Fender Bassman 250/210

Single channel. 4 ohm minimum load, which is what the internal speakers are. I'd consider changing to two 16-ohm speakers to make the built in set-up 8-ohms and then add an extension cab. It would still be fine with the 2 10s but a bit less power.

Using an Ibanez Soundgear with Bartoloni pickups. Sounds great. I've turned the tweeter almost all the way off. Too "clicky" for me and doesn't feel necessary for my style. Takes low B with ease...simply part of the range.

Have had it one week. Still works.

Too new. Comes with 5-year transferable warranty.

Been playing guitar and bass for 45 years. I'd like to try the Carvin 2-10 combo, but that is only mail-order. It's $50 less and claims to have more power, a tube pre-amp, and lighter weight. I'll stick with the Fender for now.

I felt moved to post this, even though it is extremely early as far as my amount of time spent with this amp actually playing it on gigs rather than tormenting the people at the store for about 2 months before it was purchased. The things that I can attest to at this early stage are, 1) the amp was very well liked in all of the research I did and the reviews I read...2) everyone involved in my current musical project have been amazed by this amp's power and tonality...and...3) I really like it.

That said, this is a single channel solid state amp, 250 watts, 2-10" Fender Special Design Eminence USA PRO 8 ohm 125 watt Speakers, 1 Compression Driver High Frequency Horn, -6dB Input Pad (for High Output Basses), XLR Line Out Jack for Recording or PA Feed, High Frequency Horn with 3-Position Attenuator Switch (FULL / -6 dB / OFF), RCA Auxilliary Input Jacks for Playing Along with Tapes or CD's, Mute Switch, Tuner Output, Effects Loop, Headphone Jack, Plywood Cabinet (No Particle Board), Heavy Duty Spring Loaded Handles, Front Panel Controls: -Input Jack
- -6dB input pad (for high output basses)
-Input volume (to set proper incoming level)
-Compressor (fixed threshold, adjustable ratio)
-Contour (a variable scoop applied to the MID section for slap style playing)
-Bass, Low and High Semi-Parametric Midrange (Freq / Level), Treble
-XLR output with Level control, PRE/POST switch and Ground Lift switch (live, recording)
-Mute switch (with LED to indicate Mute ON)
-Master Volume

Rear Panel Controls:
-Speaker Out (4 Ohm min, full power internal, unplug internal cable for use with external cabinet)
-Headphone input (for silent practice)
-AUX in (RCA style input jacks for use with CD player or similar)
-Effects Loop (send and return)
-Tuner Out (still functions when the amplifier is MUTED)
-Removable IEC style cable.

The amp weighs in at 63lbs and is quite manageable. My only complaint...and I have ranted about this for years regarding pretty much all amp manufacturers...is regarding the casters. They will go out soon and need to be replaced. They are hopelessly and ridiculously thrown on the amp almost as an afterthought.

Though it hasn't been used yet in the variety of situations I will be involved in, I have every confidence in the world that this small amp will handle the situation. This amp is almost Mesa-like in it's output. Amazingly loud and clean. I a/b ed this amp with a few well-know high-end and similar combos and this amp knocked them all out of the box for less money. With the eq chain set flat, this thing just pounds out the tone. I have yet to bother messing around with it's fairly elaborate eq.

This amp is made in Indonesia, so as far as that end goes, who knows...but the same doubts can be harbored of many high end pieces of equipment made right here in the good ol' USofA.

I am currently using a Fender Franken-P...Fender body with a gorgeous birdseye maple Warmoth Tele Bass neck. This bass was given to me after I came back from the dead, so the electronics are a mystery. I will venture to say a hot P replacement, manufacturer unknown. It is a wonderful bass. I play all styles. That was something my generation did. The amp, as previously stated, has been set flat, no compression, and combined with the P, emanates a big fat focused tone. It has the ability to get crunchy and nasty, but as that is not my particular bag, I have yet to experiment there. I have fiddled around with the amp, of course, before buying it, and the tonal variety is expansive. It seems to be a very easy adjustment to dial it into whatever situation one is playing in. Again, this is a new review and there will be an addendum.

There is the question. It is too soon to tell. I can say that there was a service bulletin with this amp, and the dealer I bought it from took care of that. Apparently some of the pots were bad. My particular dealer replaced all of them with new equipment, so I am not concerned with that. I would have never pictured myself buying a Fender bass amp, but from the research I did, this is a workhorse. We will see.

It is, again, brand new. As an aside, my cousin is one of the head honchos at the Fender Custom Shop. I suppose if I had any complaints or concerns I would start with him for a direction.

I started playing the guitar in 1960 and the electric bass in 1963. In those days, the electric bass was referred to as a "Fender" bass. I grew up in Los Angeles and have had the amazing good fortune and blessings to be able to make my living at music. I have played professionally since the age of nine. Believe me when I say, I am one of the ones who has witnessed the growth of the electric bass and what a trip it has been. I have played and/or owned just about everything over the years. Right now, all I have is the aforementioned P-Bass, Ol' Thumper. I have...of all things...an old Acoustic Model 118 which is a great amp, especially if you need an amp that is too small for big gigs, too big for small gigs, and as all of the amps from that era did, weighs a country ton. It does have that cool old Acoustic tone, though, just at a 50 watt level.

If my Fender were stolen or lost, I would replace it. I am anxious to really use this amp. What I love about this amp is that it seems to be made very well, and has had some thought put into it by some discerning bass players and not a room full of wannabe SRV/David Gilmour Strat wankers. Again, it is loud and big and clean. I had a red amp of this style made by a well known 3 letters in the name of the manufacturer at one time and it couldn't compare with this little amp. I compared it to a well known 2 letters in the name of the manufacturer's product and it was junk compared to this Fender. The ONLY complaint I have so far about this amp is the casters.

I highly recommend that bass players try this amp out and see if what has been said about it is true. Never in a gazillion years, which is about how old I am, did I picture myself having a bass amp made by Fender.

The amp was made in 2006 in Indonesia. It is a 250 watt solid state combo. I use it for a 4-piece rock cover band. I use it in clubs that are under 200 people capacity. It has more than enough power for the size venues I'm playing. I won't ramble about the features, you can see those at the Fender website. I do like the built in compressor. I bought the 115 extension cabinet with it...don't need it! It does sound fuller, but it doesn't increase the wattage you get. That is one of only two complaints I have about this combo. I wish the extension cabinet would boost the watts to around 450. My other dislike is the carpet covering. One Smoky bar, lounge, etc., the amp smells like it forever...yuck!

This is a very good sounding combo. I play a Fender p-bass (72' and a 06 Highway 1 with SPB-3 Quarter Pound pickups) through it and I am very happy with the sound I can dial in. I've never had any problems with it. It is the only amp I use now.

I go to gigs with 1 bass, my Bassman 250/210, a backup set of strings, a direct box (just in case) and a chord. I have not had any problems with it. I have only had it since early spring so it's probably to early to tell.

I've never needed to contact them so no opinion on Fender. Dietze Music has an excellent "amp tech" in house. It comes with a five year warranty, I bought it from Dietze Music House and they service ALL products they sell in house. You don't have to ship it back to the company for warranty work like you do with the "Wal-Mart" type of guitar chains...you know who they are! Dietze Music House gets a 10...Fender I'm sure is good also.

I have been playing for over 25 years...ouch! I was a long time Ampeg user. I've pretty much always used Fender P-basses. I have recorded with A Fender Bassman 20 and a Line 6 Bass Pod (the original one). I used the Ampeg SVT-III pro with two 4 x 10DL cabinets for 15 years and before that I was using the SVT-II with an 8 x 10 cabinet. I sold all of it off because I don't play nearly as much as I use to, and I didn't need it anymore. The size of clubs I play in are about a 200-250 person capicity and the Bassman 250/210 is plenty of volume. I am very happy with this amp and would highly recommend it. I compared it to GK 700RB, Backline, Peavey, Hartke, Ampeg, Roland 210,and SWR. It was the best sounding of all of them. I would not hesitate to buy this amp again.