4 years in with mine. It STILL impresses me as much as ever, if not more.
Using it with my NV215 tomorrow night.
Using it with my NV215 tomorrow night.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 Super Bassman 300 thread
- Thread starter Tim1
- Start date
Two years with my SB 300, and no buyers remorse. I am still relishing the wondrous tones it emits. All this in light of one of my many character flaws, that is I'm not easily pleased.
Used my SB300 with a Barefaced Four10 and Fender Marcus Miller Jazz bass last weekend. Was offered the full time bass job in that band halfway through the gig. It sounds that good lol.
Close to a year now with the sb300 into my Peavey PVH 410. And it's pretty damn awesome! Just recently added a (borrowed) ampeg neo 210 to my rig Although it sounds great. Seriously think ki g of adding a matching pvh 410. Or moving up to the fender neo 6 or 810...the singld 410 is great. But I think I need a full stack there's just something about 8 10's in a sealed cab that moves so much air. I feel like I'd actually be able to turn down a little bit but still move boulders
Very cool set up! What cab is that yr using under the SB?
@Crowd crusher the Fender Pro Neo cabs are all ported enclosures. I used a SVT810E (sealed 810) with my Super Bassman for a while ..... sounded great. But there's summink special about the Fender Bassman Pro Neo line that just WORKS really well with the Super Bassman. If I had the gigs to support using it, I'd have no probs having the Fender Bassman 810 Pro Neo cab
It certainly sounds great with the 115 Bassman cabs and the 610 would probly suit me more than the 810. But I've 2 Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs And these provide a terrific and versatile modular rig fir me.
Coming up on 2 years since I purchased mine, and it was probably 2 years old when I got it second hand.
I'm going to take mine in for a service next week. Just want to get the power tubes tested and make sure everything is as it should be before the gigs start ramping up for the 2nd half of the year.
The other thing I have considered doing is getting the speaker connectors on the rear changed over to Speakon connectors. I have never had any trouble with the 1/4" jack, but I find it amazing that it doesn't have Speakon connectors, anf everything else I own has Speakon. Other than changing it away from original, can anyone see any disadvantages to doing this?
I'm going to take mine in for a service next week. Just want to get the power tubes tested and make sure everything is as it should be before the gigs start ramping up for the 2nd half of the year.
The other thing I have considered doing is getting the speaker connectors on the rear changed over to Speakon connectors. I have never had any trouble with the 1/4" jack, but I find it amazing that it doesn't have Speakon connectors, anf everything else I own has Speakon. Other than changing it away from original, can anyone see any disadvantages to doing this?
If it is all going fine and you have never had an issue I would not worry about shelling out cash for a "service". The autobias looks after that side of things and if there are no crackles/pops hisses and the pots are quiet I would leave well alone. If it was fifteen years older some would consider replacing capacitors etc. - if it was me in your situation I would leave well alone. I have one of the very first and it has never had an issue.
Re speakons, again I would leave well alone. You would have to redrill bigger holes in the chassis which could well cause more issues than it solved.
Quite often at start up when in flick the standby on, some of the lights in the auto bias come on orange, but as soon as you've put signal thru it thru all turn green.
I do hear a ringing sometimes on some notes. It sounds like one of the springs on the valve retainers vibrating, but I also understand that is what a microphonic valve can sound like?
Just trying to be safe rather than sorry seeing as this is my first full valve Amp, but if you think all this is nothing then maybe I won't bother?
I do hear a ringing sometimes on some notes. It sounds like one of the springs on the valve retainers vibrating, but I also understand that is what a microphonic valve can sound like?
Just trying to be safe rather than sorry seeing as this is my first full valve Amp, but if you think all this is nothing then maybe I won't bother?
I would test the tubes myself using a pencil. ..listen for any microphonics. I usually don't even look at the bias lights. ...if sounds good. ...etc
I also think you're better off with jack plugs/leads... iirc the SB's made WITH a safety circuit so that if the speaker lead comes out when operating it stops itself seeing a zero load - or some sh!t like that - basically safeguards it from self-destruction in this circumstance. I've heard it ain't quite the same if speakons were used.
As always, I could be wrong.
I also think you're better off with jack plugs/leads... iirc the SB's made WITH a safety circuit so that if the speaker lead comes out when operating it stops itself seeing a zero load - or some sh!t like that - basically safeguards it from self-destruction in this circumstance. I've heard it ain't quite the same if speakons were used.
As always, I could be wrong.
DON'T use a pencil. The lead conducts electricity.
Use a wooden or plastic chopstick instead.
Fair enough, I know so little about elecs that I ain't gonna argue.
On another matter. ...I used the SB300 and just 115 Bassman cab at a rock pub gig Fri night. We got loud as bass wasn't thru PA. A fair few ppl turned up.
DAMN it sounded amazing! Had Master vol on about 7 and switch between channels but channel vol up sound 7 also. I was getting a li'l worried about my 115 but I was using my 77 Gibson G3 which is very middy... so I was listening out for the driver. But it handled it ok. ...just. Sounded like a bomb going off -every note! Big grins on the rest of the band 's faces. We were cookin' !!!
Next month I'll probly r5ake another 115.... but gee it's lovely getting the Super Bassman into power tube overdrive
On another matter. ...I used the SB300 and just 115 Bassman cab at a rock pub gig Fri night. We got loud as bass wasn't thru PA. A fair few ppl turned up.
DAMN it sounded amazing! Had Master vol on about 7 and switch between channels but channel vol up sound 7 also. I was getting a li'l worried about my 115 but I was using my 77 Gibson G3 which is very middy... so I was listening out for the driver. But it handled it ok. ...just. Sounded like a bomb going off -every note! Big grins on the rest of the band 's faces. We were cookin' !!!
Next month I'll probly r5ake another 115.... but gee it's lovely getting the Super Bassman into power tube overdrive
Last edited:
I still am infatuated with my SB 300. I have had mine for about 9 months now and I replaced what I thought was my dream amp, an Aguilar DB751 to get this bad boy. I have never regretted letting the Aggy go for a minute, and I thought I would have that amp for ever.
This amp through my Berg NV610T is glorious!
This amp through my Berg NV610T is glorious!
Last edited:
Wow. Before I bought my SB 300 I wanted to try the DB751 but they are not available in my area. I compared the big amps by Ampeg, Mesa, GK and I like the Super Bassman the most. I was very happy with it (and I still am) but I was still wondering what DB751 would be like. Your comment reduces my FOMO.
I'm not an experienced toob amp user, but I have owned a DB750, a SVT-II and a Mesa Strategy, along with a whole slew of other SS and hybrid amps. For sheer gut punch impact, my old Trace Elliot AH500x probably came in first place. The SVT-II played very clean had something beautiful happening in the attack, and the eq was very very intuitive. The Strategy - well, it was loud I guess. But for overall warmth, toobness and versatility, the SB300 is IMO untouched.
I keep thinking about selling it, because I don't have much cause to drag it out to gigs with my lower back issues and the type of gigs I've been playing. But man, it sounds and FEELS so durn good. I'm currently auditioning for an old school horn funk band (originals, TOP/Maceo/Parliment type stuff). If I get in, that might be a reason to bite the bullet and take the Fender.
BTW, my SB300 seems to get stuck in the self-biasing or whatever it does on startup, the leds keep flashing forever. Is this familiar to anyone, and does it sound expensive to fix? The amp still sounds as good as ever, and I don't want to take it in and get a $500 bill...
Last edited:
Iirc. . The bias lights SHOULD cycle along. .. I honestly don't look at em usually.
I used this last night. ..but I didn't check my lights
77 Gibson G3 & Warwick Streamer $$5...
SB300- NV215
I used this last night. ..but I didn't check my lights
77 Gibson G3 & Warwick Streamer $$5...
SB300- NV215
They are supposed to cycle for a few seconds and then stabilize, and that used to happen but it doesn't any more. Oh well, guess I'll bite the bullet and take it in.
