SA450. Rationalisation - keep the Bassman for smaller gigs, SVT for outside and large stages, Markbass always goes along as a lightweight backup. The Orange is a great amp but I think a little more of a one trick pony than the Bassman which really does seem very versatile. Out goes the Orange then :hmm:
 
#6
:cool:

Sounds nice. I'm hearing nothing but good thing about this amp.
This is one amp I'm gassing hard for.
100 tube watts is great for my needs, and my custom Schroeder
2x15 cab will match up well with this head.
As someone else said, Ampeg needs to respond with a new 100 watt tube head.
 
#13
Why wait around for Ampeg to make a new 100 watt tube amp when old V-4 and V-4Bs are so easy to find and so cheap? Especially when you compare them to the price of a new 100T...
 
#16
Down here in New Zealand second hand V-4s just don't turn up - believe me, I have beem looking for years. My only hope of getting one is if they reissue. And I really did get a bumper discount on the 100T, I have known the importers for years from my days of major touring and all my Fender stuff they treat me especially well, not quite an endorser but close.
Having now shared more than a few beers with the 100T it is definitely cleaner than the Orange, the Orange has a drier more bassy sound and the Ampeg has the clean punchy mids at incredible volumes that I could die for. The 100T is certainly versatile, just not sure whether I will use all the features that it offers but for a vintage "Fender Jazz into Fender" it kills. I would have to say that none of these amps come even close to the VR if you really want to crank it, but a combination of the SVT and the 100T should cover any gig I am likely to face in the foreseeable future.
 
#17
Having got back from a little jam a quick update. Firstly, I could make it run out of headroom - but not at a level I would probably normally use although there definitely is a limit. I suppose you should expect that with 100 watts. Side by side with the Orange AD200 the Orange clearly had more clean headroom and the SVT is just huge by comparison with both amps.
Second point, the modern channel with its ability to blend a touch of overdrive, really is something special. The tone controls are instinctive to use and the vibe is very much a new take on an old friend. I thought I would just be using the vintage channel but that modern channel is FUN!
 
#19
Hi Daniel, funnily enough just got come in from the shed after comparing exactly that. The thing is that the breakup in the Bassman seems to manifest itself more obviously in the upper mids whereas in the Orange with its real bottom end emphasis the breakup is less apparent or harsh on the ears. Some may like one, some another. I am starting to have serious doubts about selling the Orange as it really has its own unique voicing which really pillows nicely at the lowest end. I had thought that the Orange had substantially more clean headroom but now I am unsure as I think it just breaks up differently but at around the same volume.
The 25 watt option on the Bassman is going to be very handy as it is nice to get that driven punch at a lower level (and it is still a very loud 25 watts). And that overdrive blend channel is real sweet and useable in a good way.
So, to answer your question.... the Orange breakup comes in at a similar apparent volume level as the Bassman on its vintage channel but is more pleasant to the ears (mine anyway) as the amp has a deeper voicing and the breakup is lower down. That said, the blendable overdrive option on the Bassman really is great (I know, I know, I keep on saying it). As for the breakup on the VR - that darn beast has so much headroom it is just about impossible to get it to breakup until it is on 9 1/2! When I remember back to my old SVT2 nonpro which did breakup earlier the Orange is more similar to it than is the Bassman. Hope this helps.
 

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