Is this a Real Fender Bassman?

[Platefire]

Ran across this on E-Bay but from what I see, I can't believe it's a real Fender even though itsays "Fender". Couldn't find any model number to trace! Has anybody seen this one before?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225604835619?hash=item3487189923:g:s-gAAOSwrmdkfSME&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwPK4pJ4xJFbu4vdyswEAm65PIjPveKHE6CzysEjO4%2FIqh88f8V9PcU6mETpthtmcrz9sGrqzlqwd0PmTjjucGdKxK3xAOTttXCxFOSD2rknSRN72arM8h5pFEDg0RUkVWneBwVMR3bhHVKU3LPACkyHfxLtsiDsJlHOhjvCt3CEihFs4McFQoefQcmQcZljbMkk61T7DLkRXpmtS0G51yEhBAWKMJflQFm3OaP9u%2FkZrbFIQonau8ynzBSl4ErP7VA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-izsfGRYg

[Latole]

It is a PA head.   '70 or '80 area?
I never see this one.   
 
Real Fender or Bassman ? We must see the schematic or parts inside the chassis.

The real question is; does it work or will it work without putting too much money into it?
Are the transformers good?
These are the most important and expensive parts.
The other parts are not "expensive".

If it does, for someone who knows his stuff, it can be converted into an excellent guitar amp.

[dwinstonwood]

It was part of their solid state line.

First pic is a Twin Reverb.
Second pic from an early Dr. Who episode.

[Latole]

It was part of their solid state line.

This "Bassman "is a tubes amp not solid state one.

[dwinstonwood]

From the looks of that screw holding down the chassis, and that metal backplate, it looks like someone converted it to tubes.

[Latole]

From the looks of that screw holding down the chassis, and that metal backplate, it looks like someone converted it to tubes.

It is not my opinion.

[mresistor]

I think dwinstonwood is correct - it looks to me like one of the Solid State Series heads that has been converted. The chrome knobs have been replaced maybe because the pots were replaced. Also I don't think I've ever seen a 1969 or 1970 Fender amp with ceramic tube sockets. Two odd things though, the air vent seems to be fake and that green pilot light isn't present on the other models.


enter "Fender Solid State Series amplifier 1969 1970" into a search engine..       many pictures

[Platefire]

Yes, Thanks! Your right. That is a converted SS. Seeing the tubes sockets threw me off because it looked like the SS series but had tubes. I thought I had discovered a series of Fender amps I'd never seen before. Sorry, false alarm!

[acheld]

Just think, some of the amps that we have converted will be showing up on ePay auctions in 20 years, and our sons and daughters will be saying:  "WTF?"

I find this comforting! 

[Platefire]

Yelp! Whoever ends up with this one will definitely be scratching their head

[Latole]

Guys, you're absolutely right  :worthy1:and I was completely wrong.

It's a good observation that these porcelain sockets made by mresistor

[Platefire]

I didn't even notice the cover plate and screw---good observation indeed!

[CharlieT]

Looking through the rest of the pictures for the auction, the ones showing the transformers appear to show the transformers all oriented the same way, not at right angles to each other (choke included). That's not so good (or something Fender would have done) is it?

[sluckey]

Look closely at the PT and you'll see that it is really a laydown style that has "L" brackets added in order to mount it standing up.

[Latole]

It's been established for several days that this is not a Fender assembly, but rather a "home-made" one.

[sluckey]

It's been established for several days that this is not a Fender assembly, but rather a "home-made" one.

And now you have one more big piece of evidence. Actually, there are several other small pieces of evidence that have not been mentioned, but there's enough evidence for an indictment.

[Latole]

It's been established for several days that this is not a Fender assembly, but rather a "home-made" one.

And now you have one more big piece of evidence. Actually, there are several other small pieces of evidence that have not been mentioned, but there's enough evidence for an indictment.

You are right !

[sluckey]

So, shall we call in a grand jury?

[mresistor]

I was going to say the switches seem wrong but then I saw a pic of this 1969 Super Showman which has the same stye of slider switches   

[Platefire]

I've been looking for a pix of the un-modded SS Bassman but haven't found one.

The seller stated it sounded good and was loud. I wish he would of posted a gut shot of it and then we could tell what kind of a tube circuit was installed.

In the early 70's a band I was playing with purchased a SS Fender PA system I think may have been part of these series of SS amps. As I recall it gave us consistent service for  several years until we upgraded to a larger Peavey PA

[Platefire]

Of all the research I've done, this is the only SS Bassman I can find, below, the SP 3100. As you can see it's kind of a midi head compared to the full size head in the original post that was converted to tube. I can't reconcile the difference between these two SS Bassmans. Where is a illustration of a unmolested version of the amp that was converted to tubes?

[PRR]

The "Bassman Amp." on the auction item does not look like factory printing, does it?

Then you could also be looking for guitar or PA amps of this shape and size.

[dwinstonwood]

From the same era, this is interesting. From what I've read it has a real spring tank inside.

[mresistor]

Note the X1Y2 safety capacitor on the ground.   


Plate PRR   - I think the bassman posted here is either a prototype or a fake.  Leaning towards a fake or unauthorized reproduction of dubios quality.

[Platefire]

Well as sluckey said, not sure we got enough evidence to say for sure or to call the Grand Jury.

To me the face plate on amp up for action looks authentic based on what I can see and that is still viable. The Fender Logo looks authentic and in the right position. Right under the Fender Logo there should of been "Solid State Series" based on the other examples of different amps in that series like the "Twin Reverb". Someone installed that big green pilot light that probably could have removed the "Solid State Series" in the process.

The knobs have been changed to classic fender type knobs and that wasn't original and can be seen on the Twin Reverb example. You can see the old numbers from the previous setting locations. To me this confirms an original face plate.

From what I see in the Solid State Series, they didn't have a middle control, just vol/treb/bass. I don't see where there was any more holes for previous control knobs have been covered up or plugged. Another plus for original face plate.

This is my opinion, might be wrong but from what I see, think like mresistor regarding a prototype that was never put into full production but don't think it's a fake

Edit: One thing that confuses me is almost all of the Solid
State Series had a "Style Knob" but with only three knob
locations, it most certainly would have to be vol/treb/bass.
No style knob on this one!?!

[AL]

That amp is on my local Facebook marketplace. The guy just lowered the price $100 to $650. Seems a bit on the high side to me. 

AL

[Platefire]

Well if the amp is really a prototype, that would definitely make it rare! but not original being a conversion

[mresistor]

That amp is on my local Facebook marketplace. The guy just lowered the price $100 to $650. Seems a bit on the high side to me. 
AL

which amp?  the one in first post is on $179 on ebay

[sluckey]

Well if the amp is really a prototype

It ain't a prototype. Why would Fender use a solid state chassis/cab to build a tube amp? Makes no sense. This is a homebrew. Just skip the grand jury and take it straight to court trial. Where's our counselor friend jjasilla?

[Platefire]

The tube conversion is the the homebrew part. The original amp by Fender

[AL]

That amp is on my local Facebook marketplace. The guy just lowered the price $100 to $650. Seems a bit on the high side to me. 
AL

which amp?  the one in first post is on $179 on ebay

Yes, it has the same pics and description.

[dwinstonwood]

What bothers me are the painted vents. Other examples have functioning vents.

And, where's the ® over the Fender logo? Fender CBS would have never left that off.

[66Strat]

I think it's a knock off that has been hack butchered. This is reminiscent of some of Japanese pawn shop prizes that I used to see in the late 60s early 70s.

[Platefire]

Yelp, I now agree. It is a knock off. On the other hand, why anybody would want to build a knock off of that amp, is beyond me

I Guess, case closed:>)

[66Strat]

Yelp, I now agree. It is a knock off. On the other hand, why anybody would want to build a knock off of that amp, is beyond me

Fender Bassman was a known and marketable product name. Think about all of the trade mark infringement law suit guitars of the era.

At the time (late 60s early 70s) solid state was the next big thing. Fender was making solid state amps. Standel was making them. The Thomas Organ Company was making solid state Vox amps (Beatle, Super Beatle, Royal Guardsman, Berkeley II, etc.). One of my buddies from high school was playing through a solid state Acoustic head and cab. The Acoustic had a really good clean tone, as best as I can remember, and with a Fuzz Face, Big Muff, or Tone Bender with a wah pedal it was instant Jimi land.

[Platefire]

Oh Yeah, I fully understand building a Bassman. Built several myself. The root that Marshall sprang from. I was referring to copying those SS amps. I guess they thought it was going to
be the next big thing

What convinced me was seeing the close up of the painted vent louvers. I thought it was an opening that someone had painted the louvers but with the close ups I could see it was paint only and no openings. Really bad! but fooled me for a while

[66Strat]

Oh Yeah, I fully understand building a Bassman. Built several myself. The root that Marshall sprang from. I was referring to copying those SS amps.

What convinced me was seeing the close up of the painted vent louvers. I thought it was an opening that someone had painted the louvers but with the close ups I could see it was paint only and no openings. Really bad! but fooled me for a while

The knock off had nothing to do with the original circuit. It was all about marketing and profit. A recognized marketable product name combined with a cheap to make circuit equals big profit. Think street corner Rolex. Think too, the target market was teens or young 20 somethings lacking both money and product knowledge.

[mresistor]

66Strat - I once owned a 100 watt Acoustic guitar head and did the mod on it and it was an outstanding amp. When the AF told me I had to move and up and sell my house and property then I had to pare down and I sold it.  Wish I had that one back.   It had a great tone.

[Platefire]

I started off on all tube amps in the mid 60's like the 1482, Gretsch 6164, Silverface DR, Silverface Bandmaster but took a SS/Hybred Peavey hiatus in the mid 70's that started with Roadmaster, Pacer, Mace and finally Bandit Teal strip until 2000 where I re-entered the all tubes again with the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I guess the two SS amps I had the most fun with was the Pacer and Bandit. I still have the Pacer but it  now has a DR AB763 circuit