Bassman, Deluxe Reverb, Silverton 1484...anyone?

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:26 pm

So I've been playing a Bassman LTD for awhile now and it's really awesome when it's goosed above 6'ish. The only problem is that's too punchy for the rest of the band to keep up. I start eating into the bass and overpowering the other guitar (Vox AC30, usually run flat out).

That's at practice of course, at shows I've got to really neuter it and then mic it up.

I guess I feel like I'm constantly fighting a battle that can't be won at this point....so I'm a bit discouraged. I'm thinking of looking into a new amp (which means I'd have to sell the bassman, which I'm sure i'll regret at some point).

I was looking into the '65 Deluxe Reverb and Silvertone 1484, but I've got concerns about both.

They Pro's: they're both affordable on my budget.
Con's: Not sure if the Deluxe is loud enough in a band setting, only pushing 1x12 @ 22w. The Silvertones are old, raggady, and fragile...but cheap and sound pretty good. Kind of like a twin that breaks up at 3-4.

Anyway...just needed to vent a little and see if any has any experience with these amps or similar issues.

Post by **Hurb** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:36 pm

stick a volume boost into your amp. then you can turn the amp down a bit. but still get good tones.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:38 pm

Played lots of shows with Deluxe. Always loud enough.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 3:43 pm

Hurb - So by volume boost, you're talking like a clean boost peadal right? Would you just leave it on the entire time? The bassman is fat clean where it sits now, and I've just been using an old rat to push the amp with the distro down, so I guess I'm using it like a booster.

Tim - Is there enough headroom to use some drive/fuzz pedals without it getting crazy farty? Does it keep up with a decently loud 4 piece band...we're not talking blue cheer but pretty loud.

Post by **Hurb** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:14 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:Hurb - So by volume boost, you're talking like a clean boost peadal right? Would you just leave it on the entire time? The bassman is fat clean where it sits now, and I've just been using an old rat to push the amp with the distro down, so I guess I'm using it like a booster.

yes a clean boost. on all the time to cook the amp makes it sound nicer at lower volume. I recommend a saltboost.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:33 pm

Hurb - Where would you put that in a chain? First right after the tuner?

Post by **Hurb** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:38 pm

amp----->boost-----> everything else----->guitar

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:49 pm

Sorry for my ignorance...but booster before the boss TU-2?

Post by **Hurb** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 4:52 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:Sorry for my ignorance...but booster before the boss TU-2?

well it doesn't really matter about a tuner which way. unless it adds noise then you would want it after the boost so the boost doesnt BOOST the noise.

experiment.

I would defo try the boost before buying a new amp though.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:10 pm

Yeah, I'd like to try a booster first as I like the bassman.

I might be able to get a slat booster from Mike on the next payday.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:27 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:Yeah, I'd like to try a booster first as I like the bassman.

I might be able to get a slut booster from Mike on the next payday.

Fixxx'd

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:58 pm

The Silvertone amps are groovy, but I wouldn't depend on one. They're wired dead bug style, so stuff tends to short out easily.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:05 pm

Wired dead bug?

I've really dug the sounds out the silvertones but they don't look too solid. I know they need to be babbied in transport, but it would probably be more of a pain in repairs to have one.

They're so damn appealing though, sound great and are really affordable.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:39 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:Wired dead bug?

Some of the bigger parts are on turret board, but the rest are just soldered directly to one another and loose in the chassis. It makes repair hard b/c the layout is different from unit to unit.

What about an attenuator like the Weber MASS? You could set the volume wherever sounds good and then sort your master level from there, plus it's a lot cheaper then a whole new amp.

If yr set on something smaller, I'd go for a used Deluxe - should provide plenty of volume for rehearsal and live you'll be micing it anyway.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:58 pm

Yeah, I used an attenuator once on a Marshall 87x and hated it every time I turned it on. So, I doubt that's an option for me. I've heard others use the hot-plates and sound good, but it's not for me.

I like the idea of driving a 22w deluxe more but it concerns me about keeping up with the rest of the band w/ 1x12 speaker and 22w.

There are a lot of them around in Chicago and I could probably get away with trading someone looking for a Bassman LTD. I went into GC last week and they didn't have a Deluxe. I tried the '65 twin and disliked it very much. You've got to push it way too hard to get any sort of soul to come out of it. The bassman at least starts breaking up at 4 but to get sweet spot it just takes over everything else in the room.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:35 pm

timhulio wrote:
Chicago Mike wrote:Yeah, I'd like to try a booster first as I like the bassman.

I might be able to get a slut booster from Mike on the next payday.
Fixxx'd

haha, irl.

I use Aen's Planeticket in front of my Silver Face bassman for some softer tonez, definitely look into a booster.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:50 pm

Yeah, I just tried a tubescreamer with the gain all the way down as a clean boost but it really didn't seem to help that much. It boosted the signal, but when I'd stomp on any other pedal it'd really get noisy. By itself it was fine, but I can't be playing that clean.

The Rat is usually really tight and the TS9 noticebly cut out the definition. Even last night I had to re-adjust b/c I was too loud....which I don't mind but I was running it low and it just didn't feel like the amp was breathing (if that makes sense).

Zack · Post by **Zack** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:24 pm

I'm really not a fan of the rat2 + bassman, it seems so constrained if that's what you meant by breathing, then I totally understand.

What was your effects chain with the tubescreamer?
amp>tubescreamer>effects>guitar?

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:35 pm

It's an old 70's Rat and it really doesn't sound like the newer Rats now. It's truly the essence of "Marshall" in a box, but with the tube screamer in front it just sounded plain 'ole bad.

The TS9 made everything sound fizzy/thin but it could have been the placement too as I didn't move it around in the chain:

Guitar/TU-2/TS9/Little Big Muff and/or Mike's Homebrew Fuzzface/Rat/Deluxe Memory Man/Bassman

Post by **Hurb** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:37 pm

You did it wrong.