Tales from Guitar Center-Vintage Amp Edition

Pickups, pedals, amps, cabs, combos

Moderated By: mods

Post Reply
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Tales from Guitar Center-Vintage Amp Edition

Post by taylornutt »

My wife was awesome and picked up the kids so I could go hang out at Guitar Center for a little while.

I played a Blacktop Jaguar in Black and a CAR Tele Deluxe (GC special with a Tele headstock). The BT Jag was okay. Neck was good but not amazing and the pickups the same. Tone knob or pot was bent. Prefer the CIJ Jaguar HH for sure. The Tele Deluxe had a thin neck and the mint guard was pretty nice.

I played them both through a 1959 Bassman RI (50 watts) that was so worn looking I thought it was vintage. It wouldn't surprise me if it was vintage...those guys know very little about what they are selling. Tried both the normal and bright channels didn't get the amp volumes above 2. I may have to get a Bassman one day, though I would like one with Reverb or Vibrato if they make one.
Image
Image
They had a Silverface 70's Fender Champ Amp.
Image
Image
Used Fender Pro Junior - I loved the rusty metal brackets on the handle and the ring from the soda can sells the vintage appeal of the amp.
Image
Image
Silvertone Solid State 60BXL Bass Amp - This looked really cool. Not sure what it sounds like, but it got the vintage award for the trip.
Image
Image

***I got a card for a local amp builder/repairman, so if any Dallas Shortscalers need it I can pass it along to you.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
Haze
.
.
Posts: 4924
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Contact:
Contact Haze

Post by Haze »

nothing about the jc120 in the back??
Top
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Post by taylornutt »

Haze wrote:nothing about the jc120 in the back??
I must have missed it. Haze, what Bassman do you have and does is have reverb/vibrato?
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
Haze
.
.
Posts: 4924
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Contact:
Contact Haze

Post by Haze »

I have a '76 Bassman 50 head, which does not have reverb or tremolo. The Bandmaster head does have reverb and tremolo, and they overdrive a little nicer than bassmans [45 watts, different inverse feedback]
Top
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Post by taylornutt »

Haze wrote:I have a '76 Bassman 50 head, which does not have reverb or tremolo. The Bandmaster head does have reverb and tremolo, and they overdrive a little nicer than bassmans [45 watts, different inverse feedback]
I am trying to learn about the different Fender amps and they made lots of different Bassman amps. I will have to add Bandmaster to my list. I saw someone selling some on Craigslist.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
Haze
.
.
Posts: 4924
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Contact:
Contact Haze

Post by Haze »

Bandmasters are dead good amps, i'd love one. Fender has made so many different bassmans over the years. I, and I know James, learned up on them. Its essential if you are looking to buy one because some years are seriously different from others. Earlier silverface amps have the same guts as blackface amps while others have fairly fucked up topology.
Top
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Post by taylornutt »

Haze wrote:Bandmasters are dead good amps, i'd love one. Fender has made so many different bassmans over the years. I, and I know James, learned up on them. Its essential if you are looking to buy one because some years are seriously different from others. Earlier silverface amps have the same guts as blackface amps while others have fairly fucked up topology.
I was reading about that on Wikipedia. You want to get the The AB763 circuit which was availlable at the beginning of the Silverface era.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
Haze
.
.
Posts: 4924
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Contact:
Contact Haze

Post by Haze »

AB165 mate
ab763 is actually the least desirable of the bassmans for guitar, however desirable for use with bass instruments.
Top
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Post by taylornutt »

Haze wrote:AB165 mate
ab763 is actually the least desirable of the bassmans for guitar, however desirable for use with bass instruments.
What I was reading said the Ab763 was the most desirable for bandmasters....I was not referring to Bassman on the last post.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
foofoo982
.
.
Posts: 286
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:44 pm
Location: Madison, WI/Iowa City, IA

Post by foofoo982 »

Check out Bandmasters! I got Pat's SF Bandmaster and wouldn't give it up for anything. It seems that you have access to more vintage gear in your area, but if you have a chance to check them out, do. Blackface bandmasters are the more desirable amps but the non-BF circuit amps are easy to convert to Blackface specs.
Top
User avatar
lorez
.
.
Posts: 9689
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:58 pm
Location: Hopelessly Wayward

Post by lorez »

Taylornutt, I recently read this article on Fender amps that covered a lot of technical details if you are interested

http://www.tapeop.com/articles/80/crash ... mplifiers/
plopswagon wrote:I like teles and strats because they're made out of guitar.
robroe wrote:I dont need a capo. I have the other chords in my tonefingers
Top
User avatar
Mike
I like EL34s
Posts: 39170
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:30 am
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Contact:
Contact Mike

Post by Mike »

Haze wrote: [45 watts, different inverse feedback]
Negative Feedback.
Top
User avatar
benecol
Best Poster 2010
Posts: 8289
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:12 pm
Location: Westcountry

Post by benecol »

Off to Tesco tonight, I'll take my camera...
Top
User avatar
Bacchus
Whatever's handiest
Posts: 23590
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:10 am
Location: wandering

Post by Bacchus »

benecol wrote:Off to Tesco tonight, I'll take my camera...
Haha, see if you can't hook us up with some mad deals on a pizza.
Image
Top
User avatar
Josh
The Curmudgeon
Posts: 5010
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:11 pm
Location: George
Contact:
Contact Josh

Post by Josh »

taylornutt wrote:
Haze wrote:nothing about the jc120 in the back??
I must have missed it. Haze, what Bassman do you have and does is have reverb/vibrato?
i don't think bassman amps have vibrato or reverb.
Top
User avatar
Ankhanu
.
.
Posts: 2995
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:51 pm
Location: Nova Scotia
Contact:
Contact Ankhanu

Post by Ankhanu »

Haze wrote:Earlier silverface amps have the same guts as blackface amps while others have fairly fucked up topology.
For Twins it's 1972 that things changed away from the blackface (or near enough) specs. Not sure where it is for Bassman and Bandmaster, but I think it's in that ballpark.
Josh wrote:i don't think bassman amps have vibrato or reverb.
I think you're right.
ekwatts wrote:That's American cinema, that is. Fucking sparkles.
Donate to Ankhanu Press
Top
User avatar
Noirie.
YOUTH
Posts: 5364
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:51 pm

Post by Noirie. »

BacchusPaul wrote:
benecol wrote:Off to Tesco tonight, I'll take my camera...
Haha, see if you can't hook us up with some mad deals on a pizza.
:lol:
theshadowofseattle wrote:less being WOKE
more being STOKED
Top
User avatar
kypdurron
.
.
Posts: 944
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:51 pm
Location: Kaiser Wilhelm Kuntry

Post by kypdurron »

seems like stiff prices for used Fender stuff?
Top
User avatar
taylornutt
.
.
Posts: 4908
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:04 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Post by taylornutt »

kypdurron wrote:seems like stiff prices for used Fender stuff?
the only way you get a deal at GC is for the people selling it to not know what they.
J Mascis Jazzmaster | AVRI Jaguar | Tuxedo-stang |Fender Toronado GT |
Squier FSR Sparkle Jaguar | Squier CV Mustang |1971 Fender Bronco| Baja Telecaster |
Top
User avatar
Rayjaysonic
.
.
Posts: 293
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:57 pm
Location: Brizzle England Cheers Drive!
Contact:
Contact Rayjaysonic

Post by Rayjaysonic »

kypdurron wrote:seems like stiff prices for used Fender stuff?
To me in the UK, all of that stuff looks decent value. If you reckon that all looks stiff on the price front......I am even more jealous!
Don't look at me I'm irrelevant!
Top
Post Reply