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The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

#1,681
Hey guys just read your replies to my issue. I ended up replacing the fuse with one that fender sent along with the amp. This might not be a surefire solution so it seems. Also, I inspected the tubes and one tube is dead (I can see that it's cracked). Should the autobias be registering this? According to the autobias all of my tubes are fine....
 
#1,682
OzzyGreg said:
.
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.
Click to expand...

Haven't heard this at all with mine, I'll keep a close ear though.
 
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#1,686
jeffgnr90 said:
Gotcha I just gotta figure out which one to get. Gonna just stick with whichever the stock tubes are. Should I not play the amp until then?
Click to expand...
are we talking power tube or pre tube? If it's power tubes I would suggest you get a matching pair of stock tubes and replace the other tube that's paired with your defective one, as IIRC correctly the auto-bias works in pairs.
And yes, to be completely on the safe side, if it were me I wouldn't use the amp until you make the replacements.
 
#1,687
azwhofan said:
are we talking power tube or pre tube? If it's power tubes I would suggest you get a matching pair of stock tubes and replace the other tube that's paired with your defective one, as IIRC correctly the auto-bias works in pairs.
And yes, to be completely on the safe side, if it were me I wouldn't use the amp until you make the replacements.
Click to expand...

Yea it's the power tubes, 6550R's. I'll be getting a pair of them. I'm looking at the groovetube site and am going to contact some retailers to see if they're carried in store, unless anyone can chime in and definitively say they aren't? I'm already assuming they have to be ordered.
 
#1,688
jeffgnr90 said:
Yea it's the power tubes, 6550R's. I'll be getting a pair of them. I'm looking at the groovetube site and am going to contact some retailers to see if they're carried in store, unless anyone can chime in and definitively say they aren't? I'm already assuming they have to be ordered.
Click to expand...
They are fairly common tubes, I'd think there's be some in stock somewhere. It'll probably end up being a matter of convenience for you. There's always Amazon, tho I don't know what the odds are of finding matched pairs are.
Just be aware that it's a pretty tight fit in that headshell so don't get the fat (Coke) bottle version. Get exact replacements. Also take the standard precautions when replacing power tubes so you don't get electrocuted.
 
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#1,689
azwhofan said:
They are fairly common tubes, I'd think there's be some in stock somewhere. It'll probably end up being a matter of convenience for you. There's always Amazon, tho I don't know what the odds are of finding matched pairs are.
Just be aware that it's a pretty tight fit in that headshell so don't get the fat (Coke) bottle version. Get exact replacements. Also take the standard precautions when replacing power tubes so you don't get electrocuted.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think tomorrow I'm going to open the back and take the tube out, that way I'll have something to show in case I'm walking into a shop somewhere. The amp will not be plugged in when i do this, and I'm going to wear gloves to avoid leaving any residue and finger prints anywhere.

Also, does me changing the tube void the manufactures warranty, does anyone know?
 
#1,691
here's some pics of the amp opened up! all the tubes are stock.

Top left photo is the preamp tubes and the preamp tubes from the power section. Turns out the 12AT7 is shot as well.

Top right photo is of the paired power tubes (6550-R's). One thing i find slightly confusing is that per the SB300 manual and the inside of the amp it says there should be 6550-Cs's, but on the actual tubes it says 6550-R (which i ordered a pair of). Hoping i ordered the right pair of tubes?

Bottom left photo is a view from the back of the amp and bottom right photo is a view from the front of the amp.

Aside from the 12AT7, i don't know if the corresponding 12AX7-R needs to be switched out or not. I kind of want to go with the Mullard style one and see how that one sounds?

I'm going to be swapping out the preamps however ( not sure with which ones yet) since a show or two ago i was getting a lot of feedback, which according to the manual, means that they're going "stereophonic" and are on the way out. Will also be replacing the corresponding fuse for the new 6550's.
 

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#1,692
IIRC, folks have not heard much difference when tube rolling with this head. That's not to say you won't hear any difference after a swap of course., but if it were me I wouldn't spend a lot of time and money chasing the tone dragon with the SB300. The stock tubes all sound great to me!
Here's a useful thread: Buying Spare Tubes For Fender Super Bassman | TalkBass.com
There is a tube rolling thread out there somewhere but I can't find it ATM
 
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#1,694
azwhofan said:
IIRC, folks have not heard much difference when tube rolling with this head. That's not to say you won't hear any difference after a swap of course., but if it were me I wouldn't spend a lot of time and money chasing the tone dragon with the SB300. The stock tubes all sound great to me!
Here's a useful thread: Buying Spare Tubes For Fender Super Bassman | TalkBass.com
There is a tube rolling thread out there somewhere but I can't find it ATM
Click to expand...

Cool thread, thanks for that

rodl2005 said:
As I've documented previously. ....
I had good results putting NOS 5751s in V1 & 2 (pre amp) - gave a nice warmer drive on both channels. I agree tho, there ain't nothing wrong with the stock tubes.
Click to expand...

I'll look into those, thanks rod.
 
#1,697
I think I already know the answer to my question, but I ordered a pair of 6550r tubes and didnt know when they would arrive until they shipped. Turns out they're not going to get here for a month lol so I have somebody in my areas selling a pair of 6550c tubes, if I went with these would that be detrimental in anyway?
 

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