Fender Twin amp in Bassman chassis?

Ian Finlay · Post by **Ian Finlay** » 24 Mar 2006 1:29 am

Hi all,

will a silver face Twin amp fit in the case for a Bassman head? I may be able to get a Twin cheap but I want a 15" speaker in a separate box. For the head I'd like to use a smaller width case like a Bassman size, I just don't know if the Twin will fit. I can see having to narrow the faceplate of course.

Ian

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 24 Mar 2006 4:35 am

No, a Twin reverb chassis is fully as wide as the faceplate. It will not fit in a Bassman cab.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 24 Mar 2006 4:45 am

Ian.

There are lot's of Fender Vibroverb clones being built today. The guys take a Fender silver face Bandmaster Reverb head and remove the chassis and modify it and insert it into a new amp case with a single 15" speaker. Every now and then you will see the old Bandmaster wood case for sale. It will also fit the Silver Twin chassis if I am not mistaken. Look for one of these for your Twin head.

Edit: Look at Ebay auction # 7400365639. That is what you need.[This message was edited by Bill Hatcher on 24 March 2006 at 04:47 AM.]

LARRY COLE · Post by **LARRY COLE** » 24 Mar 2006 5:21 am

Wouldn't it fit in a Showman/Dual Showman head? Rick Johnson makes them and they are top notch. Lloyd green and Ricky Davis use Ricks cabinets.

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Playing For JESUS,LC. WILLIAMS U12,SHO-BUD PRO1,CARVIN TL60,GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM,YAMAHA L-10A ACOUSTIC,ROLAND JW-50 KEYBOARD,G&L AND BC RICH BASS'S

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 24 Mar 2006 5:34 am

Yes, A Dual Shoman Reverb Head, not a Showman will work

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 24 Mar 2006 5:44 am

Just have Rick Johnson make you a set. Good enough for Lloyd Green, good enough for Ricky Davis, good enough for me.

Ian Finlay · Post by **Ian Finlay** » 24 Mar 2006 6:54 am

Thanks all.

I'll see if I get the Twin then see what works for me financially!

Ian

Steve Waltz · Post by **Steve Waltz** » 24 Mar 2006 10:29 am

If you are going to use your own reverb system you don't need the head to be taller like a dual showman reverb. The heads make room for the reverb pan and leave room so that the transformer doesn't mess with the signal. I just built a head cabinet for my vibrosoninc and I used the bassman ten size and it worked fine but it could have been a inch shorter from top to bottom since I don't use the reverb in that amp but I wanted the extra space for heat. Ampwares has the fender field guide and it shows the dimensions for every fender amp made and you can see which head cabinet will work for you.
Steve

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 24 Mar 2006 10:41 am

Just a possible correction on your statement, Steve, based on some observation---The Dual Showman head requires finger access to the spring loaded harware on its bottom for attaching it to its speaker cab. Hence the reverb tank is mounted on edge against the front grill, taking up a lot of vertical space. I have heard a number of people describe moving the chassis and tank into a much smaller cab with much closer proximity between reverb and transformers with no problems.
This is observational and anecdotal and certainly not authoritative info.

Steve Waltz · Post by **Steve Waltz** » 24 Mar 2006 10:52 am

I just came back to say that I did make a mistake about the showman head too, it is 23 inches or so across and the Dual showman reverb is about 26. So there is a difference in the size between reverb and non reverb heads in that direction as well as hight.

That's why I posted the ampwares site so that someone could check for the actual size there on the fender field guide thing.

"Measure twice cut once"...I need to listen to Mr. Miagee more often. sorry for this misinformation.

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 24 Mar 2006 12:19 pm

A Bassman 1/15 should look like this.
I might add its very loud too.

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Rick Johnson

Ian Finlay · Post by **Ian Finlay** » 24 Mar 2006 1:17 pm

Oooooohhhhhh nice!

OK, let me take another tack and ask for some different advice...

I have an all-original '59 4x10 Bassman. I love it totally. I play hilbilly and Western Swing using either a Fender 1000 or a Deluxe 8 with a Bigsby vol/tone pedal, no effects. I am getting increasingly nervous about taking the Bassman to gigs, and sometimes I can't get the clarity I want, although the tone is wonderful (does that make sense?) If I turn up the presence or treble, it get's a bit "icepick". I run the bass at 2-4 as it's really LOUD and there's loads of bottom. It's recently been serviced by an ace tech.

So, I'm thinking about getting something else. I can't afford a new Nashville 112 or a Steel King. I may be able to get a cosmetically challenged Twin, but I used to have one and it was too heavy and very directional soundwise. I think I'd like a 1x15", but no idea other than that.

Help! And remember, I'm in the UK so Sessions, Nashvilles and the like are rare rare rare!

Ian

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 25 Mar 2006 5:23 am

Rick,

I think you just caused me to rethink my cabs for a 1x15 Bassman. I have a great 66 Bassman head that hasn't been used much in the last 15 years and I do need a combo and I love this amp and it is loud...I'll send you an email.

Russ

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Mar 2006 7:25 am

My goodness Rick! That's another beauty. I had a contractor over this morning to give me an estimate for some remodeling. He's not a musician, but he saw my amp that you cabbed, and remarked about how nice it looked!~

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 25 Mar 2006 11:34 am

Rick,
Great job as usual !....

........Jim

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 27 Mar 2006 10:59 am

Thanks for all the compliments.
I love building these cabs. Many
thanks to everyone who has placed
orders for cabs, I'll get to them.

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Rick Johnson

Brett Habben · Post by **Brett Habben** » 28 Mar 2006 7:25 pm

Sure like that blonde tolex....

This may be off the subject, but another popular guitar combo is to build a 2x10 combo cab for your bassman. It's easier packin', cause it's shorter. It's also easier to create a 4 ohm load. [This message was edited by Brett Habben on 28 March 2006 at 07:27 PM.]

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 29 Mar 2006 7:44 am

Brett

I built on of those 2/10 Bassman
combos, I remember I had to place
the speakers at an angle to get them
to fit. Nice little combo.

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Rick Johnson

Brett Habben · Post by **Brett Habben** » 29 Mar 2006 6:49 pm

Well, I'm preachin' to the choir then.

You don't happen to have a picture of that one, do you?

You do some fine work.