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NRD - 1968 Fender Bassman With JBL's

Oren Hudson

Oren Hudson

Dec 25, 2007
4,080
2,380
74
Gastonia, NC
#1
More of a finally finished rig day, but it's now done. 1968 Bassman head and cab that I've had a while, but just recently rediscovered the head and finished it's rehab. Now the deal is complete. When I first got the rig, the cab was in pieces and lots of stuff missing. Although not in the cab, I discovered that it was an original JBL equipped cab. I rehabbed everything and now it's ready to play on and looks outstanding.

Here you go.

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#2
I have a 67 Silverface with 12's but has the big cab like yours, I think it came with Special Designs, the original speakers are long gone, has Eminence in it now and sounds great. I Don't know which ones, haven't opened it yet. Nice looking amp. Are those 15's in yours?
 
#5
two fingers said:
Yes, it DOES look great!

But how does it SOUND MAN??????
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It sounds OK for what it is. It would need some help in a lot of band scenarios, but for lower volume, it's sweet.

BassmanPaul said:
Now if only you had an amp and cab that could do those JBLs justice! :D
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Agreed BP, but it's the beauty factor for me. I was in High School at the time these were out and wanted one so badly. They still look great, IMO. :)
 
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#6
I was only pulling your leg Oren. I did own a brand spanking new Blonde Black Face Bassman 50 and it's matching 2x12 cabinet in the latter years of the Sixties. It did look great but sounded like a piece of trash. I returned it after a weekend to find they had sold my trade in. I left it anyway!
 
#7
Hey OP, don't let anyone rain on your parade. The rig looks awesome and I'm sure it sounds great too. :thumbsup:

Folks can say what they will about this combination, but I always liked mine back in the day. Despite the somewhat low wattage of the amp and perhaps a bit too small of a cab for the drivers, it sounded great IMO/IME. Now, is it going to handle a stadium gig ? no, of course not, but it will hang just fine with a band that's not screaming loud and a Jazz or Precision through a Bassman/2x15 JBL loaded cab is going to sound great too.

When I needed a rig that had a certain vintage look, I more or less replicated the aesthetics of the Bassman 2x15 that you have. Of course, I'm using a 200w Fender Studio Bass amp instead of the 50w Bassman, and a Faital loaded 2x15 (made by LDS) .. but the look is very similar for sure.

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enjoy!
 
#9
pfschim said:
Hey OP, don't let anyone rain on your parade. The rig looks awesome and I'm sure it sounds great too. :thumbsup:

Folks can say what they will about this combination, but I always liked mine back in the day. Despite the somewhat low wattage of the amp and perhaps a bit too small of a cab for the drivers, it sounded great IMO/IME. Now, is it going to handle a stadium gig ? no, of course not, but it will hang just fine with a band that's not screaming loud and a Jazz or Precision through a Bassman/2x15 JBL loaded cab is going to sound great too.

When I needed a rig that had a certain vintage look, I more or less replicated the aesthetics of the Bassman 2x15 that you have. Of course, I'm using a 200w Fender Studio Bass amp instead of the 50w Bassman, and a Faital loaded 2x15 (made by LDS) .. but the look is very similar for sure.

View attachment 2959295

enjoy!
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Thanks - your rig looks killer.
 
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#10
BassmanPaul said:
I was only pulling your leg Oren. I did own a brand spanking new Blonde Black Face Bassman 50 and it's matching 2x12 cabinet in the latter years of the Sixties. It did look great but sounded like a piece of trash. I returned it after a weekend to find they had sold my trade in. I left it anyway!
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No problem BP. It's weak compared to the same JBL's in a Sunn folded horn cab, but that's a whole 'nother cab design and 300 watts.
 
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#11
I bought that rig with two cabs in 67'. I was in Junior High, or middle school as its called it now. I was so proud. We played a lot of school dances and local parties. When I got my Sunn 200S it kicked the bassmans butt with a single 215 D140 loaded cab. As soon as I graduated Highschool I went on the road with the sunn and the rest is history.
 
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#13
Oren Hudson said:
It sounds OK for what it is. It would need some help in a lot of band scenarios, but for lower volume, it's sweet.



Agreed BP, but it's the beauty factor for me. I was in High School at the time these were out and wanted one so badly. They still look great, IMO. :)
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I still remember the first time I saw a band with a Fender Bassman, it was a blackface in about 1967, the band played my local town hall and I instantly fell in love with it, for the average low volume back then it sounded great. I also remember the first time I saw a band with a Fender Dual Showman amp, 1968. I bought that same Dual Showman a year or two later and sold it maybe 10 years later. I now have both again. Gotta get those old amps we used to drool over when we were kids. The Dual Showman is loud enough to gig with with an SVT bottom and sounds great. I've used the Bassman head and cab in some small rooms, it sounded killer.
 
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#18
funkytoe said:
Great restoration Oren. I've always had a fondness for these old amps. Isn't a '68 Bassman the same rig McCartney used for the rooftop concert?
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Thanks funkytoe. Something I love to do. I haven't seen the rooftop in a while, but I believe there's a good chance that's correct.

Milo Spleen said:
Black face with Bassman 212 and Bandmaster 212 early August 1971.View attachment 2973019
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Love love the pic!
 
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#20
Kirk Bryant said:
I only recently realized I can count on one hand the number of pics I have of me playing from earlier than the 90's. It's sad really as I have only the foggy memories. Two of them are in my high school year book. The first ex took thousands of them to the grave after I was long gone. I finally bought myself a camera in the 90's.
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I lost a few in a house fire 20 years ago, but many still survive. Hope you are rebuilding since the camera purchase.
 

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