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. The classic behemoths are great too but there is something really cool about the runts of the family, especially for home use. 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. This mod will lower the 60 hz hum that the amp makes also.Original CBS-era Fender ‘silverface’ Musicmaster Bass amps (often shortened to MMB) were manufactured only between 19. You can do this at any of the tube sockets where its easy to get near a point to solder them to ground.Ī good spot would be at one of the output tubes as they already have there pin 8 going to ground right near by, all you need to do is unground that one wire and solder a resistor from a 6v6s pin 7 to ground at pin 8, and the do the same thing at pin 2. One definite circuit change I would make is to un ground the filament string and then solder on a 100 ohm 1/2 watt resistor to each of the 6.3 volt feed wires ( likely to be green colored) and the ground the other end of each resistor. Its not either of the Transformers, so do not sweat that. I would replace without question all the filters at this point with Ruby brand, F&T ,or blue cased Atom caps and know that at least that's out of the way and the amp will sound better for it! In fact I have filters out of 70s Marshalls, Hiwatts, Fenders and other amps that are leaking out crap and or swelling up at the pressure release plug AND THEY STILL TEST GOOD FOR LOW ESR!!!! so nothing is cut in stone without the meter test! Unless you have a Cap ESR meter to use in regards to checking the power supply filters / caps, there is no surefire way to know if they are good or not!
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