1966 Fender Blackface Bassman - KILLER TONES ALERT

[@jamiemascola6614]

I picked up my '65 AB165 Bassman back in the late 90s. Most versatile big-block amp that I ever owned. There are 3 variants, with essentially 2 circuits. The pre-CBS AA864, Transitional AA165 (which is basically the same as the AA864), and the post CBS AB165 circuit. The amp here is from 1966, so it's an AB165. Early silverface Bassman amps use the same AB165 circuit, and are considerably less expensive. This amp can do country, jazz, blues, hard rock, soul funk, and even thrash metal with the right pedal. There's no shortage of sustain, attack or response to player touch. And it's all built on this thick basic clean tone that just works differently, but equally well with every guitar.

[@artmv1149]

I think this is the summary I needed to hear before pulling the trigger on getting one.. Thank you.

[@jwtubification]

Your tone on this demo is really, really good!

[@rokkinranch6215]

Great playing! I just got a Bassman re-tubed and serviced. Used to belong to my wife's father. He played jazz.

[@moonsgin3817]

Tony I don't know the last time I enjoyed an amp demo this much -- your expressions say it all about this amp...fantastic playing and that tone really is damn-just-damn!

[@stratplayr6997]

The smile on your face says it all, that amp sounds killer! I used to have a 1967 Bassman + tall cab years ago, but stupidly traded it for something else. Not a day goes by that I didn't wish I had it back. I am now on the lookout for another one to fill the void of what I used to have.

[@demonrouge3338]

Same regret but mine was stolen. Same one and cab. 😤

[@jaretcarter5824]

'64 thru 68 Fenders blackface amps are what I love Great Amp!

[@ColtonRhody]

I’ve owned 2 AB165 Bassman heads over the years, a 68 drip edge and a 67 BF…just picked up another 68 drip edge with the AB165 circuit..date codes on transformers date it to late 67 or the first couple weeks of 68. This one sounds better than either of the other 2 I had, and it’s all stock (other than 3 prong cord and filter caps). Find a 68 drip edge with the AB165 circuit, much more affordable and the exact same circuit as later 65-67 BF Bassman heads 🤘

[@ChickenDinner87]

Wow! F***in shredding man! Awesome video!

[@therangersinger]

That's a perfect amount of breakup. Very sweet👍👍👍👍👍

[@SebastianFalvoMusic]

Sounds so so good man. A perfect tone!!

[@pharmerdavid1432]

BEAUTIFUL tone man! I recently scored a 1967 blackface with drip-edge, anyone ever see one of these transition models before? It hasn't been serviced yet, but seems to work well, bought it from a tech who installed a master in the ground switch hole, and modded the bass channel to be like a Marshall. It sounds great, but yours sounds BEAUTIFUL!

[@jimmyjoe1871]

The hands...... great amp too.

[@craiger2399]

Damn man, you are a great player, and that is one killer sound!

[@ofergigi8236]

made me decide in a video what i tried in a month of forums and utube videos. thank u for that demo

[@quantum0712]

Amazing tone brother. The face says it all!

[@dkarr82]

Absolutely killer tone

[@back2backband1]

killer tone, love that custom shop.

[@telecasterman18]

Yo bro, I know these amps are killer because I have one too but on this case, it’s the hands. Absolutely killer playing my dude!

[@sheercerebralpower]

grrreat....i have the same,albeit from 65......love it...your Strat looks like being strung with 011s.....

[@kimkelley9269]

Awesome playing and amazing tone! I see another amp purchase in my near future!

[@malcolmadams2105]

Beautiful looking Strat 🎸

[@bensimmons2491]

Well done man, sounding great!

[@brianwood7237]

Looking at a AB165 circuit Blackface plate Bassman today...a little rich for my blood but I have a custom half open back 2x12 with reconed 25 watt greenbacks at 4ohm I am sooo tempted

[@tacmason]

That is the Crunch / R & B sound !

[@bellow6189]

Great playing, great amp!

[@mikeygoda]

nothing beats a good strat in a great players hands!

[@jacobwoodmusic1109]

Sounds amazing!

[@YMESYDT]

Check out Scumback speakers, killer speakers and really build on the old alnicos. Or Tone Tubby!

[@michaelchafe9735]

Awesome tone...deaf within 6 months though! Lol. I have the same amp, using an attenuator between head and cab now. Not as 'true' but pretty close and at least I get the breakup without the hearing loss. OK, additional hearing loss. Awesome job bro!!

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

He doesn’t have the worry about hearing loss because he’s using cab emulation with his Ox Box. I do the same, and it’s the greatest investment I ever made. Sure, nothing can replicate the way a loud amp feels in a room. But for simply recording, or playing quietly at home, the Ox is a complete game changer because you can actually turn big amps up without any loud volume.

[@neilslade]

That's my amp- yeah, sounds great.

[@jasonmccool4342]

Fantastic!

[@nodaysback1]

I don't wana wait til tomorrow!

[@JonGUK]

I’m a year late, but that bassman sounds great !

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

Maybe your Strat has lower output pickups than what I typically use with this amp. But I have the same amp. And when I use a Gibson at 4 1/2 or 5 on the amp volume, it sounds like Malcom Young is playing in my basement. Solid crunch. Even with a Tele, it’s solid hard rock tone at 5. But again, Strats are so scooped and low output, maybe that’s the difference? Either way, yours still sounds awesome!!

[@TonyMartinez]

Really low output yes !

[@gtrslgr]

Cool! What speakers are you running?

[@Hillelfan02]

I’m guessing it’s the ab165 circuit? Just bought one myself and it’s also a 66.

[@canterburyaudio5836]

Yeah that will do for sure

[@michaelcraig9449]

I got a late 1965 Bassman with JBL D120F speakers.. It is totally slammin. Sounds a lot like a Marshall plexi, good amount of breakup, but no fizziness or fuzziness. Just way huge monster tone. No way could I turn it up to 8 in the house, it would just hurt way too much. I like good huge loud tones, but volume on 8 is just for a huge club or wide open out door gig with no houses around. I can play it comfortably on 2 volume at home. How can you comfortably play it on volume on 8, in a house?

[@TonyMartinez]

Fryette ps100

[@YoureNowOnTV]

I think I've missed something here, what were you running the Bassman head into ? an Ox ?, is that a load box of some kind ? Cheers. (I love my 1964 Blonde bassman, instant Hendrix Vibe on 6 to 7)

[@TonyMartinez]

Universal Audio OX !!! Load box yes but best cab sim ever too. Nothing records like the OX unless u have a great room, mics, preamps, time and knowledge of course lol

[@YoureNowOnTV]

@@TonyMartinez Oh cool! thanks for explaining what the Ox is. Muchas gracias señor 😀🙏

[@JonGriffin]

Yep, that was my question. Thanks for asking and Tony thanks for answering! Great playing brother 🤘😝

[@tacmason]

Lord Jesus , definitely Amazing !

[@ShredShed]

That doesn't suck ; )

[@pachacache5186]

very good guitarist! ... and good amp 👍🏻

[@drieslambrecht8611]

Awesome video, what is that riff at 6:30?

[@maxcreed]

Amazing sound et amazing playing ! Could you tell me what is the reverb you use ? Thanks !

[@kosmicwizard]

It's in his UA ox box, cheers

[@maxcreed]

@@kosmicwizard yes and I think this is why the Ox sounds more flattering than others. ;-)

[@tremolo664]

Hi Tony, what cab/speakers are you running your bassman through? I recently got a 67 with a 2x12 blonde cab (no name speakers) and it really has a lot of headroom. The previous owners swapped the power tubes a day before shipping it to me, so I have the feeling these need to be biased a bit on the hot side for this breakup I'm hearing in your demo. Gracias!!

[@stringlocker]

I'm thinking they don't break up is because they are made for a bass Especially after the Tweed era. But that one sounds really good.

[@ThePalosargentina]

Hello Mister! amazing how you make it sound! I wanted to ask you the following query. I have a Fender bassman blackface 50 and the torpedo captor. Can I profit from it by using a 1st generation focusrite as an audio card? Thanks a lot!

[@lightinme217]

Fantastic!!! I have a 69 that's on the way. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnshanesyandtheaccommoda1189]

I just traded for one of these I’m very excited to get it in the mail soon!! Mainly though sick Uncle Larry Homeskoolin shirt brother!

[@TonyMartinez]

John Shanesy best channel ever ! U gotta love Tom !

[@rcleon1431]

@@TonyMartinez saludos Tony cual es la señal de tu estudio en ese video equipo que usas?

[@tomhuergo]

Hola Tony, con que parlante estás usando el Bassman en este video? Espectacular el audio!!

[@rommelrivera1186]

UA Ox Box - 1:05

[@captainpiefox9133]

Dude your tone through that amp is incredible. I can't get a bassman to sound that good

[@KelsterVonShredster]

is yours a '66? LOL

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

Do you actually turn it up? He’s using an Ox Box cab emulation, so he’s able to crank it. While I don’t play the way he does, my AB165 Bassman sounds just like his.

[@adam614ce]

Hey, did you use the 4ohm tap on your Ox for the Bassman head? I just got a 66’ and was about to run it through the Ox. I’ll test the amp first to make sure it is 4ohms.

[@TonyMartinez]

I run it 8ohms … no big deal lol

[@leonardo.rafael]

Bassman 66’s have a 4 ohm output but it seems many people uses them as it were 8.

[@javialonso78]

Buenas! Sabrías decirme qué circuito lleva? Lo pone en el papelito que va pegado por dentro en el cabezal. AB165, AA165, AA864. Es importante por que un Bassman del 66 con cada circuito sonará diferente.

[@TonyMartinez]

Lo mirare

[@javialonso78]

Gracias tio!

[@TonyMartinez]

Javi Alonso pone AA864. Nose si es bueno o malo eso jajaja pero es lo q pone 😂

[@javialonso78]

Tony Martinez, el AB165 tiene un estado de ganancia mas y alguna que otra diferencia mas. Son similares pero no suenan igual. Hay mucha info. por la red. A mi el tuyo me suena muy bien. A disfrutarlo!!

[@gianlucarenoldi556]

@@TonyMartinez You know that your sound is in your head and in your hands. I am sure you will make sound in this way, even a cheap acustic guitar. By the way, great sound and playing.

[@meesterprofe007]

Gawd....Iammesmerizedyoudrinkcoffeeandtalkfastlikethatvorvareyoujusthummingbirdstylekillerguitarplayerwithmagictouchandtone?

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Tony you are the happiest Man in the World when you play,We can see it . As for speakers have you considered Celestion basic green back 12"?

[@nigelgrewal8858]

What is the OX?

[@TonyMartinez]

Universal Audio OX- cab simulation

[@eventskumkum6401]

Hola, Yo tengo un cabezal como ese, con una pantalla fender 2 x 12 y unos Jensen suena bien pero con una 4x12 con blackbacks suena mucho mas contundente, con mas dinámica y pegada. Con unos Greenback o blackback te va a sonar cojonudo. Aunque en tu video ya te está sonando brutal, pero los conos pueden hacer que suene muy distinto. Saludos

[@agusg.t.8950]

Que pasada! Que lo escuchas por los monitores de estudio? O por una pantalla?

[@TonyMartinez]

Ambos

[@l8tapex]

Damn!

[@accesstoaxes2959]

Hello ! Great sound, I really love your playing ! What amp models are you playing on ? Head or combo ? With which speaker ? Keep it up !!! ;)

[@TonyMartinez]

Its a 66 bassman head, playin thru an OX. Cant remember the speakers

[@SCOTT-ki3ve]

What is an OX?

[@bouillefabien1195]

Rock and roll!

[@tonisbx7000]

la primera vez que pude tocar con uno, me sento de culo, que poderio de ampli, yo no lo usé con atenuador, pero hace falta si o si, sino olvidate de que rompa, antes te explota la cabeza, jejejeje. el que yo probe era del 71 creo recordar....

[@alpadilla8637]

My Grampa gave me his and I'm gunna slap some new tubes in it and shred

[@mofwof]

My '65 Bassman doesn't sound that good. Great sound and playing!

[@bigbromiki1]

find someone who knows what they are doing and there and definitely tune ups or slight mods to take it to its full potential

[@willdenham]

The ab165 is the holy grail of blackface circuits, that thing should roar.

[@matthewschaff7550]

Wow.

[@amritjanardhanan]

Don’t go with cream backs, go with a alnico blue or two a normal greenback and a heavy magnet greenback

[@albertramsey_]

Pos el bueno de Nick Perry le ha puesto 4 celestion blue a su 4x12 🔥 suena brutal el bassman ouu mama

[@Utube-s8m]

I like cream backs myself.

[@bryancruz8310]

Por fa en español? No van haber videos ! 😅😅😅

[@letzrok1016]

That’s got to be shaking the whole house right? I have an opportunity to get one but I have a wife and 2 little kids and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to turn it up past 2. Haha

[@kosmicwizard]

Sounds good on 2 as well

[@xNoMeansNox]

I just grabbed a 68 for my bass and it sounds absolutely killer at 2. Also have a wife and 2 kids. Max i've had it when they are home is 3 and its loud af. Loudest i had it was around 6 or 7 and holy heck! The tone is unreal.

[@JayTheLane]

Fattest a Strat has ever sound 👍🏻

[@Ivan_Ku.]

shat. what a sound

[@leegollin4417]

Greenbacks

[@yakshrajsingh8121]

I somehow have never managed to like a bassman or any blackface fender. They have too many tones that dont have anything that good, they are totally special , but those tones arent mind blowing to me. Somehow they are too like kinda covered by a blanket. Maybe because i 95 per cent of the time play clean with a klon and a ts.