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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

#2,061
99Z3 said:
There is no question, the SB 300 is the best sounding tube amp I have ever owned.. I wished I had discovered it sooner before spending so much money on other amps!!!!!
Your going to really like it with the report that have thus given!
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Same.
I used this on the weekend

20160529_000028_zpsz5mjogc3.jpg

Ampeg V4B into my 2 Fender Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs.
It sounded great but just doesn't have the sheer OOOMPH that the SB300 has. Ime and as far as I can remember. ...neither does the SVT. I've had a couple of SVTs - an SVTII (NP) & and a SVT-VR (borrowed from a friend for a few months) & while both were great. .. I dint think either had the sheer fatness, thick tubiness of the Super Bassman.
As I've stated on here a few times, I WAS looking for a VR! I WASN'T looking forward to the weight of it, but was prepared for it coz they sound so good. It was only Tombowlus' recommendationthat I check out the then new Super Bassman that twigged me to it.
I'd also had a Fender Bassman 300PRO (300T) and I didn't really gel with that. Great amp but I like the tubby round sound. .which the 300PRO could do. ..but it took some dialing in to get it.
Loved my old SVTII but silly me sold it. ..but still. .. I would've sold it buy now as the SB300 does it all - easily.
Ppl get phased by all the controls on the SB300 but really. ..plug into the VINTAGE channel and unless all controls are OFF...there ain't a bad sound in there. And then there's another-ACTIVE- channel. That, of course can be used TOTALLY CLEAN -even tho is called an OVERDRIVE channel.
That's another feature I love about it. That you can set yr drive up nicely with the BLEND up so yr getting lotsa drive, but then simply dial back the BLEND & you've got a totally clean active/modern channel.

Come on Fender where's my endorsement deal. I think I've sold a few even in good ol Awe-strarlia :woot::hyper:

I could do with a neo 610 Bassman Pro!
 
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#2,062
TMARK said:
Ok, we have a problem. Sounds great. LEDs all solid green. However, the volume will drop out and crackle then comes back, then drops again. Happens in both channels.

I suspect it's the driver tube(s). Any experience?
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1st thing I'll always check on tube amps is - ALL the tubes.
I suspect yr correct. ...driver tube or one of the pre tubes. V1 possibly. Let us know won'tcha?
 
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#2,074
I can't remember what the driver tube is. ..?? AT7 AX7??
You could try swapping one of the pre tubes into it and observe the results.
Even if it is an AT7 or even an AU7 I don't think an AX7 would hurt at all. . Might be a little different re differing gain structure of the tube but at least it'll tell you if that's the culprit.

That's what I normally do at least. I've always swapped AX7/AU7 & AT7 tubes around as they all have same pin arrangements & it's helped me suss out problems many times.
 
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#2,075
P/I tube is a 12ax7, the driver tubes are 12AT7 It looks like!
rodl2005 said:
I can't remember what the driver tube is. ..?? AT7 AX7??
You could try swapping one of the pre tubes into it and observe the results.
Even if it is an AT7 or even an AU7 I don't think an AX7 would hurt at all. . Might be a little different re differing gain structure of the tube but at least it'll tell you if that's the culprit.

That's what I normally do at least. I've always swapped AX7/AU7 & AT7 tubes around as they all have same pin arrangements & it's helped me suss out problems many times.
Click to expand...
 
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#2,076
rodl2005 said:
I can't remember what the driver tube is. ..?? AT7 AX7??
You could try swapping one of the pre tubes into it and observe the results.
Even if it is an AT7 or even an AU7 I don't think an AX7 would hurt at all. . Might be a little different re differing gain structure of the tube but at least it'll tell you if that's the culprit.

That's what I normally do at least. I've always swapped AX7/AU7 & AT7 tubes around as they all have same pin arrangements & it's helped me suss out problems many times.
Click to expand...
The issue is post the preamp and before the power tubes. Power tubes are all green. Preamp out is good to go. So it is one of the drivers or a bad joint. If I return it to Sam Ash I'll have to wait two weeks for a replacement, so I hope some new Pi and driver tubes fix it up.
 
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#2,077
TMARK said:
The issue is post the preamp and before the power tubes. Power tubes are all green. Preamp out is good to go. So it is one of the drivers or a bad joint. If I return it to Sam Ash I'll have to wait two weeks for a replacement, so I hope some new Pi and driver tubes fix it up.
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If it was me I'd return it and wait for a replacement. That's what warranties are for and you should not have to muck around yourself trying to figure it out. Fender stands by their product, let them go through all the hassle plus you don't want to run the risk of voiding any warranty if you accidentally trigger something else.
 
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#2,078
Other SB users have described similar occurrences of static in this thread.

My SB300 occasionally makes an intermittent crackle and pop sound similar to what TMARK describes. For me it lasts around five seconds usually soon after the amp has been switched out of standby mode, probably within the first 20 minutes. I've always figured it's the amp going through its auto bias procedure. The static noise may change frequency or tighten up slightly during the process, suggesting to me it is being electronically tuned. This is all guesswork and someone with technical knowledge of this amp would need to chime in.

It generally happens when the amp is idling, between songs, etc. The music is always quiet enough that my band mates and I look at each other like the amp is about to sh!t itself. The manual says the amp will rebias occasionally when it's idling, however doesn't mention any noise that might be associated.
 
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