Fender Bassman

The Fender Bassman is one of the most iconic amplifiers in music history, known for its versatility, tone, and influence on amplifier design. Here's a synopsis of its history, popular settings, and notable players:

History of the Fender Bassman

• Origins (1952): The Fender Bassman was introduced as a bass amplifier to complement the Fender Precision Bass, the first mass-produced electric bass guitar. The original model featured a single 15" Jensen speaker in a closed-back cabinet for enhanced bass response. It was praised as one of the first amps designed specifically for bass players.
• Evolution to Guitar Use: By 1954, the Bassman evolved into the 5D6 model with four 10" Jensen speakers, which distributed sound more effectively and reduced stress on individual speakers. This 4x10 configuration became legendary for its rich tone, making it popular among guitarists despite being marketed as a bass amp.
• Tweed Era (1950s): The 5F6-A circuit from 1958 became particularly influential. Its fixed-bias output stage and cathode-follower tone stack provided tight low-end response and dynamic tones. This model inspired Jim Marshall's early amplifiers, laying the foundation for the Marshall sound.
• Blackface and Silverface Eras (1960s): Fender introduced cosmetic and tonal changes with black Tolex covering (1960-1967) and later silverface styling (1968). These amps were used by artists like The Beatles and Pete Townshend during this period.
• Modern Reissues: In 1990, Fender reissued the '59 Bassman based on the 5F6-A circuit, followed by the '59 Bassman LTD in 2004 with lacquered tweed covering and upgraded Jensen speakers. These remain popular among guitarists for their vintage tones.

Popular Settings

• General Settings:
  • Start with all tone controls (Bass, Treble, Middle) at noon as a baseline.
  • Adjust Presence for added brightness or warmth depending on the room or instrument.
• Channel Jumping:
  • Many players "jump" channels by connecting the Normal and Bright inputs with a patch cable to blend their tonal characteristics.
• Clean Tones:
  • For clean tones, keep volume lower and emphasize mids slightly to cut through mixes without distortion.
• Overdrive:
  • To achieve natural breakup, increase volume while using an overdrive pedal if necessary to control levels at practical volumes.
• Instrument-Specific Adjustments:
  • With single-coil pickups (e.g., Telecaster), set Presence around 6; for humbuckers (e.g., Les Paul), increase Presence to around 10 for clarity.
  • Rockabilly tones often involve using the Bright channel with minimal breakup for a crisp sound.

Notable Players

• Classic Rock Icons:
  • The Beatles frequently used early '60s Bassman amps in their recordings.
  • Pete Townshend of The Who relied on early Bassman models for their robust tones in live performances.
• Modern Guitarists:
  • Brian Setzer is known for using a piggyback blond Bassman to achieve his signature rockabilly sound.
  • Tom Petty and Mike Campbell utilized Bassman amps extensively in their recordings with The Heartbreakers.
• Influence on Marshall Amps:
  • Jim Marshall based his first amplifier designs on the Fender Bassman's 5F6-A circuit, cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of modern amplifier design.

Summary

The Fender Bassman remains a beloved amplifier for its dynamic response, tonal versatility, and historical significance across genres from rockabilly to classic rock and beyond.