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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread
- Thread starter Tim1
- Start date
A question for the lucky ones...
Here in Sweden, the Super Bassman is about 25% more expensive than the SVT CL and about 80% up from the YBA300. Is it worth it?
I don't like the Fender tone stack but really like the eq design in the SVT, and will probably not use the vintage channel much.
Here in Sweden, the Super Bassman is about 25% more expensive than the SVT CL and about 80% up from the YBA300. Is it worth it?
I don't like the Fender tone stack but really like the eq design in the SVT, and will probably not use the vintage channel much.
Greetings AlexanderB,
If you don't like the the Fender tone stack I'd recommend checking out the Traynor YBA300. In your situation it may be a great economic and sonic alternative.
Rezdog
If you don't like the the Fender tone stack I'd recommend checking out the Traynor YBA300. In your situation it may be a great economic and sonic alternative.
Rezdog
Do you folks ever adjust the biasing based on the venue? Like maybe if you're playing an outdoor show and you know you're gonna be turned up and hit that breakup more easily, do you turn down the biasing? I was just wondering. More along the lines a tube conservation question.
Hi webmonster - The reason they won't import the fifteen is that apparently Fender was initially quite insistent that the 100T be marketed as a partner for the 610, and the Super Bassman with the 810. Personally I find that the 610 is a great match for Super Bassman, but I would have preferred a 410 when I had the 100T. I suppose Direct Imports would probably import a fifteen for you as a special order, but they weren't too keen when they first came out.I certainly like my TL606 cabs
I wonder what the reason is for our importer only carrying the 4x10 and 6x10? I would have thought that quite a few people like 15s, but then I don't get out to see bands that often...
I have never touched the biasing on my Super Bassman, nor when I had the 100T. I just don't want to tempt fate. Mind you, the autobias certainly came in handy when I put a set of Winged Cs into the 100T.
I also have never done this. It just sounds so good the way it is.
I haven't ran mine wide open yet but I would probably knock the tubes down a notch or two into 'cool' territory if I were to run it outdoors. Don't really feel like replacing a sextet of 6550s any time soon.
@AlexanderB... I didn't use the vintage channel too much at first but I found it does a great job cutting through the mix. I actually favor it over the modern channel now.
@AlexanderB... I didn't use the vintage channel too much at first but I found it does a great job cutting through the mix. I actually favor it over the modern channel now.
It was between THE SVT-VR & Super Bassman when I got my Super Bassman 300.
I've never been a huge fan of the Fender tone stack myself but haven't found it Any sorta problem since getting mine.
The active channel allows very versatile adjustments if that's what's needed (it was needed on Friday night- a bad room with glass everywhere) I was able to dial out a lot of problem lows and bump up the low mids.
I'm certainly very happy I chose this over the SVT myself.
I've never been a huge fan of the Fender tone stack myself but haven't found it Any sorta problem since getting mine.
The active channel allows very versatile adjustments if that's what's needed (it was needed on Friday night- a bad room with glass everywhere) I was able to dial out a lot of problem lows and bump up the low mids.
I'm certainly very happy I chose this over the SVT myself.
Thanks guys!
Regarding the tone stack:
I have a Fender TBP-1 that I bought without trying, just based on positive reviews. That was a mistake. Using ALL tone shaping controls (B,M,T, room balance and parametric eq), I barely get that (flat-ish) tone I normally start off with on other amps. My other amps are the LMII and an EBS pre, both virtually ruler flat when set correctly.
In the TBP-1, I feel the bass centre frequency is too high, causing a bloated "head-ache" type of bass. It forces me to dedicate the parametric just to correct this. The room balance is tweaked to brighten up the general darkness of the amp. After this, there is very limited tone shaping available with the remaining mids and highs pots. With all its knobs, the TBP-1 really begs for an external eq permanently patched in.
The Ampeg eq just works - lows at 40Hz is just right, selectable mids done well and highs that works for my basses with rounds.
Regarding the tone stack:
I have a Fender TBP-1 that I bought without trying, just based on positive reviews. That was a mistake. Using ALL tone shaping controls (B,M,T, room balance and parametric eq), I barely get that (flat-ish) tone I normally start off with on other amps. My other amps are the LMII and an EBS pre, both virtually ruler flat when set correctly.
In the TBP-1, I feel the bass centre frequency is too high, causing a bloated "head-ache" type of bass. It forces me to dedicate the parametric just to correct this. The room balance is tweaked to brighten up the general darkness of the amp. After this, there is very limited tone shaping available with the remaining mids and highs pots. With all its knobs, the TBP-1 really begs for an external eq permanently patched in.
The Ampeg eq just works - lows at 40Hz is just right, selectable mids done well and highs that works for my basses with rounds.
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Well there sure ain't anything wrong with an SVT. Be it a SVT-VR, SVTII, SVTII-PRO or SVT-CL. They're all fantastic amps imo.
I like the Super Bassman as it sounds terrific in basic (Vintage) mode set as I like-Bass-5. Mids-9. Treble- 6.
Then the active channel is there to do whatever is called for.
As I've said many times b4, I would certainly be very happy with a SVT-VR. The Super Bassman is lighter and was about $1000 cheaper for me to buy here in Aus. So it was a no brainer for me.
I like the Super Bassman as it sounds terrific in basic (Vintage) mode set as I like-Bass-5. Mids-9. Treble- 6.
Then the active channel is there to do whatever is called for.
As I've said many times b4, I would certainly be very happy with a SVT-VR. The Super Bassman is lighter and was about $1000 cheaper for me to buy here in Aus. So it was a no brainer for me.
rodl2005 said:
"The Super Bassman is lighter and was about $1000 cheaper for me to buy here in Aus."
Amazing... It is clear that the Ampeg and Fender representatives in Sweden (and Germany!) have a very different business model than their Australian colleagues...
What I think is so tempting with the newer tube amps like the Fenders, The YBA300, the Bugera 1960 (from a technological POV), the Peavey VB series etc, is that they have some updates to mitigate a couple of tube amp issues; the weight and the reliability. Lighter power supplies combined with circuit monitoring (and even fail safe modes to get you through the gig) shows that tubes does not heve to mean "old-fashioned".
Old school giants like the SVT, Classic 400, VBA 400 are also great, but more "old school" than some people like or can easily live with.
Kudos to Fender for their contribution in still developing the tube amps!
"The Super Bassman is lighter and was about $1000 cheaper for me to buy here in Aus."
Amazing... It is clear that the Ampeg and Fender representatives in Sweden (and Germany!) have a very different business model than their Australian colleagues...
What I think is so tempting with the newer tube amps like the Fenders, The YBA300, the Bugera 1960 (from a technological POV), the Peavey VB series etc, is that they have some updates to mitigate a couple of tube amp issues; the weight and the reliability. Lighter power supplies combined with circuit monitoring (and even fail safe modes to get you through the gig) shows that tubes does not heve to mean "old-fashioned".
Old school giants like the SVT, Classic 400, VBA 400 are also great, but more "old school" than some people like or can easily live with.
Kudos to Fender for their contribution in still developing the tube amps!
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@AlexanderB - check out that super in depth analysis of the amp... Its in this thread somewhere. Bass Gear Magazine I think? You can get a flat EQ on both channels. I think its 1-10-1 or close to it on vintage and slightly adjusted from center on the modern channel.
Edit: Link Removed
Edit: Link Removed
Thanks negativefx - very illuminating!
This article just confirms what I have heard from my pre, as long as TBP-1 is voiced like the Super Bassman!
Rolled off lows, starting fairly high up. When adding back a bit of the missing energy, the high centre frequency and low Q of the LOW eq will exaggerate the bass up around 150 Hz as well.
(Just look at the corresponding graph for the LMII at the MarkBass homepage, with its lower frequency and steeper slope lets you adjust the deep part of the sound.)
Page 16 in here:
Invalid Link Removed
The super Bassman is also clearly rolled off in the highs, with the "high" control centered too low to flatten the response. Instead, boosting it will yield a pronounced peak in the low treble range.
This is where I struggeled to use the room balance to my advantage, with some success.
The modern/ovedrive channel looks even worse actually, from my POV. Still higher "LOW" centre frequency there... But OTOH, here the highs extend much further.
Again, thanks for the link!
This article just confirms what I have heard from my pre, as long as TBP-1 is voiced like the Super Bassman!
Rolled off lows, starting fairly high up. When adding back a bit of the missing energy, the high centre frequency and low Q of the LOW eq will exaggerate the bass up around 150 Hz as well.
(Just look at the corresponding graph for the LMII at the MarkBass homepage, with its lower frequency and steeper slope lets you adjust the deep part of the sound.)
Page 16 in here:
Invalid Link Removed
The super Bassman is also clearly rolled off in the highs, with the "high" control centered too low to flatten the response. Instead, boosting it will yield a pronounced peak in the low treble range.
This is where I struggeled to use the room balance to my advantage, with some success.
The modern/ovedrive channel looks even worse actually, from my POV. Still higher "LOW" centre frequency there... But OTOH, here the highs extend much further.
Again, thanks for the link!
My take: I hated my tbp-1. I couldn't stand the fender tone stack in anything before and couldn't get a usuable tone for me with it.... but I like mids. It was a good sound for some guys, but not me. Well, the superbassman is different. I cant get a bad sound out of it! Its stellar with every bass. It sounds more natural and smoothed out where the tbp-1 felt more precise and problematic to me.
As for the svt-vr: it was a CLEAR loser against the super bassman in five minutes. Whether a jazz, stingray or warwick. Whether sealed or ported cabs.. it sounded lifeless next to it.
As for the svt-vr: it was a CLEAR loser against the super bassman in five minutes. Whether a jazz, stingray or warwick. Whether sealed or ported cabs.. it sounded lifeless next to it.
I should note that I've played the amp with the following basses and had great success with each: Custom Shop Precision P+J, Aerodyne P+J w/ Dimarzios, 78 Ripper fretted w/ tapewounds (this one loves the vintage channel... duh), Dimension HH 4 string, an old ass Peavey Forum w/ Dimarzios, and a Bass VI. I had it running into an OBC410 and OBC115 but switched to two fearful 15/6s and it just crushes now.
Ok, so it still is different from the TBP-1.
Interesting.
Then I better not try it, or it might result in an expensive load out from the MI store...
Interesting.
Then I better not try it, or it might result in an expensive load out from the MI store...
Greetings from the North,
Looks pretty solid to me. Prolly due to Fender's judicious use of the rare black specklewood for bracing
Rezdog
Looks pretty solid to me. Prolly due to Fender's judicious use of the rare black specklewood for bracing
Rezdog
