The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

[flatwound62p]

I’m using a passive a/b switch box with a ts cable plugged into one of the outputs and that’s doing fine. Also successfully tried an old Ibanez rack unit switcher, which was also single latching and ts connector.
That indicates to me that it’s happy with just any old latching Switch with ts connector.
One with a self-powered indicator led would be handy. I measured 17 volts across my Switch in the pedal so I’m assuming that will work with something like an Orange amp switcher pedal which powers the led via voltage out of the ts cable.

 

[Down_Low]

I really wish there was a wireless option for the foot switch. Something that could go on a pedal board, without needing to run another lead back to the amp.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Took the SB out for a fest gig tonight.
Still keeps me smiling!

 

[rodl2005]

Same! Played a county hall, I didn't know how big room was going to be etc . . So it's always better to have more than enough than not enough.
Sounded superb
Super Bassman into NV215

 

[SactoBass]

Super Bassman into NV215

I'll bet that rig sounded great!

 

[Ryan L.]

I ended up going with this footswitch. Worked great at last night’s gig, and the led lights when I switch to the OD channel.

Fender 1-Button Contemporary Footswitch: Channel Switching - Drive On/off with 1/4-Inch Jack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KZJ90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tTzgDb85QK74C

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I ended up going with this footswitch. Worked great at last night’s gig, and the led lights when I switch to the OD channel.

Fender 1-Button Contemporary Footswitch: Channel Switching - Drive On/off with 1/4-Inch Jack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002KZJ90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tTzgDb85QK74C

That is actually super cool!

I searched for a Footswitch for my SB, but never came across that one. Even though I always favor the vintage channel, I think I might get one.

 

[Rocksolid]

That is pretty cool. My Boss FS-5L also lights up on the OD channel, so I will resist the desire to purchase one...

 

[SyncToGreen]

Any super bassman experiences when using with regular guitar?

I'm thinking of buying a sb along with a combination of 412s & 215s to use in the studio for a range of stuff from jazz bass to guitar to pedal steel. Not to replace guitar amps I have ..but the sb sort of brings back memories of a Sunn 1000s + 415s I owned in 1968 or so.....which was pretty versatile most of the time.

In looking at the bassman's signal structure, insert capabilities etc, I'm thinking beyond just bass guitar.

Thoughts?

 

[KPO2000]

So @tombowlus what’s it been like having a SB300 again how’s it going and how does it compare against the Bergantino Forte HP? Thanks!

 

[Chickenwheels]

Has anyone here done some tube rolling in their Bassman preamps? Any results/tips/insights/recommendations would be awesome. Stuff like whether or not something like a Genalex Gold Lion has made any notable improvements/changes to gain/tone vs. cheaper options.
(Or direct me relevant to page/post..!)
Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[tombowlus]

So @tombowlus what’s it been like having a SB300 again how’s it going and how does it compare against the Bergantino Forte HP? Thanks!

Well, I am thrilled to have my favorite mass production tube head back in the stable!!!! But I have not compared it to the HP yet...

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

WIf anyone is interested.

Spent the last two days tube rolling my SB V1 and V2 sockets with a dozen NOS tubes.

Tried Sylvania, RCA, Raytheon, Telefunken, GE, and newer Tung-Sols and Ruby’s.

My stock power tubes are GT Russians at a 5 rating, so right in the middle. The stock 12AT7 in the power section is a GT-R Russian made premium branded tube.

The stock 12AX7 in the power section is a GT-R Russian made select branded tube.

The stock 12AX7’s in V1 and V2 were not branded at all. They had extremely short plates as well. Kind of strange, but they sound good though.

I ended up putting in the newer made Tung-Sol’s in V1 and V2 because they seemed to have all the qualities of all the NOS tubes combined. Sounds great, not that it didn’t before, just more to my liking.

I’ve been experimenting with channel and master volume settings to see what I like. I have a few festival gigs in the upcoming months so I will be touting the SB/GB Uber 410 with me.

Do you guys keep your channel volume high and adjust with the master or vise-versa?

A little off topic but, I ended up putting the NOS RCA’s in my Ashdown Little Bastard and they sound absolutely amazing in it!!

View attachment 3433793 View attachment 3433794

Has anyone here done some tube rolling in their Bassman preamps? Any results/tips/insights/recommendations would be awesome. Stuff like whether or not something like a Genalex Gold Lion has made any notable improvements/changes to gain/tone vs. cheaper options.
(Or direct me relevant to page/post..!)
Thanks!!!!!!!

I posted about it earlier in this thread and quoted above.

I spent a good amount of time tube rolling a couple of my amps and found that rolling the SB was very subtle when swapping preamp tunes around.

I used a bunch of NOS tubes to try out, unfortunately I didn’t have a Genelex On hand so I cannot comment on it. I did however settle on newer Russian made Tung-Sols for my SB pre, they sounded great to my ears and when I gigged it, I was very happy with my tone. YMMV

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Ryan L.]

I’m getting ready to order new preamp tubes to try in mine, through Tube Depot.

One of the options is “high gain”. Since I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to this stuff, are the high gain ones going to break up faster, or stay cleaner? Or am I completely off on my thinking?

The last amp I changed out preamp tubes in was a DB750, which helped tighten up the sound a bit, but I don’t remember having the high gain option then...

 

[InnerBass]

This amp rules

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I’m getting ready to order new preamp tubes to try in mine, through Tube Depot.

One of the options is “high gain”. Since I’m a bit of a noob when it comes to this stuff, are the high gain ones going to break up faster, or stay cleaner? Or am I completely off on my thinking?

The last amp I changed out preamp tubes in was a DB750, which helped tighten up the sound a bit, but I don’t remember having the high gain option then...

High gain will in turn make the signal hotter to break up faster.

 

[Ryan L.]

High gain will in turn make the signal hotter to break up faster.

Thank you! That’s the opposite of what I want then.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I posted about it earlier in this thread and quoted above.

I spent a good amount of time tube rolling a couple of my amps and found that rolling the SB was very subtle when swapping preamp tunes around.

I used a bunch of NOS tubes to try out, unfortunately I didn’t have a Genelex On hand so I cannot comment on it. I did however settle on newer Russian made Tung-Sols for my SB pre, they sounded great to my ears and when I gigged it, I was very happy with my tone. YMMV

Hope that helps a little.

Very helpful and much thanks!

 

[rodl2005]

Very helpful and much thanks!

I've tried a few different tubes in V1 and V2, but can't remember exactly what they were, it was 5 or so years ago.
I ended up, iirc, with 2 Raytheon 5751's in there

 

[Ryan L.]

I've tried a few different tubes in V1 and V2, but can't remember exactly what they were, it was 5 or so years ago.
I ended up, iirc, with 2 Raytheon 5751's in there

Will swapping the tubes in V3 and V4 have any effect on the amp’s sound?