Topic: Bassman vs JTM45

Hey everyone-

I was wondering the differences between the Fender Bassman and the JTM45. I'm trying to get what I like to call a "balls out"  American Rock and Roll tone and am looking for the right amp. Maybe neither of those is the right choice... hit me with your suggestions! I want a punchy dark growl... thats about the best I can describe it. All kinds of pickups and guitars (strats, SG's, LP's) will be going through it.

Thanks,
Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

RocknRoll Amps' Lil' YOUCANTSAYTHATHERE looks very promising... a bassman and plexi circuit side by side... use them blended or independent of each other. $$$ though sad

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

Fargen Retro Classic Amp Features

    ’59 position = late 50′s tweed bassman
    Plug in your tele and get some smokey greasy blues with that hint of “wood” tone we all love
    ’65 position = Dead on JTM 45
    Clapton Bluesbreaker tone’s….all day long
    ’68 position = 12000 Series Superbass
    You know it…you love it…you want it!

http://www.fargenamps.com/retro-classic

Fargen Olde 800 MKII Guitar Amplifier

60's position = JTM 45
70's position = JMP Plexi
80's position = JCM 800

http://www.fargenamps.com/olde-800-mkii

Both of these amps are three amps in one and are very high quality point to point hand wired.  I have a Fargen Mini Plex MK II which is basically the little brother to the Olde 800 MK II because it is only a 12 watt amp that features power scaling.  The Fargen amps are a little pricey, but I am very happy with mine.

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

The 6L6 tubes vs the EL34 tubes make a considerable tone difference.

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

stefanhauk wrote:

The 6L6 tubes vs the EL34 tubes make a considerable tone difference.

Vintage or repro JTM-45's are usually spec'd for KT-66's and I think Marshall puts 5881's in reissue's these days.

Speaker and speaker cab's are gonna make a big difference too, Bassman usually has open-back combo with 4-10 Jensens vs a 2x12 open-back combo of Celestion Greenbacks or a closed-back 4x12 of Greenbacks for the head or combo.

Cheers, Alex

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

Weren't the original Marshalls based on the Fender Bassman?

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

Yep JTM 45 was inspired by a bassman, but the UK didn't have a lot of access to 6L6 tubes so the KT66 was used.  Closed cab with 12 inch speakers makes a big difference as well.  Leo Fender got the design for the amp from GE it was an old design when he used it, which is why it was stealing when Jim Marshall borrowed the design for his amps.  I've heard people say that JTM45 can be kind of bright though, new reissues anyway.  I'm not so sure the bassman will give you balls out sound without a pedal.  If I'm not mistaken (which mean I more then likely am wrong) I pretty sure the KT-66 doesn't give the design as much power so the bassman has about 40 watts of power and the JTM 45 really was putting out 35 watts, but it projected better because of the closed back so it sounded louder.

Re: Bassman vs JTM45

They were much more thsan 'based on' the bassman.

Jim Marshall though there was an opportunity to produce a British built and therefore cheaper guitar amp for the domestic market.  They effectively copied an amp fender didn't kmake anymore the tweed bassman - just re-engineering for the British parts that they wanted to use.

The 12 inch Celestions on their own would help make it Marshall sounding.