ShortScale.org

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.


They had a Silverface 70's Fender Champ Amp.


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.


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.



***I got a card for a local amp builder/repairman, so if any Dallas Shortscalers need it I can pass it along to you.

nothing about the jc120 in the back??

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 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]

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.

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.

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.

AB165 mate
ab763 is actually the least desirable of the bassmans for guitar, however desirable for use with bass instruments.

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.

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.

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/

Haze wrote: [45 watts, different inverse feedback]

Negative Feedback.

Off to Tesco tonight, I'll take my camera...

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.

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.

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.

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.

seems like stiff prices for used Fender stuff?

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.

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!