Comparing 9 Original Fender BLACKFACE AMPS Twin Showman Vibroverb Deluxe Champ Bassman Super Reverb

CRANKED. 1. 1966 Super Reverb, 2. 1965 Bassman, 3. 1966 Twin Reverb, 4. 1965 Vibro Champ, 5. 1966 Princeton Reverb, 6. 1964 Vibroverb, 7. 1966 Deluxe Reverb, 8. 1966 Showman, 9. 1964 Deluxe. With Gibson Les Paul 1959 Standard Reissue, close mic Unidyne 548 and room mic AKG C414 Omni, Apogee Duet sound card and iPad with Cubasis, no post-processing except for slight room reverb on the close mic. All amps set to 5 on EQ and 8 on volume.

[@jwo825]

I've probably watched this over 100 times now. The Bassman is my favorite, but damn! I'm blown away at how good the Vibro Champ sounds!

[@xMasterxRazorx]

The Bassman still has my favorite Fender driven tone. The champ hung in there quite well for such a small amp though! And the deluxe sounded great too.

[@JacareDoQuerosene]

Super Reverb is Superb. The best one ever made.

[@jessehudson7113]

Best fiddle amp ever

[@c.p.1589]

Till you gotta put it in the car

[@Bob-Sacamano314]

Ya gimme that or honeslty the champ

[@MIke_of_LeftOfCenterMusic]

I now have a deep appreciation for the unique mid-range grind of the Showman! Thanks! So unique and cool...down the rabbit hole I go...again.

[@yanne.8188]

Fender Amp and a Les Paul, what a forgotten rig. They all sound superb, great work for comparing them Johan!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Yann E. Thanks, glad to hear that!

[@Dagger_323]

So much for Fenders "only doing clean". My favorite was that Showman, huge sound!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Dagger 323 I loved the Showman too. A brutal tone! :-)

[@pip5528]

They have HIGH headroom, not max headroom! LOL

[@auntjenifer7774]

Johan Segeborn # when I heard the showman I was like... wow that sounds just like Ted Nugent which I love his tone and playing. the bass man was my next fav then the vibro champ.

[@cosmokramer4703]

Didn't mike Bloomfield use a '59 lp into a blackface showman

[@Avalanche1368]

The Showman has a 15" JBL speaker in the cab. so BIG sound! Fender also made made a "Double Showman 15" with two JBL 15's The JBL's were custom made to Leo's Fender's specs. The amp was born because Dick Dale, (Who lived in Newport Beach not far from the Fender factory) kept blowing every amp Leo supplied him with.. So Leo Fender went with BIG iron and worked with JBL on a speaker that would not blow or catch fire as paper coil speakers sometimes do when pushed to hard. The single 15 cab has a porting system inside the closed back cab, to lessen the chance of blowing the speaker. It was also Fenders first piggy back amp...It's a LOUD amp! First made in 1960 with white tolex and a marooned grill.. The Black Face Showman's (AB763) first appeared in 1963.. And that's my Fender trivia for the day. :)

[@ColoradoJJ]

Bassman. I was a speaker engineer for Oxford in the late 70s early 80s. The speakers have a huge impact on the sound. My current Bassman is a Silverface modded to Blackface AA165 but I run it through either a G12CS or my trusty EV SRO (with a power soak). But will use other speaker/cab combinations to get the right sound for the song. Normally keep the Bassman on 4 or 5, but every once in a while kick it to 7 for a full compress tube melting sound.

[@MackTheKnifeSlowly]

I just inherited a 60s BandMaster sans cab. I've been using a 2x12. What speaker(s) are your fav match for this one?

[@jdgcustomamplifiers836]

I love this video, I always find myself coming back here again and again over time.

[@RobertNolan]

Definitely the Bassman, but I was thoroughly impressed by the Showman.

[@Shamilt3]

Bassman sounds SOOOO angry!! Love that.. Oh and First!! Great work Johan

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Scott Hamilton Thanks Scott :-)

[@WiserInTime]

+Scott Hamilton - had I had just listened without knowing it was a Fender I'd have guessed it was a cranked Marshall.

[@powerdog242]

WiserInTime Fun fact: Hendrix's Voodoo Chile (slight return) was recorded on a Bassman. That's one of the reasons everybody thinks it has a Marshall-y sound. It doesn't, but it does have THAT Hendrixy "dirty-yet-clean" sound. And bridging the channels together with a short patch cable is all kinds of fun.

[@WiserInTime]

+powerdog242 - I actually knew that. Read it a ways back in some guitar mag. Also read that Purple Haze was recorded through a Fuzz Face into an Orange power amp, not a typical head (but that's just an aside). That Bassman sounds Marshally for sure. It's in that ball park.

[@nicholasquesada7408]

i read somewhere the original marshalls were bassman clones

[@modestoney1577]

You put out cool videos just like that! I thought you already made every possible cool comparison video - then you take me by surprise with an even cooler one. Great job!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Modestoney Thanks, that's so good to hear!

[@notomatoesbbq]

Another Killer video to add to the collection. You really can't go wrong with any of these. I am excited to hear them with a strat! Thanks Johan!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+whiskeyboy Thanks man, glad to hear it!

[@WardyP]

That Bassman, holy crap what a sound!....pure rock and roll. Thanks for the great video

[@keithtpc1508]

The Bassman kills them all IMO. This was the amp Jim Marshall used as the format for his early Marshalls. I have a 1966 Blackface and cab and it is has a killer tone.

[@jezzbro]

Keith TPC yes and no. Jim Marshall did “clone” a fender Bassman, but it was the 5f6a tweed bassman not a blackface bassman. Totally different circuit. The difference between a 5f6a bassman and a Marshall jtm45 is very little.

[@BarrySPeas]

@@jezzbro There was alot of component differences though wasn't there?

[@jezzbro]

Barry SPeas I should compare both schematics but I always heard that early Marshall’s are basically tweed bassmans. (But with components available this side of the pond)

[@BarrySPeas]

@@jezzbro Yeah I'd heard that too, just sure I'd heard someone mention a few of those different components resulted in it having quite a different flavour? Could well be wrong!

[@RocknJazzer]

@@BarrySPeas - mainly the KT66 and different brand output transformer, the rest near identical, just uk brand little parts vs usa ones

[@BSimpson19911]

Who said fender amps were for country music only, all I hear is the history of rock. Thanks so much for the opportunity to hear such historical amps! The bassman was absolutely magical! Great guitar playing as always!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Brandon Simpson Thanks Brandon, Yeah cranked Fender are responsible for so many classic rock recordings!

[@MrCrapheadist]

Another great video! Love the peaceful nature footage in your vids👍

[@JohanSegeborn]

+brandon caleb Thanks Brandon, Yeah Sweden is beautiful this time of year :-)

[@TANTRUMGASM]

That Bassman , what an absolute Classic sound, used by so many incredible bands on so many incredible albums...

[@Guitar5986]

Wow...the Bassman & the Showman sounded incredible! Those two would sound great double tracked and hard panned. The Vibro Champ was great too.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Guitar5986 Thanks, Yeah I was completely blown away by the Showman

[@rossfletcher22]

@@JohanSegeborn Wow! Yeah that Showman is great. Have you got any videos on tone ring cabs? They really are unique

[@zopilotesky3014]

Always amazes me how good a little Champ sounds, for no more than it is. 👍

[@StealthParrot]

I just love these comparison demos. Great as always!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+StealthParrot Thanks man :-)

[@ehowie]

I'm so glad I subscribed to this channel :)

[@JohanSegeborn]

+ehowie Good to hear that! :-) Cheers

[@markio5830]

Didn't expect it but loved the vibro champ, good work as usual

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Mark Ormerod Thanks Mark

[@paullarnce2167]

Wow! What a demonstration! Very impressive.

[@yetanotherbassdude]

Really cool to see how much less bass there is from the Deluxe and the Princeton - very easy to see why they were so loved as studio amps! Amazing video as always, Johan!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+yetanotherbassdude Thanks! :-)

[@SuperCarver2011]

Great collection of some of the finest mid 60s amps that Fender ever produced. You are a real trooper to demonstate them all at once. I've never heard all of them played under one roof and with distortion. I found that some of the smaller combo versions were more to my likinbg than some of the bigger ones like the showman/bassman. Maybe it had to do with those having the bigger 15 inch speakers. The ones with the JBLs definitely sounded a bit crisper, maybe due to their aluminum domes over their voice coils.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+SuperCarver2011 Thanks! The Bassman actually had HH 12 inch speakers. Cheers

[@Andreephil]

Excelente video... never hear a lot of fenders amp in one video... thanks a lot

[@luisgoregonzalez7394]

Love your vídeos dude ! 😉👍👍👍 All fender amps is great

[@e.tienne6600]

You are THE showman ! Very nice video with some probably overlooked gems!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+e. tienne Thanks my friend :-) Cheers!

[@muddybuckerbluesbreaker9942]

nice sounding amps all of them! also nice to hear a review where they're pushed to that sweet spot! for me the bassman had the most full bodied gain sound! great playing btw! cheers!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+muddybucker bluesbreaker Thanks, great to hear that!

[@robbrady4649]

Another fantastic video. Keep em coming Johan.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+rob brady Thanks Rob! :-)

[@Fugettaboutit]

Bassman, and Showman with JBL. That Vibrochamp though.....damn! No wonder so many love recording with it.

[@metelegerald]

You the boss Johan!! Thank you for another amazing video.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+metelegerald Thanks my friend :-)

[@meins6963]

I would be more than happy with one of those little vibro champs! Great video!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Meins Thanks!

[@ddbrock2746]

I find myself torn between the Bassman and the Vibro Champ. Both awesome in their own way.

[@SeeMick1]

I can't even imagine how loud that Twin was in the room.

[@marcsarkissian1452]

Great vid. I know sound preferences are very subjective...I have learned so much from your vids....thank you I am now making better informed purchase decisions. I listen (not watch) your vids the first time to hear if there is a stand-out tone without the visual creating a bias in my hearing. That said, the most awesome tone I ever hear you make was the 1959 Bassman...make me take notice and say wth kind of an amp makes that sound! 1959 Bassman rocks!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+marc sarkissian Thanks Marc, Yeah that's still the best amp I've played

[@andrebrito3816]

CAN I LIKE THIS VIDEO more than one time ?? You just won my subscription!! Thank you very much for this amazing video...

[@pericabenic4413]

Love them all, thanks Johan Segeborn. The 1965 Bassman and both of Deluxe Reverbs are my favorites.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks man, I’m really glad to hear that!

[@rcolang1]

Ok...I'll take on of each!! Didn't know the Bassman's in the 60 sounded that good......different than the 50's models, but awesome as well. Excellent video and work....Johan !!! Also, partly based on your video of the original Lonestar, I've tested and loved the Lonestar Special......it arrives tomorrow!!!! Can't wait.....thanks JOhan...

[@JohanSegeborn]

+rcolang1 Thanks, Yeah there are many reinkarnations of the Bassman. Cheers

[@tomscioscia9869]

This made me miss the '66 Dual Showman I used to have...

[@akashghosh7068]

what an amazing video mate!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+DA_G Man Thanks! :-)

[@bobboitt3126]

Thanks Johan! Great video. That little Vibro Champ rocks!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Bob Boitt Thanks Bob, Yeah it's a little beast :-)

[@gerryloughran1676]

Both 64's and the 66 Deluxe Reverb super sounds, be great to hear the Deluxe/Bassman thinned out on the Strat ..Great stuff Johan

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Gerry Loughran Thanks Gerry, Yeah the Strat is coming up tomorrow :-)

[@CargoShorts7]

Was surprised to see that you only used ear protection with the Deluxe Reverb x Utah speaker and not louder amps like the Twin. Great video!

[@jaycoyoyo]

Great video! My favorites were the Deluxe and the Vibro Champ. I love small amps.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Jay Collins Thanks Jay!

[@thecaveofthedead]

Thanks Johan. Loved the super reverb and the '65 bassman.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+thecaveofthedead Thanks!

[@tonefingerz2021]

1966 twin reverb all the way. that organic breakup man i enjoy listening to your groove time and tone while trying to get these old bones up and moving.thx bro

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Tone Fingerz Thanks man!

[@christianboysen1594]

I give up, they all sound incredible. LP + Blackface is just killer. Well played!

[@robertmailloux3720]

All the classic beautiful Fender sounds.I still bought a Boogie California Tweed head and cab lately.

[@perthguitar5160]

Great demo. Bassman and Showman sound awesome in particular.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Perth Guitar Thanks!

[@andrewdenine1685]

You are one lucky man I could only dream of playing these. I love them all. But the bassman,showman,and super twin I like best but use say that would change from amp to amp amazing amps 🤘

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Andrew! Yeah it was a great experience to play these amps back to back

[@MrTee-qt1qo]

I've been waiting for this one. I still think those 60s Bassman heads are some of the best amps around. Especially with some vintage RCA 6l6gc or Sylvania str387.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Mr. Tee They are indeed

[@whoisthenext1]

Interesting comparisons. Congrats, Johan.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Nuccio raw Lo Presti Thanks Man!

[@sissyandbella]

Loved the Super Reverb! Cheers

[@davidgiles9378]

I’ve never heard fenders sound so Marshall. I have an ancient fender pro with metal octal tubes that can go into that territory, though my silver face fender amps-including bassmans could sound harsh when cranked. Your video shows the older fenders definitely are the ones that can deliver the goods. You have quite the knack for recording these. Thinking recording studios should hire you.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+David Giles Thanks David, great to hear that!

[@byrdz2313]

Very pleased with the sound of the Les Paul through the Princeton Reverb. Also liked the Super Reverb. I guess I have a bias towards the 10 inch speakers. I enjoyed this video.

[@nachom1971]

That bassman tube breakup blooms with tone and is the best sounding to me. Surprisingly I liked the Princeton the least.

[@PhillipCalvin627]

The last channel I showed my dad before he passed away in May. He would have loved this comparison. All of these have an amazing color to them.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Phillip Calvin I'm sorry to hear about your dad, Philip.

[@PhillipCalvin627]

He was a good man who loved guitar and tone.

[@brittisaacrossman]

Johan, great demo! I'm listening to this absent-mindedly at work. Found I was looking up to see what you were playing every now and again... 1, Champ (haha. every time!); 2, Super Reverb, and 3, Twin Reverb. Not sure why I was called to those, but I turned my head quickly!!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Britt Rossman Thanks! Yeah The Champ is an amazing recording amp. Recorded it sounds just as good as the others here, and for some riffs it sounded the best of them all. Cheers Johan

[@brittisaacrossman]

I always thought that the only difference in them is gonna be the live feel - you know, touch dynamics and compression... I never figured they could all record so differently (though I guess the speaker/cab has a huge influence). Thoroughly impressed!!! Thanks for this awesome side-by-side!

[@okiebob64]

The ‘65 Bassman is a BEAST! Huge tone.

[@jeebusyaweirdo3733]

The bassman always takes the cake with 66 showman in 2nd. Something about the princeton I just never cared much for at all.

[@TheMarioEvangelista]

Hi Johan, this video is great! My favorite tone is the Bassman. It's really similar to a Marshall. I also tried recently a 1966 Pro Reverb with a 1965 Jazzmaster and a 1962 Les Paul SG Junior. Man, the baby Twin can really scream and is also super dynamic.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Mario Evangelista Yeah Pro Reverb is a classic that was missing here

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

The Pro Reverb is a great, very under mentioned amp.

[@hrstrat57]

Surprisingly it's Showman for the win, liked the Super next and 65Bassman - I owned a BF super and a Bassman head back in the day. Why they are gone is another great gear mystery.... Ridiculously good video here....how can anyone click dislike?

[@JohanSegeborn]

+hrstrat57 Thanks man, I liked the Showman the most too

[@creoquesoyunrobot]

65 vibro champ SOUND SO BIIGGG! Thanks for the vid and leccion.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+eduardo miranda Thanks Eduardo, it does Indeed! Great recording amp

[@robrobinette]

Keep in mind the microphone is picking up a single speaker so the different speaker arrangements of the blackface models is minimized in this comparison. The circuit differences between the AB763 amps is minuscule so the tone differences come down to the speakers and cab arrangements. This comparison really should have been done with a Fender guitar ;) See this for info on the differences between the blackface models: robrobinette.com/AB763_Model_Differences.htm

[@blacktoothgriner]

Thank you for showing the speakers

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Jon!

[@pablomartins9220]

Great demos!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Pablo!

[@johnwiksten6325]

nice bundle, nr8 and maybe nr1 was in my favor, great video once again

[@JohanSegeborn]

+John Wiksten Thanks John!

[@bishlap]

the 65 Bassman sounded so mean, it almost made Johan look like thug!! The 66 Showman @ 2:05 had Led Zep 2 written all over it.

[@mattosborne1187]

I love Fender amps, and you've got about 1 million Euros worth there..Showman and Super Reverb were awesome.

[@Nosferatu981]

The Bassman sounded like absolute fucking heaven.

[@paulsimmons5726]

Great video, my faves were the Super Reverb and the piggyback Bassman. The single speaker/open back models were way too thin sounding, even with the HB pickups in your LP. Classic 60's Fender tones but too thin for my taste. That being said, James Burton and Steve Cropper recorded a ton of hits with their Telecaster/Black Faced Fenders rigs back then, as well as did a bunch of other guitarists! Great comparison because I really trust what I'm hearing because your mic setup techniques are spot on! Keep up the good work!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Paul Simmons Thanks man, good to hear that

[@islanderwinder]

The Bassman was a beast but they all sounded killer ...Great Video Johan

[@JohanSegeborn]

+islanderwinder Glad to hear that! Cheers

[@clusterchord1]

my favorites, any order: super 1966 - growliest mids, im in love.. bassman 65 - classic sound for everything deluxe 1964 - fav of the smaller amps, like it much more than 1966 fantastic comparison, Johan. thanks for doing this, enjoying all your comparison videos to no end. i wonder if you recall what circuit was the bassman shown here (aa165 or aa864 etc) ?

[@chrishepburn1503]

Great video, I love the Bassman sound. I was really hoping you had a Bandmaster to demo though. Maybe in another video. Cheers

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Chris Hepburn Thanks Chris! I'll do the Bandmaster as soon as I find one. Cheers

[@chrishepburn1503]

Johan Segeborn Sounds great, looking forward to the video!

[@gwEmbassy]

There's a few of these I liked. In particular the Showman was brilliant. But I also liked the Bassman and the little Vibrochamp. Thanks for this video :)

[@JohanSegeborn]

+preromanbritain Thanks! :-)

[@darkthingswithmarkdavis4497]

Oh, man... I think they all sound great. That little VibroChamp sounded amazing with a tiny 8" inch speaker. You can crank it without going deaf.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Mark Davis Thanks man, Yeah the perfect recording machines! :-)

[@mr4teth]

Mark Davis my thoughts exactly!

[@godwillhunting2]

I have one a friend gave me and it's cleans are the best. most harmonically rich I've ever heard .

[@ElCapinyoazz]

Picked up a '66 in L.A. a few years ago for $600. I'll never let that one go. Vol halfway with some vibrato on about 3.5 intensity is amazing, and it does nice cranked dirt too without the neighbors calling the cops.

[@gustavojazz4514]

Nice Work Johan, thx Bro !!!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Gustavo Jazz Thanks man!

[@piggycity]

Love the Princeton Reverb! And the showman

[@pablobaleani2756]

Amazing demo, what a hell man ! It 's a privilege!

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Pablo Baleani Thanks man!

[@zhou_sei]

that showman is THE 'bad to the bone' tone. ( @ 6:17 ) ... sounds like it to me, anyway. i never knew blackface fenders were THIS upper echelon with their cranked dirt sounds, i always thought of them as clean amps. (actually, that's why i'm here... nobody seems to have a good video where they compare all the blackface clean tones... was disappointed at first, but these tones... omg so good).

[@wojciechkaron6825]

Amazing work Johan! I can't decide whether I prefer Bassman or Showman.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Wojciech Karon Thanks Wojciech! The Showman was my favorite :-)

[@andrewdenine1685]

oh man I want your job amazing all these jems

[@User-jk8wq]

Showman and bassman are the clear winners in my opinion. So much smoother than the others!

[@paulodecarvalho2209]

Bassman e Showman são perfeitos!

[@jakestewartmusic]

My favorites were the Bassman, Deluxe, and Vibro Champ

[@micheledibella9375]

Yes Vibro Champ here, but maybe with others cones another

[@LEgoiste]

Just have to say, great vid.

[@FabianRomano1]

That Bassman kicks ass, you made me start looking for a head. Where you using the bridge or neck pickup ? Great video man, thanks for taking the time.

[@naxxodrop]

Wow all those amps sounds fucking great.

[@Fitzliputzli23]

That's some kinda real shit gear, man! Tnxx for posting! (love the vids on the right side btw.)

[@makkiesteban4574]

Pulled the trigger and got a 1968 Showman based on what I heard from this video. It’s a silverface one that was modded to the old blackface circuit. Although my playing doesnt at all sound like the playing in this video, Im loving the sound and never letting this amp go.

[@roba1899]

I simply love how he shows off where he lives ..

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Rob! :-)

[@rcdial]

I have a metal face jmp & love it, but I also have a 67 super. That super has such a sweet workable tone, from crisp and clean to vintage tube distortion. An od stacked with a fuzz can get too aggressive. It is a close second to the jmp. All in the realm of Jimi-Stevie-Rory tones.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Ryan Dial I'm a metal face guy myself. I prefer 71-73 Superleads. Cheers

[@swtb7313]

1966 Super Reverb and the 1966 Showman for me

[@happycats0199]

Johan, amazing video, really love all your content and have MAJOR gear envy. I'm looking at 65 bassmans, curious what circuit your 65 is in this vid? AA165, AB165, other?

[@rexnavarro2918]

MAN!So much goodness... Right on!

[@xcrow0]

All sound great. I see why little amps are so great for recording.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+X Crow Thanks!

[@zundap100]

Super Reverb, love it.

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Dan Noc Thanks Dan!

[@craiger2399]

I love the low mids on the Super and punch of the Champ.

[@justingarcia7722]

The showman is one of my all time favorites. Right now I'm pretty content with my 68 super though :)

[@JohanSegeborn]

+Justin Garcia Both amazing amps :-) Cheers