NAD: 1968 Silverface Bassman

nicovlogg

So those of you who read Mike's Blonde amp topic know that he scored a fantastic deal on an old Tremolux. I went along and this is what I picked up. ? Thanks Keira for the heads up!

Seems like a 1968 model from the tube chart, has the AB165 circuit which I'm happy for. Need to get a cab for this thing to hear it properly! Any offers? ?

I also managed to get my hands on a sweet old tweed case.. Dating it to between 1967 and 1971 ?

Keira-WitherKay

? congrats nico ...on a classic amp................ that and your tele...... cool tone i would say .............so glad you and mike could cash in on those great deals.......when that dude told me how much he wanted for the amps i almost fell over .......... i was tempted but neither had reverb (tube spring reverb on board) and i couldn't live with an amp with digital reverb ....and i need reverb live........... mmmm i only found out when mike told me one can use the 2nd channel of a two channel amp and build in a reverb circuit to be tube/spring reverb .....pity cos i might have bought one of them ....... ? but so glad you and mike got great deals.......
enjoy .

be fabulous
k

vic

Congrats Nico....great finds ! :goodtimes:

Check here http://durban.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-VINTAGE-FENDER-BASSMAN-50-SILVERFACE-1969-W0QQAdIdZ329976898

There's a cab for you (and another Bassman ! ? )

nicovlogg

Vic wrote: Congrats Nico....great finds ! :goodtimes:

Check here http://durban.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-VINTAGE-FENDER-BASSMAN-50-SILVERFACE-1969-W0QQAdIdZ329976898

There's a cab for you (and another Bassman ! ? )

I saw it, but actually rather looking for a 1x12.. Would be keen to check it out if it was in in Gauteng though!

Keira WitherKay wrote: ? congrats nico ...on a classic amp................ that and your tele...... cool tone i would say .............so glad you and mike could cash in on those great deals.......when that dude told me how much he wanted for the amps i almost fell over .......... i was tempted but neither had reverb (tube spring reverb on board) and i couldn't live with an amp with digital reverb ....and i need reverb live........... mmmm i only found out when mike told me one can use the 2nd channel of a two channel amp and build in a reverb circuit to be tube/spring reverb .....pity cos i might have bought one of them ....... ? but so glad you and mike got great deals.......
enjoy .

be fabulous
k

Yep, pretty moddable this Bassman. Not too big on reverb myself, but one thing I can tell you is that it does sound great with the tele! Thanks for passing it on. ?

nick

nicovlogg wrote:
Vic wrote: Congrats Nico....great finds ! :goodtimes:

Check here http://durban.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-VINTAGE-FENDER-BASSMAN-50-SILVERFACE-1969-W0QQAdIdZ329976898

There's a cab for you (and another Bassman ! ? )
I saw it, but actually rather looking for a 1x12.. Would be keen to check it out if it was in in Gauteng though!

Are you going to find a 50w 4ohm 12" ?

vic

nick wrote:
nicovlogg wrote:
Vic wrote: Congrats Nico....great finds ! :goodtimes:

Check here http://durban.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-VINTAGE-FENDER-BASSMAN-50-SILVERFACE-1969-W0QQAdIdZ329976898

There's a cab for you (and another Bassman ! ? )
I saw it, but actually rather looking for a 1x12.. Would be keen to check it out if it was in in Gauteng though!

Are you going to find a 50w 4ohm 12" ?

Same thoughts.
Nico if I may....don't go for a 1x12. Get a vintage bassman/bandmaster closed-back cab...it WILL pop up. There's one (or use to be one) in Roodepoort ? I will PM you.

nicovlogg

nick wrote: Are you going to find a 50w 4ohm 12" ?

Probably not. Will most likely have a 30W driver at 8ohms.. been talking to MikeM about a new OT... either way, from what I hear a single V30 is perfect and seeing as I won't be playing at anything over 5 on the volume, should not cause any problems. Correct me if I'm wrong!

nick

nicovlogg wrote:
nick wrote: Are you going to find a 50w 4ohm 12" ?
Probably not. Will most likely have a 30W driver at 8ohms.. been talking to MikeM about a new OT... either way, from what I hear a single V30 is perfect and seeing as I won't be playing at anything over 5 on the volume, should not cause any problems. Correct me if I'm wrong!

5 seems a bit loud, I used to gig with mine at 3 or the dial, but this with 2x12". I would also keep a look out on gumtree etc for a matching fender 2x12 cab

nicovlogg

nick wrote: 5 seems a bit loud, I used to gig with mine at 3 or the dial, but this with 2x12". I would also keep a look out on gumtree etc for a matching fender 2x12 cab

Yep.... 2 main reasons for wanting a 1x12 are light weight (do not like lugging big amps around) >☹ and wanting to bring down the volume a little for more overdrive. I would love to try it out a bit with different cabs before deciding what to pair it with.

Vic wrote: Same thoughts.
Nico if I may....don't go for a 1x12. Get a vintage bassman/bandmaster closed-back cab...it WILL pop up. There's one (or use to be one) in Roodepoort ? I will PM you.

Thanks!

kapepper

very nice!!!

kapepper

and it is def from that era.

I just read in my fender book "the golden age" that 68-69 fender valve amps had a sort of aluminium binding, which your has

concerning the case: what does it make you think it is a late sixties early seventies case?
I think fender made mainly the blac tolex cases with the fender logo for strats, teles and other higer end guitars
the cheaper models (musicmaster, myustang) came in agrey-ish case made by Victorria luggage

It is anyway a nice case

more info here:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#cases

nicovlogg

kapepper wrote: and it is def from that era.

I just read in my fender book "the golden age" that 68-69 fender valve amps had a sort of aluminium binding, which your has

concerning the case: what does it make you think it is a late sixties early seventies case?
I think fender made mainly the blac tolex cases with the fender logo for strats, teles and other higer end guitars
the cheaper models (musicmaster, myustang) came in agrey-ish case made by Victorria luggage

It is anyway a nice case

more info here:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#cases

It's from the same website - just by looking at the logo:

kapepper

Any markings?

It could be pre 64 or post 83
how is the fender logo attached? Since tweed cases did not come normally with fender attached to it

In early 1964, Fender moved to a black tolex case with the (same) dark orange interior. This type of case was basically used till the end of the 1970's, with some minor changes (mostly the exterior logo). Early 1964 to 1965 cases have no exterior "Fender" logo.
1966 to the 1970s use the same black case but with a Fender logo. This logo had two black plastic rivets holding the logo to the case exterior. There was no "tail" under the "Fender" logo.
About 1967: Still used the black tolex case, but now the case exterior has a plastic Fender logo with a "tail" under the "Fender".
about 1972: The logo on the black tolex case changes to have no "tail" and a small "R". Also the white piping around the leather case ends becomes more pronouced.
Mid to late 1970s: The logo on the black tolex case changed yet again. No "tail", a bigger "R" (registered) mark, and a "Made in USA" marking. Also the interior of the case got more padding.
When Fender started making reissues in 1983, they also reissued the tweed case. But now the exterior tweed was considerably "hairer", and was not lacquered. Also the interior was not a short dark orange plush, but was now a long, light colored orange shag.

nicovlogg

kapepper wrote:
About 1967: Still used the black tolex case, but now the case exterior has a plastic Fender logo with a "tail" under the "Fender".

It has the 'tail' - as far as I could tell, it's only between '67 and '71 that the Fender logo had a tail. What the logo was attached with is hard to tell.. seems like someone later put some screws in

nicovlogg

kapepper wrote: It could be pre 64 or post 83

I think I finally understand what you mean ?

Are you saying all cases were black between 64 and 83? Even though mine has the 67-71 style Fender logo?

kapepper

exactly! ?

Apparently there were no "tweed" cases delivered in that period and tweed cases did not come with a fender logo attached
but it can still be a period correct case (but not a fender per se) and somebody attached the fender logo on it

nicovlogg

Ahh ok it dawns on me. Well, it's pretty damn hard to find info, there's no markings or anything, so from now on I'm just going to assume that it used to belong to SRV or something.. ?

kapepper

well, are the latches made by Cheney? That is already a good indication to see if it is an original G&C

nicovlogg

kapepper wrote: well, are the latches made by Cheney? That is already a good indication to see if it is an original G&C

Can't see any markings on them!

Amp news is that MikeM came over and we attempted to sort out the butchered biasing system. But.. wow what a mission to find the correct circuit diagrams, this thing is nowhere near an AB165 circuit like it says on the chassis! After most of a day of searching, we figured that it's an AC568 circuit, pretty peculiar circuit from the Export series, and the amp is an early '69. We made some changes to put it back to earlier cathode biasing specs.. More mods will probably follow! ?