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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > How loud should I be able to turn up my Bassman?
How loud should I be able to turn up my Bassman?
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Rgsccr
248 posts
May 19, 2014
1:51 PM
Hi,

Given all the variables of tubes etc., I don't know if this is a reasonable question, but that has never stopped me before so here goes. I have a '91 Fender Bassman '59 reissue. My tube lineup is - 5U4GB tube rectifier (Electro-harmonix), Tung-Sol 5881s (matched) for power tubes, NOS pre-amp tubes - 12AX7, 12AU7, 12AY7. Some of you may know Jeff Mason and probably more know Steve Bailey, and both of them have told me this is one of the better sounding Bassman they've heard. Jeff is real good with adjusting tube lineups and settings, and is the one who suggested this set-up. He also has the dials at - Presence 5, Mid 1 1/2, Bass 12, Treble 1 1/2. Volume up to 6. Also, I am using a Lone Wolf Harp Delay with settings he suggested (don't have those in front of me). Anyway, with the volume up to 5 or so I get virtually no feedback. Above that I start to get feedback if I am in front of the amp, but have no issues if I am to the side.
Just wondering what anyone thinks about the volume level - that is, should I be able to turn up much more without feedback? I am not saying that I want to - 5 is plenty - just wondering. Thanks.
Rich

Last Edited by Rgsccr on May 19, 2014 1:52 PM
Frank
4305 posts
May 19, 2014
3:37 PM
What did Steve and Jeff say about volume and feedback?
528hemi
442 posts
May 19, 2014
3:47 PM
That sounds about right. There will be a sweet spot where the amp sounds best...turning it up past that point and I feel the tone will suffer.

Also, The feedback point and setting can change depending on where you are playing.

528hemi
Littoral
1080 posts
May 19, 2014
4:12 PM
Yeah, 5-6 is about it. I assume you want a few notches more to compete, yes? Dangerous road to nowhere, as I'm sure you know. Meanwhile, I want more too. I tried my LW Octave on a Bassman RI and the effect wasn't much helpful but using it as a preamp pushed past 7. Was it louder? Yes. I use it with my 60 Concert that way and one of the serious benefits is being able to get a great sound at low low volume.
Rgsccr
249 posts
May 19, 2014
4:13 PM
Thanks 528. Frank, they thought it sounded pretty good volume-wise at a fairly loud jam. I was asking more from the standpoint of how loud it potentially could go without feedback.
Mirco
169 posts
May 19, 2014
6:01 PM
Did anyone say "eleven" yet? No? Okay.

You should turn it up to eleven.
SuperBee
2001 posts
May 19, 2014
7:18 PM
+1 on the LW Octave for pushing the volume. I use it the same way. That's actually the main reason I plug it in these days.


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