Checking out a BF bassman - now w/ photos!

[Jay]

The crackling could be a loose tube but it could also be a cold solder joint.  Some "chopsticking" might be find the culprit fairly easily but if I were to start somewhere I'd start where the caps have been swapped out.  Great score!

[Pacafeliz]

Looks like the caps under the doghouse have already been changed (good).  The board looks to be more or less original (also good).  Nice score.

I'm thinking that you have an early '66 there (as indicated by late '65 parts).  What's the two letter code stamped on the tube chart?

yep, it's a early '66 according to the late '65 components.

CAUTION: the caps under the doghouse ARE the originals and -even though they look ok- NEED to be changed ASAP, specially if there's one spilling out the guts. you just have to do that every 25 years or so, but it's better to be safe than sorry. a good tech can re-cap it in 30 mins, or you can do it yourself. you'd need the caps (i buy em at www.tubesandmore.com) and be CAREFUL. those babies store the electricity and can KILL 
is there background noise/hiss/crackling? if yes that's the definitive indicator that it needs a recap. no biggie, but better safe than sorry. it's the 1st thing i do when i get a "new" old amp. and while you're at it, change the bias cap too. your tech will know. it shouldn't be more than 80-100 bucks and you can enjor yer amp for another quarter century with no fear heh.
it looks great and original (heh seen the green diamond?!), nice and clean.

i LOVE bassmans, and again, lemme congrat you, you did GREAT on the deal.
btw, what's the speakers?

rock on!

Pat.

[cestlamort]

great amp.  nice to see you bridge the channels already!

Also consider getting one of the marshall 410 cabs if you want to cut down on space and still have it sound good.  That 212 cab is giant -- and different from the late 60s/early 70s giant 212 cabs.  I'd say put it in the closet for a while, but I don't know if it'd fit.    

The smaller 212 cabs turn up now and then.  Often empty because people pirate the speakers....  I just got a 65 for my bandmaster it and it sounds phenomenal.  Keep your eyes out on craigslist and one will turn up.  You've already got a great score, though.  

[Pacafeliz]

CAUTION!
remember a bassman is a 4ohm amp. MOST marshall cabs (the vintage ones, at least) are normally 16 ohms.
a bassman -as well as most vintage fender amps- can handle a mismatch, but why tempt it with so much as a 4 - 16 difference?!

the JCM900 have the 4/16 switch, though.

playing a tube amp brings a lot of responsability with it, but MAN it's worth it!!!

Pat.

[blacktiger]

CAUTION: the caps under the doghouse ARE the originals and -even though they look ok- NEED to be changed ASAP, specially if there's one spilling out the guts.

Those three gold ones don't look orignal, but the other three could be.  They're not obviously bad from the pictures (I can't see any bubbling), but Pat's right, you should have them checked out to make sure that they're okay.

[ohm-men]

Hmm, pretty sure it's not a 2x12 cab. Looks like a 66 2x15" Showman cab to me.
I wonder what speakers you got there?

Yes please....replace the big electrolyte caps under the doghouse asap! they are indeed dangerous....
Find a good tech and have them replaced.
Look what you got in the pre amp section (V1 and V2)
Perhaps they need to be replaced.
Should you be looking at new power tubes, then I strongly suggest JJ 6L6. Very nice tubes with lots of headroom. My tech swears with them and they are not expesive as well.

[oakst8]

Looks like the caps under the doghouse have already been changed (good).  The board looks to be more or less original (also good).  Nice score.

I'm thinking that you have an early '66 there (as indicated by late '65 parts).  What's the two letter code stamped on the tube chart?

Sadly, the tube chart is only about 50% there and the two letter code is long gone.

I'm in the studio for some recording later this week and that'll be the last playing I do before taking this sucker in for new caps (and probably tubes as well).

Hmm, pretty sure it's not a 2x12 cab. Looks like a 66 2x15" Showman cab to me.
I wonder what speakers you got there?

Should you be looking at new power tubes, then I strongly suggest JJ 6L6. Very nice tubes with lots of headroom. My tech swears with them and they are not expesive as well.

I've yet to open the cab (too many screws, not enough time), but I'm starting to figure it must be a 2x15. Looks just like this one:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/677283098.html

The seller told me the original speakers were replaced with Cerwin Vega's. They sound good, but I may opt for a smaller one eventually.

The JJ's sound perfect since I could use a bit more headroom.

Thanks to everyone for all this great information, learning about the guts and history of the amp is every bit as much fun as playing it.

[Pacafeliz]

CAUTION: the caps under the doghouse ARE the originals and -even though they look ok- NEED to be changed ASAP, specially if there's one spilling out the guts.

Those three gold ones don't look orignal, but the other three could be.  They're not obviously bad from the pictures (I can't see any bubbling), but Pat's right, you should have them checked out to make sure that they're okay.

heh... not to stir up a fuzz but i guarantee those golden ones are the originals, as well.
post the numbers on those, i bet they are '65 

[blacktiger]

heh... not to stir up a fuzz but i guarantee those golden ones are the originals, as well.
post the numbers on those, i bet they are '65 

I'll defer to you on this one, since I'm used to slightly earlier Fenders.  Why the mismatch with the two different types?

[luau]

That 212 cab is giant -- and different from the late 60s/early 70s giant 212 cabs.  I'd say put it in the closet for a while, but I don't know if it'd fit. 

Aye. That's not quite as big as the ones I like. Maybe instead of putting this one in a closet you could turn it into a closet. 

[Pacafeliz]

heh... not to stir up a fuzz but i guarantee those golden ones are the originals, as well.
post the numbers on those, i bet they are '65 

I'll defer to you on this one, since I'm used to slightly earlier Fenders.  Why the mismatch with the two different types?

dunno... maybe supplier problems. or... since CBS was trying to get cheaper stuff. i've seen this in several fenders of the era, which i've recapped.
let's see a close-up pic of those caps to read the manufacture date... or... let's take this outside!!!  i'll see you behind the cafeteria at 12. *crunch crunch*

Pat.

[oakst8]

heh... not to stir up a fuzz but i guarantee those golden ones are the originals, as well.
post the numbers on those, i bet they are '65 

I'll defer to you on this one, since I'm used to slightly earlier Fenders.  Why the mismatch with the two different types?

dunno... maybe supplier problems. or... since CBS was trying to get cheaper stuff. i've seen this in several fenders of the era, which i've recapped.
let's see a close-up pic of those caps to read the manufacture date... or... let's take this outside!!!  i'll see you behind the cafeteria at 12. *crunch crunch*

don't have the amp at home right now, but here's some larger ones. if it'll avoid a royal rumble, i can take some more shots this weekend if these don't shed some light on the issue. somebody let me know if giant photos aren't kosher on the board...

[Jay]

Giant photos are cool though it's usually nice to link to them instead of embedding them so that the page loads a bit quicker for some.  Those solder joints are certainly untouched.  I'd replace them and save the originals.

[Pacafeliz]

Giant photos are cool though it's usually nice to link to them instead of embedding them so that the page loads a bit quicker for some.  Those solder joints are certainly untouched.  I'd replace them and save the originals.

yep they ARE the origs!  now WHERE's MY BEER!?
apparently there's no bubbling visible, but for safety's sake i'd still (get it) recapped.
btw, there's no use of keeping the originals. it's not modding, it's just maintainence that WILL have to be done, sooner than later. or it might blow up the amp.
plus, again -better safe than sorry- remember these thingies can be dangerous and KILL if you don't discharge them correctly! 

good luck!

Pat.

[Jazzprod]

This is the inside of my all original 1965 Bandmaster:



Same caps.... did replace them though