I finally get the greatness of BLACKFACE Fender Bassman!

[@nickf2170]

The best tones I ever heard you play....that's gutsy perfection.

[@fivewattworld]

There is a reason the big studio guys like Tim Pierce or Brent Mason say that you can do it all with a Bassman head and pedals. Easy to believe that when you hear Johan play it!

[@hkguitar1984]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[@michaelcraig9449]

When you got a 1965 Bassman you dont need any pedals..You sure dont need any distortion or OD pedals.. That would just ruin the tones.

[@JulyTurnerMusic]

@@michaelcraig9449 what pedals would you suggest with this amp? Thanks for the informative comment 👍🏻

[@larryn2682]

@@JulyTurnerMusic hit the brake pedal!

[@Tier_1_Golf_Academy]

@@michaelcraig9449 yeah, if all you need is a clean tone or slight breakup. After that you’re gonna need pedals. The great pedals don’t ruin anything, they make amps better.

[@jameshoosier59]

You can really tell when an amp, or a guitar hits that one spot in your soul...it shows in your playing.. the look of satisfaction is unmistakable.. your playing was spot on and the sound was inspiring..

[@Magnetron33]

I had one of those about 50 years ago. I don't remember much about it except that like so many things, I wish I had kept it.

[@DMSProduktions]

ALWAYS the way!

[@johnhotz1400]

Why ! At 64 did same!

[@globlogabgalab4278]

Thats gotta be one of the best sounds we’ve heard from you!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Glad to hear it!

[@benspicer7470]

I agree! Sounds awesome

[@sheercerebralpower]

I just bought Mats Bjorklunds Fender Bassman since he passed. A great amp. It was modified in Sweden. Maybe you will identify who did it. I can mail you a pic of the amp. Greetings from Munich…..PS If you want send me your 📧 address

[@notabot6837]

I've been through tons of amps, and I found my holy grail in a '66 bassman. I built a cab, now it's a combo, and swapped speakers a dozen times, and to my ears an old vintage 30 had the most character, so it remained. Thanks for another great video

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! I love the older V30s too

[@FunkHitsTheFan]

I've had my '65 for 5 years now never getting rid of it. I found that beast in a antique store, one of the best moments in my life!

[@konnektlive]

Wow... as a working session player and a someone who works in the studio almost everyday, I must say this Bassman sounds fkin phenomenal! That chewy and full of depth overdrive, and yet still meaty, spongy and dynamic. Love it! As usual, another wonderful video Johan! Much love and respect from Melbourne Australia!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, great to hear that! Cheers

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Yeah but very hot pick ups. Sounds great.

[@mookytc]

"I even had to buy it" and then "Ace Frehely"....brilliant man!!! Thank you for the video!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! :-)

[@DMSProduktions]

AWK!

[@tomburden]

My favorite amp channel on KZbin. Thank you for all you do!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Tom, it’s great to hear that!

[@jcoulter43]

I think you may have found "The One" for your Ace tone! Sounds amazing in a whole new way. Time to buy that Budakan Les Paul you've always wanted and rig it up for the smoke/fire effect! Great stuff as usual. Have a fantastic weekend bro. God bless and rock on 😎🎸👍

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks J, have a great weekend you too! :-)

[@plexidust5101]

Soo Glad you bought it, This is the ONE ! It fits you like a glove man, so cool to hear.

[@Tools_and_Guitars]

AMAZING sound - especially with the bass rolled off. Fantastic amp.

[@tonyash623]

I had a similar experience when I found a '66 AB165 Bassman in a shop last year. It sounded so unbelievably great that I had to buy it on the spot. Mine is stock and it sounds exactly like yours. So much more gain on tap than I expected from a blackface era amp. Now, try running it in stereo with one of your Super Leads. I'm currently doing that with my Bassman and a Ceriatone '73 Super Lead clone. It's a jaw dropping combination.

[@maraudermusic2714]

This sounds amazing! What a glorious crunch. And think you nailed the Ace tone, search over. Also, 1000 videos! Congrats and thank you for all you have given us. Have enjoyed your videos for years and always value your efforts and findings. Peace!

[@JohanSegeborn]

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

[@Mr.Saltwater]

I remember when the pawnshops used to have these on a table for $120. At least 30 of them at the music pawnshops shop

[@JohanSegeborn]

Yeah and they’re still much cheaper than other original black faces.

[@Mr.Saltwater]

@@JohanSegeborn I actually used these for my bass rig in high school. 😆 probably a rarity to use it for what it was made for

[@kellyjackson7889]

Yep late 80's and early to mid 90's when you could find Hiwatts for $350 all day

[@amritjanardhanan]

@@kellyjackson7889 My dad would've been in his 20s, which he would jumped on one...

[@santrixhimself3679]

@@Mr.Saltwater yes man i did the same and then sold it like a fool

[@roncarter2188]

So I have a 1968 Silverface Bassman and a of all my amps it's one of the best all around amps I own and definitely a great pedal platform! Thanks John for demonstrating the perfect amp.

[@peterosipov400]

What an amazing tone! Maybe one of the best I've ever heard!

[@JohanSegeborn]

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

[@gforce7four]

One of the greatest amps ever. I've got a modded Bassman 50 and it blows away most other Fenders.

[@onewiththings]

Me too! What did you have done to yours? I had the negative feedback removed, and now I'm thinking I need to reduce the bass a little at the cap(s) before the phase inverter. It sounds great, just a bit overly bassy in the deep lows.

[@gforce7four]

@@onewiththings well mine was "blackfaced" and had a "fat switch" mod done where the Bright switch allows for more gain. Just a lovely powerful amp. Best pedal platform ever. Drives a Leslie cab Model 16 perfectly too.

[@daveydohrman2241]

I’m floored .... those tones right there cover just about all the bases

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Davey!

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

That’s a great one! I have a ‘65 that is nearly identical in features, but I don’t recall mine to sound this thick.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks!

[@willdenham]

I hear a lot of players say the ubiquitous, this or that amp 'makes me play differently,' or 'this class of amp makes me play a certain way....'. It's good to know there are some guitarists out there who play like they want to play, despite the amp. Johan is a classic 70's hard rock dude who brings that to bare, mercilessly, on every amp he plugs into.

[@marcelbelanger4424]

Your new amp sounds really great! Thanks for turning the knobs for us at the end.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Marcel! I’m gonna try to do that in every amp video from now on. Cheers

[@lundgrenguitarpickups2661]

Unbelievable good tone and gain in that amp. Of course it is in your fingers as well. But a great combo. Fender Bassman and greenbacks. Keep up the joy for us Johan. Johan

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Johan, I’m glad you like it! Cheers

[@seanmarr45]

Nice purchase, sounds great! Thanks for sharing. Good way to start your weekend, I’d say!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Sean! :-)

[@jjstudiosjj2408]

Johan congrats on the purchase! The bassman totally fits your style it’s one of the top 5 amps of all time

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks JJ! Yeah it’s a killer amp indeed

[@jjstudiosjj2408]

Bandmasters are part of the fender head family for sure..as far as the other 4? Well we look at all the hit song that’s inspire us from those mid 60s vox’s. Late 60s early 70s Marshall plexis, all those over dubs done on fender champs, some of the original orange amps Twin Reverb’s I left it open to Interpretation lol

[@skylermeredith2522]

Nice to see the bassman getting some love.

[@bryanmannoia8410]

sounds great! I have a '68 silverface bassman that sounds incredible as well.

[@cwbassmsncom]

I'm going to be listening to this at work tonight, along with the playlist. Thanx man. Killer tone as always.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Chris, great to hear that!

[@logen99999]

Sounds absolutely amazing. Better than any Marshall ive heard on this channel

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Mike!

[@EdwardT9]

Impressive! Hope to see and hear more of it with your other guitars, and maybe even a bass!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! Yeah there will be many more videos of this one!

[@SwirlyWhirlyXYZ]

Second the bass

[@bimscutney1242]

Whoa! That amp is killer! I worked with a young guy and he said his dad had this old Fender amp. His dad played in a band back in the 60’s. He knew I played guitar and said he would just give me the amp. From what he described to me it may have been a Bassman like this. For one thing I don’t think his dad would appreciate him giving it to me and would probably hunt me down. Secondly, I couldn’t just have him it give it to me in good conscience. His dad also had a Les Paul valued at about $150,000.00.

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Well done and Great tones Johan! Love the split screen! Have a wonderful weekend Brother! Be Well All!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Have a great weekend my friend!

[@jwmcmillenii]

Such killer presence and attack and grind. Congratulations on such a great acquisition, sir!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks! I’m glad to hear that, Cheers!

[@jens8014]

Congratulations Johan! Great addition to your gear!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Jens!

[@charlesshaw9090]

Fabulous’70s sound! So full mids really makes itself known. Excellent demo of a great 50 Watter. Thanks

[@flemmingholm7109]

Thank you for making this eye opening video. I own a 1965 model with AA165 circuit that I have never really paid attention to. After watching this video I decided to bring it out and see what it can really do. I plugged it into a 2x12 Fender cabinet with reissue Jensen C12N´s and was really surprised how versatile it sounds with my Les Pauls and Fenders and a good overdrive if you can´t play loud.

[@jrp7837]

This has the KISS sound but also, I'm hearing some UFO too. Sweet amp, Johan!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks JRP! Great to hear that!

[@aaronglassonion]

I hate to say it, as I don’t mind that this isn’t widely known, but I think the Bassman circuit is pretty much the greatest guitar amplifier ever made. I recently was able to have Bruce Zinky build a custom amplifier for me and we used the 6G6 basement circuit as the skeleton for it. Sounds great clean sounds insane cranked, and takes pedals super well. I don’t know that there’s anything out there that can beat them.

[@TheBrad1]

I agree. The master granddaddy of guitar tone perfection.

[@skullstjohn]

Oh BTW, Jimmy McCulloch used this same set up on Wings Over America tour back in 1976. Great sound.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, interesting!

[@joemasse4568]

Good observation, I was thinking the same thing, then I saw your comment! And he got a lot of good sounds out of it!

[@RB-bp5ud]

I think. Not a 100 percent sure. But I was thinking his was blonde. I seen wings over America on TV a few months back and was thinking he had a blond head. I’ve got one of the blonde heads and I love it. I have always liked the way the blondes sounded. And I have had both the black and the blonde and they are both great. But there’s something about that blonde with the presence control it has a little bit of a tweed thing go away now to me.

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

Yes,Jimmy Used Blonde Bassman’s into 25’s and his 2X12 Bassman cab’s with D120F JBL’s. Paul actually at that time was using Silver Face Bassman heads into 4X12 Marshall cabs with his Rickenbacker.

[@TheBrad1]

Bought my first AB165 around ten years ago and play it through a solid pine 2x12 jensen P12Q cab. For my second AB165 i built a 1x12 pine cab with a single jensen C12N with matching dimensions so its essentially a closed back combo killer tone gigger. Im settled in with the AB165 and a custom Les Paul Junior to 1958 specs. Rock on!

[@Pezzomusic]

This amp sounds absolutely amazing! Damn!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks glad to hear it!

[@jorbv8]

That's what I'm talking about!!! I'm gonna get a 67 eventually... my birth year...love the sound

[@robthebear2850]

This combo sounds insane. Well beyond what I'd expect from a Bassman, but that may be my own biases.

[@zhou_sei]

pun intended?

[@geoffwalker888]

Top man Johan. I love the Fender amps.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Geoff!

[@jameshigh9330]

looks like the AB165 bias circuit and phase inverter have been converted to the more common earlier blackface arrangement like the AA864 version. sounds great!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks James! I appreciate the feedback

[@jcspaziano]

Whew. What a fire breather! I have a 64 Blackface Princeton and I had a 1970 Silverface Super Reverb. The super was gnarly.

[@nickcarrato9309]

I've owned 3 ab165 bassmans and they all sounded this good 'no mods". They're a hidden jem. You do have to turn it up though.

[@spaidly]

That tone. I’m melting...

[@lightinme217]

Fantastic sounds! I could play that amp all day long!! Ha! That’s for sharing :)

[@zsolttoth6948]

I’m truly happy with You Johan....I know how it feels when You finally able to put your hands on something what you were waiting for a long time...I’ve bought a quartet of 1969 T1221 Greenbacks....will keep them until I die....Would never have come to the idea to get them without knowing You!😉God bless and keep on rocking!Lets go!😉👍

[@dlees5895]

Bought a Bassman with 2 twelves cabinet in '67. Wish I still had that rig.....

[@leesystems]

I love my 1967 Bassman AB 165 as well!!!! I have mine through a Traynor Y-212 sealed cabinet. If no domed it the walls would crack and crumble. So I use a Weber Mass 100 to attenuate the wattage to the speaker. The sound dimed with soap bars on My PRS SE Soapbar II is phenomenal, like no other sound. Thanks !!!!!

[@marksguitars5617]

great amp, I had a Bandmaster from around the same time that was unfortunately stolen years ago , I would run it through an early 70s 1960A cab, this Bassman sounds great and smooth fantastic tones! thanks for the demo, have a great weekend Johan

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Mark, have a great weekend you too!

[@sharplespaul]

I have a 66 bandmaster...I put in 6v6’s to get a bit more dirt...Love it!

[@totalbender420]

Yeah I would’ve bought it too! That is THE SOUND!

[@jpvvandermerwe87]

That tone at 6m15sec . . . GODLY !!! Deff need a '66 Bassman vs JTM45 clips. This might be my fav clip (personal reasons) from your channel so far Johan. Keep 'em coming !

[@sharplespaul]

Man....sounds so!!!!! Good!!! Nice score!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Mike, great to hear that!

[@Schwaadrumz]

Great riffs, well done.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Manfred!

[@stefftrim]

Hey JohanAce ,) I love your persue after the perfect Ace tone; it will probably never end, but who cares. It the fun, the process and curiosity that drives. I was quite surprised to see the low value on the cap on the first preamp stage. Trevlig helg, Johan.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks man, yeah is a never ending quest for sure! Trevlig helg!

[@50Something]

I wasn't expecting such amazing tone! Beautiful!

[@Guitar5986]

That sounds amazing! Nice score!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, glad to hear that!

[@JBASH2011]

Speakers speakers speakers. Killed it Johan. it's got that nice juicy compression, but doesn't fart out with the Celestions

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Jeff!

[@dohenyaudio]

Sounds awesome!

[@ro307805]

Sounds phenomenal. Good as anything I ever heard

[@buddyrodgers5833]

Glad I got mine before this video came out. Prices are about to go up! :) Sounds great as always Johan!

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha Johan! Bassman!!!! I see the Lighting Strikes Again!😂

[@Superchixxx]

Sounds unbelievably good, congrats on the new amp!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, I’m glad to hear that! Cheers

[@aleccraig7283]

Live all of the different sounds you create

[@klausrusswurm3506]

Hallo Johan, ich habe den gleichen Treble Booster, mein absolutes lieblings Pedal! Der Bass man hat damit einen super Sound. Wieder ein super Video. Bleib gesund mein Freund. 🎹🎺🎼🎤🎷🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸😉

[@JohanSegeborn]

Danke mein freund!

[@jaycee30865]

It had a lot of gain naturally. It’s a truly unique amplifier. The one I did for my dad was the most unique of all. :-) According to oscilloscope and load, anywhere between 25 and 64 watts depending on output tube selection.

[@jonathanpentreath6039]

Johan that's a killer sounding amp, congrats! Chewy and Biting. That is seriously some of the best tone you've ever had on here.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Jonathan, I thought it was something really special too

[@c.c.7687]

I've said 'that's the best tone I've ever heard!' on so many of your videos that it's a cliche now, but...that's the best tone I've ever heard!

[@pppaulie73]

That is a great sound!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks!

[@smellytele9629]

Whew! That's pretty damn fantastic!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, Im glad to hear that!

[@anthonydratnal1870]

The tonal variety of this amp really is amazing! Please make a video playing it and the Vibrolux in stereo, I think those two amps would pair fantastically well :-D

[@JohanSegeborn]

Yeah let’s try that!

[@GlobalMiles]

Great playing too. I was listening very intently.

[@rafaelpretto292]

About the possible mods made to this amp I suggest you to ask to "The Guitologist" and "Uncle Doug" these 2 have encyclopedic knowledge about old amps.

[@SteveOuimette]

Sounds a lot like KISS Alive! to me! Damn, Johan, that is quite amazing. Guess I need to get myself one of these!

[@igorbogdanoff6751]

I live here in Nashville, and just bought a 1977 bassman 70 with a mojotone 2 x12 cabinet. Sounded awesome, but I went and got a fender bassman 1 x 15 cab to add in today. I found one of ace frehley’s guitar players on Facebook marketplace. Couldn’t believe it lol. He was selling a silver face bassman head and amp combo. Went to hit him up for it and I guess he had sold it.

[@GIBKEL]

Nailed it. That amp through that cab and under your fingers....how was it that these young players in their day caught on so fast to this killer combo? People must have been talking, or at least whispering. Searing in the most melodic way. Cheers, you nordic tone savant! You squeal in all the best ways.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks my friend!

[@SFolkes97]

Uff! I have a '66 like that and that particular vintage Bassman can be tricky. First because of the tube chart sticker. Mine said AA165 when actually it was AB165 - which happened quite a bit apparently. You have to look at both schematics and compare it to your amp. Then, so many of this model have been modded and that can be difficult to figure out because there is a LOT of mod info out there (Marshall tone stacks and adding gain etc.) I sent mine to Kendrick to have it gone through. Gerald Weber called me to ask if I was interested in having him mod it, and asked me if I was absolutely, positively sure I never ever wanted to use the amp for a bass amp (I didn't own a bass at the time) so I agreed to the mod. The amp came back working fine and the mod works fine too - but it adds A LOT of gain. Of course the "death cap" three prong power cord mod is a must for older amps in the USA. It is a straight forward amp that lends itself to lots of mods, which can usually be reversed as long as nobody has gotten too extreme and the work hasn't been shoddy along the way. Yours looks and sounds great.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Steve! Appreciate the feedback

[@mryerp]

My very first amp was a blackface bassman. Gotta love that chewy, but never flubby sound to inspire you. Great playing as usual Johan, enjoy your new rig!

[@brianm9902]

Wow what a sound

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Brian!

[@MrSteviek52]

Johan💥 ...I’m SO jealous that you found that amp instead of me ! Ahhh 😆 it’s AMAZING ☝️ ....I’d say it’s pretty much perfect 👏🏻 ....great playing, great demo....the overtones are unbelievable !

[@toddlogan9023]

I have a 65’ AA864 in a mojotone 2x10 combo cab…it’s an unruly beast and I love it

[@TheChadPad]

Oooh, those ripper and flying v you've got up there, There's never been anything more beautiful hanging on a wall

[@JohanSegeborn]

Yeah those are pieces of art indeed

[@odgeUK]

That sounds incredible. Getting a lot of early Page vibe here as well.

[@tamayoamp]

Killer sound as always ! Cheers from Mexico

[@kerrykurschinsky2451]

We run a Bassmen,... an AA-165 I think,... it's the middle one anyway's,... along with a reissue Plexi from the early 90's (1994),... on two 4-12 cab's (slant's),... early Rola's with the fender,... greenback's on the Marshall,... original Ts9,... and a Robin Trower boost,... the rest is Fulltone stuff,... uni-vibe and wah,..... I'm 64..... to a long time to come by this stuff,... it was worth the wait..........

[@michaeljohnson8058]

Very nice and rockin sir ! 🤘

[@markgannett3577]

My first amp in about 1985. Back then they were so cheap. $125 all day long. Couldn't afford the cabs. Played through a wedge monitor and almost lost my hearing. Oh yea, that thing sounds warmed over but looks stock. Back to basics. Cool !

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Mark!

[@matt6l6]

I paid $175.00 for mine in 1994. Still use it for gigs and recording. Love it!!

[@hearpalhere]

Wow, this is a monster Johan! Great playing as always man. Glad you were able to buy something you loved so much.

[@kellyjackson7889]

Nice job Johan! I tend to prefer the BF Bassman to the tweed circuit. I'm not surprised at all you felt compelled to buy the amp. Cheers!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Kelly, Cheers!

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

Oh my goodness, that first riff literally made my jaw drop. You somehow always manage to get the most incredible guitar sounds on KZbin.

[@Terbs-24]

This Bassman version is definitely your sound. great playing and amazing tone.

[@mikemackenziemusic]

Yeah that is some sick tone! Rock on man

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Mike! Rock on you too!

[@agtronic]

That guitar/amp/cab combination sounds great!

[@guylaforce4266]

That crunch ✨

[@Andy_Yates]

YES!! I finally have an amp you're testing! Mine is a transitional '65. It has the AB165 preamp that you can jumper, and the earlier bias circuit to adjust bias supply voltage (vs bias balance if I recall). Yours looks more original than mine at this point. Your solder points look so uniform that I wonder if even that ceramic disc cap is original. The headroom in yours is reminiscent of mine too. By 4 , it is getting pretty crunchy with humbuckers. I'm lucky to have the matching cab even though it has modern Eminence swamp things. Maybe I need to order some Warehouse greenbacks for it :). The next amp I'm looking at is the Suhr Hombre after your '63 Deluxe video. Another great one!!

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks Andy! Cheers

[@davidkieltyka9]

My Bassman is an early ‘68 (‘67 serial number, silverface cosmetics) with the bias circuit modded back to the earlier non-balancing one. Stock otherwise. I was about to post a comment, saying that the amp’s Normal channel gets crunchy with the volume at 4, when I read this one. ☺️ I think if Fender had made a Bassman Reverb 2x12” combo instead of the Pro Reverb it would’ve been a big hit. Less headroom, more mids.

[@matt6l6]

Great video, Johan! I've been using a 1964 AA864 Fender Bassman for gigs and recording since 1994. Got it for $175.00. Ive always wondered why I don't see more of them. Nice to see the Bassman get some overdue respect!