• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

old school blues - 50watt bassman silverface?

Hey all,
guitar player going to play bass in a 50s style blues band - BBKing, Muddy, guitar slim, little walter... mostly swing/jump blues kind of scene. 4 piece band - harmonica, guitar, drummer, bass. Drummer not too heavy handed. Would a 50watt bassman (1968 AB165 circuit) get me there or not enough grunt? Haven't selected speakers yet. what are experiences/thoughts? Thanks

.....and I always want the band to sound live, like the old recordings where the bass is full and prominent.
 
Years ago (when I still walked my pet dinosaur)I played through a 50 watt bassman in a soul band. There was no P A support , just one guitar , keyboard , drums , and a three piece brass section. Sad to say , the old 50 watter didn't cut it.
Just didnt have enough oomph even for the small venues we were playing at the time . Too bad too because at medium volumes , it really had a nice sound to it .One of my recent bands was a 50's style rockabilly thing ( think Carl; Perkins , Jerry Lee Lewis , etc.)I was playing through a Peavey 250 watt head. This was MORE than adequate , so you might be able to get by with a 100 watt head. I wouldn't recomend a 50 watter for performing though.
 
Another old head to be on the lookout for is the Music Man HD150. It's got a tube power section, 4 6l6's, SS pre, but alot of tube thump and would cut a Blues gig no problem. Also, some of the Fender guitar heads like the Super Showman, and the Super Twin get used for bass alot . If you are not married to the idea of tube heads, there are many lightweight bass heads out there that will get the job done, like the GB Streamliner, the MarkBass LMIII, etc.
 
I play the same type of stuff, and I've been using a '67 Bassman with a Carvin RL115 (with one of their recent neo replacement speakers) without too much problem. Although if I get above 4 it gets a little too gritty for me. We keep pretty good control of the volume as a band though. I recently picked up a Musicman HD150 to use with a homemade cab that has 2 JBL D140's, in case I ever need a little more volume.
 
Keen on more suggestions from you knowledgeable folk- not a lot on offer out here, especially in the second hand market. I have been loaning a fender bassman135 and an old peavey cabinet at the moment and love the sound. Sadly she doesn't want to sell it to me:hmm:. Guess I'm a sucker for tubes - years of playing old fender guitar amps but little in the way of bass tube amps around. Here's the offerings I have been able to check out if anyone has thoughts on them for what I'm doing.

Tried an orange terror bass combo with the isobaric speakers (2x12) and it sounded pretty fat, in the shop )reasonably light too). Other options around are a markbass r500 with Markbass 1 x 15 cab (NOS so very good price); a markbass classic (300 watt tube also NOS and v. good price). Haven't been able to try either of the markbass. There is a Hughes and Kettner basskick300 combo which is 2nd hand and well priced. I played a new one of these in a local shop and it sounded pretty good - cumbersome beast though.
Cheers for any thoughts on options, I am enjoying the new instrument a lot:bassist: