1976 Bassman 50

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:22 am

SO, i picked up a 1972/73 1976 bassman 50 head today for $350. The gentleman explained all he knew about the amp, which was vast, and let me play around on it for a while through his bandmaster cabinet. The head sounded excellent! I was surprised when he let me crank it all of the way up to 10 even! Its amazing clean, its stunning when it starts to break up and is absolute bliss when its cranked up!

He had JUST put new mojo tubes in it right before i got there. It has all of the other original Fender tubes. The caps are starting to leak but they've still got some life left in them until i find the time/funds to replace them. The power cord is a bit frayed at then end but there are no wires showing. He said he replaced the ones on his deluxe, band master and super six so i'll probably look into doing the same. The jewel light is also burnt out but thats no problem, i'll find a blue or purple one somewhere.

► Show Spoiler

Gotta thank mike and everyone else who pushed me into tube-land. Now i know what you guys were talking about!

IMMA GO PLAY IT NOW!!!

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:23 am

Try it, and if its amazing DEW IT

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:26 am

second paragraph? don't want to make a bad investment

anyone have experience with vintage fenders or just tube amps in general? what things should i look for?

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:28 am

The caps have not been replaced.

The tubes in my best opinion are original, or close to it.

Nothing has been modded in it. I am thinking the caps will need replacing, they are working fine, but those old caps like to leak.

gotta ask if he can come down a bit since it will needs new caps.....

edit

OFFERED 350 HOPES HOPE HOPES HE ACCEPTS

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:37 am

I don't see any second paragraph. But always try stuff out if its local. just because you can.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:10 am

Good deal man, isn't this your first tube amp? It was mine too, except no master vol.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:18 am

Epic first tube amp, my man.
don't forget to jump those inputs.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:48 am

can't wait to get this thing home and hit it with a SHO

DOWNSIDE!
I spend $180 on the bugera 4x12 cab for 2 reasons, 1] it was cheaper than the 2x12 and 2] it has twice as many speakers!

kind of seeing a downside now because to my knowledge the bassman doesn't have a 16ohm out, only a single 8 or something like that
so basically i'll only be able to run 2 of my 4 speakers, unless i get 2 bassmans lol

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:54 am

didn't you get the bugera cab cuz you thought you were getting a bugera head?

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:59 am

[918] Have you ever heard a bassman right before they explode? Fucking JIZZ GRENADE

^surely you hadn't forgotten...

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:02 am

The bassman will drive all four speakers at 16 ohm.
You'll just get marginally less power out of your amp, which is not a bad thing, considering you'll never, ever need all that power, anyway.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:11 am

I don't know, science nerds have been saying different

science nerd wrote:Lets use an example of a 50W amp rated at 4ohms:

PLoad = current^2 x RLoad
50W = I^2 x 4ohm
I = 3.5 amps. This is what the output transformer is designed for in this example.

Pload = (Vsource^2 x Rload) / (Rsource + Rload)^2 = (Vs^2 x 4) / (4 + 4)^2 = 50W
Vsource = 28.2V

I = Vsource/(Rsource + Rload) = 28.2V/(4ohm + 4ohm) = 3.5 amps using a matching impedance cab of 4ohm

PL = load power = 50W with an 4 ohm cab
Vs = voltage source (fixed in the circuit) = 28.2V
Rs = impedance source (fixed in the circuit - impedance matching output transformer) = 4 ohm

However:

non-science nerd wrote: Your OT won't blow. Those old Bassmans are built like bricks. No worries.

he also went on to say

...I wouldn't go past a 1970 Bassman.
All that is for guitar use, for bass, the later the better. They get cleaner and cleaner and you have more headroom...

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:21 am

you were probably gonna want to upgrade those speakers eventually anyway. now, when you do, you can just slap some 8 ohms in there.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:21 am

welcome to the club!

Post by **Mike** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:44 am

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:10 pm

edited og post with pron

James · Post by **James** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:39 pm

Why not just make a new post in the same thread with the pron? I hadn't seen the thread before and now it makes no sense.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:50 pm

Haze wrote:Gotta thank mike and everyone else who pushed me into tube-land. Now i know what you guys were talking about!

About fucking time!!!

But seriously, good work, glad you like it

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:29 pm

jealous!

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:31 pm

looks to be in great shape! mine looks like 1,000 drunk/high dwarfs missed the input jack at running spead and drop an ocean of saltwater on all te metal bits, but it sounds like the dirtiest parts of heaven!
you gotsa do a proper demo of it, there is shit for decent bassman demos, they are all blue wankers.

1976 Bassman 50

1976 Bassman 50

Re: '72 / '73 Bassman 50