Q: Fender Super Bassman?

[Grinderman]

I know these amps have been around for about 10 years now, and I've read numerous rather old things online about this amp, mostly on TB.

I wonder, of those who own, have owned, or have used the FSB, how do you feel about this amp head in 2023?




----------

I've been shopping for 300W tube head; Ampeg SVT CL, VR, 50th An RI, II (Pro and non pro), '69 to '74 and '75 to '78; Fender BM 300 Pro/Sunn 300T, and the Super Bassman. I also found a '76 Fender 300 PS.

Of the Fenders models I intuit that the Super Bassman would be the best choice for me.

Locally, I've found an Ampeg SVT VR, SVT II non pro with the tolex box upgrade, and a Fender Super Bassman, all in excellent condition, within a price range that's acceptable.

I've owned a SVT CL Classic and II non pro previously so there's familiarity.

I've heard sample recordings of the Super Bassman, they sound great, people rave about their versatility, but the interface is not the same as Ampeg's. That makes me slightly apprehensive.

 

[JFlo]

I haven't played the super bassman but I have a bassman 300 pro and a 90s SVT-CL. Go with the Fender if you want dirt without pedals and less weight. But an SVT is never a bad choice. I don't think I could get a bad sound out of mine if I tried.

 

[rodl2005]

Still LOVE my Super Bassman. 11 yrs on. Just superb.

 

[jastacey]

I like my Super Bassman, don't play it much, as I have and use a Subway 800+, due to the weight issue, and the very small stages I play now a days, best part of the Super Bassman, is the dual channel, the left side is the traditional Fender Bass Circuit "Vintage", the right side is the "modern" circuit, which I believe is active, it has a single mid-range control set-up, basically find the frequency you want to adjust, and cut/boost, the "modern" channel is somewhat tighter, than the "Vintage channel, at least to my ears, I took me awhile to learn/figure out to dial in my tone, in a band setting, I did have a SVT-CL, and owned both at the same time, sold the SVT, as I can get a tone that's very similar, but it's dependent, on the cabinet your using ( for me to get the SVT tone with the Super Bassman, I use a Berg NV610 ) I don't own a Ampeg 810, so I don't know how it would sound through one of those cabinets, but the Fender does sound good through a ported cabinet, and yes it still drag the head out, once a month or so.
My advice, it to try the heads with your cabinet, and bass, granted the stand alone tone, is very different that the tone in a band setting.

 

[Grinderman]

Where I'm at now is choosing between SB and this SVT II np.

I have an appointment to check out the SB in a few hours. I'm apprehensive about the SB; the asking price is quite low though seller says it's "like new". It appears to be but that's superficial.

If I buy the SB I'll probably buy a used 410 Neo to go with it. I found one local in like new condition for $600.

If I buy the II, I'll keep using my trusty 4 ohm Eden D410XLT.

 

[Grinderman]

I went and checked out the SB. It seems to be a very good shape for a very price, but I need to see about this SVT II np before I make my choice.

The SVT II is a rock solid, very serviceable, piece of equipment, they sound great, and I prefer the simplicity.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

The SB is much more versatile than either of the Ampeg heads nice warm vintage tone and a much more SVT like modern sound . The two channels on the SB can be blended or not depending on what you are looking for or you can run clean on channel 1 and boost the gain on channel 2 for some mild dirt. And then blend them togrther for some nice warm vintage sound. Happy shopping.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

The SB is much more versatile than either of the Ampeg heads nice warm vintage tone and a much more SVT like modern sound . The two channels on the SB can be blended or not depending on what you are looking for or you can run clean on channel 1 and boost the gain on channel 2 for some mild dirt. And then blend them togrther for some nice warm vintage sound. Happy shopping.

The blend knob doesn’t blend the vintage channel and the overdrive channel, it blends the gain from the overdrive channel. It is not possible to run both channels at once (as it can be on a vintage 2 channel SVT or VR).

 

[rodl2005]

I like my Super Bassman, don't play it much, as I have and use a Subway 800+, due to the weight issue, and the very small stages I play now a days, best part of the Super Bassman, is the dual channel, the left side is the traditional Fender Bass Circuit "Vintage", the right side is the "modern" circuit, which I believe is active, it has a single mid-range control set-up, basically find the frequency you want to adjust, and cut/boost, the "modern" channel is somewhat tighter, than the "Vintage channel, at least to my ears, I took me awhile to learn/figure out to dial in my tone, in a band setting, I did have a SVT-CL, and owned both at the same time, sold the SVT, as I can get a tone that's very similar, but it's dependent, on the cabinet your using ( for me to get the SVT tone with the Super Bassman, I use a Berg NV610 ) I don't own a Ampeg 810, so I don't know how it would sound through one of those cabinets, but the Fender does sound good through a ported cabinet, and yes it still drag the head out, once a month or so.
My advice, it to try the heads with your cabinet, and bass, granted the stand alone tone, is very different that the tone in a band setting.

The SB sounds fantastic thru an SVT810E... vintage channel, just beautiful.

 

[ArenW]

I know these amps have been around for about 10 years now, and I've read numerous rather old things online about this amp, mostly on TB.

I wonder, of those who own, have owned, or have used the FSB, how do you feel about this amp head in 2023?

I've been playing my FSB for almost 10 years. The only regrets I have, are the shows I played without it (even the small rooms)! The FSB sounds amazing through every cab I've tried - 6x10, 4x10, 1x15 and 2x15. I've settled on the 6x10 for bigger shows and 1x15 for everything else. In my early days with this amp, it was pretty much all Vintage Channel, all the time. These days however, I use the OD channel almost exclusively. With liberal twiddling of the blend knob, as appropriate for the gig of course.

The SVT is a great amp and I happily play through them when that is the backline situation but given the choice, its the Super Bassman without hesitation. I've never owned or played an amp that provides the clarity, punch, weight and roar of the FSB. I'm floored by it every time I turn it on!!