drip edge bandmaster or bassman?

[Hulakatt]

have the opportunity to pick up either a drip edge bassman or a drip edge bandmaster this weekend but can only afford one. What are your thoughts, recommendations or rants?

I'm pretty equally torn between the two. I've owned 2 bassmans previously and loved them but never owned a bandmaster and am very curious. I would like a bass amp but also love some good trem!

 

[blackba]

Depends on the style of music you are playing mainly. If you are playing rock, I would go with the bassman. If you playing blues, country, or soft rock, I would probably go with the Bandmaster.

Since you have not owned a Bandmaster, I would probably go that way.

 

[TELECOLLECTOR]

My credentials are nil.

My personal opinion is simply that good shape, original drip edge Silverfaces are the best current buy in the Fender vintage market.

Destined for appreciation.

I couldn't, in all candor, not buy both

 

[FlamingTop]

sorry for the stupid question and sorry to sidetrack a bit but what is meant by drip edge?

 

[TELECOLLECTOR]

A"drip edge" is, basically, a silver surround on the cabinet.

See baby Champ below.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Are both of these amps the piggyback variety?

I'd lean toward the Bandmaster myself.

 

[Hulakatt]

Both are piggy back, both are head-only and both fell through

Now I've got gas for a drip edge head...

 

[[email protected]]

that's a tough call. I have both, and use both often. Bassman is a tad louder, and can get thicker tones overall, but bandmaster just sound GOOD all the time and could not be more pedal friendly. bandmasters are what I hear when I think classic BF Fender tones. What type of music do you play?

 

[Tommy Biggs]

First I've ever heard any GAS for a Drip Edge! (I've had mine since 1975). It was my main amp for most of the time since then.
For what it's worth - I preferred blackface Bassman heads to the BMR, and had the Blackface mod done to my BMR a couple of years ago (recommended). I've found that they do take pedals well - but can be touchy. Tim's aren't supposed to be ideal for Silverface, so I'm currently waiting for an Analogman OD9 Silver.
I had been running a Tech 21 TriOD, and in the early days an MXR Distortion + which was a little shrill,

 

[pfflam]

I believe that only the Bassman has the Silverface innards while the Bandmaster might still have the blackface circuit . . . Bassmans were among the earliest to feel CBS's improvements.

I had a late 67 Blackface plated Bassman with the drip edge!! it was not a BF circuit . . . . but it sure sounded great!!

I absolutely love the drip edges and have a Super thatt someone 'upgraded' to BF cosmetics . . . I recently spent an arm-and-leg for raspy old drip edging and damaged faceplate and didn't even get decent corners!!

But I am always on the look-out for the latter . . . so if anyone really loves the BF but has the edging, corners and plate to a 68 Super let me know!

 

[Dezzy]

have the opportunity to pick up either a drip edge bassman or a drip edge bandmaster this weekend but can only afford one. What are your thoughts, recommendations or rants?

I'm pretty equally torn between the two. I've owned 2 bassmans previously and loved them but never owned a bandmaster and am very curious. I would like a bass amp but also love some good trem!

What did U end up getting, BASSMAN I hope, I just got a bassman 100 and I love it man, people say they are not classic fender cleans, BS, mine is jangle as hell on the 2nd channel, and with the bright switch on it is even more so, when I hit a note I get that clickee sound that I love to here wile playing, it is like the tubes are singing to you

 

[Mattbedrock]

I would recommend borrowing money from friends and relatives, pawning your wife's jewelry and picking up aluminum cans from the side of the road to afford both. But if you are already doing that to get just one ...

My Bandmaster has a SS rectifier, smallish iron (transformers) and runs about 35 watts. It has great cleans, a relatively stiff/springy feel and is loud enough for club gigs and will keep up with all but the most beastly drummers. It will crunch a bit wide open, but you need to goose it with a pedal to really make it sing. I prefer a Zendrive, but it loves all the pedals I've ever put in front of it.

My Bassman has a SS rectifier, massive iron and runs an honest 50 watts. It has good cleans but breaks up pretty early, has bottom end punch and is LOUD enough to punish drummers and club patrons that cross it's path. It breaks up fairly early and moves into massive overdrive turned up. And if you add a good pedal, you will be pushing your earplugs in. You'll need to use a pedal, an attenuator or play in places that like it loud. Because it is.

But get both, really. They are two of Fender's greatest amps.

 

[buddyrama]

I recently got a Bassman 70 with the dreaded ultrlinear transformer that everybody says sucks. It sounds great.

 

[smolder]

Having owned several of each... I still have a bassman and now a BMR. Together they span a very wide range of fender goodness. There is some overlap... Both are ss rectified and both can do great sparkly cleans. Minor mods can expand that (mid controls... Tremelo cut out... NFL switch). The bandmaster will stay pristine and bright... And the bassman can take you dark and well into early overdrive. Both are loud... Mine require attenuators. As said previous... Huge tone for the money.

 

[Dezzy]

I had my bassman 100 retubed with full set of GTs, what a difference, the ruby tubes were the last owners, who says they would be over 2 years + old, and they have been on overy day for the past 3 month for 5 hours by me lol anyway the amp seem's to have that fender spank now, and the nice chime is much better, the notes are very clear and harmonics are great, I have a nos jan philips 12at7 I pulled from phase inverter, which looks in good shape, thinking of sticking that back in, and maybe trying different preamp tube combos, but for now I am happy, think this amp is a keeper, always on the look out for a second amp, but it would have to be something totally different to justify having 2 lol saying that I have 2 strats he he I fancy a vibrolux reverb silverface, and if I put 6v6s in it, it will be a deluxe reverb with 2 speakers, and the same wattage