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Are Bassman amps actually better at reproducing and projecting lower frequencies? I have a fender amp for my regular electric, and a bass amp for my bass guitar

Are Bassman amps actually better at reproducing and projecting lower frequencies? I have a fender amp for my regular electric, and a bass amp for my bass guitar. I also have a baritone and wanted an amp for in between.

pinewurst 7y ago
Personally I don't think they (the old tube Bassman) are that much better than any other guitar tube amp. Old Marshall amps (JTMs) are based on that same design, btw.
- wishinghand 7y ago
  Any recommendations then?
  - fuzzfactor 7y ago
    Try different closed-back cabinets and speaker cones with your baritone.
analog31 7y ago
As I understand it, the frequency response of a tube power amp is influenced by the output transformer, and to a lesser extent by minor design parameters such as the value of coupling capacitors. To a very rough approximation, lower frequencies need more iron. On top of this, the preamps in some historic amplifiers tend to have a decidedly non flat response curve when the "tone" knobs are centered.
- sirdan 7y ago
  From my understanding the frequency response of the amp is designed by the gain stages and the capacitors and resistances used. This changes the so called "voicing" of the amp. A good resource I can recommend are the books by Igor S Popovich. At least volume one and two.
fuzzfactor 7y ago
Originally the Bassman was a 50 watt amplifier with a pair of 6L6 tubes, this is enough power to allow a solid-body bass guitar to play cleanly only about as loud as a regular acoustic string bass. For bass guitar, there was no need for reverb or tremolo so those tube effects were not included on Bassmans. 6-string guitarists sometimes found these Bassmans more gainful at maximum volume than the non-bass Fenders having equivalent power and tube complement. A single pair of 6L6 (about 50W) for guitar will be loud enough to keep up with an acoustic drum kit for lots of blues and soft rock, while bass guitar actually needs about 300W. With a loud drum kit and a heavy-hitting hard rock acoustic drummer, then I naturally recommend a 100W fullstack for guitar and 400W for bass. The circuitry of the Bassman is not designed for big differences in frequency coverage compared to the non-bass vintage Fenders. The Bassman was primarily a regular no-frills 50W head, and for actual bass use within its power level (like in studios) it achieved lower lows because of use with a closed-back cabinet.
- wishinghand 7y ago
  Thanks for helping explain the name and history.

pinewurst 7y ago

Personally I don't think they (the old tube Bassman) are that much better than any other guitar tube amp. Old Marshall amps (JTMs) are based on that same design, btw.

wishinghand 7y ago
Any recommendations then?
- fuzzfactor 7y ago
  Try different closed-back cabinets and speaker cones with your baritone.

analog31 7y ago

As I understand it, the frequency response of a tube power amp is influenced by the output transformer, and to a lesser extent by minor design parameters such as the value of coupling capacitors. To a very rough approximation, lower frequencies need more iron. On top of this, the preamps in some historic amplifiers tend to have a decidedly non flat response curve when the "tone" knobs are centered.

sirdan 7y ago
From my understanding the frequency response of the amp is designed by the gain stages and the capacitors and resistances used. This changes the so called "voicing" of the amp. A good resource I can recommend are the books by Igor S Popovich. At least volume one and two.

fuzzfactor 7y ago

Originally the Bassman was a 50 watt amplifier with a pair of 6L6 tubes, this is enough power to allow a solid-body bass guitar to play cleanly only about as loud as a regular acoustic string bass. For bass guitar, there was no need for reverb or tremolo so those tube effects were not included on Bassmans. 6-string guitarists sometimes found these Bassmans more gainful at maximum volume than the non-bass Fenders having equivalent power and tube complement. A single pair of 6L6 (about 50W) for guitar will be loud enough to keep up with an acoustic drum kit for lots of blues and soft rock, while bass guitar actually needs about 300W. With a loud drum kit and a heavy-hitting hard rock acoustic drummer, then I naturally recommend a 100W fullstack for guitar and 400W for bass. The circuitry of the Bassman is not designed for big differences in frequency coverage compared to the non-bass vintage Fenders. The Bassman was primarily a regular no-frills 50W head, and for actual bass use within its power level (like in studios) it achieved lower lows because of use with a closed-back cabinet.

wishinghand 7y ago
Thanks for helping explain the name and history.