...for me. This 1966 Bassman amp, belonging to Shawn Budden, came across my bench, and it had been a little while since I'd restored one of these. This was an absolutely untouched original amp (aside from the homemade boat-seat padded head box), and needed the usual stuff to be put back to gigging condition, namely a 3-prong grounded cord for safety, and filter caps, since the original capacitors were busted.
I was able to recap the amp, bolt the transformers down tight, add a safety ground (and remove the death cap), replace a few tubes, and it is now singing beautifully.
What I wasn't prepared for was the rush of memory, taking me back to 17 yrs old, getting a bass gig with my guitar teacher's band, and shopping for a rig at a peculiar little used music shop in Baton Rouge. I had the idea to find a Fender Bassman amp since they could do double duty and be used for my bass gig, but also as a guitar amp. This was going to be my first vintage Fender amp, and a companion to my main Mesa 50 Caliber head. Little did I know, that amp would eclipse the Mesa in tone, and be used in many many bands. I couldn't believe how good it sounded as a guitar amp!!
Since that amp, many have come and go (including my original one), but I've never found amps that sounded better to my ear than the blackface Fenders from the mid 60's, and to this day my main amps are a Vibrolux Reverb, and Super Reverb, which have a very similar tone. Without Reverb, the Bassman, Tremolux, and Showman heads don't get as much love as their reverb equipped combo brethren, but don't overlook these, since they are true hand wired vintage amps with great iron in them, the spectacular blue molded capacitors, carbon comp resistors, and would command huge prices for a modern version made with the same parts.
Stunning tone, and worth every penny they sell for... and it was really cool to be reminded of that sound, hearing true sparkling tube tone, knowing there was no going back...
I was able to recap the amp, bolt the transformers down tight, add a safety ground (and remove the death cap), replace a few tubes, and it is now singing beautifully.
What I wasn't prepared for was the rush of memory, taking me back to 17 yrs old, getting a bass gig with my guitar teacher's band, and shopping for a rig at a peculiar little used music shop in Baton Rouge. I had the idea to find a Fender Bassman amp since they could do double duty and be used for my bass gig, but also as a guitar amp. This was going to be my first vintage Fender amp, and a companion to my main Mesa 50 Caliber head. Little did I know, that amp would eclipse the Mesa in tone, and be used in many many bands. I couldn't believe how good it sounded as a guitar amp!!
Since that amp, many have come and go (including my original one), but I've never found amps that sounded better to my ear than the blackface Fenders from the mid 60's, and to this day my main amps are a Vibrolux Reverb, and Super Reverb, which have a very similar tone. Without Reverb, the Bassman, Tremolux, and Showman heads don't get as much love as their reverb equipped combo brethren, but don't overlook these, since they are true hand wired vintage amps with great iron in them, the spectacular blue molded capacitors, carbon comp resistors, and would command huge prices for a modern version made with the same parts.
Stunning tone, and worth every penny they sell for... and it was really cool to be reminded of that sound, hearing true sparkling tube tone, knowing there was no going back...
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