Fender '59 Bassman Reissue

Anybody who gives this less than a 10 for features is a complete idiot. You buy it for what it is, not because it doesn't have an effects loop or digital reverb, etc. Mine is a 1990 with the Eminence blues.

I have a love hate relationship with this amp. For certain things, it sounds great, like volume less than 4, playing clean. At higher volumes, the higs get ice-picky and the bass gets very flabby. Turn the treble down to compensate and then the high aren't there enough. There's no happy medium, either ice pick or hardly anything at all.
A 5U4 rectifier helps a little. An AR4 makes the problems worse and the amp is almost unplayable.
It distorts well, above 6, but again, it gets very harsh. I have played with it for hours upon end. Jumping channels, trying every one of the 4, using different pick up configuartions and guitar tone and volume knobs and I can't find a good amp setting and just eave it alone and play, and that's a damn shame, because the potential is there for an awesome tone. In the end I just set treble, mid and presence to 6 and bass to zero. Jumper the channels or not and it seems to work pretty well. You'd think 40 watts on 7 or 8 is loud. Maybe I'm just used to it, but my neighbors don't complain, I don't live far out in the country, and pictures aren't falling off the walls. I've hesitated in getting a twin because I'm thinking 100 watts, even on 2 will melt my face off, but maybe that's what I'll need to do.

1990, battered to hell and still all original. Beat that!

I use it with strats, TS9, fuzz, the usual stuff. I don't know if I'd buy it again, but I'd definitely miss it if it were gone. Maybe I was asking for too much, but I was hoping this would be my workhorse, but I can see it has limitations and may not be suitable for what I'm looking for. I was considering a bluesbreaker, but for $2,000, it better make me cry when I hear it.

This is a supplement to my earlier review. I've had some luck getting a really good tweed overdrive tone. Once you get those power tubes distorting smoothly, you want care about reverb. Clapton is IMHO the god of tweed tone, and you will notice he doesn't use reverb with either the Tweed Twin or the Cornell Custom 80.

Although there is no bias adjustment, I've found you can still adjust the bias by swapping rectifiers. If you are using a 5u4 and the bias is too low, you will raise it by going to a 5ar4. If the bias is still too low, you will raise it more by using a solid state rectifier. And the reverse is also true (go from s.s. to 5ar4 to 5u4 to lower bias).

Another thing I've found is that the exact bias you use isn't that critical with this amp. 6l6's and 5881's have a very wide operating range. For example, for a 6l6 operating at 450 volts with a 5ar4 rectifier, anything from 18 mV to 42mV is within the operating range, and you should be able to go all the way to 55mV without blowing up the tubes.

I've been using a tube rectifier, but I think I'm going back to solid state. The amp came with a ss rectifier, and it seems to work better that way. And another thing I noticed about the Cornell Custom 80 Clapton uses; it doesn't have a tube rectifier.

Still a great amp!

This amp needs a bias control and reverb. Without the bias, you ended with little choice of what tubes to use. It works great with Fender's tube reverb box. But that's a lot to carry around.

I think this is the top of the line for tone. I put in a tube rectifier, but that's about it. The Jensen P10R's are the best of the re-issues; and they sound great.

I've never had any problems with the amp, and I've owned it for a while now. The older style tweed (without the laquer) gets dirty easy and looks like heck, so I had mine recovered with tolex (Weber does it for a reasonable price), and now it looks great.

I've never dealt with Fender, but that's a good thing. For the money, the Fender re-issues are, I think, the best amps you can buy.

I've gone through a lot of equipment, but I've always held on to the Bassman. It's the best of the re-issues. The Marshall Bluesbreaker is a close second, but the tone isn't quite as nice, its a little noisy, and it weighs a ton. Get one of the new Bassman LTD's. If anything happened to mine, that's what I'd do. Unless you play metal, I don't know how you can go wrong with a Bassman.

Two channels perfect for blending the bright with the normal. 4X10 jensens are killer. This is a vintage style tube amp-those are the best features money can buy. I did have to replace the volume pots though because it was too irritating to have it go from 0 to extremely loud between 2 and 3 on the knob.

I play modded (rewired to 60's and 70's specs) fender USA strats with custom shop vintage pickups in them, through a Dunlop Classic Wah, TS-9, BD-2, and Electro harmonix LPB-2. This is a perfect sound. In a small room where I can't crank to get the amp to breakup, the LPB-2 does the trick. In a large space....crank it and go. I play with this in tandem with a 72 Super Reverb and the combo of the two is awesome. The bassman has a great sound and you can dial in the "sparkle" by mixing in the bright channel. It is a perfect amp.

I always bring a backup...it's just good policy. Even if I had a solid state amp...which I don't... I would still have a backup...you just never know...That being said, I have never had any problems.

I have a tech here in Austin, TX who can fix anything...I never go anyone else.

I've been playing for 20 years, I have the bassman, the 72 Super Reverb and a Hot Rod Deluxe. Sometimes I run all three, sometimes just one. Usually the main amp the the super, but the bassman is about to eclipse it. One thing to note...I bought it used, and someone had point to point wired it with the right stuff. I brought it to my tech and he said it was a steal getting it for what I did. The only difference I noted when I compared it was that it was more mellow (less bright) than other bassman amps. Maybe it was because it sounded like the Super Reverb that I loked it so much, either way it is an awesome amp.

Just received my 1990 re-issue from a music store cross the country in Cali. It's in incredible shape. I am using this amp for blues-harp. Not much for features of course, and I do miss having reverb a bit, but of course I bought the bassman for tone, not features! I do like that the control knobs all go up to 12, and the few controls that are available all actually do something, so that's cool.

First thing I did was re-tube this baby for chicago-style blues harp. Spent 3 hours of trail and error with a very good amp-tech and followed some advise I read on here, and here's what sounded best...Tueng Sol 5881 power tubes (they sound MUCH better than 6L6's!), RCA brown-based 5AU4 tube-recifier, and NOS RCA 5983's across the board for all three pre-amp stages (these are considered AU7's but differ evry slightly). The sound is down n dirty blues, but not muffled and it's plenty loud, and with a bit of treble and presence it even keeps my high end blow-bends under control!

Can't say from personal experience as I just got it, but it's a 1990 in perefct shape and sounds great, so gotta say VERY reliable!

N/A - Don't know

Played blues harp as a kid in high school & college, put it down for some 20-years to raise a family, and now back playing for the past year or so in a mid-aged blues band and lovin it! Have really come full circle. Had my eye on a '59 re-issue for some time now, waited until my chops 'deserved' it, and am having a ball with the great sound!

I use this with two different mics...an old Ruskin (made by Frank Ruskin from a Harley Davidson's sideview mirror...basically a mini green bullet) with a shure-controlled magnetic cartridge, and a Shure 533 SA stick mic(very low bottom...best blues stick mic around!). It depends on the sound I want...cleaner or dirty.

Bought new in 1998. Gigs indoor & outdoor. Loud enough for all but loudest rock bands if relying on backline (not mic'd). Miss having reverb & outboard fender reverb units are #400! Copes with all styles, but will never sound like a boogie if rockin' out. Most at home for crunchy blues gigs.

Ordered mail order. V disappointed when first arrived. Played usa strat standard & ibanez hollowbody. Didn't get decent sound until i purchased my Clapton strat, stuck heavy strings on & play through ts9. IMHO, much better with solid state rectifier. Allows more attack to suit cliched blues strat style of playing, more BF'ish. At sweet spot (3-4 vol bright channel, mid & bass way up), sounds incredibly musical & creamy & fills room / pub / club with sound. I do not like the sound of it breaking up. To my ears, the sweet spot is just before that, pushed more (5 - 12 vol), it just sounds mushy & compressed. Some peope like that, but it seems to lose definition. At it's best 3-4 vol doing blues gigs when not cranked too hard.

Strangely enough doesn't feel like it needs reverb, unless playing in front room / studio.

after 13 months cooked valve which took out screen grid resistor. I think resister under spec'd but they have to blow to protect other components so maybe blessing in disguise. New resistor cost about 50p. Been fine since. However sold it recently, and buyer has neg'd me through eBay claiming that it needed #140 spent on it, etc. If that's true, i would mark it down. So no opnion on that one ...

Rubbish in 1999. Wouldn't waste my time again. Fixed it myself.

Best thing about this amp is the 4 x 10 alnico speakers. They would make anything sound great in the way that without celestions, marshalls would sound awful.

In terms of pure tone, v hard to beat, however that tone is only in abundance at its sweet spot. Played in your front room, will sound ordinary. If your drummer gets too excited, you'll run out of headroom & sound mushy, but for blues gigs, very difficult to beat.

All the time i had it i wanted a vibroverb 63 ri, and now i've sold it, can't find one. Like ditching your girlfriend for a better offer only to find yourself single for a long time. Thinking about trying a LTD RI ...

Not sure of the year but i bought it the first year they were reissued. Had always used my 64 Twin but after trading a small Crate with distortion to a kid for a 63 Concert (I'm so ashamed) i got partial to the 4 tens sound but hated lugging the Concert around and when the Bassmen came out i bought it. Have been playing for 41 years and still playing the same songs, people still love classic rock. The Bassmen suits my needs, simple to use, plenty of nuts and that clean fender sound and alot lighter than my Twin. I use a 84 American Strat or a 72 Custom Tele depending on my mood. Haven't tried any tube changes yet have just stuck with came in it. I did shellack the tweed though, gives it a vintage look

Hook it to a Strat or Tele close your eyes and your're back when rock was new and young. It fits my classic style perfectly. And I can carry it myself without roadies

Very superstitous so no comment

Have never had to deal with Fender as far as warrantees but never had any problems with parts or gear for other amps or guitars

If it was stolen I'd buy another one and if it was lost I'd remember the next day where I left it and go back for it. I have been gigging for a long time and plan on finishing out my days with this amp or as long as there is a market for old rock

Made in 2003.
Very versatile amp for big fat tone..
Play Rockabilly, Jump Blues, reverend styles.
Normal Channel and Bright Channel.
Use for club gigs, bigger halls.

Use with Gretsch 6120-60 w/TV Jones Classic Pickups.
Works very well in achieving tone for my style.
Fairly quite amp.
Has enough headroom even with loud drummer.
I use a second smaller amp to get distortion and a a/b box.
Has great overdriven sound when pushed but gets very loud.
Lots of low end from 4-10s.

I used to depend on this amp but have learned my lesson.
Seems to be a hard amp for techs to keep running or even troubleshoot.
I have retubed 3 xs and have greatly improved the tone by using better NOS and Military tubes.
I see the newer LTD model has a tube bias. I had a tech install one.
If you get one of these and you are in a working band, buy two or some other backup.

Company is fine. The one time it was a warranty part. They sent the service center the part pretty fast.
Fender has many service centers but be prepared to wait.
5 year warranty

At this point is someone stole this amp I would be relieved, collect my insurance and buy either a Victoria bassman copy or try and get a hand wired one.

You can use the new fender tube amps, but make shure you have a tech, and spend the money to get rid of the Groove tubes.

Just checked this during one-two hours, here are my impressions.
Clever input section, with it you can match any guitar perfectly, be it a jazz archtop, a powerful lespaul or a strat/tele you name them.
I mean, impedance input changes with those different guitars and just tweaking eq and gain knobs doesn't do the trick.
So far the best amp for versatility.
Solid pine cabinet, that matters and not only a bit. Jensen alnico, a tad bright and stiff in the bass but the amp was new.
Tube rectifier, that matters a lot, a blues deville sounds transistor-like in comparison. Yes, that much!
One point off for lacking reverb, and one for fairly high noisefloor.

This is all about it. I don't care for the lacking reverb since the tone is soo good. Very subtle, detailed, with an attitude (play a good pedal through the bassman, incredibly good results), smooth and colourful.
Try describe sounds...
I like the slight chorus effect the 4x10 produces, it breathes.
Compared to a twin reverb: more details, finer, less boxy, lighter.
And to a blues deville: nothing to compare at all, the bassman is not a toy faking to be a real amp...
And to a deluxe reverb: warmer, more details, louder and heavier.

Brand new, the chassis was not put in correctly so I couldn't plug the input 2 of normal channel. Come on Fender, what's this??
Also, it produces hum, which was not the case with the other brand new amps I also tested through last month (twin, blues deville, deluxe reverb, vibrolux reverb) so it is likely to be poor quality control if any.
Once properly fixed, I see no reason to doubt its reliability, since it was first released in '59!
Being a tube amp, I see no reason NOT to take my Roland Cube 30 modeling amp along too!
No rating

In europe it sucks big time: a dealer can't even return a bad fender guitar (bad fret job for example) so you better choose a good dealer who can do the job himself.
The lowest rating possible, damned yankees!

It costs a lot of money here in europe, a lot of competitors within this price range. But the bassman sounds so good and is so versatile thanks to its inputs that I have the feeling it is a winner.

I couldn't raise the volume too much, so I can't comment about breaking-up, but I wouldn't like it as well (I like my pedals and the bassman treats them so well).

Still, too loud for the flat and too beautiful to stay at the rehearsal room , and too big/heavy to carry around so what's the purpose in the end?

The solution is: buy some tube converters like yellow jackets from thd or tone bones from tubeampdoctor.com and you instantly have a nice living-room class a amp...

One more thing: in europe this amp costs only 300 euros more than the hotrod deville or blues deville, and one shouldn't hesitate a single second: get the bassman!

About reverb, how about a passive divider sending the direct signal of guitar into e.g. input 2bright, and the direct signal of guitar into your reverb pedal(mix setting: wet only) and the output of it into e.g. input 1normal?
I'm sure this would works wonderfully, as you can blend the channels hence the reverb/delay mix while still having your pure guitar signal in the other input.

All in all a fantastic value indeed.

I think everyone has covered the features pretty well. Basically it's a single channel combo amp with Bright and Normal inputs. You can jump the channels with a short 1/4 inch cable and blend the two if desired. Bone stock these amps come with two 6L6 power tubes and three 12ax7's as its preamp tube compliment. It has a tube rectifier socket that comes with a solid state module plugged into it. This can be swapped out for a GZ34/5AR4 or a 5U4 rectifier tube. The combo cabinet is covered in a nice tweed fabric (no lacquer) with an oxblood grill...very nice! The four 10 inch speakers and made by Jensen and provide a 2 ohm load to the amp via 4 RCA jacks on the amp chasis. The amp puts out 40-50 watts depending on which type of rectifer is used. A very straight forward design that's simple to use.

With the stock tube compliment and solid state rectifier it sounded OK. It tends to breakup really fast (3-4 on the volume control) and sounds a bit too buzzy with this stock configuration. After experimenting with many different tube configurations, the best (smoothest) sound I was able to achieve was obtained by using a NOS JAN Phillips 12AY7 in the first preamp position, a set of Chinese 6L6GC power tubes and a NOS GE 5U4GB rectifier tube. Now with this configuration, the amp breakup is nice and gradual with no buzziness assoicated with it. All I can say is WOW!! This amp now has tone to die for. I own a Marshall 2061X Handwired head and a Marshall 1974x Handwired combo and this Bassman sounds every bit as sweet. I use the Normal channel with the volume set on 9 (it goes to 12) and adjust the tone controls to suit the room. Then I simply use my guitars volume control to go from clean to overdrive. This is the perfect amp for blues and classic rock!!

It once blew a fuse when I was experimenting with different power tubes. I only gave it an 8 here because there is no way to adjust the bias (without modification) when you swap out the power tubes and the amp tends to run pretty hot. Overall the amp has been reliable but I would never gig without a backup.

Never had to use it for this amp. However I have mixed feelings about Fender's customer support overall. Once they did me right when a Strat I owned stripped its truss rod. They replaced the neck under warranty no problem. However on another occassion they refused to replace the neck of a Squire Telecaster which was twisted. They told me instead to return it to the store and have them give me my money back.

With the tube upgrades outlined above, this is one killer amp. These can be purchased for very little ($500-$600) now that the LTD model is out. I have been playing over 17 years and I love getting the right tone for the right occassion. I own many amps including a Marshall JTM 45, Marshall 1974x, Marshall 2061x, Marshall JCM 900 Mk III 2500, Soldano Avenger, 1966 Fender Bassman and Fender Blues Jr. This Bassman is a keeper!! If it were lost of stolen I would replace it in a second. The only thing to keep in mind is that this thing is loud...but OH WHAT A SOUND!! I use it mainly when playing to large rooms. If you play blues or classic rock with a loud band, you can't go wrong using this amp.