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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread
- Thread starter Tim1
- Start date
This has been the most complicated amp transaction I have ever experienced. However, the tone and grind of the sb300 is so awesome, its actually worth it.
The oxblood sb arrived packed worse than the first one, box torn up and a huge gash that goes through the tolex and into the wood on top. However, it works and sounds good.
After contacting musicians friend I have two options. I could keep the head, pay $150 for their gold coverage, which is really good, covers almost anything but for only one year,
Or could pay $270 ($1530 total) and get a brand new head that would come with the fender warranty.
Here is the thing. I compared the two warrantys. Fender's only covers electronic. So pretty much the bias system would have five years of coverage, which is good.
Musicians Friend covers just about anything. Spills, drops, tubes, if the head is not working you send it to them and they either fix it or send you a new one (I know, sounds shifty, but they assured me that its no exaggeration. But only for one year.
So now im torn. keep this one and get it covered for anything for a year, or get a brand new one and have the biasing system covered for five.
Its such a mess. I just want a freakin sb300. Buying a 65lb tube head through mail order was not the brightest idea in retrospect. But its a decent deal. $1530 is a good price for a brand new one. Sorry for rambling here.
Throw some feedback my way. What would you guys do in this situation?
The oxblood sb arrived packed worse than the first one, box torn up and a huge gash that goes through the tolex and into the wood on top. However, it works and sounds good.
After contacting musicians friend I have two options. I could keep the head, pay $150 for their gold coverage, which is really good, covers almost anything but for only one year,
Or could pay $270 ($1530 total) and get a brand new head that would come with the fender warranty.
Here is the thing. I compared the two warrantys. Fender's only covers electronic. So pretty much the bias system would have five years of coverage, which is good.
Musicians Friend covers just about anything. Spills, drops, tubes, if the head is not working you send it to them and they either fix it or send you a new one (I know, sounds shifty, but they assured me that its no exaggeration. But only for one year.
So now im torn. keep this one and get it covered for anything for a year, or get a brand new one and have the biasing system covered for five.
Its such a mess. I just want a freakin sb300. Buying a 65lb tube head through mail order was not the brightest idea in retrospect. But its a decent deal. $1530 is a good price for a brand new one. Sorry for rambling here.
Throw some feedback my way. What would you guys do in this situation?
I'm a firm believer that if there are assembly or mfg defects with the product, six months of use will find it. If you need the reassurance, get the warranty. Don't you have 30 days regardless?
Maybe take the offer from MF to the bricks and mortar dealer and ask them to match it? Then you have the five year.
@franksgbass: if it were me, I'd shell out the $270 and get a new one. You get the Fender warranty. 5 years, transferrable and you got Fender standing behind this product. what's not to like? your getting a pretty good price for a new one. who knows, maybe you can talk them down a bit more.
Yep, good advice. Thats exactly what I did. MF gave me a new one for $1500. Should be here today.
Played my first show with the .sb300 last night in Pittsburgh. Seriously the best my bass has ever sounded. I recently picked up an xotic .BB bass boost. This pedal works magic with the vintage channel. I couldn't be happier. We are playing Cleavland tonight and I cannot wait to fire her up again. This thread was a big influence on my choice for my first tube head. Thank you guys.
Chef
In Memoriam
Chef
In Memoriam
It was actually a new one for $1530. Musicians friend made a few mistakes and to make it right they gave me a new one at that price. So I got the five year fender warranty, they still have a customer, everyone's happy. This was actually the only time I ever had a probelm with MF. I buy from them a lot, they have good customer service.
I'm actually thinking about paying for their two year "gold coverage" since I saved on the head. It covers a lot and they pay for shipping. It would cost me half of $150 to ship the head to and from Fender. So that alone makes it worth it.
Such a great head.
You don't have to ship it for five years. You just take to an authorized repair facility in your area with your receipt.
Philadelphia must have a few of them. Check the Fender website. Or am I missing something here.
Philadelphia must have a few of them. Check the Fender website. Or am I missing something here.
No. You are not missing anything. I just dig this amp so much that the extra insurance seems kinda worth it. Still debating.
This weekend of shows was Incredible. The vintage channel is really something special when the gain &volume are around 5. Just wow
This weekend of shows was Incredible. The vintage channel is really something special when the gain &volume are around 5. Just wow
+1 I use the vintage channel 80% of the time. Such a sweet thick lush tone. Unbeatable!
I am finding myself more and more using the overdrive channel in live situations. When I solo at home, the overdrive with blend on about 6 is just too much, but in the mix, I am finding a new tone that I really love. It allows me to cut in the mix without being over bearing, which brings me to another point of love for this amp. The more I turn it up, the better it gets. It's hard to be satisfied when I know it's even better with just one more twist of the of the knob. 
I am finding myself more and more using the overdrive channel in live situations. When I solo at home, the overdrive with blend on about 6 is just too much, but in the mix, I am finding a new tone that I really love. It allows me to cut in the mix without being over bearing, which brings me to another point of love for this amp. The more I turn it up, the better it gets. It's hard to be satisfied when I know it's even better with just one more twist of the of the knob.
What settings do you rum on the 2nd channel?,
Had to look.
Gain 5
Blend 7.5
Volume 5.5-6
Bass, mid, treb all flat at 6
Volume to suit, it was a small venue and didn't get over about 3.5.
Next time I will try driving the power section more and lighten up on the preamp side.
Gain 5
Blend 7.5
Volume 5.5-6
Bass, mid, treb all flat at 6
Volume to suit, it was a small venue and didn't get over about 3.5.
Next time I will try driving the power section more and lighten up on the preamp side.
Very nice! I've been running mine about the same, just gain and blend both around 7ish
