Anyone using 59 Bassman reissue to play bass?

[ndemattheis]

I am guitar player and I am switching over to bass to join a blues/rock coverband. I am looking for a bass amp, and I have always thought about the Fender Bassman for guitar playing. I understand that the Bassman is a popular guitar for blues/rock guitar, but how does it rate as a bass amp for the same type of music? I am curious regarding the amp's tone and reliability for playing bass in small venues such as clubs and festivals. THanks.

[gkoelling]

I don't play bass but this is a very interesting question.

Does anyone use this amp the way it was initially designed to be used?

[jetlag]

I have an old bassman that I would let the bass player in my band use for practices around the house (very low volume). It sounded killer - great low volume tone every bit as nice as an old B15N. But no practical volume for any but the quietest gigs. If you gigged with one, plan on mic'ing it out thru a PA and hope the band has subs so there is some decent low end going on.

[RDM]

In the book The Soul Of Tone: 60 Years of Fender, there's a photo of Gen Vincent and his band in the studio using a Bassman. There's 2 guitars and a bass plugged into it. I would think the amp would hold up just fine, and sound great too.

[hogy]

It's a beautiful sound for playing around the house, or maybe very small gigs with an acoustic guitar player. Very natural and woody.

But due to the open back it doesn't have any real low bottom end the amp will start to distort very quickly.

If you want some of that sound in a usable format, I suggest a 50W Marshall into a real bass cab (I use an Ampeg B-15 cab for that).

[Bassomatic]

Might be nice for a DI supp in the studio, but the way I figger it there are good reasons bassists got away from them as soon as something better came along.

[ndemattheis]

I figured as much. I was just looking for an excuse to pick one up. If I could use it for playing bass, then it wouldn't be yet another guitar amp for my wife to complain about.

[dougk]

I figured as much. I was just looking for an excuse to pick one up. If I could use it for playing bass, then it wouldn't be yet another guitar amp for my wife to complain about.

"but honey it says BASSman on it! I thought it'd work but it didn't so I had to buy ANOTHER amp"

there ya go. Problem solved. You'll get to get both.

[Rusty G.]

It's funny that you'd ask that. When I was a kid playing in a band in the late 70's/80's, I had an old Kustom "tuck and roll" 150 watt amp. . .solid state. I was the guitarist. My best friend/bass player had an old Bassman amp. We switched off. . .The Bassman got the grind and the Solid State amp stayed cleaner and louder.

I think that a bassman would be just fine for low volume stuff. . .but with a full band, it might not cut it. . .Still, it's an interesting thought.

[erivel]

I played one gig about 10 years ago with one, I wish I hadn't...:jo

[Jake]

Remember that back in the day amps were designed for much lower volume and lower power situations. I've got a Supro clone that has a bass input and 1x12 and for playing around the house or recording it has a great, warm tone. But I'd never, ever think about gigging it. Even going direct and using it as a monitor it doesn't have enough volume to clear the modern drummer. The 4x10 Bassman might be a bit better, but I have to think it would be much better in the home/studio than it ever would be on a gig in 95-99% of the situations I can think of. But if you need an excuse, there's always that 5%. :D

[Funky Monkey]

It sounds great. I used it for bass fairly often when I had mine. Yes, the power rating and open back keep it from being as strong and loud as an SWR/GK/Ashdown closed back 4x10 combo with more efficient speakers. But keep in mind that, even in a smaller club, they're going to throw a mic and/or DI onto your 300 watt SVT with an 8x10 cab just the same. And any soundman who knows what he is doing and cares about the overall sound of the whole group will tell you to turn down, too. 45 watts is more than enough for a dynamic mic that is only 1" in front of it.

Try to eliminate the thought that the power rating of an amp makes one bit of difference to a gigging guitarist/bassist. Took me a while to get my mind wrapped around it, but for about a year now, I've been gigging with my 18 watt, 1x12 guitar amp with the power scaled down to what I've been told by the mfr to be around 4 watts. That's the sweet spot for stage volume that allows me to still hear it, but not blow the head off of my singer/acoustic guitarist. I trust and rely on our sound guy to make sure it can be heard in the back of the club, but I'd have to with a 100W Marshall into a 4x12, too. If not, than my stage volume is just way too loud.

At 4 watts, I'm just as satisfied with the feel and tone of my amp and speaker as I was with a much bigger setup cranked. Maybe I'm just getting old. Regardless, I just don't think there is any reason (other than testosterone-fueled) why an amp on stage should be louder than the other instruments/voices coming through the PA.

Unless you think you'll be gigging without a PA, get the Bassman. It'll sound exceptional for blues/rock and you'll have a GREAT guitar amp, too.