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Return of the Bassman
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:12 pm
by Thom
Those of you who have been around that long will remember that 10 years ago I bought James' blackface Bassman (
LANK), and some of you will have played it at Doogfest II when it was still James'. It was a 1964 AA864 circuit, which is arguably the most sought after version having been in production only between Aug '64 and Jan '65 at which point CBS made some changes. Anyway, it was an AWESOME amp, and unfortunately about 3 years ago I sold it. It was possibly by biggest gear regret ever, but I needed the cash and it wasn't being used much.
Fast forward to this week when I spotted another '64 AA864 Bassman on eBay. After chatting a bit with the seller I took the plunge, and got it yesterday. The seller was in Bodmin, Cornwall about 60 miles from me, and I could only realistically make it down to pick it up next Friday, but he offered to drive it up yesterday! Top bloke. His friend had acquired the amp in the early seventies and then passed it onto him when he moved abroad about 30 years ago. Funnily they are both bass players and used it as a bass amp. It's pretty much all original, just the knobs and one jack socket have been replaced. Even the tubes are original! Though that's not a good thing! Switched out the pre-amp tubes and it's nice and quiet...need to do the power tubes and get it re-biased. It's a bit worn, but actually not too bad for a 56 year old amp! Need to spend some time cleaning it up properly. Production stamp puts it at a Nov '64 assembly. Just serviced and recapped in July this year. One of the best things is that it's a proper export version so switchable to 240V and no need for an external transformer.
Got it home, plugged it in and it sounded just as good as I remember James' sounding. Really happy. Not letting this one go.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:46 pm
by gusman2x
Man that’s a lovely thing!
Can’t see me needing gig volumes for a long time, if ever again actually. Which has got me wanting something like a champ, or a princeton. I just love fender amps so much.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:05 pm
by Thom
Cheers! Yeah I’m very much waiting with much excitement for the day when we can go back to proper practices and gigging...
Of all my amps, there’s just something special about that classic Fender sound.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:44 pm
by Bacchus
Out of interest, where in Exeter would you take something like this for servicing?
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:48 pm
by Thom
I’d still use Mansons. They have an amp guy who picks up anything booked in each Monday.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:10 pm
by Mike
The amp that inspired an entire other company.
That's a beautiful old bastard. Nice one.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:14 pm
by Thom
Cheers Mike!
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:21 pm
by BearBoy
gusman2x wrote:Man that’s a lovely thing!
Can’t see me needing gig volumes for a long time, if ever again actually. Which has got me wanting something like a champ, or a princeton. I just love fender amps so much.
Me neither but I like seeing other people’s. Congrats Thom; glad you’ve been (sort of) reunited.
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:24 pm
by Thom
Thanks mate!
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 10:24 pm
by Fakir Mustache
Mike wrote:The amp that inspired an entire other company.
Selmer? They were making brass instruments before that.
It certainly isn't Marshall, completely different circuit.
Or was this on 5 Watt World?
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 10:33 pm
by Hurb
Lovely! Well jel.
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:48 am
by Thom
Fakir Mustache wrote:Mike wrote:The amp that inspired an entire other company.
Selmer? They were making brass instruments before that.
It certainly isn't Marshall, completely different circuit.
Or was this on 5 Watt World?
Jim Marshall used the Bassman tweed 5F6-A circuit in 1958-1959 as the template for the JTM45.
Hurb wrote:Lovely! Well jel.
Cheers Hurb
Am dead happy.
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 8:27 am
by Fakir Mustache
Thom wrote:Fakir Mustache wrote:Mike wrote:The amp that inspired an entire other company.
Selmer? They were making brass instruments before that.
It certainly isn't Marshall, completely different circuit.
Or was this on 5 Watt World?
Jim Marshall used the Bassman tweed 5F6-A circuit in 1958-1959 as the template for the JTM45.
Duh!
Guitars also have 6 strings, but sometimes they have seven or even eight!
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 8:36 am
by Thom
Fakir Mustache wrote:Thom wrote:Fakir Mustache wrote:
Selmer? They were making brass instruments before that.
It certainly isn't Marshall, completely different circuit.
Or was this on 5 Watt World?
Jim Marshall used the Bassman tweed 5F6-A circuit in 1958-1959 as the template for the JTM45.
Duh!
Guitars also have 6 strings, but sometimes they have seven or even eight!
Oh do get over yourself and fuck off.
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:02 am
by Fakir Mustache
Thom wrote:Fakir Mustache wrote:Thom wrote:
Jim Marshall used the Bassman tweed 5F6-A circuit in 1958-1959 as the template for the JTM45.
Duh!
Guitars also have 6 strings, but sometimes they have seven or even eight!
Oh do get over yourself and fuck off.
Secret fact: the guitar pick is also known as a "plectrum", but most people don't know that.
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:10 am
by Thom
Thom wrote:Oh do get over yourself and fuck off.
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:21 am
by Doog
Fakir Mustache wrote:Thom wrote:Fakir Mustache wrote:
Selmer? They were making brass instruments before that.
It certainly isn't Marshall, completely different circuit.
Or was this on 5 Watt World?
Jim Marshall used the Bassman tweed 5F6-A circuit in 1958-1959 as the template for the JTM45.
Duh!
Guitars also have 6 strings, but sometimes they have seven or even eight!
I don't even see what your point is here, Fakir, other than being an antagonistic dickhead. Quit it.
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:29 pm
by Mike
It may well be a different circuit but the topology is not radically different but that's not even your point silly internet man.
Everyone knows the Bassman inspired Marshall amplifiers. No need to 2020 Thom's thread because I'm not a pedant.
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 12:33 am
by Fakir Mustache
Mike wrote:It may well be a different circuit but the topology is not radically different but that's not even your point silly internet man..
Actually that was my point exactly. Completely different. Look at the schematics.
Or the thought also came up that you were actually referring to another company.
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:37 am
by NickD
Mike's too modest to say it, but you are kinda teaching your grandmother to suck eggs there.