Fender experts - Rare Bassman?

[bmccowan]

I am curious about this Bassman https://hibid.com/lot/165115275/vintage-early-1960s-fender-bassman
6G6B circuit
Blackface with drip edge.
I know about the "Tuxedo" 6G6Bs - but from what I have seen they do not have drip edge grille. Knobs look like replacements and were likely white.
Maybe it is the amp version of a Partscaster - I have done that myself orphaned Fender amp parts.
Has all the other signs of a 6G6B - control numbers on faceplate, no bright/deep switches and a presence control.
Someone on the Forum near LA (unfortunately that is not Lewiston-Auburn, Maine) might be interested. Bids are low now, but will likely skyrocket.

[dogburn]

Yeah, looks like they definitely replaced the knobs and grill cloth, and added the drip edge. Otherwise, looks legit, and as long as you don't care about being 100% original, could be a good deal. Be interesting to see what the final price is.

[bmccowan]

If I was 3000 miles closer I would take a look at it. If locals look at it and it checks out, I suspect it'd go for about $1K. Which is much more than I would pay. I do know that Fender staff were often allowed to put together amps from orphaned parts - could be that.

[HotBluePlates]

I am curious about this Bassman https://hibid.com/lot/165115275/vintage-early-1960s-fender-bassman
6G6B circuit
Blackface with drip edge. ... Knobs look like replacements and were likely white.
Maybe it is the amp version of a Partscaster ...

It's a 3-legged dog.

... Has all the other signs of a 6G6B - control numbers on faceplate, no bright/deep switches and a presence control.
... Bids are low now, but will likely skyrocket.

From the photos, the buyer knows only that they're getting a faceplate & chassis that are right for 1963.  Cabinet could be from a silverface, and who knows what is to be found inside.

Bidders can only see that they're buying a 3-legged dog.  "Skyrocket" would only happen if someone is brave and/or foolhardy enough to take the gamble.  Then again, pandemic-cash has ballooned a lot of prices, so who knows what could happen.

[tubeswell]

“Unknown if it works or not but aside from the change in tolex cover it all appears to be original.”

LoL

[Latole]

From outside, it look a 1964 Bassman with some mods on cab.

https://www.vintageguitar.com/13140/1964-fender-bassman/

From the seller ;

Vintage Fender Bassman Amp with 2x12 Cabinet. Serial #: BP08167, Serial number seems to date this amp to between 1962-1963. Upon Taking images to the Vintage Room at the Hollywood Guitar Center down the street on sunset, the expert buyer in there informer me that its serial definitely dates to the early 60's but it does appear to have been refinished with a newer black tolex and black speaker screen where it originally wouldve had a brown tolex and cream screen. Unknown if it works or not but aside from the change in tolex cover it all appears to be original.

[Latole]

I am curious about this Bassman https://hibid.com/lot/165115275/vintage-early-1960s-fender-bassman
6G6B circuit
Blackface with drip edge.
I know about the "Tuxedo" 6G6Bs - but from what I have seen they do not have drip edge grille. Knobs look like replacements and were likely white.
Maybe it is the amp version of a Partscaster - I have done that myself orphaned Fender amp parts.
Has all the other signs of a 6G6B - control numbers on faceplate, no bright/deep switches and a presence control.
Someone on the Forum near LA (unfortunately that is not Lewiston-Auburn, Maine) might be interested. Bids are low now, but will likely skyrocket.

[bmccowan]

Lots of reasons for bidders to be cautious here:
"Abandoned property"
took "images" to Guitar Center - hardly definitive.
"not sure if it works" - how hard is that to determine?
Undoubtedly someone will take the gamble.
Fun to watch - from a distance.
"3 legged dog" - not fair...to 3 legged dogs.

[Platefire]

This is probably nothing,  but it bothers me that the head is wider than the speaker cab. Was it designed for the cab to lay length wise on the floor? Things like the Bandmaster head with the 2-12 cab was same width standing up

[sluckey]

This is probably nothing,  but it bothers me that the head is wider than the speaker cab. Was it designed for the cab to lay length wise on the floor?

Yes. In fact the Bassman came with a set of "piggyback" thumbscrews, clip bars, and bushings to bolt the head to the cab.

     https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/amps/components-and-parts/cabinet-hardware/fender-pure-vintage-piggyback-amp-hardware/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&gad=1

In this old pic you can see that the head is a bit wider than the cab when the cab is positioned in the wrong way. Not as obvious as the Silvertones but still noticeable. It was popular in the sixties to stand the cab on it's side. Made you feel bigger.   

[Platefire]

OK, then the cab is most likely a legitimate matching cab!
I just noticed sluckey in your original band, the bass player is playing a Mustang Bass. My Son started off on bass when he played with me, we got him a Red Mustang Bass with the Racing stripe plus a Peavey TNT Bass amp. That Mustang Bass was a fine little bass. For someone with small hands, you could use it professionally.

[dogburn]

The tube chart has a date code MI, which pins it to Sep, 1963 (matching the chassis code that dates to 1963). So either: the cabinet is original and goes with the chassis, they carefully peeled off the tube chart and glued it in there, or they cleverly faked a tube chart to put in some Frankenstein amp.

[shooter]

Then again, pandemic-cash has ballooned a lot of prices, so who knows what could happen.

   there are so many ways i could violate Doug's TOS in that one statement
offer 2 pigs, a calf and 500 rounds, cash is such a 20th century thing:)

[bmccowan]

The tube chart has a date code MI, which pins it to Sep, 1963 (matching the chassis code that dates to 1963). So either: the cabinet is original and goes with the chassis, they carefully peeled off the tube chart and glued it in there, or they cleverly faked a tube chart to put in some Frankenstein amp.

I think there is another reasonable explanation. Before Fender and other amp values took off, many non-functional amps were available, often with missing parts, for Shooters 2 pigs and a calf. Hobby techs, including me, piece them back together. I bought several such project amps 30 years ago for coffee money. Examples - I bought a Blackface Concert chassis only for a bit more than 2 pigs. I paired it with an original BF Bandmaster Cabinet. It is a great amp, but clearly not original. And I bought a SF Bandmaster Reverb Chassis only. I picked up a BF Vibroverb repo faceplate and intended to make a Vibroclone. So far it has remained a project to be. I think something like that, may be the case for this amp. For a hobby tech it is worth a $400 gamble, but not a $1,000 gamble.

[Latole]

 For a hobby tech it is worth a $400 gamble, but not a $1,000 gamble.

Right !

[dogburn]

Well, it looks like somebody took a $775 gamble.

[bmccowan]

If the buyer went to the preview and looked at it, and knew their stuff, it was likely not a bad gamble. But if just bid based on pics - kinda risky.
I hope the buyer finds a pleasant surprise when he/she cracks the chassis open. To buy a solid, true 6G6b, tuxedo or blonde is costly.

[AlNewman]

$775 is pretty much coffee money these days. 
I'll bet whoever bought it is laughing to the bank...Assuming they don't have to pay a tech to fix it.
Probably the one that got away.

[66Strat]

Lots of reasons for bidders to be cautious here:
"Abandoned property"
took "images" to Guitar Center - hardly definitive.
"not sure if it works" - how hard is that to determine?
Undoubtedly someone will take the gamble.
Fun to watch - from a distance.
"3 legged dog" - not fair...to 3 legged dogs.

My Dad and Uncle had a three legged dog when they were boys. They named him Arithmetic, cause he walked on 3 and carried 1. 

[PRR]

Drift/riff on "to see Pompeii, ...this dog walks up, yep a 3 legged" Moved to Other Topics.

[mresistor]

Did shooter go off the reservation?

[bmccowan]

Shooter LIVES off the reservation.

[Platefire]

MY Fault! I shouldn't have led him on asking about Pompeii. Sorry!

[mresistor]

Shooter Lives    hector does too

[shooter]

I went to town twice yesterday 


ya, don't get me started on Reservations....
back to regular scheduling, please.