• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Fender Bassman 100T thread

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,041
I've had two gigs with my 100t and here's my take:
I now understand what people mean when they say they've "found the tone that's been in their head". I've been playing bass for 15 years, through various equipment, and I've never enjoyed my tone so much or had so much fun playing. I actually find myself playing fewer notes because each note sounds so good. I used to boost my mids to try to cut through the mix, but I find that's unnecessary with this head. The lows are powerful without being boomy and the highs ring through clearly. Our sound man can't get enough of it. Every time I looked out at him Friday night, he was smiling and giving me a thumbs up. He's also the drummer in the praise band I play in and he was disappointed that I didn't bring it with me for Christmas Eve service! I'm playing it through an Avatar 410, but I'm going to order the 610 neo. The socks need to match the shoes, right?
 
#1,045
Freight Train said:
When I first got the rig I was totally overwhelmed with the it using my flatwound bass - so thumpy and full sounding. But the last couple gigs I've found a sweet spot with the overdrive and my roundwound bass (Jack Casady Epiphone) where I'm getting the closest to a John Entwhistle/John Wetton sound I've ever gotten.
Click to expand...

You mind sharing the settings that got you to that sweet spot? I wouldn't mind trying to sound like John Entwistle.
 
#1,046
Freight Train said:
But the last couple gigs I've found a sweet spot with the overdrive and my roundwound bass (Jack Casady Epiphone) where I'm getting the closest to a John Entwhistle/John Wetton sound I've ever gotten.
Click to expand...

I'd like to find this tone:



Can the 100T get it with one of my Ricks, one with TI Jazz Rounds ('73 4001 with '60s magnetic horseshoe pickup) or the 4004 Laredo (TI Jazz Flats on it).

Ignore the Cave Passive Pedals B-Drive Mk II in that one photo, I am evaluating the pedal for a friend and the manufacturer. :) :bassist:
 
#1,047
The only complaint I have so far is I wish there was a footswitch option for the mute. Frankly, I'm surprised there isn't since there is a tuner out on the back. I know I can pull out the volume knob to mute, but they could have made it a double footswitch and included a mute.

Regarding covers, I just ordered a road case from XCase. Drop-in style with a hinged lid.
 
#1,048
Agreed on the mute switch Thrasher. Really my only complaints are;
1) The foot switch is one button only, no mute. Also, although the foot switch is a nice, classic looking design, a smaller switch with an LED would have been more functional.
2) No Speakon jack. I know the amp is 'only' 100 watts, but Speakons would have been a nice touch.
3) Fender doesn't include a cover, nor do they offer one.

Overall these are small details, and I realize that I'm just being picky. The tone and functionality on the amp is great, and more than makes up for these minor shortcomings. No regrets picking one of these up.
 
#1,050
Tom Bowlus has just posted on the Super Bassman 300 thread that 1-10-1 is definitely flat on the vintage channel. Since the 100T is the same preamp as the SB300 I would expect it to be the same, so that is one of our longer running debates finally solved. He says the head came out well on the bench tests so look to Bass Gear Magazine's next issue for a review of the SB300, I think matched up to the neo 610 cab.
 
#1,058
Tim1 said:
Tom Bowlus has just posted on the Super Bassman 300 thread that 1-10-1 is definitely flat on the vintage channel. Since the 100T is the same preamp as the SB300 I would expect it to be the same, so that is one of our longer running debates finally solved. He says the head came out well on the bench tests so look to Bass Gear Magazine's next issue for a review of the SB300, I think matched up to the neo 610 cab.
Click to expand...

All I gotta say is, if 1-10-1 is flat on the vintage channel, then 6-6-6 on the active channel is NOT flat. Set vintage at 1-10-1, active on 6-6-6 and switch back and forth while adjusting the channel volumes to match. What you'll hear is a LOT more bottom and top out of the active channel. Set the passive channel at 10-10-8 and match volumes, and they're pretty close to the same. So if 1-10-1 is flat on the vintage channel, that means the active channel has a huge mid-scoop when it's set flat, and I really don't think that's the case. What I think is that at 1-10-1 on the vintage channel the lows and highs are cut way back and you're getting a big midrange hump.
 
#1,059
I think there's no reason to assume that all knobs at noon is flat on the active channel. That setting is seldom flat on any amp, in my experience. Tom did state that the flat settings on the active channel would be in the article they're doing.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#1,060
thrasher717 said:
You mind sharing the settings that got you to that sweet spot? I wouldn't mind trying to sound like John Entwistle.
Click to expand...

It's not really any magic setting, it's just fine-tuning the amount of overdrive and blend to match the output of my particular bass, and the way that I attack the strings. As much as I love the sound of the flats (G&L L-1000) with the rig, and I'm still using the flatwound bass on probably 70% of our songs, I am now getting the exact roundwound sound that I've been wanting for a little over 4 decades now. Part of it is probably the bass - I've never owned a semi-hollowbody previously, but the Jack Casady Epiphone with the 100T/410 Neo is a special combination to my ear. Anyway, the setting I'm talking about with this particular bass on the active channel is 7--6--4.5--6--6.5--7--5. That's with the vari-gain switch on the bass set at 250. With that bass on that rig with those settings I'm getting the most unbelievable ballsy growl. My signature for years has been "Godzilla is my co-pilot", and now I'm feeling he's right there behind me on stage. :hyper:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back