The Iconic Sound of the Black Fender Bassman

[@mojotoneofficial]

Great video Matthew! You make our speakers sounds great! Big thanks from North Carolina!!

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thanks a lot you guys rock! 🙏🏻👊🏻

[@jaunianise4172]

@@MatthewScottmusic we'd love to hear what you think of these speakers Matt !

[@gearViewmirror]

I made a cab with a Mojotone BV-25M 12" and it sounds fantastic! Love from Switzerland🎸🤘🏼🎸

[@bobhewitt5047]

Sounds so much better with the MojoTone speakers though… especially with that LP Special…😃

[@mojotoneofficial]

@@bobhewitt5047 High five!

[@funkyjones]

This was the first real amp and cab I ever owned. I bought it off a local legend named Bob Smith in San Jose, Ca. for $250. It had a master volume mod and Bob could make it sound like anyone. When I went over to buy it, I recall him saying, "Mahavishnu?" and after rapidly turning the knobs a bit, he ripped a few fast McLauglin licks. Then, "Yes?" and more knob twiddling and he played some Steve Howe licks. This went on for a while and every artist or band he named, he sounded exactly like them. I was impressed and handed over the cash. I took it home but didn't quite get the same results 😜

[@TechMule59]

Tone is in the fingers :)

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Actually its in your soul, the fingers are just the conduit

[@mikemcintosh9933]

Wow there is a universe of tone available just by plugging straight into that. No need for a rig rundown. Straight on in!

[@frankieconcepcion7860]

My 1962 Blonde Bassman is the best amp ive ever played through. These amps are incredible. Would love to try a Blonde Showman one day

[@MatthewScottmusic]

I really hope to demo one of those someday.

[@ampstupid]

I’m thinking about selling mine with its married 15” tonering soon

[@billydlight]

@@MatthewScottmusic They're killer

[@ovash1]

I traded a Squire Standard from 2000, and $60. for a Fender amplifier about 10 years ago. I knew nothing about the amp, until after the trade was done, all I knew was that it would be worth it. It turned out to be a 1960 (first year of production) Blonde Fender Showman with a maroon front cloth. Serial number in the low 200's. That amplifier is so powerful that my 10 year old son named it, the Blonde Monster. I heard someone, with more guitar talent than me, play it and it was amazing. I even sent Mathew Scott an email to see if he wanted to buy it, but he either didn't see the email or didn't want the amp. From what I've heard, the Showman was not a popular amplifier. I don't know why, they sound amazing.

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Brian Setzer would agree with you, so do I.

[@edmann6444]

I have a '64 one, it's a great amp for sure! Don't be afraid of turning EVERYTHING up on that bass channel, it sounds killer!

[@youropionmattersnot]

Hats off to Leo Fender for helping to design and make both the instruments and amplifiers that helped shape modern Americana music. Gibson and others hold their respective places but all of them are behind Fender. And that cannot be argued by anyone.

[@Jonathan-L]

That Bassman is badass man.

[@johnduffy8532]

Thanks for playing these old amps pure and "unpedaled." Great historic information and well-recorded tones. Appreciated.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Wow, that's the tone. Impressed that you get that kind of full tone, especially with the Strat directly into the amp at that volume level. Love your content and the way you present vintage gear. Your knowledge and research is admirable. All the best from Norway! Thor

[@solarexify]

It rings like a bell, amazing amp and the mojo speakers are incredible

[@DeWittPotts]

I have a friend that had this same rig back in the late 60's early 70s. To this day it was one of the best amp tones that I have ever heard. This was back in the day when most guitarists did not use effects or pedals. His tone came from a Gibson ES335 running straight into the amp. This amp had the perfect breakup when you cranked it up a bit. You could hear both the crunch and the bite when you turned it up a bit and dug in. Overall one of the best sounding amp and speaker combination ever made.

[@simonwhitlock9189]

Apart from the gear you are demonstrating,and always done so well,it is so refreshing to hear an instrument played with style and grace and not some,look at me, thousand mile an hour buzz show.thank you for a very enjoyable video.

[@chriskoch2465]

Love the sound of the bassman. I have a 66 bandmaster blackface and couldnt be happier

[@JonHerseyMusic]

I’ve got one too-awesome amp, but I’m in the lookout for a matching cab!

[@martinzendejas4037]

Mike Ness is the reason I want one of these. Great playing, man, really make that strat sing 👏

[@illukka]

Mike Ness' amp is pretty heavily modded. The sound is to die for though- one of the best tones in history!

[@BuckBarker]

You are an excellent musician. I appreciate your affection for these old amps. I’m an old codger who started playing in bands in the sixties. When I first started, almost everyone used Fender amps. The first amp I ever owned as well as the other guitarist was a Champ. Our bass player had a 50 watt Silvertone head with 2 \15” cab. The organist had some generic 50 watt head with 2 \ 15”cab. With a Farfisa organ. Our drummer had the 3/4 scale drums . At first we played a lot of birthday parties. So, for a PA we used a Bandmaster head with 2\ 12” cabs . One on each side of the stage . (There weren’t many PA’s back then.) If we were playing in a house , the drummer would play easier, the organ and the bass would turn down a bit, and we would crank the Champs to 10 and go up and down on the volume. If we were playing in the auditorium at school, the guitars would take 3 Champs and stack them on top of each other. You would put your guitar cord in channel one on the first one , and then jumper it to the other two. (Cords from two to one and two to one) . The Bandmaster was a 68 silver face with 67 blackface circuitry. I still own it. Later on after we had played a few years and saved our gig money, equipment evolved and so we got a real PA. I used my Bandmaster and the other guy got a Super reverb. I replaced my 2\12”Jensens with Celestions in the late 70’s . They still sound great. But back then the guitar players would use Bandmaster’s and the bass players would use Bassman’s. The best cab for the Bassman was the big Fender cab with 2 \15” JBL’s. I apologize I didn’t mean to ramble on. I don’t use the old Bandmaster anymore. I’ve got a small studio and go into a small effects pre amp and then straight into the board. Ever now in then , I’ll crave that old sound and crank the old Bandmaster up. I write songs, play the instruments, sing the vocals , and record them. I make CD’s and give them away. Folks for years tried to get me to put my songs on social media but I wouldn’t. I did finally put 14 songs on KZbin @Larry Buck Barker Original Songs. Anyway Mr. Mathew keep up the good work, I’m a big fan. By the way I had a 54 Strat with a maple neck back then. It was stolen from in 1969. I was devastated for a while, but finally moved on . They definitely have their own tone. I hope all have a happy and healthy day. Cheers!!

[@michelleneeds4165]

❤

[@julianf2677]

Matthew, you are my favourite youtuber, ever. Your tone is the best I've ever heard, and you're my inspiration.

[@nickshaw6085]

Man, your tone and playing is among the greatest I've ever heard. You are truly gifted.

[@alanlatimer1024]

Wow that sounds incredible you put the time in to find these amazing amps and guitars and your reward is the amazing tones they emit from your fingers and soul

[@woodybowen5362]

One of my all time favorite amps. This one sounds great with both sets of speakers. Not surprised, these are incredibly consistently sounding amps.

[@thomascleveland]

I wish I had an hour long video of all your guitar and amp demos strung together with no talking just playing. I would listen to that every day.

[@JohnQGuitar]

Matthew, sooo glad to see you back. You should be very proud of getting us guitar players through the pandemic with your videos. KZbin is probably a HUGE WASTE OF TIME, RIPS OFF VIDEO PRODUCERS LIKE YOU! but I can assure you that we support you. I would love to pay for tickets to a show here in California (Bakersfield). Hope to someday see you play live!

[@tymanngruter1808]

I have one from 1965, on the attic i realised when i did see you! No cab, but it will never leave me! Thanx for posting. ♨️🎸♨️

[@leotrovatomusic]

One of my favorite Amps. Unfortuantely never got to play one except a digital version of it...but already sounds amazing through the video!

[@kevinodriscoll3904]

I have a ‘67 black panel bassman for nearly 30 years now. Mostly I played it through a Marshall 1922 closed back 2x12 celestion speaker cab. These amps are really amazing tone machines especially if you get into using some overdrive pedals. Nice demo!

[@mike_f]

I was also made in 1964. But i don't sound anywhere near as good 😂. Love your content. Your appreciation for the instruments and playing are a joy

[@MegaElvisd]

My father's cousin who backed singers like Percy Sledge bought a 65 new, flipped it to my father. His band opened for the Byrds a couple of times. I took it over 25 years later.

[@Hillelfan02]

My first real amp is a 66 ab165 bassman I bought it when I was 18 and have had it for 3 years now and it’s never leaving!

[@felipegodoy8801]

Love the clean sound on the Strat.

[@kevinmurtagh4996]

I love all Bassmans. But my favorite is AB165, the circuit that came right after this one. It has an extra gain stage (in both channels), so it gets really gritty. If you turn it to even just 5, with a humbucker guitar, it’s nice and crunchy. Almost more Marshall-like. Turn it to 6 or so, you’ve got instant Malcolm Young-esque sound. The most versatile Fender amp there is, in my opinion. This amp, and you, sound amazing! Thanks.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

I'm considering converting it to that circuit.

[@rogermoore126]

@@MatthewScottmusic my humble advice would be to leave it alone - it sounds great! I have a '65 AB165 and it's nice too, but they're still plentiful on the market and not too crazy expensive yet - just own both! :D

[@lukebaldwin3682]

Yep, I also have a 67 AB165 that I specifically got for the extra gain stage. It's the best high watt amp I own. Johan Segeborn's video is what sold me on this specific circuit.

[@mohamedtlass3842]

@@lukebaldwin3682same here!

[@thisisjtom]

⁠@@MatthewScottmusicyou should keep this one as it is cause I believe they’re quite rare, and find a more common Silverface to make the mod. But that’s just me ;)

[@TommyRogersAlabama]

I fell into the ownership of a 1965 Pro Reverb and I took the original fender speakers out for preservation and installed Jensen C12K's. I love the way it sounds and I use it all the time.

[@JosephGallagher]

When you took out the old speakers I just thought "That's history right there..." Hadn't felt like a Chad in a while 😂

[@monmixer]

I used one of those for 2 years. Awesome amplifier for rock for sure. Classic rock that is. Haven't tried anything through but clean tones but we all know Fender is famous for clean tones.

[@MickeyBitsko-bn1bu]

I haven't read thru the comments and it's probably been suggested, but jump those channels! You get both with a lot more power and a ton more tonal variations. I have an all original "66 with cabinet and it's great. Also a tip I was given years ago was to lay the cabinet face down when swapping out speakers. FAR less awkward and you're not fighting gravity. Another really great one Matthew

[@vinsanityguitar]

I have this exact same amp. I love it. Probably my second favorite amp.

[@BKDocHoliday]

What's the favorite?

[@BeefNEggs057]

What’s the favorite? We all are curious. No judgement.

[@vinsanityguitar]

@BKDocHoliday believe it or not my favorite amp is my red knob twin. It is the best Pedal platform I've come across in my 35 years of playing. I just bought another one today the fender Super 60. I also have a 1984 Fender concert though that might be the sweetest clean I've ever heard. Lots of fun tones on my KZbin channel.

[@vinsanityguitar]

@@BeefNEggs057 v

[@thisisjtom]

I was lucky to find a 64 Bassman head (AA864 circuit,European version) in Germany 4 years ago. It isn’t fully original as it has been serviced but it’s now my main live amp. I love it.

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

you play bass like such a guitarist! hehe. i used to always come off stage and people would say "why you playing your guitar like a bass" and then one day i decided to actually play bass and it was unsurprisingly a much better fit lol. thanks for the videos as alwaysssss

[@leesystems]

I have a ‘67 bassman head that I bought in ‘89 for $75. New Svetlana tubes in 2012 with a hotter S1 tube. Had it recapped and fully gone over in 2021. It really breaks up and sizzles for guitar. It’s plugged into a circa 1970 Traynor sealed 212 cabinet. It’s loud!!!! I use a Weber Mass 100 between the amp and speakers to attenuate the volume so I can dime the amp. WOW!!!!

[@johnstaf]

Your Strat into the bass channel sounds particularly wonderful.

[@jeffseven2194]

Absolutely right about the bass channel. My first good setup in the mid 70s was a blackface tremolux and a 65 SG JR. Wish I still had 'em.

[@jackgreenwood1817]

Have had an AB165 Bassman for nearly a year now and I haven't used any other amp since I got it. Such amazing sounding amps, and the breakup just plays with you and feels so natural and responsive. Great video, would have loved to have heard the original speakers with the same ribbon mic used to record it. I swapped out the originals in mine for Jensen C12K speakers as they can really handle the output and drive I'm after.

[@thermionix]

a fine addition to any color pallet

[@rogerwilliams2629]

Thanks for another fun ass video. This old man loves it. You just played through one iconic sound to another.

[@jefferywerner3800]

I had borrowed one from a friend of mine, Baseman 50 I believe it was, only had one 12 inch speaker. I personally LOVED it! For such a simple amp it IS VERY versatile! Takes peddles well... I could go on but I'll just add that it's my personal opinion that Leo DID IT RIGHT!!!

[@Richard_Lush]

My favourite amp. What a sound.

[@TheNaturalust]

I’ve got a 50w blackface Fender head. It rocks with a set of speaker cabinets set stage right and stage left!

[@alpenglow4243]

You’ve got yourself a real treasure there. Rest assured it’s in good hands.

[@jeffreyvitale]

great playing matt from a fellow Oakie!! that bassman growls. honestly one of the nicest sounding amps ever.

[@Winterfell1066]

I love that. I just bought a super clean 65 Bassman head.

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

In the late 70,s they were 100 bucks each. Id buyem and flip them for 150 if i could but it wasnt easy at 150

[@mrstratocaster]

I use headphone, the sounds amazing.. Not only the amps that amazed me, ofcourse your strat.. I feel it. And im a big fan of a fender stratocaster🎉cheers

[@blastmasterparker6358]

Pots be dirty , man that bass channel got some real depth just perfect tone with the strat, big difference ,

[@mikemurdock7234]

Run a Telecaster through it, and the neck pickup really comes to life through a Bassman.

[@bluesbondsman]

I have a sweet 1966 (same year as me). I have the original speakers, however it's loaded with some sweet Weber 12f150's Sounds amazing!

[@gdevelek]

That LP sounded gnarly!!

[@NicolleEspenship]

Played drums in a garage band in Fort Lauderdale in the early to mid 60's. We had Gibson guitars and Fender amps. 2 Bandmasters and a Bassman. Bass was an EB-3

[@coldshotblues]

Love my 66’ Bassman!

[@HofiAgilAghov]

Matthew I absolutely love your channel, appreciate and relate to your lifestyle as people who dedicate their lives to music. You always post high quality gems which is inspiring, without any bullshit or dishonesty, We that love and find a meaning in the way these particular instruments make us feel, these frequencies keep an open heart and a genuine belief. Keep it real man

[@tidepoolbay]

Matt as always, Nice Work! WooF!!🐶🐶

[@robnamowicz8073]

Kick on the 'deep' switch, turn it up, just gets better, thanks Mathew!

[@paulkype]

That amp sounds fantastic

[@telecasterman18]

If you tried it out before it was recapped, that’s probably what you were hearing. Certain internal components that are out of spec can certainly sound liken to a blown speaker/voice coil rub.

[@adiohead]

There's an obituary for a Jimmy Myers and one of the comments mentions guitars, so I'm guessing that's Jim Sr. A James Myers was wanted for robbing a bank in Tulsa.

[@TehGav]

That's how to play a Stratocaster. He's digging into it and working with the sound of the guitar and amp. As opposed to setting up a 'killer tone' and playing whatever. Strats make you work, but it's worth it.

[@stevenbullock9276]

There's that coiled cord, stealin' the show again...

[@createlovehappy]

Love that sound. Great with old speakers and even better with those new ones. Might also be cause I love P-90s. Just a great pure tone. The only bassman I had was a combo with 4x10s reissue I bought used in San Francisco in the early 90’s. Took pedals well, but what I really wanted was a Princeton Reverb

[@5150show]

Incredible

[@kcclem1442]

I think that Bassman sounds great. I see them for a pretty reasonable price sometimes. One thing I would like to see is you doing a demo on a Fender Quad Reverb. I have one that will shatter windows in an enclosed space but I've never been able to get a reasonable tone around the house with it. It seems like it was super clean no matter if the volume was on 1 or on 10. I haven't messed with it for years.

[@Siwieto1958]

A great sounding amp! The best of the best!!

[@sneifert1968]

I have an original 68’ Silverface. Love it.

[@AnnoDomini-l3u]

Thumbs up sweet either set of speakers

[@Jodyrides]

I had a blonde fender baseman in 1969 when I was in high school.. I bought it out of the newspaper ad here in Pittsburgh. It was in perfect condition, it was not even dusty. I was a guitar player... I didn’t care for the bassman because it did not have reverb. So I sold it for $100. The one I had was exactly like the one on the cover of the blind faith album… that was one of my big mistakes. The other one was selling my 1967 GTO convertible in 1971 for $400. It had 41,000 miles on it, and there was nothing wrong with it… I needed $400 to buy a dirtbike.. but that’s all those things were selling for in those days. I bought my 1959 fender jazz master in a pawnshop for $175 in 1966.. The back of the neck finish was completely worn off, there was about 10% of the Sunburst finish chipped off like Stevie Ray’s, but not nearly that bad, they were cigarette burns over the decal on the headstock, it came in the original hard case, the color of chewed bubblegum.. I put my jazz master on eBay. I think it was 2017 when I saw how much those things were selling for. The ad was on eBay for about an hour. I got a message from someone asking what I would take for it right now. I thought it was some kid playing games so I threw a stupid big number at him. 30 seconds later, I got a return message, SOLD.. I bought my wife a brand new car with the money I got for that jazz master that I owned since 1966. I just didn’t like it. I had it set up by two supposed guru luthier‘s, it shows the same every time. I just didn’t like it. afterwards, I had sellers remorse. So I went out and bought myself a squire, jazz master… The squire, jazz, master plays better, sounds better, feels better in every way. It stays in tune, the pain isn’t all chipped up, the finish on the back of the neck is fine., It’s perfect. It’s everything my 1959 jazz master was not. I do not understand why people are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on those old relics when the new stuff is light years better. The guy that bought my jazz master is in a surf band in Moscow Russia. He said he tried the new ones and they just don’t have the sound that the Venture’s records have. The ventures used Jazzmasters in the studio.. I also still have a guitar. I got it in 1968 from a classmate. my 16th birthday was coming up. I told my mom I wanted a car. Instead, she bought me a brand new Schwinn bicycle for $50.. I had already told all my friends that my mom was going to get me a car. So I was humiliated. One of my classmates liked my brand new Schwinn bicycle. He knew that I played guitar so he offered to trade me his guitar for my bicycle. I thought about it and I went to his house to see what kind of a guitar was. He doesn’t remember anything about the guitar because he bought it for him for his birthday years ago, and it just sits in his closet. He took one lesson and that was it. he pulled out the case and opened it. Inside was a 1963 gibson 330 TDC. I did the swap.. my mom was furious because she bought that bicycle with money she saved from tips, she was a waitress.. she told me to take that guitar back and get my bicycle back which I did. But when I got to the kids house the following week, he told me that the bicycle had been stolen, so I was stuck with the guitar.. I still have that guitar. I have had lots of guitars over the decades. 335s, strats, telecasters, Les, Pauls, Pacifica’s(One of my favorites) PRS. Call me, Schechter, EPI., lots of Guitars. That gibson 330 is the easiest to play of every guitar I have ever owned. Something happens when I called that guitar. All of a sudden I can play better. That 330 and my jazz master were my main guitars through high school, and the bands I was in through the 70s and 80s, playing in the smoky bars getting home at 4 AM smelling like an ashtray.. there was a 25 year stretch that I never even opened the case of that jazz master. I just wasn’t crazy about it after playing Les Paul’s… The neck just felt like someone sliced a baseball bat in half and put frets on it.. compared to my other Guitars.. One little thing. I never ever had that gibson 330 set up. I never changed anything on the Settings. It was just always perfect. I have had 335s, I have one now, the 330 is much much easier to play. It has a shorter scale. And I love the sound of those nickel plated P90s.. I just had to watch the Feedback when playing out at high-volume..

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Just watched a Rolling Stones gig from 65 in Germany, Brian Jones is playing that set up with a Firebird vii , sounds great, much like the sounds you were getting. It's crunchy but not too disorted, and cuts through beautifully. I had one in the late 90s and it's definitely one of the best amps i gigged with. The Marshall '76 MV i had was great sounding, but in the two guitar band set up, always got a bit lost in the fizz. Always loved Brian Setzer and he's played the 62 head and cab set up forever, just the right amount of break up when you dig in, nice and responsive to your playing.

[@kazeo1953]

I have two Bandmaster Fender Amp Heads. One I bought second hand in 1975 and the other (believe it or not) was given to me. I had to repair it but now it works great. The Bandmaster is different than the Bassman you have but the sound of the Bandmaster is some of the best cleans I have ever heard. Used these amps in many bands during the 70's and love them.

[@masteringhouse]

One of my favorite amps. Try strapping the normal and bass channels it sounds even more better. You may have to reverse the polarity of the cable depending on the circuit.

[@henriquelhrf]

sounds glorious

[@sosborniv]

Love my ‘65 Bassman. Killer amp.

[@Johnny.D]

I have a 64 bassman head that I bought off a co worker in 93. It was built in November. Sadly I don't have a cab for it.

[@cover557]

They are great sounding amps wish I still had mine

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Sounded great.

[@justincodyfox]

Great tones and playing as always! Rock on!

[@ronnie5129]

Matthew, you have a way of finding the things that i want, Rock on, Cousin Figel

[@strat0871]

Yes, legend amp. 35 years ago, I played a red Marshall head for bass with my strat, it was absolutely magic too !

[@davemeshamsr6000]

Sounds good

[@dreamscapeheromusic1239]

Thank you for so much for playing bass through this BASSman (even if it was on the normal channel). So few good sounding options out there for folks that may play bass and guitar during the same gig. Cheers!

[@Staypuft1981]

Great demo, great sound wow

[@donmccann2885]

Love that TV yellow special!

[@JamesJones-d5s]

Wow, warm an rich sound , mid levels of harmonic love !!! 8:09

[@suzannecoholic1467]

The Bassman - one of my all-time fav amps.

[@kenster865]

I have to agree with many of the players commenting here, in that Bassman's in general are great sounding amps. Many years ago I had one like yours around but I sold it back in the early 70's. I currently have one of the '59 reissue versions and gigged with it from ~1996 to 2010. It's very clean and works fine!

[@cover557]

The Fender Bassman was my first amp in 19 76

[@elijudkins2578]

Cant believe I’m hearing my man praise Black face like this 😤. All jokes aside, dope amp man.

[@biffmalibu5384]

Love the Augmented cord...

[@UncleDaddy01]

Great find! I just fitted a Mojotone Anthem to my 6g3 Deluxe- sounds pretty good so far.

[@rickmccarthy3474]

thanks for sharing this . i have a couple of these a bandmaster and a deluxe reverb great old amps

[@jefferyfowler7860]

The day just got better. Great video.

[@DrewEdwardBacklas]

I bought my 68 ab165 bassman head for $300 about 20 years ago from a little music store that had 2 to choose from. If I’d had any sense I would have bought them both. Favorite amp I’ve owned. Still have it though it needs some work.

[@leeinthesprings]

I totally have a Anthem speaker coming to me and really wanted a solid demo! Welp, I got it!! Can't wait to put it into my 5e3 build!!

[@dagbman]

You're in for a real treat. It'll sound good right out of the box but after a good 30hrs of playtime, it evolves into the sweetest sounding 12" American voiced speaker on the market. I can't believe they're only $85...

[@ElderPlaceKid]

Nice demo

[@bobhewitt5047]

Wish I’d never parted with my blonde Bassman head and cab… but yours sounds great with the new MojoTone speakers.

[@paulblanchet542]

Never heard Mojotone speakers before, but those sound awesome in that amp!

[@davidbrown-bh7it]

Nice find. Love the Bassman. My first amp was a 64 Bassman and a 64 P Bass! Thanks for sharing!