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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

Haven't used a boost pedal, but I imagine it would probably serve a dynamic role whilst pushing the tubes further, like for a solo or a riff of epic proportions.

Now not to high jack your question, but I managed to misplace the foot switch that comes with the amp...am I able to just order a new one through the MF guys? Or are there other options out there that are comparable?

On another note I run my vintage channel 4-10-5. Gloriousness I say!
 
Haven't used a boost pedal, but I imagine it would probably serve a dynamic role whilst pushing the tubes further, like for a solo or a riff of epic proportions.

Now not to high jack your question, but I managed to misplace the foot switch that comes with the amp...am I able to just order a new one through the MF guys? Or are there other options out there that are comparable?

On another note I run my vintage channel 4-10-5. Gloriousness I say!

You could just order them from Fender. This is a cheaper one.
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Or you could get this one, which looks more like the one that comes with it. They both work the same way though.
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I'm intrigued by the xotic RC Booster. Does it add just a touch of transparent gain to your signal? Might be just what I'm after to gain up the clean channel of the SB300

Thats exactly what it does. Very transparent, but you could add a touch of bass or treble if you want. BUt when everything is at noon its a nice boost without any extra color. Perfect for driving the vintage channel in situations were volume can't be too loud.
I like it, but I am curious about the TSVG bass boost and the Wren & Cuff.
 
Sounds cool. But, & forgive me, I've never used a boost of any kind so am intrigued, if it's adding a Lil gain- you say 'perfect for driving the vintage channel in situations where volume can't be too loud'.
Isn't it the same as adding a Lil channel volume- obviously by footswitch & thus easier than doing it by hand & a great idea as it's, I s'pose, like having another channel-sorta. - I'm struggling to see how it can add drive to the vintage channel without volume. ???? Unless it has a Lil dirt built in.
Please enlighten me ( & forgive my newb status in regards to this sorta pedal)
PS. Glad the SB300 is wiring for you. I sure do love mine.
I've owned most of the good 200 & 300w tube heads & this is the cream of the crop I my view. 😎😎😎
 
Hey everyone!
I've been reading through this whole thread the last couple of days as I am in the market for an all-tube bass head in the 300 watt range. I can't find a 300 in my neck of the woods to try but have located a 100t. As I am also going to take a friends mid-70s SVT for a spin tonight, I wanted to get a sense of what the fender could do with fresh ears to A/B them.I have tried a YBA-3 and play regularly through back lined vintage SVT'S. My question is...Do you guys think the 100t will give me a reasonable sample of what I can expect from the 300 at least enough to decide if I'll like the fender better ( my gut is that I will) appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Cheers
Sean
 
I have both - they're extremely similar tone-wise (and the tone stacks - Vintage and Overdrive - are the same). There are other differences of course as disussed both in here and in the very good BGM review. I'll say the primary difference is - again, as noted in here - is that the 300 puts a lot more horsepower behind each note - hard to describe really, but I use the 100T to drive a single 15"; it doesn't do justice to a 6x10" or 2x15" - but it weighs less, has a "guitard mode,' and silent mode, etc. etc.
 
Having owned the both the 100T and thecsb300 simultaneously, I agree with Bassorama on a basic level. However, I recently sold the 100T as I was simply preferring the 300 consistently as were my bandmates. The sb300 is more solid and adds noticeably more clean headroom and weight behind each note, even at lower levels. If you like the big svts, the 300 has that amongst its tones much more than the 100t. I often wonder if this because the 300 uses 6550s while the 100t has sl6s.
With my berg nv115 the sb300 is a noticeable improvement over the 100t, probably because of the cab's low sensitivity. The 100t is definitely a great amp and will get you into the sb300 ballpark, but if it was me I would wait and get the SB 300. All imho of course.
 
Sounds cool. But, & forgive me, I've never used a boost of any kind so am intrigued, if it's adding a Lil gain- you say 'perfect for driving the vintage channel in situations where volume can't be too loud'.
Isn't it the same as adding a Lil channel volume- obviously by footswitch & thus easier than doing it by hand & a great idea as it's, I s'pose, like having another channel-sorta. - I'm struggling to see how it can add drive to the vintage channel without volume. ???? Unless it has a Lil dirt built in.
Please enlighten me ( & forgive my newb status in regards to this sorta pedal)
PS. Glad the SB300 is wiring for you. I sure do love mine.
I've owned most of the good 200 & 300w tube heads & this is the cream of the crop I my view. ������

Some boost pedals do have a little dirt built in. But the general idea for me, in this situation, is to send a stronger signal into the pre of the vintage channel. This will overdrive it a bit. Could you get the same results turning up the volume on the vintage side, yes. But like I said, it could start the break up earlier, and also add a bit to the break up that is already there. Basically getting a slight drive, instead of full blown overdrive. It sounds pretty awesome.

In other news, my band started working on a new song that requires a bit more grind, so I used the overdrive channel tonight. This head is just so amazing. It could catch so many different tones and vibes, and it does them all great. I'm not gonna say my pedal GAS has been 100% relieved, but it sure has gone down to levels that its never been. I have been borrowing a few overdrives from a friend, and while some of them are good, none compare to the od channel on the SB300.
 
I have both - they're extremely similar tone-wise (and the tone stacks - Vintage and Overdrive - are the same). There are other differences of course as disussed both in here and in the very good BGM review. I'll say the primary difference is - again, as noted in here - is that the 300 puts a lot more horsepower behind each note - hard to describe really, but I use the 100T to drive a single 15"; it doesn't do justice to a 6x10" or 2x15" - but it weighs less, has a "guitard mode,' and silent mode, etc. etc.

Not sure that the 100T could not do justice to the 610. I think that is BULL.

I will have to see. I know I do like being able to overdrive the snot out of the power tubes at a volume that is useable.
**Noted this is all in the context of my 100T working properly, with the bias issue sorted out that I will continue to update on…

Marc
 
I would mirror what others have been saying. If I were a power tube drive kind of guy, the venues I play mostly, the 100T would be the goto amp, but most the time I like the extra headroom the SB300 gives my clean or pre-driven signal. If I liked more of that tube compression sound at the volumes I play, the 100T would be the goto head most the time I'm sure. But yes, tonal, very similar but I would not say they the same.

:bassist:
 
Not sure that the 100T could not do justice to the 610. I think that is BULL.

I will have to see. I know I do like being able to overdrive the snot out of the power tubes at a volume that is useable.
**Noted this is all in the context of my 100T working properly, with the bias issue sorted out that I will continue to update on…

Marc

I think it is OPINION. Some of us like clean tube power, some do not. You're clearly of the latter camp so what is BULL to you is perfectly sensible to others. Denigrating other people's opinions isn't all that helpful.

My personal feeling is that 300 watts is absolutely needed for less efficient speaker cabinets, like the 610, but I also prefer the sound of 6L6s to 6550s, so I go the efficient speaker route with tube amps. Someday I'd love to have a 300 watt amp with all 6L6s. Or even better, this:



System3.jpg
 
I don't think turning up the vintage channel volume will do the same thing. The schematic shows there's a tube right at the input before the signal is split to the channels, and it's well before the vintage channel volume. It could be that hitting this input tube with a hotter signal is giving you some added saturation and weight.

Does the Bass RC Booster add a touch of dirt too? This slight dirt added to the slight input saturation might be just what I am after to dirty up the already amazing sounding vintage channel so it cuts through a little better in my band situation.