Fender '59 Bassman LTD Reissue 410 Combo

Mine is a 2002 model, bought used back in 2005. There seems to be a controversy on H-C in regards to how to rate the features of this amp. I have seen justifiably low ratings based on the fact that it is a bare-bones amp. Others rate it higher based on how well it preforms in regards to the features it does have. I'm going to choose somewhat the former and rate it a 7. The amp is meant to be all tone with as little acoutrements as possible. Therefore, two channels (normal/bright), each with a high/low impedence jack, volumes for both, and treble/mid/bass/presence pots. It is all tube construction, 3 12ax7 premaps, 2 6L6 power tubes, and a 4R5 rectifier tube. Round that off with 4 P10Q Jensens and you have the makings of one sound pine-cabinet of tone. The BMRI, though, is a surprisingly versatile amp that is suitable for pretty much every category of music save metal. I'm a classic rock, modern underground alternative, some funk, but my heart lies with blues. This amp works incredibly well for all those, and it every pedal I have plugged into it with ease. Also, the amp can be channel-jumped. Running a patch cable from an input on one channel to an input on the other allows you to use the two volume knobs to blend the sound you want. This means that, with the right guitar, you do have a lot of sonic options.

It is a loud amp (4 10" speakers . . .), and it breaks up fairly early with 3 12ax7 preamp tubes. It may be difficult to get a good in a smaller room because of the volume, but I have found that it a volume pedal can get you to the sweet spot at a lower volume. It can cut through drums in a smallish jazz/blues club setting, no problem.

This amp is a pure tone monster in a pine cabinet. If you want a good basic clean tone around which you can build your own sound, this is the amp for you.

I play a Les Paul Vintage Mahogany with Burstbucker Pros and a Blueshawk with P90's. My chain is MXR SuperComp --> Smart People Factory Ego Booster --> Fulltone OCD --> Keeley Looper [subchain: SPF Green Line OD --> Retrosonic Chorus --> SPF I-5 Delay] --> BBE Sonic Stomp (best pedal in the chain, really). The only mods I have done are changing tubes. I now run an EH 12ay7 in the V1 spot to allow a clean sound at higher volumes (she used to break up around 3.5 on a volume pot that can reach 12), and swapped out the other cheesy Groove Tube 12ax7's for Tung-Sol Gold Tip 12ax7's. 90% of your tone is in the preamp tubes, and these really did clarify and warm up the amp.

The biggest complaint I have seen on HC about this amp is that it is too bright. At high volumes, the highs are ice-picky and shrill, and the lows tend to get flabby. Ok, I admit that I felt that way too. However, I changed out the preamp tubes, and that solved a lot flabbiness prob, and then I just roled back on the tone knobs on my guitars. Too often, I think, do we forget about those little knobs. Now I can actually put the Presence knob at around 6 or so (it was at 0), and she absolutely sings.

No other amp that Fender makes comes close to this baby. Sure, some would argue the Tweed Twin RI, but for me, even with PTP wiring, 2 x 12" speakers do not come close to the fullness and almost natural reverb of 4 x 10". Also, I picked mine up for around $750, compared to almost $2000 for the Twin. No question, this is the best of the tweed RI series, and the tone you get from it is magic. Rich, harmonic, and the most beautiful natural breakup you have ever heard. Get this amp, and you will not be sorry.

It's my only amp right now, so I would have to gig without a backup, but you really never should. That said, it's a tube amp and solidly built, so if something did crap out, it's probably just a $15-$20 tube that needs replacing. For me, my backup will probably just be a replacement set of tubes. I've not had any issues with it at all, so I figure she is pretty solid.

Never had to deal with them.

I've been at the strings for around 5 years. No professional training, all self-taught, though I am deconstructing my playing back down to the basics right now. Trying to recreate my technique to get better. This amp is really the perfect pair for me in this regard. The tube rectifier allows for some real touch sensitive dynamics, the harmonic content of the sound is rich and full, and the grit you can get is perfect to my ears.

When I was in the market, I went down to Guitar Center and sampled all their tweed RI's. The Blues Deluxe, Deville, even the Blues Junior. None of them sounded as good as this baby, and I found a used on a craigslist the next day for $750. Steal. I doubt very much that I will be buying another amp for some time. This girl has everything that I want, right down to that vintage look. But the sound is what is important, and this amp delivers in spades. I'm working on relic-ing it myself (little beer here, a cig burn there), just to give her character. But it's the sound that comes out that would get me buying another if it were stolen (how do you lose a 60 pound amp, dude?). No reverb? Get an outboard tank, but seriously, I don't miss it. For the price of this thing, you can't go wrong.

I just brought this amp home form one of our local
music stores Parkway Music in Clifton Park NY.
This amp has everything that I need and I paid $1100.00
It has all the power that I need I was playing a VOX AC-30TBX
but I wasn't to happy with the sound. The Amp was made earlier
in the year. I think it has two channels so I won't get into
that. The only thing that I wish it had was Reverb but I have
a Electro-Harmonix HolyGrail Reverb Pedal. I'll be using this
Amp for playing out and recording.

The sound that I'm going after is a 60's sound and some
good old Rockabilly like Carl Perkins. I love the clean
channel and I'm not into distorted sounds that you can get
with a Mesa or a Crate. I have two guitars that I play a
Gretsch 6128TBEE Duo Jet and a G&L Asat Calssic. With the 60's
sound its Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys with some Paul Revere
and the Raiders thrown in. Not noisy at all perfect for what I
do.

Don't know only been home for a couple of hours. I
don't for see any problems at all.

The warranty is for 5 years and when I own the 65 Twin
Reverb never had a problem. All I have to do is bring it
back to the dealer.

I've been playing since 1988 and I've had other Fender Amps
a couple of reissues 65 Fender Twin Reverb a Peavey Classic 50
and the one I just sold a reisue Vox AC-30TBX. For me there nothing
to hate about this Amp and I love everything it can do. I did look
at a couple of Doctor Z amps but I didn't have that type of money.
Another amp that I looked at was a Tone-King (Continental) as much
as I liked that Amp there was no way that I could afford it. I can't
speak for anyone else but this amp and my two guitars are a perfect match and give me the sound that I've been looking for.

I don't know too much about amps, I just use them. The '59 BM is a vintage reissue and is used to recreate that old classic sound. Of course its not gonna have all the fancy effects, loops, etc. I play blues and this baby has everything I need.

When I first got the amp, the sound it put out wasn't too impressive to be honest. But I was told that tube amps need time to break in and loosen up the speakers before you start to hear that legendary tone. Its been almost three weeks and I already hear the difference. I also cross the channels to get the blended tones and it does improve the sound a lot.
With the volume at around 4.5-5, the natural gain starts to kick in and it is just DELICIOUS! I've only been able to get the volume up to 7.5 so far because it really is a loud amp and I don't need it any louder.
At 7.5, the naturally compressed sustain just roars! The touch-dynamic frequency of the amp is also a great treat for me because I do alot of finger picking and it really helps put emphasis on what you want.
I know some people say that when you have an amp this expensive, it makes you sound 10x better. True but don't be fooled by this amp. It "can" make you sound a lot better. The thing is, you're playing the amp as much as you are the guitar. The excellent response on this amp can reveal all your flaws so be careful. You know what though?? Ultimately, it'll make you a better player!
I rate this amp a 10 because it has been everything I've been expecting out of it.

Only had it for three weeks. Its still tickin' perfectly!

Never dealed with them.

This is the best decision I've ever made with buying equipment HANDS DOWN! The tone is just as sexy as the looks. It plays the gentle cleans, violent distortion, and everything in between. I was shocked to hear how loud and throaty it can get when cranked! This is the only amp I will ever need to play a venue of any size because I know it can handle it. Don't get discouraged if loudness is a problem for your location. This amp apparently goes great with all sorts of pedals! You will not be disappointed.

2004 model
Standard, 2 channel, nothing else.
Perfect!

With Vintage Noiseless pkups, a Ibanez Tube Screamer, and the volume pot. on my Strat, I get everything from Robert Cray to Stevie Ray. 4 years old and broken in, off E-bay. It is worth every penny!

Just got it. No problems with other Fender gear, so far.

It's a 59 Bassman on the outside so no problems here

I am giving this a 4 because I paid a lot of money for this amp and for the money it sucked. It sounded good in the shop up uuntil 4 or so which is as loud as I could try it. On taking home and giving a little more volume it broke up in a horrible way, very rough. I previously had a bassman10 which had a new Mercury Magnetics tranny and it was the most awesome amp I have ever owned, I have had numerous blackfaced silver face band masters and bassmans and this was nowhere near any of these amps. I eventually took it to the guy who did all my other amps and he said they have used silver face circuitry, which nobody likes, and the trannys are 15, and 25% undersized repectively and not at all decent. I am sorry but check out the boutique amps, I found a guy, Sligo who uses Weber trannys and speakers who does a bassman for $995 which is handwired and gets rave reviews in harmony central, go for something like that I would say. Jensens are also not great by the way, not the same as the originals.

Yes got it and after a couple of weeks started to get volume drops, took it back to store and they replaced the preamp valves but was still problematic, luckily I could get my cash back on this fake bassman. 2 because it worled more than once.

Yeah they took it back and tried to fix it and then took the amp back when I was not happy with it overall so I have to say good here.

Do not buy this amp!!!! Fender knows that most amps never make it out of the bedroom and so it is not worth putting top components in them, boardroom decision. You then have to buy it and change the circuits and the trannys and the speakers, why bother. What Fender was in the 50's and 60's is what the boutique shops are now, a couple of people in a small shop pouring love and craftsmanship and then adding up the total at the end. I have no doubt that Fender amps back then were relatively more expensive than now, more in line with top boutique amps so don't just buy it becasue of the name, that ship has sailed. I know a guy here who plays SRV like no one else I have ever heard and he uses one of these amps and although his playing is great his amp has the same horrible edgy tone that mine did when it actually worked. Hey Marshall reissues are also said to vastly improve with a Weber or Mercury tranny so they also guilty but not quite as bad I would say.

The Bassman is a no frills, one stop shop amplifier more or less. No reverb. It does have 4 inputs, which makes jumping a possibility. This amp is more than loud enough. 50 all tube watts.

The sounds that come out of this amp are sort of like a complicated relationship. At lower volumes the clean tone is precise and full of attack. As you turn up the amp the sound quality goes in the opposite direction. Flabby low-end, cardboard mids, and shrill, brittle highs. Plenty of breakup, but absolutely no sustain.

Most people blame these characteristics on the speakers, but i would think that a company like fender would put good speakers in one of there amps that costs over a grand: but i guess not.

I was playing fender guitars equipped with Fralin pickups on the amplifier, and i know that this probably doesn't help the sustain issues, but ive never had problems this severe with there sustain.

Cant really say. Didn't keep it long enough to play out with it.

I usually don't try to deal with companies like Fender, Gibson, and Marshall (the big dogs). So i cant really say. I usually keep it to the trusted local guitar guy.

Overall the amplifier could be a lot worse. But i'm not really a fan of any of fenders re-issues except for the 57 twin. I think they all were ill planned and executed with a lack of craftsmanship. Especally for over 1000 dollars.

Go with Victoria amps insted of these high-end fenders:

www.victoriaamp.com

Well it's got none apart from the rounded swirly tone of the 4X10 speaker set up, and it has 4 inputs which can be blended using a patch cable.

It's got no reverb, didn't bother me at first but then I wanted some reverb. My Electro Harmonix Holygrail Reverb pedal makes the amp sound a million bucks.

I thought it was shithouse at first. Thought the lows were too woofy and the highs caused blood to squirt from my ears, but after about 6 months I noticed the tone just fill out and sweeten. Probably because I found a perfect setting and have just stuck to it, tweaking my guitar and limited pedal range (distortion and reverb) to get different sounds.

Try using a patch lead between input 1 on normal and input 2 on bright, plug into the normal channel (input 2) and use the bright volume. Sounds confusing but I've found the greatest tone from this set up although you lose some volume.

With the blended channels I use the bright volume for the humbuckers, then roll that volume off and use the normal volume for singe coils. Pretty happy with this setting, give it a go. No seriously, try it, don't be too proud, give it a whirl.

I'm a youngster at 19 years old with a taste for 60s rock like the yardbirds, and late 70s stuff like Television and Joy Division. I find you get a unique tone to what's being played now because you've got an old school sounding amp but you can play modern stuff on it.

You know what, plugging a bass into it isn't bad either, a brighter sounding bass is probably the go. Wack it through a tubescreamer or whatever and you get a Joy Division esque bass sound.

I'm a dickhead and I've had nothing go wrong. That's a good sign.

Fender can be terd burglars, giving you the run around, and they never promise anything.

At least they have the ability to verbally communicate ... kind of. Therefore, they're not entirely useless. All I can say is lucky they make good gear.

Look, I love the thing. It just looks sweet, sounds sweet once you give it a go.

If you're looking for one sweet tone from the amp (and personally I think that's all you need, you can tweak tone using other gadgets) this is an amazing amp. But I noticed it does have to be worn in, playing it real loud seems to help here. If you want an easy to use amp, try a Fender Deluxe, if you want to be a sick bitch get this one.

I'll give it an 8 because I once hated my bassman.

If it was lost or stolen (although I can't really see anyone misplacing an amp) I don't think I'd buy another one as much as I love it. It's too expensive, I'd have to go for a Fender Deluxe or Hot Rod Deville or something.

This amp is a vintage reissue amp. Amps back then did not have channel switching, or effects loops or anything. I personally would have liked an impedance switch, but then it would not be a reissue.
Everything else is great.

Here's the thing. stock, 7.5. This amp is a good clean amp, and works great for pedals. But with my setup, if you get past about 4 on the volume knob, you start getting uncontrollable flabby bass, and plenty of natural breakup, but no saturation. This means no sustain. Most amplifiers will saturate and sing when you push them, this one just breaks up. 4 on the volume knob however is louder than god himself. You have two options for achieving a 10 with this amp, and fixing the volume problem. either 1, you replace the speakers with something like p10qs (the 50 watt versions of the stock speakers). This will help significantly because 80% of that flabby breakup is cone cry. This preserves the amps natural character, and you use pedals for distortion.
The second (my favorite AND the cheapest) option is to install some el84 class a power reducers such as groove tubes "substitube" or thd's "yellow jacket". With this, you get a more friendly volume, MUCH more saturation, and a more marshally tone. With this option, the amp sounds like a 20 watt version of a JMP. The breakup is MUCH tighter, has a bit of a grind to it, with a little hair, and it puts it all at a perfect gigging volume. (loud but not painful) Plus, an awsome set of el84 tubes are only like $30.

hasn't broken down yet.

never dealt with them. i heard it is piss poor though.

Although i have only been playing about 7 years, I have used most commonly available amplifiers. I am one of those guys who spends a couple hours a week at guitar center, plays EVERYTHING and buys a pack of strings or something just so they dont kick me out. I'm an amp snob, but this is one of about 3 amps i can think of i would give a 10 to (after the EL84 adapter). In fact, the tone is so perfect, i just go straight into the amp. No effects, distortion, anything. The amp has got it nailed. plenty of sustain, fuzz, grind, chunk, everything. I can only afford one guitar, and that is a schecter c1+ with a Seymour Duncan sh14 in the bridge, and 59 classic in the neck. It blows stock schecters out of the water. :-) buy this amp and put the tube adapters in it!

No reason to add anything to all the other reviews. It is what it is. Not designed to be full of features -- or why the need for channel patching?

It is "aimed" at blues and vintage rock sounds. Probably will achieve them when it's itself "vintage". Until then, it's great clean but too often seems brittle and shrill, particularly on high notes. Couldn't stand to play it loud enough, even in mediu clubs, to get any natural breakup. Used it with Clapton Strat and PRS Custom tones - so you you know what I hoped for. Didn't get 'em. And with a keyboard, I had to constantly fiddle with the tone controls to retain control and protect the (complaining) ears of the guitar player (didn't think he had any high pitch hearing left). Again - if somebody want to break it in for 5 years it may be great. But ...

This has all the features you need for good tone. The tone stack includes a middle knob (in addition to treble and bass). There are two channels (normal and bright) with high and low inputs for each. And there is a presence control,and the bias is adjustable.

The amp sounds great at low volume. I prefer different tubes, so I swap out the Groove Tubes for Tung-sol reissues, but still the tone is great at low volume. I also use the normal channel; the bright channel is too bright with a strat. In fact, I'm thinking of clipping the bright cap so I can bridge the channels for a little fatter tone.

At high volume, for that tweed break up tone, the amp isn't that good. It's way to bright at high volume. And the problem is the speakers. If you want tweed crunch you need to switch to P10q's. I like the Webers. And a switch to fatter tubes would help too (like the TAD 6l6WGC STR). Anyway, it's all there. It's just that Fender gives you the amp maximized for low volume clean tones, not high volume tweed overdrive.

I've never had a more reliable amp than my Fender Bassman. One thing I did do is put tube spring retainers on the power tubes. It's easy to do, and it helps with tube rattle at higher volume. I also think the new laquered tweed wears a lot better than the older not laquered tweed versions.

I've never contacted Fender, and I don't know of any way to do it, so I guess the customer support can't be too great.

If you just want a good tone for your Strat or Tele, you can't go wrong with the Bassman. For that matter, the reissue Deluxe and Twin Reverb are also great. But for tweed tone, there is no other amp out there for the price that even comes close.