The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

[flatwound62p]

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

Don’t know the answer but my tech told me one of them sets the bias voltage (I think v4 but not sure). Whichever one it is needs close matched halves or it’ll make auto bias get cranky. Just had a look at the manual and it classifies v3 and v4 as being part of the power section, not preamp.

FWIW I had everything replaced, all pre and power tubes, and couldn’t hear any difference.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Had an outdoor gig with my Super Bassman/610 Neo rig last weekend.
Had several compliments from non-bass players about my TONE.This happens more with this rig than any other I have used. Doesn’t bother me a bit if they don’t compliment my playing ability as well!

 

[Ryan L.]

Had an outdoor gig with my Super Bassman/610 Neo rig last weekend.
Had several compliments from non-bass players about my TONE.This happens more with this rig than any other I have used. Doesn’t bother me a bit if they don’t compliment my playing ability as well!

I had something similar happen recently. We were playing a large venue in town here, and a drummer I’ve worked with in the past (who also helps head the music/recording programs at one of the biggest universities here) came up to me on break. He asked “what in the hell are you using for an amp now?” I took him up to the stage and showed him, and he told me that it’s honestly the best bass tone he’s ever heard. I took that as a major compliment, coming from someone with a background like his.

That night I was running a DI from my head, and a mic on one of my Neo115’s, to the FOH. The venue has a very nice DAS line array system (one of very few venues in town that has a house PA so we don’t have to use our own), and a fantastic sound tech. The tech had my signals blended about 80% cab mic, and 20% DI, so my FOH sound was close to my stage sound (with whatever EQ adjustments he had to make, obviously).

 

[SactoBass]

I had something similar happen recently. We were playing a large venue in town here, and a drummer I’ve worked with in the past (who also helps head the music/recording programs at one of the biggest universities here) came up to me on break. He asked “what in the hell are you using for an amp now?” I took him up to the stage and showed him, and he told me that it’s honestly the best bass tone he’s ever heard. I took that as a major compliment, coming from someone with a background like his.

That night I was running a DI from my head, and a mic on one of my Neo115’s, to the FOH. The venue has a very nice DAS line array system (one of very few venues in town that has a house PA so we don’t have to use our own), and a fantastic sound tech. The tech had my signals blended about 80% cab mic, and 20% DI, so my FOH sound was close to my stage sound (with whatever EQ adjustments he had to make, obviously).

Awesome!!!

Fender seems to have real winners with the Super Bassman and the 100T!

 

[rodl2005]

Awesome!!!

Fender seems to have real winners with the Super Bassman and the 100T!

1st note, with the Super Bassman literally, got me.

 

[SactoBass]

1st note, with the Super Bassman literally, got me.

That's when you *KNOW* you are playing through the right amp for you! I had the same experience with the 100T at my home!

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

So from all the talk earlier with the channel select Footswitch, I decided to mod an old Ace Tone Footswitch I had laying around. It was in a box I had from my grandfather who passed away in 2002. He was a drummer, and played organ as well.

It has a plastic covered housing with a metal frame on the inside, all I did was buy a output jack from GC for $5 and dremeled out a hole where the cord was hardwired to the switch, then soldered it up.

Works like a champ.

 

[Ryan L.]

Question:

I just bought a Broughton “always on” HPF for mine. Does anyone happen to know if the effects send/return goes to the DI in “Pre” mode? I’d prefer to just use it for my stage sound, so I’m hoping (probably wishful thinking) that putting it in the effects loop and then sending a pre-EQ signal to the board, will keep the HPF limited to just on stage...

 

[Rocksolid]

Question:

I just bought a Broughton “always on” HPF for mine. Does anyone happen to know if the effects send/return goes to the DI in “Pre” mode? I’d prefer to just use it for my stage sound, so I’m hoping (probably wishful thinking) that putting it in the effects loop and then sending a pre-EQ signal to the board, will keep the HPF limited to just on stage...

My understanding is that it will be input > effects loop > DI > Tone stack if you select pre EQ for the DI. The other thing to consider is that I think the effects loop is line level, so pedals that are built for instrument level may not play nicely with it. I tried using the loop with an instrument level pedal once and the results weren't great.

 

[Ryan L.]

My understanding is that it will be input > effects loop > DI > Tone stack if you select pre EQ for the DI. The other thing to consider is that I think the effects loop is line level, so pedals that are built for instrument level may not play nicely with it. I tried using the loop with an instrument level pedal once and the results weren't great.

Ahh, right! I forgot about the line level part. Guess it’ll just go in the front end right out of my wireless then.

 

[Rocksolid]

Ahh, right! I forgot about the line level part. Guess it’ll just go in the front end right out of my wireless then.

And realistically, the Subs are going to amplify the subby, percussive garbage that you are trying to remove far better than your rig, so getting that stuff out of FOH is pretty important. Also, if you use an Octaver at all, getting that stuff filtered out first will get the Octaver to track better, and it isn't to put an Octave below on the unwanted stuff, and muddy up your tone even more.

 

[Ryan L.]

And realistically, the Subs are going to amplify the subby, percussive garbage that you are trying to remove far better than your rig, so getting that stuff out of FOH is pretty important. Also, if you use an Octaver at all, getting that stuff filtered out first will get the Octaver to track better, and it isn't to put an Octave below on the unwanted stuff, and muddy up your tone even more.

My sound tech handles all that in the FOH. He HPF’s and LPF’s as needed, per channel, via our Midas board. So I still wanted to send him my full signal so he’s got the same “raw” feed to work with.

 

[Down_Low]

I’ve often considered a HPF, but never pulled the trigger on one. I gather they can be handy when going down to a low B. But is it worth it for a 4-string bass?

 

[G-Dog]

I’ve often considered a HPF, but never pulled the trigger on one. I gather they can be handy when going down to a low B. But is it worth it for a 4-string bass?

Perhaps if that 4-string is BEAD?
.

 

[BassikBrad]

I’ve often considered a HPF, but never pulled the trigger on one. I gather they can be handy when going down to a low B. But is it worth it for a 4-string bass?

Even if you have standard tuning, your whole system will benefit substantially by using an HPF. It will
stop unnecessary cone movement, whenever you gently touch any string, including the Gstring.

Simple test, remove grille, grab any string between fore finger & thumb, pull it up & down whilst
watching your cone move in & out without actually making any sound. When you are playing,
this is happening, unnecessarily, all the time, soaking up amp power & adding inter modulation distortion
thru' the amp & speaker.
This is fact, not "false news".

 

[rodl2005]

I've never bothered using one, but have seen the cone move immensely in a situation as described above.

I've got my Fishman Platinum Plus pre amp that has a variable HPF in it... which is very handy with upright bass, but, altho I've used it as a DI, I've never used it as a HPF for electric bass.

So, as I have seen the cab's cone move a lot b4, I've never had a problem with it nor had a problem with wasted power etc...

I'll no doubt give it a try soon.

My Bergantino B|Amp has a LPF/HPF built in, and it's handy for problem rooms.

 

[Down_Low]

So I've decided I want a bigger cab than my Neo 410. I only play big rooms every now and then, but you know, GAS...

My budget is only going to stretch as far as buying something on the used market, so I've narrowed it down to:

Fender Neo 610 (rarely see them pop up used here in Australia)
Berantino NV412 (I just missed one this week!)
Bergantino NV610 (one has just popped up for sale, tempted)

Rocksolid has already been a champ answering some questions for me on these, but I've love to hear from other Super Bassman players as well. I've read back though a lot of posts in this thread about what people have used with their SBM's, but what's everyone using now? And is there anyone that loved the NV610 with their SBM, to the point that they're still using this combo?

Cheers.

 

[SactoBass]

So I've decided I want a bigger cab than my Neo 410. I only play big rooms every now and then, but you know, GAS...

My budget is only going to stretch as far as buying something on the used market, so I've narrowed it down to:

Fender Neo 610 (rarely see them pop up used here in Australia)
Berantino NV412 (I just missed one this week!)
Bergantino NV610 (one has just popped up for sale, tempted)

Rocksolid has already been a champ answering some questions for me on these, but I've love to hear from other Super Bassman players as well. I've read back though a lot of posts in this thread about what people have used with their SBM's, but what's everyone using now? And is there anyone that loved the NV610 with their SBM, to the point that they're still using this combo?

Cheers.

@Down_Low: How about a second Neo 410 cab to stack on top of the one you already have? That would be a killer speaker cab rig for the SB300, IMO!

 

[Down_Low]

@Down_Low: How about a second Neo 410 cab to stack on top of the one you already have? That would be a killer speaker cab rig for the SB300, IMO!

I've definitely thought about that too, and if one were to pop up I may grab it. But I do like the idea of a single large cab with tilt back casters that I can just roll in to venues.

 

[SactoBass]

I've definitely thought about that too, and if one were to pop up I may grab it. But I do like the idea of a single large cab with tilt back casters that I can just roll in to venues.

Good point! And many TB'ers seem to like the single large cab that tilts back and rolls!