Re: [Harp-L] 59 Bassman

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Fugazzi" <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 3:41 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] 59 Bassman


> Are there any differences between the current 59 Bassman Reissue, and a 
> reissue from ten years ago?  Are they the same quality?  Can a put a tube 
> recitfier in either?  Any reason I should buy a newer one instead of an 
> older one??
>
> Mike
>
>
> Mike Fugazzi
> "Nite Rail"
> Harmonica/Vocals

H Mike,
The new reissue uses a finger jointed pine cabinet like the real '59 
Bassmans did (and the original RI did not and went the cheap way out with a 
plywood cabinet that was a lot heavier in weight, but when pushed volume 
wise, was notorious for rattling like crazy and sometimes causing some weird 
feedback problems from it, and that gave the amp a harder sound and doesn't 
resonate like pine does), lacquered the tweed (the first reissue cut corners 
and this was one of the problems to make it cheaper), uses better tubes (tho 
some are still questionable in terms of quality), and comes stock with a 
5AR4/GZ34 rectifier tube, wheras the first reissue came with a solid state 
rectifier, and comes with a bias adjustment pot so that you can do that 
yourself (or have it professionally done) and use either different 
rectifiers and/or power tubes. You can put a tube rectifier in the first 
one, but before you even think of putting one in, the first reissue would 
absolutely HAVE to have the amp properly rebiased because the plate voltages 
that were used in the first reissue are mated for a solid state rectifier, 
which uses considerably higher plate voltages and if not done, can wind up 
harming the amp electronically and tho it's cheaper for them to make printed 
circuit boards (which both uses), the repairs on the printed circuits tend 
to be a lot more expensive than having an amp point to point hand wired like 
a real Bassman has, and you have to be aware of the possiblility of the PC 
board falling out and getting fried like Col. Sander's chicken. The newer 
one is a lot closer (but still not quite close enough without some further 
tweaking) to the sound of a real '59 Bassman than the first reissue was by a 
mile.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/