Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo 

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I bought a'65 Reissue Twin Reverb at MF online after trying used Bassman and Twin reissues at a local store. I play blues, classic rock, and some clean stuff. The four corners of our sound might be Little Wing to Born Under a Bad Sign to Ramble On to Break Down. I play with a guy who has a 100W EVH 5150 amp and had a hard time being heard so I wanted something with some volume. While the Twin certainly had plenty of volume I found it did not take (quality) pedals as well as I would like. I'm talking about Blues Driver and GMD Luther etc. While it took time based pedal very well the response to distortion pedals was a very loud clean version of distortion and not the beautiful warm overdriven tube tone bolstered by the pedal which I wanted. As I am writing this it occurs to me that this should be self evident. I exchanged the Twin for the Bassman and what a difference! First thing I noticed is the woody resonance of the cabinet. Just setting it down on the ground or tapping on the cab like a drum produces a beautiful natural wood tone. I like it loud and turned about a third to half way up which would be plenty of volume for a small to medium venue it starts to break up beautifully. Mixed into the warm tube overdrive tone are swirling natural harmonics which makes the sound richly complex and to some degree replaces reverb. The tone of this amp is outstanding for what I play. I transport the amp to our practice sessions and while it is on the heavy side it is not burdensome. It's worth it because the amp gives me confidence that I can be heard with a tone that inspires me.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I love it. It is loud and it is one of the most pedal-friendly amps I have
ever played through.
I actually had one of the original 4x10 Bassmans back in the early 70's when you could pick one up easily for 4 hundred bucks. Decided after all these years it was time to get nostalgic and
buy the reissue
Out of the box, had pretty much the same feel as the old one. I always thought the
treble channel was usless unless you were playing surf rock or chicken pickin. The reissue
is loud as hell, just like the old ones, which I always thought could hold their own with a half stack.
Liked that it came with a cover, tweed looks like it will wear well. My wife likes the retro vibe look of it so well, she let's me keep it in the living room next to the grand piano.
Not cheap, but you can pick up a used one for around a grand. A lot cheaper, tho, than what
the old ones are going for now.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

The Bassman is the perfect amp for me for the sole reason of its simplicity. It's a very effect friendly amp that I run a Fulltone OCD, Electro Harmonix Cathedral, 535Q Dunlop Cry Baby, and finally a Live Wire ABY1 footswitch for changing between the normal and bright channels. When combining the channels you really can get some fantastic tones and a drastic change in volume when doing so. I have to mention when playing acoustics through this amp (because after all it is a bass amp) it does tend to feed back easier than most amps. Primarily using a Strat I have found that you can get absolutely beautiful chime and bell tones on the the bright channel. That being said this amp is great for blues, jazz, classic rock, and country alike and I would recommend it to any one who is looking for an amp with real authentic tone.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

For me, the bassman is perfect. It has that right tone, and just the right amount of power that i was looking for in stage and studio. A little tip for users who have the money, in this order, use a 60's or 60's reissue strat, run it through an MXR GT-OD, Through a fender 63 or a reissue tube reverb tank, run it into a Fulltone tube tape echo, and out in stereo to two seperate bassman amps. Use stereo mode 1 or 2, even 3 if you want on the TTE, and it'll sound amazing. Pure dream.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

If you are a fan of 60s & 70s Blues & Classic Rockabilly and Rock & Roll There is no other choice.This amp Made me sound like all my heros from SRV to Jimi to The Stray Cats and everyone else that used this amp.Its like this-You cant Play the Blues with Fender there is nothing else to say

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I have to agree with the previous reviewer--RELEVANT features abound; this is the amp that someone who hungers for authentic tone will love. Even without a drive channel, he Bassman does overdrive, contrary to popular belief, and does so naturally, fiercely, beautifully. The 4 by 10 setup captures every single nuance of your pick attack and playing like a sonic spotlight. If you're used to hiding behind effects, you're gonna feel butt naked playing through this amp. I had some quality issues about a year or so in, but warranty came through and it was easily fixed. What I'm noticing about China factories in general is that they are able to do very competent mass production, but they screw up in the dumbest of ways--in this case, mounting screws for the chassis were too small/narrow. They needed to be heavier. Easy fix, but a fairly stupid problem that an extra $.05 would have rendered nonexistent. But when it comes to what matters--an amp that can sculpt multidimensional tone with none of the b.s. programming, modeling crap that goes for quality--the Fender Bassman cannot be surpassed. I've put this mother through its paces, too--beaten the crap out of it, violently fed it back, pushed it over, ranged from the gentlest of jazz to the screechiest of Sonic-Youthie weirdness and it delivers all day every day. This amp can do absolutely anything you ask it to--all it asks in return is competent musicianship.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I had (still have maybe) a house full of overly complex, overpriced amps with way too many 'Easy Buttons' and way to little of rock-solid fundamentals... One day I just found that I had replaced ability and style with canned imitation and emulated skill...I wanted the artistry back, so my long and through amp hunt began...and eventually ended at this amplifier.It is the core of everything I do now... From Strats to 335's to my Fender Custom Shop Bass VI and my 'Thin Skin' Jaguar.. This amp is brilliant...Anyone who tries to tell you that this amp belongs in a certain niche is stuck in a false mindset... I don't do surf, country, blues, or anything too heavy... I just do music, and this thing is the Stradivarius of amplifiers in my opinion... It does one thing and does it wonderfully, it doesn't try to be anything else...it is the peak of fundamentals... You get out of it what you put into it... I couldn't be happier...I went 5 across the board based on the idea that "Features" to me means "relevant features"You may want something flashier, or more trendy, or with more holes for toys, I dunno, but if you want a big, solid, undeniably awesome tone and signal... This will not disappoint...

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I just purchased one of these used from a local guitar shop, and I must say, I couldn't be happier. The sound of any one of my strats through this thing is pure musical heaven. I've only been playing with it at it's cleanest, haven't put any pedals through it, just loving the pure, real tone of Fender's finest. Absolutely gorgeous. Purchase price was $995 at the shop, and I had an $800 trade in, so it really was a heck of a deal for me. Best amp I've ever owned, and my favorite for years to come. I remember playing one of these brand new in a shop and I do believe there is something to be said about 'breaking in' the tubes and speakers. I think the one I just purchased has different power tubes as well, because I don't believe these came with Sovtek's from the factory, I thought they came with GT's, but I could be mistaken. Anywho, mine sounds incredible.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

I.ve owned an original boogie ser.#049 or so, and actually blew it up! Ask Randy, he was working at Prune Music at the time in Mill Valley as a repairman. Said he had never seen this before, in all due respect it was a very hot summer day gig at a private party and had a loaner goldtop from the shop,the sound just stopped and smoke was poaring out..Loved that amp just the same, but this bassman is off the hook, hands down the best tone I have ever heard. I kept looking down to see if I had left a pedal on, its that great!!!As for the whiners, buy a reverb unit! I use my H2o echo for a little depth but still the most unique tone I have ever experienced!! And I have the pleasure of owning a 64 Vibroverb I got at Prune Music in 1980....LOVE IT!!

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD 4X10 Guitar Combo:

Having owned an original that I played for many years, this amp hits the mark as a reproduction. Same basic tone and versatility with rock solid construction. I believe it to be somewhat quieter (humm. buzz, etc.)than the original at higher volume. Yes it gets very loud and is knocking you down when saturation takes off. I run the amp at high volume and use my guitar volume to control output. Fool around and great sounding distoration is possible at lower levels with no pedals. It works with every effect I have used and I own alot of new to 50 year old gear. Only "Thrash and Mash" metal players will not like this amp. Only thing I would want, and will add, is an effect loop after the preamp and before the final amp. While I have 50 years of collecting Guitars to select from, I can't stop playing a 52 Tele Repro w/ Joe Bardon pickups and a few other mods with this amp. A touch of Vibrato and Chorus and I am reminded of the Great Danny Gatton. Rest in Peace Danny, I'm still trying.Fender hit the mark an this one.