The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

[KPO2000]

My auto bias thing went on the blink soon after I got my SB300. Bad module. I had it replaced under warranty and it's worked great ever since. Love that amp, but the weight sometimes bums me it out. It's not the sheer weight of it that bugs me, but the bulk! Navigating doorways and twisty stairwells to get to the practice area/stage has resulted in more than a few scraped nuckles and pissed off back muscles.

But wait!

Digging this grab and go Bassman (500)! Compared to the SB300, the Bassman 500 is like watching a movie on your iPhone/iPad compared to your 4K flat screen in surround sound, but it's still pretty nice.

If I can swing it, I'm keeping both. (Class D) Chip off the old block.

 

[Down_Low]

My auto bias thing went on the blink soon after I got my SB300. Bad module. I had it replaced under warranty and it's worked great ever since. Love that amp, but the weight sometimes bums me it out. It's not the sheer weight of it that bugs me, but the bulk! Navigating doorways and twisty stairwells to get to the practice area/stage has resulted in more than a few scraped nuckles and pissed off back muscles.

But wait!

Digging this grab and go Bassman (500)! Compared to the SB300, the Bassman 500 is like watching a movie on your iPhone/iPad compared to your 4K flat screen in surround sound, but it's still pretty nice.

If I can swing it, I'm keeping both. (Class D) Chip off the old block.

View attachment 638612

Nice rig! I'd love to hear more on how you've found they compare, and if possible, even a recording or video comparing them?

 

[jeffgnr90]

My amps fuse blew tonight. Thought I heard some distortion and then I died. Could a tube have caused my fenders fuse to blow? Never had a fuse blow on me.

 

[svtb15]

Id love to hear more about how the 300 and 500 are either similar or different

My auto bias thing went on the blink soon after I got my SB300. Bad module. I had it replaced under warranty and it's worked great ever since. Love that amp, but the weight sometimes bums me it out. It's not the sheer weight of it that bugs me, but the bulk! Navigating doorways and twisty stairwells to get to the practice area/stage has resulted in more than a few scraped nuckles and pissed off back muscles.

But wait!

Digging this grab and go Bassman (500)! Compared to the SB300, the Bassman 500 is like watching a movie on your iPhone/iPad compared to your 4K flat screen in surround sound, but it's still pretty nice.

If I can swing it, I'm keeping both. (Class D) Chip off the old block.

View attachment 638612

 

[rodl2005]

My amps fuse blew tonight. Thought I heard some distortion and then I died. Could a tube have caused my fenders fuse to blow? Never had a fuse blow on me.

pm member @B-string he knows far more than I when it comes to these things.

I'm still using my Super Bassman at most gigs. Am constantly awe inspired by the punch and power of it. Sounds great thru the NV412 and just gorgeous thru the single Bassman Pro Neo 115. Just something about the matching Fender head n cab that creates magic.
I am using my Ampeg V4B RI for gigs where I don't need heaps of clean headroom & altho it's a great 100w amp, it lacks the massive slug fest power of the SB300. I love both tho and will continue to use em both for their different uses.

 

[B-string]

My amps fuse blew tonight. Thought I heard some distortion and then I died. Could a tube have caused my fenders fuse to blow? Never had a fuse blow on me.

pm member @B-string he knows far more than I when it comes to these things.

I'm still using my Super Bassman at most gigs. Am constantly awe inspired by the punch and power of it. Sounds great thru the NV412 and just gorgeous thru the single Bassman Pro Neo 115. Just something about the matching Fender head n cab that creates magic.
I am using my Ampeg V4B RI for gigs where I don't need heaps of clean headroom & altho it's a great 100w amp, it lacks the massive slug fest power of the SB300. I love both tho and will continue to use em both for their different uses.

Yes possible.

 

[rodl2005]

Thanks to you B, I've learned that if a fuse DOES blow, it's best NOT to get another the same and stick it in there and continue on. As the original problem could just cause more damage.
I'm sure I remember way back in the late 70s- we wrapped a fuse in silver foil to get thru a gig I knew at the time that it seemed dodgy. ..... Now I simply take a back up amp.

 

[B-string]

Shotgunning a fuse back in it is a sure way to make a tech's bench fee seem small in most cases.

 

[Tim1]

Thanks to you B, I've learned that if a fuse DOES blow, it's best NOT to get another the same and stick it in there and continue on. As the original problem could just cause more damage.
I'm sure I remember way back in the late 70s- we wrapped a fuse in silver foil to get thru a gig I knew at the time that it seemed dodgy. ..... Now I simply take a back up amp.

Yep, silver wrapping out of a cigarette packet was a good substitute for a blown fuse way back then. And life was so simple, all tube heads and we had never heard of biasing power tubes. Just pop another in and don't worry about it - looking back it amazes me that there were not more problems.

 

[rodl2005]

+1
I knew re biasing the power tubes, but only coz after our sax player spilled a beer into the open rear of my tube amp head - causing a spectacular light show of pretty blue arcs of lightning and foul smelling smoke to come outta the back of my amp. Causing the band to stop and watch in awe, then the audience to do the same. I, of course, stopped playing and took in the show as well, then carefully turned the power off and, later, to take the amp to my local tech. They, then explained to me what had happened and how the new power tubes ( 4 x 6CA7) needed biasing to make the amp work as it should and to get the most life outta the new tubes.
There, I'd learned that power tubes needed a "pro" to bias em after a retube.
This was in about 1980. I'd been using this amp (Vase Bassman 100 -built in Brisbane in the early '70s) for about 4yrs prior to this accident.

 

[B-string]

Yep, silver wrapping out of a cigarette packet was a good substitute for a blown fuse way back then. And life was so simple, all tube heads and we had never heard of biasing power tubes. Just pop another in and don't worry about it - looking back it amazes me that there were not more problems.

Old production tubes were held to a very tight quality standard. Usually if the operating point was incorrect (idle bias) the tube was replaced as defective. As soon as fixed negative bias was developed, proper bias was a design component of that typology. Bias was even around as self bias for low power tube outputs. I have no idea where you got the idea it is something new?

 

[Tim1]

Old production tubes were held to a very tight quality standard. Usually if the operating point was incorrect (idle bias) the tube was replaced as defective. As soon as fixed negative bias was developed, proper bias was a design component of that typology. Bias was even around as self bias for low power tube outputs. I have no idea where you got the idea it is something new?

I didn't. I was mocking my own ignorance back in the day .
Obviously subtlety is not one of my strong points .

 

[OzzyGreg]

.
I'm absolutely loving my SB300!
I've never had so much power and a beautiful tone on tap in almost 30 years of bass playing.

My setup: I run my bass into a Hooker's Green Bass Machine for overdrive (I don't like the overdrive in the SB300), on through a Big Muff Deluxe, then into a Zoom MS60-B (for compression and cabinet simulation only) and finally into the "2" input on the amp, through the Vintage channel. Absolute heaven for me.
I run my signal pretty hot, hence my selection of the "2" channel.

Concern: Occasionally I hear a little electronic "tick" from the amp when I'm not playing. It'll happen maybe every third or fourth break between songs. Just a single "tick" then nothing for a few more song breaks.

Question(s): Does anyone else hear a similar "tick"?
Should I be concerned?
What could be causing it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rodl2005]

Glad yr digging the amp OG. I've not heard any clicks from mine.... That doesn't mean it ain't doing it, just that I've not heard it.
You sure it ain't electrical noise from other appliances?

 

[azwhofan]

.
I'm absolutely loving my SB300!
I've never had so much power and a beautiful tone on tap in almost 30 years of bass playing.

My setup: I run my bass into a Hooker's Green Bass Machine for overdrive (I don't like the overdrive in the SB300), on through a Big Muff Deluxe, then into a Zoom MS60-B (for compression and cabinet simulation only) and finally into the "2" input on the amp, through the Vintage channel. Absolute heaven for me.
I run my signal pretty hot, hence my selection of the "2" channel.

Concern: Occasionally I hear a little electronic "tick" from the amp when I'm not playing. It'll happen maybe every third or fourth break between songs. Just a single "tick" then nothing for a few more song breaks.

Question(s): Does anyone else hear a similar "tick"?
Should I be concerned?
What could be causing it?

Thanks in advance.

Is it happening at different venues/locations? I would tend to think a 'tick' could be a static discharge from your AC source finding it's way through the circuit. Or somebody switching on a motor somewhere and that electrical noise finds it's way into your AC circuit.
Like Rod, I've never heard anything like that from my SB300, tho way back in the day I'd hear something like a pop when plugged into dirty AC power.

 

[OzzyGreg]

Is it happening at different venues/locations? I would tend to think a 'tick' could be a static discharge from your AC source finding it's way through the circuit. Or somebody switching on a motor somewhere and that electrical noise finds it's way into your AC circuit.
Like Rod, I've never heard anything like that from my SB300, tho way back in the day I'd hear something like a pop when plugged into dirty AC power.

Thanks guys.
Yeah it's happening at home and at our rehearsal room so I don't think it's an AC power supply issue.
It's not much at all, I just want to find out if I should be concerned about it or not. Other than that the amp's absolutely awesome!

 

[mattwear]

I sometimes hear a minor scratchy pop or low level static sound that lasts a few seconds when my amp is idling or between songs. It's only just audible such as when I'm practicing at home. I have always assumed it's the amp doing its auto bias thing. Here is an excerpt lifted directly from the manual...

"NOTE: To preserve the amplifier’s rich tube tone, Fender Automatic Bias will not make any bias adjustments while the amplifier is being played. Fender Automatic Bias will always wait until the amplifier is at idle or being played at very low levels before making any adjustments. "

 

[OzzyGreg]

.

I sometimes hear a minor scratchy pop or low level static sound that lasts a few seconds when my amp is idling or between songs.

Sounds a lot like what I'm talking about Matt. Mine's just a single pop, not seconds long.
You might be right about the auto-bias idea, it makes sense.

 

[rivergoblin]

Use the warranty and send it back for repair. I love the amp but I could happily do without the autobias, even though mine has never failed me.

Need help with my Super Bassman. I've had it about 6 months and never had any trouble. Last night at a gig it started up ok but working after 10 minutes. The auto bias stays on, light flashing from left to right. I've left it on for hours, won't stop auto biasing. Tubes are all lit up like normal, clear no cracks. Any idea what's going on? Thanks

Finally got an answer, circuit board was fried. Fender sent me a brand new amp!

 

[Tim1]

Finally got an answer, circuit board was fried. Fender sent me a brand new amp!

Can't complain about that. Good on Fender for doing the right thing.