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What was your first Bass Amp?

#62
For the longest time, I used an amp that I built from my mom's phonograph, looked like wooden furniture, but had a 30 watt all tube power section. Wasn't loud, and didn't have great tone, using the internal 12" phono spkr. My first real bass amp was a Peavey TKO 65.
 
#65
nysbob said:
A blackface 50w fender bassman. Nice head - atrocious cab.
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Wow. I finally found something I have in common with the great Bob Nyswonger! Mine was a '67 silverface with the matching 2x12 cab (bought used in '88). I didn't know what I had. I sold it a short time later for some "cool" solid state piece of crap that I can't even remember what it was. Sure wish I had that Bassman back for my guitar playing son.

By the way, Bob -- love your style. Saw you at the Exit/In in Nashville on the Bears' Rise and Shine tour. I'm still blown away by your work with the Bears. You and Chris were an amazing team.
 
#67
My first amp was a 30 watt Peavey Minx. I still have it and keep it next to the couch with my first bass, a Squire p-bass special. I can practice and watch tv with the kids. My wife never liked it but she is also the one that put up with the thump thump thump repetition of finger exercise and practice for the last 10 years.
 
#70
My first amp was an Ampeg SB-12. I got on my 14th birthday in 1966. I also got a Lyle bass that was a POS. I played the heck out of them both till I got a Fender P-bass and a Fender silverface bassman in about 68'.
Funny story; when I got my first rig I had my mom take directly to band practice at my drummer's house and we jamed for a while. Then I had to tune up and started breaking strings...I was tuning them an octave too high..LOL :bassist: once I got that figured out I was off and running.

peace Capt Kirk
 
#78
JimmyM said:
My first was a 70's Montgomery Ward SS combo...can't remember much about it except it was a 12" with 3 channels, guitar, bass, keyboards. I often ran all 3 at once with it, too.
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Mine was a Gretsch 6157 "Super Bass" combo. Open back with two 12" Jensens, 4 6L6's with two output transformers. Also with three inputs (Guitar, Hi Bass, Lo Bass) switchable with a rotary switch.
Sounded much better for guitar than for bass.
Like Jimmy, it also frequently served as a "band in a box" with guitar, bass and vocals run through it simultaneously.
I sometimes used to lug that boat anchor for miles in the pre-driver's license days, friends basements/garages, jam sessions, even gigs. Amp in one hand, Mosrite and mic stand in the other.

That was a loooong time ago! ;)
 

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