Tweed Bassman Alternatives?

[Bigsbyguy]

I'm shopping for a Tweed Bassman. Any ideas on an alternative to a real vintage one?

[sliberty]

Early Traynor YBA1 maybe.

[Zippy]

Seems like Guitar Player had a shootout on Bassman repros several years ago. Fender has a reissue, Victoria, too.

I'd suggest building one. I built a tweed Super with parts (boards, chassis, Heybour iron, cabinet, etc.) from Mission Amps that sounds superb.

[Robert]

I picked up a Fender Reissue Bassman 59 LTD used. They can be had for 450 and up. I was going to gut it and rebuild it but it's killer as is. I normal build my amps but I couldn't build it that cheap.

Robert

[David Root]

Building one from scratch or extensively modifying a RI. I'd do the scratch build, it's not a difficult circuit and there are some good kits out there if you don't want to assemble the stuff yourself.

A slightly smaller & lighter alternative would be the 5E7 tweed Bandmaster, with the right iron and speakers you could get very close to Bassman power.

I just started one modded for harp with a second channel 5879 for a Gibson GA 40 tone option. You could do that for guitar pretty easily too, gives quite a different and brown Marshall option for the wilder stuff. Needs a different board of course, so a little more planning involved.

[David Root]

Building one from scratch or extensively modifying a RI. I'd do the scratch build, it's not a difficult circuit and there are some good kits out there if you don't want to assemble the stuff yourself.

A slightly smaller & lighter alternative would be the 5E7 tweed Bandmaster, with the right iron and speakers you could get very close to Bassman power.

I just started one modded for harp with a second channel 5879 for a Gibson GA 40 tone option. You could do that for guitar pretty easily too, gives quite a different and brown Marshall option for the wilder stuff. Needs a different board of course, so a little more planning involved.

[titanicslim]

Seriously, if what you want is a '59 Bassman , get a Ceriatone bassman (or maybe a JTM) kit w/o tubes, then get some great tubes and put it in a box. My guess is you won't believe the sounds you'll hear coming out of that box.

Oh, and Welcome!

Dave

[Bigsbyguy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to try a 5F6-A chassis built by Mark Moser from Vermont, my home state. He's making it easy. I buy the amp, try it, if I don't like it I can send it back for a refund less shipping. Or I can apply it to another chassis, we've been discussing the building of a 50W Twin suited for 4x10's. His amps get good reviews and he builds them as a hobby not for profit so they're priced right.

Slim, you got a link to the amp company you mentioned? I really don't want to build a kit. I'm way too lazy and usually drunk! but I'd like to check them out.

[BluzMike]

Don't forget, that it is not just the basic circuit. The conmponents make a huge difference, especially the Astron caps and also the Triad iron. Not to forget the speakers and cabinet. Yes, an old cab with tweed bone-glued and lacquered that has dried for half a century sounds different.

I have been playing several 5F6-As over the past twenty years and still own three. They all sound a bit different and sometimes you find one that excells. I have not played a clone that comes really close to an original yet.

But if you are not strictly seeking a tottaly authentic tone, you will surely find amps with great tone. The Traynor might be a real good deal, though it runs on EL34s and is more Marshall-like by this.

[sliberty]

I have been playing several 5F6-As over the past twenty years and still own three. They all sound a bit different and sometimes you find one that excells. I have not played a clone that comes really close to an original yet.

Since you seem to really know and love those 5F6a's, you should probably blueprint the ones you really love. The odds are that the resistor and cap values have drifted significantly over the years,a nd the resulting values are what makes it sound best to your ears. If one of those parts drifts further or fails, it will be too late for you to determine what value to replace it with, and the standard value won't sound the way the current drifted value sounds.

[drhulsey]

... you got a link to the amp company you mentioned? ...

Not to speak for Slim, but FYI
http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPage ... AC5F6A.htm
By all reports, a good guy to deal with

[Tubetwang]

Here's my humble take.

Buying a new 5F6-A Tweed Bassman...
a) I'd get one locally from your State man.
B) i'd get one from Nik at Ceriatone.

Scratch build...

Get Tino Zottola's Building Vacuum Tube Guitar & Bass Amplifiers (Volume 2)
Tino will walk you through it. You may get addicted though. No worst than playing golf.

Or get a kit and go at it. Many kit's dude around...Google it for more...

Good luck!
Tweed Bassman is a great amp!!

[Bigsbyguy]

Thanks for the link. I've found a builder and am going to try that route. I've got good NOS tubes, and 4 reconed '66 C10Q's as well as pair of JBL D110's. I play steel and the JBL/Jensen combo works great.
I understand about having the originals, my main steel is a 52 Bigsby into 64 Reverb in front of a 58 Super. I had an "HC" model Bassman, bought from the original owner and 100% stock! I sold my gear pile 4 years ago and bought a house in the sticks. Well, now the place is 1/2 paid off. And I promised myself a few toys. Of all the amps I've ever owned, and of ALL the stuff I've ever sold, that Bassman is the perverbial "What would you want back" piece. I am shopping for an original. I'm interested in trying a 2 holer really, a 56 preferably. The 2 rectifiers are a plus for steel. I'm not averse to any model really and I'd even consider just a complete chassis. Bassmen are really common so I don't doubt I'll find one. I know of a few already.

[CaseyJones]

I have been playing several 5F6-As over the past twenty years and still own three. They all sound a bit different and sometimes you find one that excells. I have not played a clone that comes really close to an original yet.

Since you seem to really know and love those 5F6a's, you should probably blueprint the ones you really love. The odds are that the resistor and cap values have drifted significantly over the years,a nd the resulting values are what makes it sound best to your ears. If one of those parts drifts further or fails, it will be too late for you to determine what value to replace it with, and the standard value won't sound the way the current drifted value sounds.

The Astron signal caps are pretty amazing... they're generally very close to being on-value. Astron electrolytics are another story, judging by some of the old replacements I see the Astrons failed back in the '60s. I'm talking about one owner amps where the owner kept receipts for service. Really, there's no mojo in Astron electrolytics.

Here's my humble take.

Buying a new 5F6-A Tweed Bassman...
a) I'd get one locally from your State man.
B) i'd get one from Nik at Ceriatone.

It doesn't add to the tone but there's something very nice about a triple chrome plated 5F6 chassis. I go my own way with what I load into that chassis and end up with something that's more like a Bluesbreaker. NOS CTS pots are nice, real Tung-Sol 5881s are great, REAL Triad iron is available if you know where to look.

[mdroberts1243]

Here's my humble take.
No worst than playing golf.

MUCH better than playing golf! Everytime I take a golf lesson my game goes to h**l, but everything I learn from this forum makes an instant noticeable improvement to my tube-amp 'game'.