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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

#2,781
Using this rig in arena’s allowed me to crank it up to the sweet spot, and with two cabs!! Sometimes during the show, I’d just go lean against it and be in bass heaven for 16 bars or so. Not sure if they still do white tolex.
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#2,783
oldskoolskatedad said:
So after lurking on this thread for almost 5 years, it's time to share my path to the SB300.

In 2012 I decided to finally invest in a serious big boy all tube rig. I had every intention of going the Ampeg route, but I discovered the then fledgling Bassman Pro lineup and was more than smitten with the gorgeous black face aesthetics and the promise of overcoming tube anxiety with the new autobias system.

Now it was just down to deciding between the SB300 and the 100T. Never has there been a sweeter dilemma.

The tone in my head that I was striving to acquire was somewhere between Rob Wright (Nomeansno) and Chris Squire with some Matt Freeman ala Operation Ivy thrown in for good measure. Punchy, crunchy mids with plenty of growl, well defined lows and clear, bell-like highs. Yep, I pretty much wanted it all.

After many, many hours of scouring the internet for any and all info relating to both the SB300 and 100T, I found myself becoming more and more enamored with the concept of the harmonics and overtones of power tubes breaking up was what I was after. It may have been Tim1 on the 100T thread that made the point that the 100T in the 25 watt mode could achieve this breakup at small room volumes where as the SB300 would not be able to do this at anything but large outdoor venue volume levels. That and the absolutely excellent feature of the DI being post power tube sold me on the 100T.

After 2 years with the 100T and a matching 410neo I finally pulled the trigger on a Rick 4003W that I assumed would be be the last link in my perfect tone chain. When I found the results to be somewhat anemic, even with my string of choice, Thomastic Jazz Flats, I added a second 410neo.

To complain about this rig would be absurd, but I just wasn't blown away. Over the years I was always curious about the reports from Tim1 and Rodl2005 about the SB300 adding more "weight" to each note and I was becoming aware that that was what I was missing. To wrap this story up, here is my current rig. I have read every post here and want to thank everyone for their insight.

View attachment 2942555
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I’m right there with you. Both are great amps and I won’t part with either one.
 
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#2,787
Got me a Super Bassman and Neo 15 late last year. My band usually does pubs/clubs, guitarists use an old Twin Reverb and a modern Deluxe Reverb. Loud 60s garage flavoured rock. The SB is far and away the best bass amp I've ever used in 30 years of playing.
The surprising bit ... we just rehearsed for a special show using acoustic guitars, no vocal mics, drummer using brushes and pillows in the kick drum. String quartet coming along shortly so it's really low volume. Normally I use an old 60's 15w 1 x 12" valve combo for these shows but I thought I'd try the SB. This thing still sounds the bomb, even at really quiet levels. Thick and juicy ☺
I balked at 300 watts thinking maybe it's too much to control and nearly went for a 100T. Nup. ☺☺☺
 
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#2,789
I
flatwound62p said:
Got me a Super Bassman and Neo 15 late last year. My band usually does pubs/clubs, guitarists use an old Twin Reverb and a modern Deluxe Reverb. Loud 60s garage flavoured rock. The SB is far and away the best bass amp I've ever used in 30 years of playing.
The surprising bit ... we just rehearsed for a special show using acoustic guitars, no vocal mics, drummer using brushes and pillows in the kick drum. String quartet coming along shortly so it's really low volume. Normally I use an old 60's 15w 1 x 12" valve combo for these shows but I thought I'd try the SB. This thing still sounds the bomb, even at really quiet levels. Thick and juicy ☺
I balked at 300 watts thinking maybe it's too much to control and nearly went for a 100T. Nup. ☺☺☺
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I have both the 100T and the SB and they are as equally unique as they are similar. The SB is probably the lushest "practice" amp I've ever heard.
 
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#2,790
oldskoolskatedad said:
I

I have both the 100T and the SB and they are as equally unique as they are similar. The SB is probably the lushest "practice" amp I've ever heard.
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True, my practice amp is getting dustier by the day Time to start tweaking the bias control. Seems to have a noticeable effect on the amount of compression in the output section. I'm quiter happy with Normal setting at higher volume (one notch hotter is nice also, seems to squash the mids down a bit) but it seems like it might have some value at lower volumes. Time to test I guess ☺
 
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#2,794
flatwound62p said:
True, my practice amp is getting dustier by the day Time to start tweaking the bias control. Seems to have a noticeable effect on the amount of compression in the output section. I'm quiter happy with Normal setting at higher volume (one notch hotter is nice also, seems to squash the mids down a bit) but it seems like it might have some value at lower volumes. Time to test I guess ☺
Click to expand...

As I'm not near my SB... What's the procedure for adjusting bias? Does amp have to be in standby or operate mode?
Altho it sounds superb as is... one can always feck about... can't one?
 
#2,795
In operate mode. I wait until the lights stop flashing then push one of the up/down arrows for hot or cold. Then wait for the lights to stop flashing again before you play. When you want to get back to normal, push both arrows at once and wait for the lights to stop flashing.

Not sure but I think it remembrs your last bias setting next time you power up, doesn't reset to normal by itself.
 
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#2,797
rodl2005 said:
Forgot to take pics. . As usual ...

Here's my settings from last night.
View attachment 2983585
This was into a Bassman Pro Neo 115. Using a Am.Std Jaguar

Here tis all packed View attachment 2983586
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Nice to see some settings. My preferred settings are still a work in progress. Still not 100% used to having the old classic tone stack where 2-10-2 is about flat, and the modern/OD channel where 5.5-5.5-5.5 is about flat. Blend is still a bit of a mystery to me in terms of where I like it. I don't really use OD that much though.
 
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#2,799
rodl2005 said:
Forgot to take pics. . As usual ...

Here's my settings from last night.
View attachment 2983585
This was into a Bassman Pro Neo 115. Using a Am.Std Jaguar

Here tis all packed View attachment 2983586
Click to expand...
Your vintage channel settings look much like mine, Rod, although I do not usually crank in and blend the dirt like you have in the overdrive channel - or have you been footswitching between the two?
Just realized it is five and a half years since I started this thread and the SB300 is still going as strong as it did on the day I bought it with never a hint of an issue. Doesn't get used for every gig but always puts a smile in my face.
 
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#2,800
oldskoolskatedad said:
That's quite a bit of gain generously blended in. Does it sound as gritty in the mix as one would expect?
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I only used the OD channel on about 5 songs, and yes , it was good n gritty... crunchy. . Nicely overdriven. And yes I did footswitch between the 2 channels on a couple songs.
This was just the one gig's settings. For a hard rock band.
I'll often have the blend off & keep the drive outta the 2nd channel completely.
Note the bump in the low mids - I find this helps give me the cut thru and punch in the drive tone that I need.
(Oh and that 2nd pic.. it ain't really all packed up, just there's they dbl Mono gig bag with my gig basses [literally] in this case -- a US Fender Jag & Squier VM P5 - and the Bassman Pro Neo 115 in its cover, the SB300 has his cover removed 4 the pic ;)
 
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