I've got a '66 Bassman donor amp

[Bob Simpson]

Chassis, cab, & transformers...
It works now, but has been modded past recognition...

I'm building a BrownNote BM88 reverb kit now...

Kind of thinking about turning the Bassman into an Express, or maybe a 124 clone... ( Thanks for all the info, guys... )

Knowing that only Ken could build a wreck, and HAD and only HAD has the knowledge to cobble a Bassman into anything else, I'm looking for opinions on what to make from this collection of parts...

Got any?

Bob

[Structo]

JTM 45?

[Bob Simpson]

Hi Tom...

I hadn't thought about Marshallizing it...

Should I include that option?

This amp was warped into a McIntyre Bluesmaker (?) I think...
Kind of half way, anyway.

And it's got a New Sensor OT. The "proper" Bassman replacement, but not original...

Bob

[Structo]

Or you could do what Chris Delis tech did to his 66 Bassman and convert one channel to a wreck.
Then install a relay board to switch between clean and mean.

[John_P_WI]

Hey Bob,

Kinda funny you mentioned the Bluesmaker. I built one back in the mid-90's out of a similar amp. It can be a great sounding amp coupled with a 4x12 and nearly dimed. A little tweaking can go a long way with the McIntyre circuit. Very ballsy w/ the paralled first stage.

If I had to do it today, I would probably drive the tone stack late stage, plate driven, (lose the cathode follower) and work out a good master volume or VVR / power scaling.

What ever you do with the head, the grounding scheme is probably a mess. These old heads don't like a lot of gain without mods to the "fender" just tack a wire here method.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane....

John

[mlp-mx6]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane....

Boy, me too. A Bluesmaker in a Bassman head was my first ever amp mod. That GP article was my entry point into amp building.

[Zippy]

+2 The Bluesmaker was a good starting point - although I didn't care for the balance control up front. Instead, I went with separate volume controls and tweaked the voicing on each of the channels and EL34 outputs. That amp logged a LOT of hours on the road - 6 nights a week as a club amp. Great tone through a 1-15 cab.

[M Fowler]

I have that Guitar Player Magazine on my shelf February 1993 and often wondered what that amp sounded like especially the mix control. Not worth trying I take it?

Mark

[John_P_WI]

Hi Mark,

IIRC when I built it, wow was it way back in 93?, the blend control had a plate R of 47K on one half and 220k on the other half of the input tube.

The 47k side was bright and the blend control did its thing and mixed the two well. The amp set well in the mix for sure with the right cab. Today, I would probably simplify the scheme / simplify the build a little, add a few grid stops and play with the tone slope R to say the least and voice it a little daker as I don't play out any more.

The only real problem I had initially was overdriving the PI so badly it would hang up and get farty. It is a great sounding pissed off marshall tone (I built it with a custom set of Hoffman X formers back when he sold them), I just can't play that loud any more. As I said in a previous post, this amp really sang wide open. I need good MV / power scaling these days to save what hearing I have left.

John

[mlp-mx6]

I have that Guitar Player Magazine on my shelf February 1993 and often wondered what that amp sounded like especially the mix control. Not worth trying I take it? Mark

I didn't really like it - the mix control. I ended up rebuilding that amp as a 5F6-A with an O'Connor effects loop. Given the BassWreck tone in a Trainwreck Forum thread I may re-gut it again. That thing sounded glorious! I can't imagine how loud it is, though...

[M Fowler]

John and mlp-mx6,

Thanks for the replies I have always been curious about that design but never did try this on any of my Bassman heads. Yup it was the 1993 issue. Time is flying fast the older I get.

[mcrracer]

It seems as though the consensus is that this amp was very loud. What do you think about a 6V6 power section replacing the EL34s? Would that tame it or would VVR be a better option on the EL34s?

[Zippy]

It seems as though the consensus is that this amp was very loud. What do you think about a 6V6 power section replacing the EL34s? Would that tame it or would VVR be a better option on the EL34s?

Completely different flavor - mine was built as an ultimate slide guitar amp and had that singin' thing goin' ON. I'd go with EL34s and a MV before considering 6V6 and VVR.