![]() I reckon that the often unfairly derided ‘silverface’ amps will soon gain the respect they deserve. How long they will stay that way is unknown. Sound-wise, it exudes pure vintage Fender DNA – what more could you ask for? Compared to ‘tweed’ or ‘blackface’ Fenders, relatively overlooked hidden treasures like this sweet Fender Musicmaster Bass ‘silverface’ amp are currently both plentiful and good value… at the moment. This is a later model with the more commonly available 6V6 power tubes and its original Fender-branded CTS 12 speaker. Many MMBs have been modified due to the early ones using unusual 6AQ5 power valves. Although often difficult to date vintage amps, this particular one was made in 1979 or possibly 1980, given the features, serial number and the available codes. Finding good quality all-original ones is not impossible but requires patience and it is worth the wait. Like single pickup guitars (including the Fender Musicmaster), there is a certain purity to keeping things simple. For those familiar with CRAVE Guitars’ philosophy, it will be no surprise that the ‘less is more’ principle applies to amps like this. Didnt think anything about it then, but Ive since been kicking myself for passing on it. The first one I saw was clean with all the important updates and a 15' speaker swap. The classic behemoths are great too but there is something really cool about the runts of the family, especially for home use. Ive always lusted after those Musicmaster Bass Amps. Right up front, I am a champion (sic!) for the ‘baby’ Fender amps and, unlike many traditionalists, I have a soft spot for the post-Leo ‘silverface’ models. Other benefits include not taking up huge amounts of real estate and being easy on your spinal column, as well as being useful to have for occasional bass guitar use! While diminutive Fender amps are often sneered at by amp snobs, this type of tube combo is now seeing a resurgence of popularity by boutique amp builders, seeking the elusive essence of simple but toneful vintage amps, especially for recording and other low volume uses. Just the basics. The MMB was sold by Fender as a beginner’s bass amp but, like many other Fender bass amps (including the legendary Bassman), has been appropriated for use by (blues) guitarists for their great tone. Controls could hardly be simpler, just volume, tone and of/off switch. These fantastic little 12 watt, 1×12” valve combo amps adhere to the familiar Fender aesthetic with an open back cabinet, covered in black tolex, silver grill cloth, ‘Made in USA’ raised chrome logo, the silver control panel with blue lettering and the iconic red jewel light. they hit the speaker.Original CBS-era Fender ‘silverface’ Musicmaster Bass amps (often shortened to MMB) were manufactured only between 19. One thing tho - I have heard from a few who just want the cab for their own chassis, but the clearances are so close that different transformers probably won't work. Just get a better sound than the stock CTS 12 most all of these had. Rolled off sound or spiky treble with the wide range of the tone control. We added kool tiltback legs, installed a Jensen Neo 12 and found a This is the smallest cab you can stuff a 12 into and it's only 2-3 inches taller than a Champ plus badass back grille cloth w/ white piping. Make a custom one-off cab that’s a few inches shorter than their normalĬhamp cab and the only one like it. So I had the chassis fully restored over $200. And a 12" speaker has it over the Princeton's 10". But it’s not quite up in Princeton range. Gets loud and I am sure has the distortion all goin’ on but haven’t tried it Lo-volume clean players like me, Champ w/ the little 8” speaker just don’t cut itĪnd not loud enough staying in clean range. Watts is the sweet spot right between 6 w. One of the AQ5 amps had a lot of hum, so I sold it. The CTS ceramic rocked, the Oxfords were both very unimpressive. Tow had oxford speakers like yours, one had a square CTS ceramic. I realized a while ago that the 2-6AQ5 Musicmaster Bass 9 Re: Dating a SF Fender Musicmaster Bass amp - CL find At one time I had three of these, two AQ5 and one 6V6 model. Used in the Fender Vibroking with 6V6 reverb driver tube and the 63 Fender Reverb Reissue amp. Never mind that, but there was more than the normal background valve amp hum (Twins are usually very quiet). Output Transformer for Fender Pro Reverb, Tremolux. The legs were not there and it had no casters, only 'glides'. ![]() I was a little disappointed when I went to pick up this Ebay win as it had clearly been recovered. I spent a smallįortune on all this and won’t nearly break even but that just comes with being a Another Fender Twin needing a bit of TLC. Wear, and junky original speaker in the cheap cab, etc. ![]() Sure you can get one of these amps, unserviced, with cosmetic This Musicmaster Bass amp is like no other. ![]()
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