NAD - vintage Bassman 50

LoobsLoobs Frets: 4020
edited October 2024 in Amps


Just picked up this pretty clean mid-70s Bassman head for a good price here in Germany. Still has the original RCA tubes in it and sounds beautiful.

Neither switch works, but I'm guessing it won't be a difficult fix. Actually, I only heard it through an Orange 2x12 (at 16 ohm!) and that sounded amazing, so I can't wait to hear it through a more suitble cab. I know it wants to see 4 ohms, but apparently, these transformers are super resilient and can handle 8 ohms without any issues.

The next question is, which speakers should I use with it? I'd like to have substantial clean headroom but nothing sterile. Was thinking a 2x12 with Creamback 65s. 
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Comments

  • Perfect amps. I actually prefer them to the blackface circuit. You’ll get plenty of headroom regardless. I used v30s with mine & it sounded ace
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 76464
    Loobs said:

    Actually, I only heard it through an Orange 2x12 (at 16 ohm!) and that sounded amazing, so I can't wait to hear it through a more suitble cab. I know it wants to see 4 ohms, but apparently, these transformers are super resilient and can handle 8 ohms without any issues. 

    The next question is, which speakers should I use with it? I'd like to have substantial clean headroom but nothing sterile. Was thinking a 2x12 with Creamback 65s. 
    Nice amp - my one's slightly younger brother :).

    Don't run it at 16 ohms - that's about the one thing that will kill a 70s Fender OT, other than an open circuit. OK at low volume, but don't push it into overdrive.

    Even 8 ohms is OK, rather than ideal - if you're buying speakers, just get two 8-ohm ones and run it properly at 4 ohms - safer and sounds better. Mine sounded amazing through the speakers of my old TSL combo, rewired to 4 ohms - that's a Marshall Vintage (V30) and Heritage (G12M-70) pair. I would imagine that a Creamback G12H-75/G12M-65 pair would sound great too.

    (I have to say I bought mine for bass, and I've only tried it with guitar once so far!)

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

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  • LoobsLoobs Frets: 4020
    That I will, thanks mate! 
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  • YorkieYorkie Frets: 1881
    Always great to see threads like this. Enjoy your Fender amp. 
    Adopted northerner with Asperger syndrome. I sometimes struggle with empathy and sarcasm – please bear with me.   
    My trading feedback: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/210335/yorkie

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  • HNAD! The Bassman is an itch I have yet to scratch.
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  • LoobsLoobs Frets: 4020
    Thanks dudes!
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  • HNAD! One day, a Bassman shall be mine. One day. 
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  • spev11spev11 Frets: 604
    That is lovely, I love the look of a fender head
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  • LoobsLoobs Frets: 4020
    Yes I probably will! 
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  • GassageGassage Frets: 32038
    Wonderful things. Great buy.

    *An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.

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  • AdjiAdji Frets: 170
    tFB Trader
    Nice. I've only heard it in videos and recordings etc, but they sound wonderful.

    ____________________
    www.adamironside.com
    www.youtube.com/Adji87
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