Fender Bassman Guitar Amp For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

I bought a'65 Reissue Twin Reverb at MF online after trying used Bassman and Twin reissues at a local store. I play blues, classic rock, and some clean stuff. The four corners of our sound might be Little Wing to Born Under a Bad Sign to Ramble On to Break Down. I play with a guy who has a 100W EVH 5150 amp and had a hard time being heard so I wanted something with some volume. While the Twin certainly had plenty of volume I found it did not take (quality) pedals as well as I would like. I'm talking about Blues Driver and GMD Luther etc. While it took time based pedal very well the response to distortion pedals was a very loud clean version of distortion and not the beautiful warm overdriven tube tone bolstered by the pedal which I wanted. As I am writing this it occurs to me that this should be self evident. I exchanged the Twin for the Bassman and what a difference! First thing I noticed is the woody resonance of the cabinet. Just setting it down on the ground or tapping on the cab like a drum produces a beautiful natural wood tone. I like it loud and turned about a third to half way up which would be plenty of volume for a small to medium venue it starts to break up beautifully. Mixed into the warm tube overdrive tone are swirling natural harmonics which makes the sound richly complex and to some degree replaces reverb. The tone of this amp is outstanding for what I play. I transport the amp to our practice sessions and while it is on the heavy side it is not burdensome. It's worth it because the amp gives me confidence that I can be heard with a tone that inspires me.Nifty Guy

I've wanted this amp for at least the last decade, but couldn't justify it since I either had another amp at the time or was living in an apartment and couldn't play that loud. I finally broke down and bought it and I couldn't be happier. It's so simple to use and sounds incredible! I've tried a variety of settings including the ones suggested on the piece of cardboard that comes with the amp (which are actually quite helpful), as well as using with and without my beloved ts-9, and I have to say that it sounds best to me with the guitar plugged straight in and just cranked! I keep going back and forth, but the conclusion I keep arriving at is why would you pay all that money for an amp with such a warm natural overdrive just use a pedal to simulate that?! The only scenario I can see this amp being a problem is a small gig, where the volume needed to overdrive it would send people running out the door and make enemies with the sound guy! The eq section responds very differently than any amp I've previously owned as well, and it's important to mention that as a lot of guitarists like to crank the bass and shy away from mids and presence, but on this amp with the volume turned up that will sound awful! Again, the recommended settings that come with it are a good place to start even if they seem a little unconventional. Ultimately, if you play blues, country, classic rock or similar styles of music, this amp is phenomenal! If you play metal however, this isn't the right amp for you. True, it has a remarkable clean tone that can take pedals very well, but driving it with fuzz or distortion just seems wrong somehow. Like you're trying to make it something it's not.Matt

I am one of those guitarists who does not use distortion; mainly playing 50's, 60's, and country. Having done my research the '59 Bassman seemed to be the ideal amp for me with it's clean and full-sounding tones when used with my Fender and Gretsch guitars. Previously, I had used modern-spec amps and simply ignored the high-gain options, but they usually sound too mellow and a bit muddy when used clean, presumably so that when switched to distortion mode, they aren't too "fizzy" sounding. This amp is hands down the best amp I have ever used; no frills, just Normal and Bright channels with common bass, mid, treble and presence controls. Good for humbucker-equipped guitars, too: simply add pedals if you must, but your starting point will always be good tone, which puts this amp ahead of most others. Higher volume settings are likely to induce a little overload (think early Kinks hits), but it all sounds natural and not contrived or OTT.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is well known as a preferred amp for Lap Steel and Pedal Steel players, and that's why I bought it primarily. Also for Baritone Guitar (B to B tuning). SO no surprise that it excels on those duties. The big surprise was that this is now my preferred amp for P-Bass with Flatwound strings, vs. my modern Mesa bass amp. Perfect tonal balance, versatile across all playing styles, warm, and plenty of headroom (I only turn it up to 3 at small club gigs). It also excels on Hollow Body Guitars and Telecasters, giving a very even sound across the registers, with warmth, depth, openness, and room for expression. The only thing I don't like it on is Strats.mhschmieder

I've been playing for almost 30 years and this truly one of the most versatile heads I've ever played. I play 3-4 hour shows in a country band with a Fender American P-Bass and the tone is thick and loud. I also use this in my punk/hardcore band with a Fender USA Jazz bass and it cuts right through the drums and guitar. The Distortion is excellent for this style of music. I've also used it with an Ernie Ball Stingray on multiple studio sessions and again, you can get so many tones from this amp. It's Great. Best of all is lightweight and beats my Ampeg SVT Classic any day.Justin

This head is super great!! I have had the all tube bassman 300 for about 15 years and the 800 sound just as good if not better. Obviously the weight difference was the major factor in buying the bassman 800. While also having the look and feel of a classic tube head. For me I just can't get into the super small fit in your backpack heads. So the bassman 800 is really something that you would want to stand in front of. That being said I have 3 different cab combinations I use. One 410 that lives in my rehearsal studio. One 15 and 210 together, and an 810 cabinet. So depending on the venue size and load in opinions will dictate the cabs I use. I try the use the 810 when I can about 50% of the shows. The bassman 800 with an 810 cab is a match made in heaven. For me personal you don't have to play to destroy everyone's eardrums, but's it's nice to have that felling behind you. Plus in rock the drums are loud and powerful, or at least they should be, and nothing better than the old fridge to even the score. The Di is great and much improved from my other head (bassman 300}. This model has an adjustable volume for the DI with the normal pre and post options. The Di is also tube driven, giving the front of house a nice warm signal. What I'm really loving about this amp is the tone seems just a little tighter than my all tube bassman 300. The 800 is super punchy without having that plastic fake tone. I also find myself using the overdrive on the amp over my two overdrive pedals on my board. Honestly makes think over going with a tuner and the foot switch only… So really the test is going to be how will this head stand up to playing every weekend. At least with my all tube bassman 300 can almost always be repaired,like an old muscle car. This bassman 800 is like a Tesla, freaking awesome but hope battery doesn't run out on your family trip up north. Anyway time will tell, till then this amp is awesome!! Loving itDbassmann

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

I use one of these for my nylon string Godin Multiac. I blend the nylon with a GR33 synth and run both signals into this amp on the clean channel. The issue I've always had with amplified nylon string guitars is the 'plucky' or 'plasticy' sound of them through guitar amps. This bass amp solved the problem for me. With the amp's treble and bass rolled off completely I can get a very round clear tone by using the guitar's eq to provide the brightness. Very light and powerful, and an unexpected solution to a long-standing problem I've experienced. The electric violinist in the band tried his setup through my amp with almost identical settings and he bought one also! Works very well for bass also, in a small setting.Jan-Mikael

TLDR: BUY IT! I ordered this amp when I bought my very first bass. For years I was stuck with a school Ampeg Little Stud bass from 1973. The bass itself was 40 pounds, and for all of its vintage appeal, I was not impressed by its condition or playability. The amp was even worse. It was a Backline 112 that weighed 50 pounds, and when I performed with it in a school gymnasium with a capacity of a mere 400 people, nobody heard me playing. When I bought my bass I knew that I needed a new amp. Enter the Rumble 100. If this is your first amp, you might think this is a little pricey, but trust me, it is beyond worth it. I'm only 5'1", and while I could carry the heavy Ampeg bass and amp, it was starting to hurt my back. But this amp is incredibly light. I almost expected it to have zero bottom end. But when I played it, I was shocked. The sound was very well-supported, even if it's played with the bass, low, and mid down and treble all the way up (which I wouldn't recommend… I mean, it's a bass amp…) I've loved this amp ever since. But I'm not a "pro" yet, so let me tell you what some professional musicians thought when they saw my amp. I performed with a popular local brass band that has been together since 1980. Altogether they have 50+ years of touring and gigging experience. They're used to lugging some pretty heavy equipment. When I walked in to the auditorium, I had my bass case slung over my shoulder, my amp in my hands, and all my music nestled under my arm. Of course the stage crew at the door all thought that the tiny chick (me) was about to drop everything, so they rushed over to help me by picking up my amp. They went, "What? We're wondering where the inside went, Is this it?" They thought it would sound awful. But that night, in front of 2,000 people (and there was a bass solo), everybody said they could hear me perfectly. The design is simple, the onboard controls are very effective and not too complex, and it plays loud and proud without hurting you.Bass Clef Kid

Like the rest of the bass players out there I've used all of the major brands. From old-school Acoustic Control heads and cabs from the '70's, to Ampegs etc etc etc…Well I've reached the point where that level of stage volume isn't needed for what I'm doing now; I shopped around, and despite some of the amazing combos available, I landed on this one. Actually the guitar player in our band mentioned that he had bought the 50watt version of this. I played through it and was impressed. For me it's the ideal unit for what I'm doing now – I still play some heavy rock (Mountain, Cream, Cactus, Trower), but when volume is required we of course use the FOH and good monitors for stage support. Having the onboard direct out is the best as it allows me to go direct into whatever board is being used, whether live or recording. Don't be fooled by the small size; the size is a real asset in terms of portability. The head is where it all starts, and the tonal range is wide so you can dial in your sound. In a live situation there's plenty of lows, highs and depth of tone. Playing in various size venues is no problem – this will carry without going through FOH in churches, smaller bars & clubs (50-100 capacity). Larger venues or live situations where stage volume is needed for impact or performance, then my personal recommendation is to use this as a personal monitoring device and go through the PA & stage monitor as a direct through the board. One last thing; the amp sounds as good on 3 as it does on 7. Any more than than 7 and it starts pushing the speaker, and not in a good way. But I've had this for several months now, use it gigging and recording regularly and overall am simply satisfied with the purchase. Like everything, this amp has limitations. You're not going to get the punch or volume of a high powered rig, and you really shouldn't be using a combo for something like that. But whether you're a beginner, novice, or weekend warrior or pro this amp, as well as the rest of this product line, is a tremendous option.jb

I bought this amp to have a small, cheap portable amp to play harmonica through. For that, it is decent enough. I use a Shure bullet mic and the amp produces good enough tone and is plenty loud for practice or small gigs. When I plug my tele into it the clean channel is decent and clear, but the overdrive channel is junk and hurts my ears. I would rather run the clean channel and use a fuzz or distortion pedal. So that being said it is decent enough to practice licks on and it is tiny so it tucks away easy. If you look around you can find a bigger amp with more features used for the same price but if you want a new amp, this one is probably worth what they charge for it. I would only buy it if you have a specific purpose for it though.Roy

It's small, and pretty portable. However, the sound quality is trash, given the speaker is tiny, but the overdrive is just horrible. If you buy this, try returning it. If you can't return it, just get a fuzz pedal and leave it on clean. Imo, just buy the mustang lt25-50Hotdog Games

Excellent value! Fender has a winner! Having a blast digging into this amp. All of the classic Fender and British amps and stomp boxes galore. I really enjoy the built in looper for quick practice and exploring ideas. Only negative comment I have (really isn't that bad), you can't store your loop(s) on the amp, at least not that I am aware of. When the amp gets turned off, your loop with its over dubs are gone. So the amp has remained on for several weeks now! 🙂Russ

Great! Sounds mono cos it is. Not as immersive as some stereo amps (but those too are practice amps). The cloud connection and wifi updates plus being able to download presents straight from your phone into the amp is so seamless. The bluetooth and app control works so well, you can even screen cast your phone to the tv and see your chain right there. Super loud, powerful rumble. Heck I even stuck my digital piano into this sucker and played the downloaded Top Gun Theme on Piano – you'd be surprised how much like a guitar a digital piano can sound through this! Have not even yet used this as an audio interface to record straight into a DAW – well worth the purchase, It's a pleasure to go back to each time – oh and the pedal, that will keep you playing for hours, so good to play a chord progression and then solo over it, you'll get lost in time doing that! The fun and practice you'll gain from this is near limitless.Ro

I saw some reviews prior to going to my local GC store and saw a couple of negatives so I was set on the Ampeg BA210V2. I came in the store picked a Jazz semi-comparable to mine and played the Ampeg. I liked the Ampeg but when I played the Rumble 500 I fell in love with it. I was sold. 15" speakers sound too muddy so I wanted 10". These are solid sounding speakers that don't lose bottom end. It sounded so much like a Fender should. I loaded my Jazz with some Seymour Duncan 70's Jazz Quarter Pounders and an Obsidian solid state circuit board and for the 1st time I had to back way off on the treble and still got the growl I wanted without active pickups. The "vintage" button can change the sound tone to the old throwbacks of the 70's and 80's. The contour isn't overbearing like some amps. At high volume there is very little distortion. I haven't had time to play with the overdrive like I want but it doesn't sound like an old stage ridden guitar fuzz box like so many of the others I have used. It can be used in many songs without sounding overbearing. The cabinet weight is so light. I didn't think something that light would be able to carry the low end well but it does. It will rattle windows in a heartbeat. Will try an 18" ext speaker here in a few months to see what that does. The 200 watt is a fine amp but pay extra for the 500 watt. Big difference in sound even though it is the same cabinet/speaker size. Still playing with the different settings to fine tune sound but there seems to be a large range of Fender tones. This has to be one of the best sounding small gig amps I've ever had.Rev T

Used in a 10-piece band (horns, piano, organ) so lots of frequency sharing and a need to fit the mix. I use in ear monitors, so I don't really hear what's coming from the amp and trust the sound engineer to get it right. The signal I got was clean and sounded good. Impression from the sound engineer were positive (filled the room with minimal PA feed, cut through despite frequency sharing, good stage volume, tight distinct bottom). In general, a good working rig for small to medium sized venues. I am considering adding the 115-extension speaker to take full advantage of the 500-watt capabilities. Do keep in mind that this is a good, lightweight gigging combo but do not expect the sound to be that of Eden, Agular or other boutique amps.Rick

Fantastic amp for the money. Light weight, easy to transport. Very loud, loud enough to play most club gigs. Clean and punchy with lots of low end and very articulate. Has a horn button to give more presence, especially when applying any slapping type techniques. Has a overdrive to add realistic tube type distortion. Works well with pedals. What else can I say? Get one! Fender keeps upping the game! I'm very happy with this purchase!!!Jon

800W Thunder Box. So far, so good, so what, right? Many preset settings to try and find the right sound, or you can jump online and find user premade settings and tweak to your earhole's content. Connect via Bluetooth and change settings with your phone (via app) or the footswitch. It pumps much air, so probably not the best home practice amp if you value glass in and around your home, but perfect for every other application. Recommended outside toy. Not too heavy to carry either. Good quality, and priced as expected for a Fender product.Brian R.

Overall: unless you are on tour with Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, or Metalica I can't imagine you needing much more than this combo offers. I have many basses, and i am able to capture the individual characteristics of each easily. I owned, and still own a Rumble 500 V3 and love that also. The technical advancements, and improvements are the reason I purchased it. I saw a future in updateable firmware, downloadable presets, WiFi capabilities, and USB capabilities. I am about a little over my third month with the Stage 800, and I haven't even started with the foot pedal, set list programming and looping. All we really wanna know is what does it sound like? It sounds like just about everything I've ever heard and that is good. Forget the name, or intended preset, the question is does it sound good? It sounds fantastic. In addition it is light and plenty loud, but can played silently while you practice through your earphones, as you're learning music streaming through your Bluetooth connection. The foot switch is included with the Stage 800, and you have the Fender Tone App you can download on your phone and adjust the tone from across the room, and download new presets created by other users. It is the future coming together with Fender and i love it!Franklin

This thing is wonderful. For such a tiny speaker with low wattage, RUMBLE, is no joke and not just advertising. I'm surprised but at low volumes it sounds great, and mid as well. I've yet to pump it to the max but I live in an apartment so I'm happy w/ low to mid. The presets are great, and you can download an additional 50 or so presets with the computer application. The tones are sweet and warm; Fender got it RIGHT!! Beats the VOX emulator by far. VOX sounds tinny and hollow; Fender warm and thick; love it and would recommend. THANK YOU FENDER!! Total Fender Fanboy Now!strings80

This little amp is quite amazing in sound and features. With the Guitar input, Aux In, and headphone jack it nails the features desired for practice. EQ/Gain control and volume can make a huge difference. I read the one critical review below about no bass or treble/AM radio sounding, etc…I don't get that? Probably doesn't understand the gain/vol/ and boost…or his was pre-owned and maybe had issues. Hey, if you're expecting the Fender tube sound of a Princeton or Vibrolux or Deluxe…get real, this is a 10 watt practice amp. For the money, it's a quality Fender product and does everything needed to practice.madillac09

This is doing the job I wanted. It doesn't have fancy effects like reverb, but it produces a nice sound for practice. I don't do public performances, so can't say how well it works in that environment. For the price it's a winner.lndi2007_yrggd7or

Im really disappointed with this amp. I know its not supposed to be super loud because its only 10 W, but I was hoping that the sound quality would be better. The sound reproduction frequencies are all mid range. Sounds like cardboard. Color is grey. Bass and treble tones are all but nonexistent. The eq is useless because speaker cannot reproduce bass and treble frequencies. The sound is very cheap and does not give a representation of the Fender vibe whatsoever. You are better off just playing your guitar with no amplifier at all rather than using this, because it make a good guitar sound bad. I equate the sound to that of an a.m. transistor radio. Its really bad. I actually read some of the favorable reviews on this amplifier before I bought it, and Im seriously starting to think that none of those reviews are actually real. There are better practice amps with better fidelity out there, and I would avoid this one if your ear demands quality sound.mrmarksiii

This little amp is quite amazing in sound and features. With the Guitar input, Aux In, and headphone jack it nails the features desired for practice. EQ/Gain control and volume can make a huge difference. I read the one critical review below about no bass or treble/AM radio sounding, etc…I don't get that? Probably doesn't understand the gain/vol/ and boost…or his was pre-owned and maybe had issues. Hey, if you're expecting the Fender tube sound of a Princeton or Vibrolux or Deluxe…get real, this is a 10 watt practice amp. For the money, it's a quality Fender product and does everything needed to practice.madillac09

This is doing the job I wanted. It doesn't have fancy effects like reverb, but it produces a nice sound for practice. I don't do public performances, so can't say how well it works in that environment. For the price it's a winner.lndi2007_yrggd7or

Im really disappointed with this amp. I know its not supposed to be super loud because its only 10 W, but I was hoping that the sound quality would be better. The sound reproduction frequencies are all mid range. Sounds like cardboard. Color is grey. Bass and treble tones are all but nonexistent. The eq is useless because speaker cannot reproduce bass and treble frequencies. The sound is very cheap and does not give a representation of the Fender vibe whatsoever. You are better off just playing your guitar with no amplifier at all rather than using this, because it make a good guitar sound bad. I equate the sound to that of an a.m. transistor radio. Its really bad. I actually read some of the favorable reviews on this amplifier before I bought it, and Im seriously starting to think that none of those reviews are actually real. There are better practice amps with better fidelity out there, and I would avoid this one if your ear demands quality sound.mrmarksiii

I bought this amp because my gig amp died a cyber twin 2-12s 100 watts that was about 16 years old. I have had many Fender amps they were great. I do country and 50s and 60s rock and roll. I figured 100 watts would put it out there and it does. At performing volume, the distortion is a pure heavy metal on the clean channel. Mine is not much good for high volume for my type of music. I have an old champion 110 75 watt that I will be using It has worked for me when the others were down. Not sure what to do.stev_majo

Great starter/practice amp. It gives a great tone for a great price. Gives some really great crunchy distorted tones for metal and rock. Also gives a great clean tone. Has plenty of built-in effects too. It gets pretty loud when you need it to, and has a 3.5mm headphone jack for convenience and quiet practicing. I love this amp! If you're just starting out and looking for your first amp, look no further. Or if you're an experienced guitarist looking for a good practice amp, this is a great choice.danielk2852

It is a great amp. Very good sound and options for the price. It is not heavy which is a big deal to someone who has had back surgery. I gave it a 5 in spite of one big complaint. When you turn it off you hear a loud "POP!" Wow, is that loud is what I thought the first time I heard it. I read about it online and there is a simple fix. Find an old set of ear phones or ear buds that you would use on a cassette player or a Sony Walkman. (Yes, these are ancient electronic relics from the past for you younger people. You might ask your parents if they have a cassette player and borrow the ear plugs.) Just plug that earphone jack into the "PHONES" input BEFORE you turn it off. THEN you only hear a little blip when you turn it off. THEN just pull the jack out of the "PHONES" input before you start it next time.chasmigu

When I was researching for a good tube amp, I loved what I read and heard about this amp on YouTube and review sites. It was everything I wanted: excellent tone, quiet enough for home but enough punch to gig with, and prdal friendly. However, there was one glaring review that jumped out at me: several people reported recieving an amp that wouldn't work out of the box. But it was only a few people, right? Coincidence maybe. Allow me to introduce myself. My name us Mark and if anything bad can possibly happen, it'll happen to me. When the amp arrived it was a late day from work and i only had time to unpack and visually inspect. Everything looked good and I placed it among my gear. But when the weekend rolled around, I plugged it in and nada. Lights came on, but not a single sound from the amp. I reviewed the manual and checked the fuse but we were dead in the water. This is the point where you write a bad review, correct? Well, I contacted Musicians Friend and they went above and beyond to help me send the amp back at no cost and had a replacement on the way immediately. When it arrived I have to admit that I was pretty nervous opening it and plugging it up. But with the first notes played, I was elated. The amp was everything as advertised, and sounds amazing. I'll never know for sure what was wrong with the original amp but tubes can be a fickle thing when being shipped. My story was an adventure, but it has a happy ending. I 100% recommend the amp and if not for the original hiccup, my review would be 5 stars. Thanks again to Musicians Friend for their support.Mark K

These are my initial impressions and I've been playing for fun for about 25 years, but haven't played electric guitar for about 7 years mainly because my Gibson goldtone head and cab are just so loud that I preferred playing acoustic guitar. I finally decided I needed a usable amp and first got a positive grid spark. That's still an impressive amp, but it got me really wanting a great tube amp that was more appropriate for my situation. I looked at boutique amps and really liked some black star stuff, blues Jr, and several others. A buddy who had gone through similar struggles, but actually bought some amps and used them and with my experiments with the modeling amp as much as I could and my experience back when I was in bands and playing around with a bunch of different setups, decided to go with the bassbreaker. Wow. It's so versatile and so easy to get good tones from. I was honestly thinking of swapping speakers or something else but I can just simply get so many great tones. It really reminds me a lot of most tweed amps, some Marshall amps, some mesa amps and a bit of the reverbs and the bassmans (I haven't played these in a long time though). It doesn't mimic my Gibson Goldtone with 1×12 and 1×15, but at this point I don't care and actually found that I don't really want to emulate that amp. I will admit I didn't use that cab with this combo nor have I done any recording with it. I know this is all completely subjective garbage, but that's mostly the nuances we face in music. Go play it in person or trust me that it's got a great versatility for maybe a gritty jazz guy to metal recording (most metal guitarists use more gain and fuzz than make it to a recording).Joe R

After trying many different amps in this price range I found this one used. I was instantly impressed by the tone. The updated tolex, knobs, and speaker cloth were a definite improvement visually. Mine came with a greenback speaker. Swapped it for a g12H30 and sounded even better. Left it on over night by accident one evening and experienced the redplate issue others have reported. The way the amp head is designed makes it virtually unserviceable. Several circuit boards crammed into a tiny space. The back plate is wired into these boards. Some tech's won't even touch it. Check youtube. Even using today's technology Leo Fender would have never designed it this way. Fender corporation is a disgrace!Chuck

And so the endless search for a overdrive tone leads me to this. I have a Fender Twin for the best clean tone, but you will blow the roof off getting it to break up, and a 5150III for face melting distortion. But nothing for that middle ground of slight tube break up. I tried dozens of pedals. With dozens of pedals online costing more than this head I gave it a shot. A open box buy from MF was in perfect condition. I hooked it up to a cheap Crate V212 cab and was blown away. It's boomy and raunchy, but not flubby when cranked like many low watt amps. It has just a awesome overdriven rock tone. Easily nails Cream, Zep, 70's ZZ, A'smith & AC/DC and the classic late 60's to seventies Stones tone. The 7w is just perfect for the house, loud, proud and ripping. Mike it to a PA and you can use it in arenas and stadiums. It is naturally bassy so I leave the treble boost on to balance things out. There is only one speaker out, no standby switch, effects loop or reverb. So I use a reverb pedal. Tube amp overdrive heaven in a small package without that phony pedal tone. It's really a no brainer, gitter done. Seriously.PSL TSW

This amp is simply incredible. Some critics note a lack of bass, which I think is insane. I have the bass down to 4 and it is still quite robust. I also own a DRRI and, to be honest, I turn to the 007 more than the DRRI (I play a Strat with a TBX and 25db mid boost installed). The clean sound is noy quite the equivalent of a DRRI or a tweed Fender, yet it is definitely usable and warm. The amp does break up early (which is the point), so I would not lean on it for sparkly Fender cleans. The distorted sound is where this amp shines-even without the excellent treble boost switched on, you can get ridiculously creamy, warm yet articulate breakup that gets you from classic early Clapton blues tones to 70s Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC tones. Recommended for any blues and classic rock players. Limited application for jazz, country, and metal guitarists.Sean

It sounds just like its a very expensive big brother but in a little battery powered or wall wart powered package. Two speakers and quite loud for size definitely well worth the purchase. Ive been a musician for nearly 4 decades on the recording studio and I can definitely recommend this little amp.filelicker

My sheep are finally getting used to being serenaded and I play allot more. All my efx work well through it and distortion and sustain riprioma-30

The newer China made ones are absolute garbage in every way. I had an older Korean made one and it was fantastic!! Do yourself a favor if youre planning to get one look for an older one that was made in Korea! Not just this model but all mini Fender amps!wizrdz68

I had the rumble 500 head and it was working overtime to keep up with the rest of my band. I have a 410 cabinet and a 115 cabinet I'm running through. I have a very loud drummer and two guitar players that I was always competing with. Now with this new improved rumble 800 head, it allows me to be heard clearly and with plenty of power to go, Plus all the great features / tones that come with the rumble series from Fender. Also love the new speaker-on cable attachments!Trippz

Compact class D fender rumble head that puts out massive power and classic fender tone. Pairs well with a lone fender rumble 210 or 410+115 cabinet.tootallfoster

Fender Bassman 150 : Great, versatile, powerful, little combo! Sound is rich, punchy, and clear. Built like a tank. Speaker is a killer, It handles a low B string like a very expensive amp. If you want an amp that you are going to keep for a long time, this is it, A FENDER!buddhasacred_temple

Use at home mostly. Also use in live settings. There are definitely boutique sounds in this amp, as long as you keep the gain fairly low. Great clean sounds, from sparkly clean, to slightly hairy, are this amps strong points. This amp has a lot of base, so I keep the base turned down. It really sounds great with the mids turned way up. The high gain setting on this amp sounds good too, but there is also quite a lot of hissing in this mode when not playing. I actually prefer using a Dirty Shirley pedal with the amp in a clean setting. The reason I gave this amp four stars is because the mute switch makes a slight pulsating sound when engaged, (it is not a real standby switch, so whether or not you actually use it, is pretty much up to you). Also, I have heard that the LXR direct out sounds a little fake. I have never tried it. I've also read complaints about the effects loop being noisy on some of the early models. Again, I've never used it. Overall, if your goal is to achieve nice clean to very mild overdrive type vintage sounds, this is a stellar amp for the money. If I were to upgrade to the hand wired boutique amp of my dreams, I would be looking at spending about $2000, and it would sound maybe a little bit better, but not $1500 better, in my opinion.Average middle aged guitar playe

The Bassbreaker15 is an exceptional amplifier. I first acquired the BB15 Combo at my local guitar center. I use a Mesa MK5:25 head, carrying a blues jr as a backup and a 1×12 cab with my favorite hemp cone speaker. When the BJr developed a problem that was not the tubes, rather than trying to have it diagnosed I decided to replace it because it was old anyway. My speaker would not fit in the combo amp so I took it back and swapped it out for the BB15 head, which is absolutely no problem with the great staff at my local GC. The Bassbreaker 15 is a very nice low wattage head. I use an extensive pedalboard and just set my amps on the "edge of breakup". The BB15 does this beautifully with the medium gain structure and the drive at around 9:30 to 10. Rolling the guitar volume down cleans up completely. Very full bodied tone that anybody would love. While I don't use it in the high gain structure mode, if I needed to, I would be VERY PLEASED with the driven tones. The high gain structure sounds better than any pedal out there (and I mean any, so long as you're not going metal, and it does that pretty well). If it were possible to switch from a med to hi gain structure tone on the fly, this would probably be one of the best amp available anywhere. I have a Marshall DSL40 and a Fender HR Deluxe as well. Without question I prefer the tones available from the BB15 better. Any talk of 15 watts not being able to keep up with a full band or a drummer is absolute nonsense. If that's the case, you're playing too loud or you need a different drummer. I love my Mesa MK5:25, and honestly have not decided whether the BB15 will become my primary amp, but it probably won't. The reason (and this is why 4 stars, not five) is that the direct out just doesn't sound good, and at some gigs I do use DO. It is easily on par with the MK5:25, or any other amp when miking up though. The tone controls are powerful and clean and the reverb is good enough for anybody. Buy this if DO isn't an issue.J

Overall, I like this head. The sound is great and it is pretty easy to use. It is portable, and it looks nice. It has good features. I mostly pleased with it, but do have the following honest / negative comments to make: -Right out of the box, it has the effects loop hum. After researching online, I learned this is a common problem. I called Fender and they told me to take it to an authorized repair center and it would be repaired for free. I plan to do that soon, and I'm glad it will be repaired, but it would be even better if the problem was not there to start with. -I have tried the direct out a couple times, and it seems overly quiet. I tried it at my church and at a show, and it was very quiet both places. I hope to have this looked at when I take the head in for the effects loop repair, but maybe that's just how it is. I may end up having to mic the cab instead. -When I bought this head, I was under the impression I could use the direct out without having a load (a speaker) hooked up. A bandmate mentioned that I probably should have a speaker plugged in, even if it's muted. I double checked with Fender (twice), and they said that a speaker does have to be plugged in at all times, even it the head it muted and the direct out is being used. -There is no footswitch.JBrau