The Fender Tweed Bassman: A Short History

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I've been a tweed amp fan for as long as I've been playing guitar. The current daily driver is my '58 Gibson GA40 clone, a decidedly "tweedy" voiced tone machine paired with a Princeton Tone Master in wet/dry. But after playing Dr. Z's Z-Master amp I really wanted to dive back into the Tweed history world and what better place to start than with the overdue Tweed Bassman video. I hope you dig it.
Keith

[glennfeit]

Years ago, while an assistant engineer at Cherokee Studio, I had a day off and went to Studio Instrument Rentals (SIR) as I heard they were clearing out some older gear. After playing about 30 amps of all brands including Marshall’s, Voxs, and Mesa Boogies, I settled on a beat up ‘59 Bassman based solely on tone (a 3-10” Bandmaster came in a close second). Every time I brought that amp to a session, the guitar players in the various bands started stacking up the $100 bills trying to get me to sell it to them. I would say ”You don’t want this old thing, buy a THD.” A few years ago, I left it with an amp tech to be gone thru. When I went to pick it up, he didn’t want to give it back saying it was the best amp he had ever heard and offered me insane money. Guess I’m the one who’s insane- I still have the amp.

[jackbullock]

I’m 20 years old, always dreamed about playing an old bassman but never thought I’d have the opportunity. Last week while on a trip with friends however, I discovered that my friends uncle had an old bassman and a soundproofed studio. Best weekend of my life.

[paulcoleman]

Can you remember the days before the internet when getting a letter from a friend or a loved one could make your week? That's what a new Short History Of... feels like. Thanks Keith.

[trapperjohn]

Back in the early 90s I passed up one of these for less than $50 at a yard sale. I was 14 ish years old and had no idea what I was looking at. All I knew was that I had never seen Slayer or Metallica use one so it must not be cool lol

[Riverdeepnwide]

As great as Five Watt World with Keith is, all you guys with these great comments make it even better.

[nicholastotoro]

This video is so prophetic... just when I've been contemplating getting a 5F6 head build.

[rhetttillery]

For years, Don Rich and Buck Owens would both plug into the same Bassman and make some Bakersfield magic.

[steveburchfield]

When I was a music student in Boston in the early seventies I put my 59 bassman up for sale at a local music store. The amp didnt really have enough clean headroom for jazz IMO. I was told that Bruce Springsteen when touring around Boston had bought mine and a couple of other 59 bassmans for sale at the time in the Boston area. A Super Reverb for clean and a 59 Bassman for more OD makes for a nice rig. Good work Keith !!!🔬

[buzzawuzza]

Bought my 1971 Super Bassman 100 for $100 back in the day and loved the sound. Rock on Keith!

[NoCoverCharge]

I have a 68 super reverb and now a Carr Impala a boutique version of the bassman the two together sounds like gods speaking !

[Ray-Angel]

I had a 1964 Fender Bassman and 2X12 cab for many years. I bought it from a local shop for just $250. It sounded great but it was just too damn loud for the small nightclubs I played in. I sold it and have been chasing that Bassman sound ever since.

[NickGranville]

Love my bassman (Victoria 45410). The best clean tone and barks when driven hard. Imo it’s the most important amp of all time. So many great players used them, but also there would be no Marshall without them and that’s where rock came from (and many other styles afterwards).

[metalmover]

All these episodes are just wonderful….thanks for all you do.

[JulianMelville]

Great video. A note about light switches "the world over" though - in the UK, Australia, here in NZ and possibly many other Commonwealth countries, we flip the light switch down to turn it on. We think Americans are a bit weird for doing it the other way, and that Marshall power switches are just fine.

[justincase]

I have a '59 reissue and I absolutely love it. I play my basses and guitars through it and everything sounds great. Best amp ever.

[markhammer]

I bought my Sept.'59 5F6-A for $30. I was in a New Brunswick pawn shop, just down the street from the biggest music store for 100 miles, when I spied it. Couldn't believe my eyes. Looked around the back, and noted a few reasons why it was still sitting there with a $40 price tag. First, only one power tube, so clearly it couldn't be played. Second, only one of the two rear panels was on it (years later, I had a fellow make me a lovely replica panel). Lastly, it had three original P10Rs but just an empty space where the 4th one should have been. I mumbled something about the missing speaker and the clerk did some quick mental arithmetic and offered me the amp for $30 (3/4 of $40). I agreed, plunked my money down, and walked out of the shop with. Put it in the trunk and drove out of town so fast, you'd think I had sold all-purpose flour as cocaine to a biker gang.

Bought a pair of Chinese 5881 power tubes at a local shop, which very quickly burnt out, given the higher plate voltage the 5F6-A uses. Eventually put in better tubes and bought a reissue P10R to fill in the empty spot. Great amp. But one thing I'm curious about. On mine the Presence control *cuts* treble as you turn it clockwise. Given the desire to have things sound clean in 1959, I assumed the control was deliberately wired that way, since I could see no evidence of it having been modified. But I've never stumbled on another true '59, so I don't know if mine is unique, erroneously assembled, or modded by someone.

Still, the best $30 I ever spent.

[emaneercsadeeni]

It is not always easy to go deep and keep it short. But Keith always delivers. Thank you sir!

[handle]

George Harrison and Eric Clapton used Tweed Bassman Reissues on their tour of Japan in 1992. It was Claptons first tour after his son passed, and also George’s final tour. Hey sounded great!

[hailmaryrecordings]

Another amazing segment.

It’s going to rain all-day tomorrow. I think I’ll binge these. ☮️

[stephenmiller]

Always a pleasure to stumble onto a “ 5-Watt-World “ I haven’t seen yet. Thanks Kieth for another great story . A few years ago while visiting our oldest daughter & 3 grandsons in Texas, my wife & I took a little “afternoon trip” to look around at some various pawn & guitar shops in nearby areas . I found the smallest little shop near New Braunfels that was just Packed with older guitars & amps & pedals of all makes & models ( and NO, a pack of wild horses won’t drag the name of it out of me😏) & in this little shop was an original’59 Bassman, beat up and a bit thread-worn, but all there & sounded incredible. The asking price of $6500 was higher than I could convince the wife to let me buy it, and just last year we went back to visit our Daughter again and I took a trip to find that shop
Still there, but boarded shut with all gear still visible inside near as I could tell through a tiny opening in a window blind. I was a bit bummed out as the card with the phone number I had gotten the few years earlier didn’t work when I tried to dial the number on it to try and contact the owner . The recording just said the number was no longer in service & there was no new number ……. I sure would like to find out if all that was inside that little “ hole in the wall shop “ was going to be auctioned off or something as that guy had a pretty incredible collection of stuff . There’s STILL treasures out there people, you just have to be lucky enough to stumble onto them & have the ability to take advantage when & if the moment arrives. From “ Somewhere in San Diego “
This is Steve Miller, signing off….😎👍