The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum

Hi folks! I'm wondering what version of Bassman this is, since the tweed ain't laquered and it's 6 tubes.

What's the Blu... Spre... at the last picture?

Tell me all about it!

it's working, it just doesn't support imageshack. upload to flickr or photobucket and it will amongst others

Used Flickr and still ain't working... Doh!

My gut tells me it's a Fender Bassman Tweed Reissue from the 90's. I had one of the reissues and it had the same speaker type. The first set of reissues came out in 1991 but they did NOT have the silver corners. I'd say the silver corners were added by an owner. The speakers are blue flame eminence speakers, no markings were on mine either and were the same as in the picture. You could jumper the Normal and Bright Channel's just like in the picture. The larger tube is the rectifier tube. The rectifier tube on the reissue could either be a tube or solid state. It's about a 40-50 watt amp depending on the rectifier tube. Fender has another Tweed Bassman model they released a while ago but it was the lacquered version, the first set of reissues were not lacquerer. I had one for about 20 years which was reliable as hell, but was too loud for me cause it would not break up until it was dimed; but then bass response would get farty. I ended up selling it because of it's limitations (too loud and harsh/bright tone). NOW the original 50's tweed bassmans are fantastic! Harp players and guitarist love the 50's point to point wired fender tweed bassman amps.

The reissue bassman's rectifier socket can accept either a Tube (5AR4 or 5U4GB or even a GZ34) or a solid state rectifier. Using a tube rectifier will give you lower watts, more warmth and sag. Here's a manual you can check out: http://media.musicalplanet.com/pdf/FEN304.PDF

Search for the tube rectifier in the manual. The 5U4GB will give you the least wattage out of all of the tubes. Note that the original reissue bassmans did not have any way to bias the tubes, this can be added by an amp repair shop or maybe someone has already installed one.