Did I do the right thing?

mccreadyisgod

So I've been jonesing for a Fender tube amp head that would be a good live match for my Vibro-Champ's studio sound. I've been looking at Bassman, Bandmaster, and Showmaster heads, as well as Sovtek Mig's. A friend of mine proposed a trade: I had a 1970's Sunn 6x10" cabinet for bass, and he had a 1970's Fender Bassman 50 (non-master volume). We traded last night. The cabinet was older and scuffed, but had newer JBL 10's and sounded amazing. The Bassman is in great working condition, is grounded, and looks beautiful (no tolex tears, no grillcloth holes, no scuffs or stains). But the Sunn cabinet was sort of one of a kind, and Bassman amps are pretty easy to come by. BTW, I had $200 invested in the cabinet pre-trade, and the Bassman amp heads of that vintage currently sell for $200-300 based on condition on eBay... mine would probably be $250-275 value range.

So, did I do the right thing, or was I an idiot?

exhausted

which would provide you more utility? likely the bassman, right?

mccreadyisgod

Originally posted by exhausted
which would provide you more utility? likely the bassman, right?

I'm not in a band, so I probably wouldn't expect to get any real use out of either.

exhausted

oh. but still. i'd have to think have a good solid guitar amphead is more useful that a ginormous bass cab. you're a guitarist at heart i'm sure.

mccreadyisgod

I guess I'm wondering about value, more than anything... I should probably quit worrying about it, I suppose. Now I own a bass amp that I have no use for, or no cab to play through. Although they might buy my amp to go with the cab, seeing as how the Bassman was in fact their bass amp. They're demoing it.

I just hate to let anything go, especially hard-to-find pieces like that Sunn cabinet. And now I won't be happy until I have a bass amp... maybe I'll get the SWR combo I wanted in the first place.

Pacomc79

yeah it sucks to sell anything but the bassman is a really cool amp in itself and nice and clean. The Vibrochamp can get dirty and when you want loud and clean you can use the bassman. Don't you have some 4x10" extension cabs too? The compressor will sound great with it so will overdrives and it looks cool. You did ok. we're talking maybe 50 bucks. Sell the bass head too and get you a new bass amp. I really like ampegs stuff as well as some of the SWR gear. You might get lucky and find an old ashdown.

who's_pearljam?

Think of all the extra room you'll have for more stuff!

It's good to clean house every once in a while. Since you already did it, I will say:

Yes, you did the right thing!

mccreadyisgod

Originally posted by Pacomc79
yeah it sucks to sell anything but the bassman is a really cool amp in itself and nice and clean. The Vibrochamp can get dirty and when you want loud and clean you can use the bassman. Don't you have some 4x10" extension cabs too? The compressor will sound great with it so will overdrives and it looks cool.

My 4x10's will sound so damn good with that amp... I like to refer to it as "The Tower of Power." A full-stack of 4x10's. Now I just need a place to plug in and crank it, certainly not my apartment... The pair of Keeley Tubescreamers should sound phat through it, now I just need a good reverb. That's all any of us need, really... good 'verb. I should just get a Dan-O cheapie and save for a '63 reissue Fender Reverb tank.

Originally posted by Pacomc79
Sell the bass head too and get you a new bass amp. I really like ampegs stuff as well as some of the SWR gear. You might get lucky and find an old ashdown.

An Ashdown EVO head and an SWR 6x10" cabinet, just like Jeff's, with no horn... that would be the best rig for me, period. Unfortunately, that's like $3000 right there...

Amp:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2374896589&category=10171

Or this, with a Crown Macrotech:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2373948830&category=4713

Cabinet:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040122115510150131025216757822/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/602000/

This one is WAAAAY too good to be true:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2373604022&category=4713

This one might be true:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2375055713&category=621

exhausted

Originally posted by mccreadyisgod
now I just need a good reverb. That's all any of us need, really... good 'verb. I should just get a Dan-O cheapie and save for a '63 reissue Fender Reverb tank.

eh holy grail.

mccreadyisgod

Originally posted by who's_pearljam?
Think of all the extra room you'll have for more stuff!

It's good to clean house every once in a while. Since you already did it, I will say:

Yes, you did the right thing!

Well, that cab did take up a lot of real estate... Much more than the head...

Thanks, Bob.

who's_pearljam?

Those bassman heads are great clean sound too. Congratulations!

mccreadyisgod

Originally posted by exhausted
eh holy grail.

Alright, now, just for argument's sake...

Dan-O Corned Beef ($29.99):
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040122115510150131025216757822/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/151863/

Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail ($99.99):
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040122115510150131025216757822/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/153319/

1963 Fender Tube Reverb Reissue ($409.99)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040122115510150131025216757822/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/480553/

What I WANT is the Fender tube verb. What I have is No Money. I could save a little and get the Holy Grail, or just drop a quick $30 on the Corned Beef and save for my real goal.

Didn't you get a Holy Grail? Or someone? I wish I could demo one at the house for a day or two.

exhausted

i was going to get a holy grail to use on the dry channel of my DR but i skipped the idea.

who's_pearljam?

Originally posted by exhausted
i was going to get a holy grail to use on the dry channel of my DR but i skipped the idea.

Exhausted,
I just whizzed by an article last week somewhere that talked about modding the DR to have the reverb on both channels, and it's relatively easy. I think I remember somewhere in my past you asked about that?
I'll see if I can find it if you're interested. I never did it with mine, but would like to.

mccreadyisgod

Here is an interesting set of reviews for the Corned Beef...

http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Danelectro/DJ_4_Corned_Beef_Reverb-01.html

It seems like some of the folks hate it, and some of the folks love it, and the big issue seems like the people who take the time and have the ability can make it sound good. For $30, it seems even better now... of course, reverb isn't the foundation of my sound, so I can deal with a verb that isn't 100%.