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1990 Bassman Reissue, new cloth or not?

DutchRay

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Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
I recently got very early 1990 Fender Reissue Bassman with torn grill cloth at a ridiculous price. What do you think, replace the cloth or leave it as is? It is from the first months of production and seems to be an early UK/EU export model. The amp is loud so I ordered a tube rectifier and 12AY7 to tame it a bit.

fbassman2.jpeg
 

vlxerdon

New member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
7
If it were me , I would replace it. That being said, I am also one that does not care for relic'd stuff. I prefer my equipment look as good as possible. That's just me.
 

DutchRay

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Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
I also lean towards new grill cloth, I'm also thinking about lacquering the tweed. But first things first: somehow it'll only play with 12ax7's and the tube rectifier. It blows the fuse each time I try anything else in V1... and then at one point you run out of fuses. So now I have a pile of fuseless fender amps and have to revert to my plexi šŸ˜
Let's hope, for the neighbors sake, those fresh fuses arrive soon.
 

AA00475Bassman

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Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
I just love my amp very early 90's with the Eminace blue speakers , I use both SS & tube tube does tame it a bit .
 

Emiel

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2015
Messages
71
Late reply here. Did you get it sorted, Ray?

IĀ“ve heard that these early reissues run on slightly higher voltages than the old ones due to the solid state rectifier. Swapping it for a tube rectifier might drop the voltages and help to soften the tone, making it seem less in your face etc. You will to bias the power tubes again though and these old reissues lack a bias adjustment pot, but I'm sure a tech will put one in in no time.

I love Tweed amps. Used to have clones of a Deluxe and a Bandmaster and I'm now owning a Harvard. Really cool!
 

DutchRay

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Mar 15, 2015
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872
It's running fine now, I'll keep the 12ax7's in there until I get to play it loud and decide if the GZ34 is enough. I did take it apart and lacquered the tweed, looks so much better than that pale 90's tweed!
 

Emiel

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Oct 30, 2015
Messages
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Based on my experience with Deluxes and Bandmasters: the 12AX7 in V1 will drive the front end a bit harder so there will be a bit less clean headroom and the big volume jump early on the volume pots will be more prominent.

By the way, in case you want to lower the overall volume a bit more. Try swapping the 6L6GC power tubes for 5881s (like on the originals).

Lacquered Tweed amps look great indeed. I did forget to sand mine between the different coatings, so even after a few years the tweed is aging rapidly šŸ˜Ž.
 

jrgtr42

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Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
It's running fine now, I'll keep the 12ax7's in there until I get to play it loud and decide if the GZ34 is enough. I did take it apart and lacquered the tweed, looks so much better than that pale 90's tweed!
So where's the pics of it after lacquering? :cool:
 

DutchRay

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Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
872
The correct grill cloth is not in stock and will take a while to get here so I glued it as good as I can. You can see a few drops of wet glue on the last picture. It doesn't close the tears but it should prevent the cloth from ripping further. We'll see :)
 

Wally

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Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
Repetitive fuse blowing is indicative of a problem. It is odd that running a 12AX7 cures that symptom, but my curiosity would be at maximum level as to why a fuse would blow with a good,lower gain 12AY7 or 5751. Of course, V2 is a challenge for some tubes in that one needs to have a tube that will withstand a high heater-to-cathode voltage difference. Using a 12AY7 in V1 should present no problems in a healthy circuit.
 

Any Name You Wish

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Apr 15, 2021
Messages
493
I've got the same early 90's Bassman. It is road worn and has a tear in the grill cloth from when it was laying flat in the back of a car and an elbow leaned on it too hard. It is all part of me now. Tears, scuffs, ring stains, all in the name of rock and roll. When I show up with it around other players that I've not met before, they look at it with a furrowed brow and head cocked to one side as if to say "that doesn't look like it will make it through the night." Lookin forward to seeing yours all done, it is going to be pretty cool.
 

corpse

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Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
Channeling Peter Green- must be the new lacquer. great tone- tasteful playing.
 
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