1960 Fender Bassman

[Decko]

Hi All,

I have a 1960 Fender Bassman. What are these badboys going for these days?

[CaseyJones]

Hi All,

I have a 1960 Fender Bassman. What are these badboys going for these days?

$3.5k on the low end if it looks like it was left out in the woodshend and rats ate the tweed. The tweed on yours looks great but there area few replaced parts. You'd be surprised, the original Astron electrolytics may have been junk by 1965 or so but if they're still there the amp is worth top dollar.

$6k is a good asking price.

I've seen a few oddball late transitional tweeds with the black panel style blue caps, I like those because they're weird. Weird is good. Obviously yours isn't one of those.

[rfgordon]

In 48 years, the amp was bound to need some service, and the work done looks OK to me, unless the grey resistors are wirewound. If so, yuck!!

Also, the two blue speakers (lower right & upper left) are likely originals. The lower right has a 1960 date code, and the upper left seems to be the same model. The lower left has a 1965 date code, though the type is right. Can't see a code on the upper right...

This may also impact the value. The biggest killer is the trannies--if they aren't stock, the amp is much less valuable to collectors, though it may sound terrific.

No doubt about it, those are beautiful instruments!

[Decko]

Hi Casy, Rich,

Thanks for your feedback!

The Astrons are original and function as are the trannies.

Regarding the Jensens, can you explain the "Q" in the pn? I have heard that these series speakers are the ones to have.

Thanks!
Danny

[CaseyJones]

Hi Casy, Rich,

Thanks for your feedback!

The Astrons are original and function as are the trannies.

Regarding the Jensens, can you explain the "Q" in the pn? I have heard that these series speakers are the ones to have.

Thanks!
Danny

Popular opinion says that the "Q" relates to the wattage rating of Jensen speakers. Popular opinion is wrong. The "Q" specifies the magnet strength of that range of Jensen speakers. Guitar speakers are usually "N", "R" or "Q" although some manufacturers (Hammond, Univox and others) used "S" and "T".

The wattage rating of vintage Jensens is no more than 20 watts each, that's why Fender used four of them in the tweed Bassman. Part of it is that musicians had a different attitude towards tone back in the '50s. With very few exceptions no one cranked their amps prior to the mid-'60s, the resulting distortion was regarded as undesirable and unpleasant. Dick Dale was among the first musicians to really crank it up, even he insisted on his amps being relatively clean.

[rfgordon]

In the second pic, I can see the 4th digit of the upper right speaker's code (2200_ _), so it's a 1960 speaker, too, likely original. Man, I'd love to hear this baby. I've never had the chance to play thru a true original tweed bassman. Since the amps I build absolutely slay the reissues, I'm guessing the reissue Bassman don't sound much like an original in good working order.

[Decko]

Hi Rich,

All I can say is that you'd have to play it to appreciate the tone. It is the "Real McCoy"! I will pull the back on it another day to get the full pn on the top right speaker.

[skyboltone]

Uh Oh! Those are screws and nuts holding the baffle in place. I been doing it wrong. I've been using SMS! No good. Straighten up boy!

Seriously, do you need a testicle by any chance??

[dartanion]

Looks like that board has pretty much been rebuilt with new parts. Various wattages of metal oxides, nichicon caps in the bias supply, new sprague filter cap, etc. Not unmolested, but wouldn't be too hard to put back to vintage correct if you really wanted to.

[CaseyJones]

Seriously, do you need a testicle by any chance??

Save yer nutz, Dan and live to breed another day.

My first look at the pics were my typical ADD Special, take a quick look and render an opinion. I took another look and here's what I think:

The entire circuit board has been replaced. There aren't enough orig parts and there are too many goofy replacements plus it all looks too crisp. The vintage pervs go for original 'cuz if what you can see ain't right what you can't see probably ain't right, either.

What's up with that oversized capacitor, front and center?

The selenium rectifier is AWOL. No biggy, silicon is more reliable. I have a couple selenium rectifiers tucked away for a rainy day.

The preamp tube sockets aren't original. I can't see the octals but those might not be orig.

At least one of the input jacks ain't orig.

Just about very solder joint has been messed with. "Untouched solder joints" is a rallying cry for vintage pervs.

The important parts are the transformers and the speakers, beyond that it helps if the cabinet is in really good original condition. So:

Final answer, this one ain't a Big Bucks Bassman. Maybe in SoCal it is. Take it to a good tech with a reputation for vintage amp restorations, drop a grand into it and it will be worth $6k. I could rummage through my stash of vintage junk and make it look like it's fresh outta Fullerton. Whoever "serviced" the amp last wasn't particularly well versed in vintage amp restoration.

[Decko]

Hi All,

Thanks for your feed back.

The amp stays in the garage. I will revamp the electronics myself!

Best Regards,
Danny

[CaseyJones]

Hi All,

Thanks for your feed back.

The amp stays in the garage. I will revamp the electronics myself!

Best Regards,
Danny

Good. It might be a big help to pick up a CC resistor kit from Metro Amps. The kit for a Marshall JTM45 includes everything you'll need, it will save you a bunch of legwork, heartache and more to the point it will save you money.

http://store.metroamp.com/?cPath=23

[BluzMike]

Your Bassman is most likely an older pro re-tweed. It also has new speaker wires, besides the changes that were already adressed. It will never appeal to a collector, but be highly appreciated by players. In any case, this will surely become a fantastic sounding amp after giving it some TLC.

P10Qs are only found in the few late bassmen built in 1960, but sound better than the original P10Rs used in most. I have to admit that a well set-up Bassman with Tung-Sol or RCA power tubes can sound killer with P10Rs, too.

Should you consider selling it AS IS, send me a PM.