Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD Guitar Combo Amplifier (50 Watts, 4x10 in.)

No longer available at zZounds
Solid finger-jointed pine cabinet. US-made GT-6L6-GE output tubes. 5AR4 Rectifier. Internal bias pot.

The '50s Fender Bassman was the pro bassist's answer to amplifying a great new invention: the Fender Precision Bass guitar. This powerful 50-watt rig could easily compete with the common instrumentation of the day: horns, piano, 4-piece drum kit with calfskin heads, and maybe even an electric guitar through a nice, new 10-watt amp! By the '60s and '70s, the original all-tube 'Tweed' 4x10 Bassman was popular with rock, country and blues guitarists as a reliably great-sounding and easy-to-use guitar amp. Even some emerging British amp designers of the day copied its circuitry for use in their most celebrated designs.

In the 1990s, Fender released an affordable reissue of the now-collectible '59 Bassman amplifier to massive acclaim. Many guitarists, tired of experimenting with preamps, equalizers, and effects racks, rediscovered the simple pleasure of plugging into a Fender tube amp. The Bassman's wide stage coverage, touch-sensitive dynamics and full-frequency 'swirl' make it the perfect vehicle for building a great tone with almost any guitar or effect. The reissue Bassman continues to be a staple of the Fender guitar amp line to this day.

Features:
Genuine lacquered Tweed covering

Finger-joined pine cabinet for woody, resonant tone

Original spec 5AR4 rectifier tube for natural compression when playing hard

Internal bias pot makes it easier to experiment with various output tubes

2 GT-6L6 Groove Tube output tubes

3 improved 12AX7 preamp tubes

Fitted cover

Series: Vintage Reissue Series

Type: All Tube

Output: 45 watts into 2 ohms

Ohms: 2 ohms

Speakers: 4-10 in. Jensen P-10R, 8 ohm Speakers with AlNiCo Magnets

Channels: Dual Channels (Normal and Bright)

Features:
Chrome Control Panel
Solid Finger-Jointed Pine Cabinet
New US Made GT-6L6-GE Output Tubes
Improved 12AX7 Preamp Tubes
Original Spec 5AR4 Rectifier Tube
Internal Bias Pot (Makes it Easier to Experiment with Various Output Tubes)
Fitted Cover is Included
Controls That Go to 12
4 Inputs (2 per Channel)
Standby Switch

Controls:
Presence
Middle
Bass
Treble
Volume (Bright Channel)
Volume (Normal Channel)

Covering: Genuine Lacquered Tweed with Striped Oxblood Grille Cloth

Weight: 53 lbs. (24 kg)

Height: 22.37 in. (56.81 cm)

Width: 23.5 in. (59.69 cm)

Depth: 10.5 in. (26.67 cm)

Tube Complement:
3 X 12AX7
2 X GT 6L6
1 X 5AR4 Rectifier Tube

Accessories: Cover, p/n 0037965000, (Included)

Footswitch: N/A

Introduced: 1/2004

Notice: Product Prices, Features And Specifications Are Subject To Change Without Notice

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-488-1818

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (44 ratings)
Submitted March 16, 2009 by a customer from hotmail.com

"PERFECT BALanCE OF CLASSIC CLEAN AND CLASSIC OVERDRIVE"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Since I basically said everything there is to know about the Bassman Re-issue I'll leave you with this, if you want the perfect balance of appeal, and sound GET THIS AMP! The sound this amp has was so beloved by guitarists, that most vintage amps were based off of it. If you want marshall overdrive with classic Fender clean Get it. You will love it!

Sound
it is impossible to get a bad sound out of this amp. For comparison I plugged into my brothers Marshall JTM 45 and turned it up half way. Then I did the same with the Bassman and the overdrive was identical. Although it's very loud, its perfect to get a great classic overdrive (that was with my Epi SG). Since Jim Marshall based his early models off of this amp, I'm sure thats why they sound so alike, but with the bassman, you get an amazing clean tone that is unmatched by any other brand of amp. Also, if you get one, jumper between both the bright and normal channel and the sound is beautiful. I usually play with a fender strat with Custom shop '69 pickups and an epi SG with seymor duncan fat cat p90's and the sound is unmatched. When I play at small gigs, I use an ibanez tubescreamer and just love the drive it gets (it really needs to be pushed to get overdrive so its too loud for small bars)

Features
Even though it doesn't have many features I still gave it a ten and I'll tell you why. Amps these days normally have too many controls and knobs and buttons. read more There is absolutely no need for that. This amp has your basic controls and I feel that makes the amp much like an amp from the 50's, 60's, and '70s (basically when music was great). And its got the parallel inputs so you can jumper between the bright and normal channels, whcih is definetly a bonus.

Ease of Use
The second you turn that volume up to 1 you'll be amazed at the sound. No pushing buttons or clicking footswitches. What I did when I first got it was just set the all tone knobs to 12 o'clock and then put the volume up a little and was mezmerized. Because there are no extreme features, it makes it so easy to use "A caveman could do it!" Any guitar will sound beautiful through it, no matter what pickups it has.

Quality
Although the inner makings of this amp are very reliable and sturdy, there are maybe one or two minor issues. Because it is tweed, it dous tear easier than the black tolex. Also it does sorta "stain" easily if it is rubbed up against somethin. But, that makes it look like its even more vintage right, when its all banged up and whatnot! But you don't have to worry when it comes to the actuall body and electronics of this amp, they won't fail you.

Value
Although, I didn't actually purchase this amp, i would say its definetly worth the money. I was actually going to get this amp but couldn't afford it sor I went for the other. (of course, this all happened before the price increase) But this amp is basically a marshall JTM 45, it has the exact conrols and inner workings. And the fender is cheaper I believe so you think about it.

Manufacturer Support
Well, there is a rather funny story to tell when it comes to support. I originally ordered a fender blues deville but it was shipped with a defect so i sent it to Fender to get a new one. When the new one came in the mail, or what was supposed to be the new one, i opened the box and there was the Bassman. So i guess you could say there service is pretty good!!!

The Wow Factor
The bassman has the beautiful Lacquered Tweed covering that most amps don't, and man does this amp draw double takes when I'm on stage (for bothe the sound and look).

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Classic Rock, Blues, Southern Rock, Chicken Pickin'
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