The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

[G-Dog]

... ... , the problem should most likely arise in early use, and since the Bassmans have a 5 year warranty, [if purchased before January 1, 2017, 2 year warranty after that], the original owner should have had it repaired, so buying a used one shouldn’t be a concern.
FWIW, I’ve had a Super Bassman since 2015, many hours of use, dropped hard twice, still going strong on the original tubes.
The auto-bias feature was a major factor in choosing this amp.

New Fender warranty info: What are the lengths and details of the warranty on my Fender® or Squier® instrument, amplifier or accessory product?
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[Kerplunk]

I’ve only heard of the early 100T auto-bias having problems, and very few of the Super Bassmans having issues. In either case, the problem would most likely arise in early use, and since the Bassmans have a 5 year warranty, the original owner would have had it repaired, so buying a used one shouldn’t be a concern.
FWIW, I’ve had a Super Bassman since 2015, many hours of use, dropped hard twice, still going strong on the original tubes.
The auto-bias feature was a major factor in choosing this amp.

Thanks for your reply HOOLIGAN. Very much appreciated. Looks like the Super B is the no muss no fuss tube amp to appear in my not too distant future. Cheers.

 

[rodl2005]

I use my Super Bassman 1/4 of the time, so it's still functioning wonderfully on the original power tubes, &, touch wood, no issues with biasing. Mine was bought new in 2012.

I did a tube swapping session in about '13, and swapped out 2 pre amp tubes to 2 NOS (I think) Raytheon 5751's, which, again, I think, gave it a bit smoother drive from the drive channel.
It's definitely a beast tho.


That's how I usually use it. Into one Bassman Pro Neo 115 cab. Unreal and unparalleled imo

 

[Tim1]

I’ve only heard of the early 100T auto-bias having problems, and very few of the Super Bassmans having issues. In either case, the problem would most likely arise in early use, and since the Bassmans have a 5 year warranty, the original owner would have had it repaired, so buying a used one shouldn’t be a concern.
FWIW, I’ve had a Super Bassman since 2015, many hours of use, dropped hard twice, still going strong on the original tubes.
The auto-bias feature was a major factor in choosing this amp.

Mine was literally one of the first off the line and the auto bias took longer and longer to stop flashing until it finally spat the dummy and was replaced this year. The replacement unit is almost instant in biasing, which is quite a relief. The Fender tech told me that soon after mine they replaced the autobias on every head to arrive in the country (New Zealand) before they shipped it from their warehouse. He also seemed of the opinion that it has been a bit of a nightmare for Fender and doubted that they would ever introduce another model with it. He is a friend and a very well respected Fender tech, specializing in all Fender repairs, I believe him.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Mine was literally one of the first off the line and the auto bias took longer and longer to stop flashing until it finally spat the dummy and was replaced this year. The replacement unit is almost instant in biasing, which is quite a relief. The Fender tech told me that soon after mine they replaced the autobias on every head to arrive in the country (New Zealand) before they shipped it from their warehouse. He also seemed of the opinion that it has been a bit of a nightmare for Fender and doubted that they would ever introduce another model with it. He is a friend and a very well respected Fender tech, specializing in all Fender repairs, I believe him.

So you’re saying you went 7 years before you had to replace it? And Fender have been aware of a problem and have been replacing the units with a revised unit on all the heads before they ever went into the wild? And Fender has produced thousands of 2 models of heads (100T & Super Bassman) since 2012 (with no sign of ending production soon) without issuing a recall, or revising the models to remove the auto-bias feature all together, while continuing to use the auto-bias as a selling point?
Maybe it wasn’t that big of a nightmare for them. I’d still purchase again.

 

[Tim1]

So you’re saying you went 7 years before you had to replace it? And Fender have been aware of a problem and have been replacing the units with a revised unit on all the heads before they ever went into the wild? And Fender has produced thousands of 2 models of heads (100T & Super Bassman) since 2012 (with no sign of ending production soon) without issuing a recall, or revising the models to remove the auto-bias feature all together, while continuing to use the auto-bias as a selling point?
Maybe it wasn’t that big of a nightmare for them. I’d still purchase again.

Just saying what I was told, not trying to start a fire. You can draw your own conclusions. Certainly the problem such as it was seems to have been fixed now, but I still wonder whether we really need auto bias when you consider the hundreds of thousands of amps that never had it and are still going strong. If it ain't broke...

 

[rodl2005]

Just saying what I was told, not trying to start a fire. You can draw your own conclusions. Certainly the problem such as it was seems to have been fixed now, but I still wonder whether we really need auto bias when you consider the hundreds of thousands of amps that never had it and are still going strong. If it ain't broke...

Does yours have the V2 written on the biasing panel @Tim1 ?

Wonder if mine was swapped. I doubt it, it isn't instant, but it's only about 30 secs

 

[Tim1]

Does yours have the V2 written on the biasing panel @Tim1 ?

Wonder if mine was swapped. I doubt it, it isn't instant, but it's only about 30 secs

No, they gave me the old circuit board which was what was replaced.

 

[SactoBass]

I just bought a Fender Bassman 100T (used, about a year or two old, in total mint condition) and it has the v.2 on the bias panel. It appears that Fender came out with a "version 2" auto bias for the SB300 and the 100T at some point (not sure when that change happened). I do not know what the difference is between version 1 and version 2.

I haven't received the 100T yet. I will receive it tomorrow Mon June 24. The "v.2" designation was clearly shown in the pics of the amp.

Does anyone reading this post know what the difference is between the original version 1 (which says "AUTOMATIC BIAS" on the bias panel) and the newer version 2 (which says "AUTOMATIC BIAS v.2" on the bias panel)?

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Wonder if mine was swapped. I doubt it, it isn't instant, but it's only about 30 secs

I count the blinks. It’s roughly between 17 to 23 flashes and I’m good. Every now and again I will see it actually independently bias a tube set.

 

[Plutonium244]

I may reluctantly be putting my Super Bassman 300T up for sale, message me if you're interested. I am in Wisconsin.

 

[Ryan L.]

This has probably been discussed here already, but I’m too lazy to read through the whole thread....

Does anyone happen to know of a “better” footswitch that will work for channel switching on the 300? I hate the thing that comes with it, and mine has been acting up a little lately.

 

[Rocksolid]

This has probably been discussed here already, but I’m too lazy to read through the whole thread....

Does anyone happen to know of a “better” footswitch that will work for channel switching on the 300? I hate the thing that comes with it, and mine has been acting up a little lately.

I use a Boss FS-5L with my SB300. Works fine.

 

[smeet]

I may reluctantly be putting my Super Bassman 300T up for sale, message me if you're interested. I am in Wisconsin.

Sorry to hear that. If you don’t mind my asking... Why, and what will you replace it with?

 

[tombowlus]

With regard to the auto-biasing firmware, I checked in with my contacts at Fender and got these deets:

Fender’s Super Bassman and Bassman 100T pro-level bass heads now feature upgraded Automatic Bias firmware (released mid-2016). Previously, the Bassman 100T had a built-in “fail-safe” mode that could be falsely triggered, resulting in notable loss of volume. This has been remedied in current Bassman 100T models, resulting in improved diagnosis of and response to output tube status issues while enabling the show to go on, so to speak, without a problematic mid-performance drop in volume (due to differences in output stage circuit design, such functionality was not present in the Super Bassman).

Current Bassman 100T models feature an updated Output Tube Status LED display (more closely matches the LED display indication found on Super Bassman); both current models feature faster biasing for warmed-up tubes. Current Super Bassman and Bassman 100T models with revised Automatic Bias firmware can be identified by Output Tube Status LED displays that indicate “v.2”.

 

[Ryan L.]

I use a Boss FS-5L with my SB300. Works fine.

Thank you!

 

[Goatrope]

Thank you!

Just an added FYI....

I use the ugly little foot switch that came with my MBF800. I removed the overly bright LED and slapped a sticker on it to make it look more presentable. It’s ugly but fits on my pedal board and has been chugging along without incident for many months.

 

[SactoBass]

With regard to the auto-biasing firmware, I checked in with my contacts at Fender and got these deets:

Fender’s Super Bassman and Bassman 100T pro-level bass heads now feature upgraded Automatic Bias firmware (released mid-2016). Previously, the Bassman 100T had a built-in “fail-safe” mode that could be falsely triggered, resulting in notable loss of volume. This has been remedied in current Bassman 100T models, resulting in improved diagnosis of and response to output tube status issues while enabling the show to go on, so to speak, without a problematic mid-performance drop in volume (due to differences in output stage circuit design, such functionality was not present in the Super Bassman).

Current Bassman 100T models feature an updated Output Tube Status LED display (more closely matches the LED display indication found on Super Bassman); both current models feature faster biasing for warmed-up tubes. Current Super Bassman and Bassman 100T models with revised Automatic Bias firmware can be identified by Output Tube Status LED displays that indicate “v.2”.

Thank you Tom for that helpful information!!!

 

[Ryan L.]

Just an added FYI....

I use the ugly little foot switch that came with my MBF800. I removed the overly bright LED and slapped a sticker on it to make it look more presentable. It’s ugly but fits on my pedal board and has been chugging along without incident for many months.

View attachment 3456736

So basically I can use any latching footswitch with a TS cable and I should be good?

 

[Goatrope]

So basically I can use any latching footswitch with a TS cable and I should be good?

It appears to be the case. Working for me on my SBM300.