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Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface)

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Photo of Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface) in a amplifier

Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface)

^# 31

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$1,200.00 Price Tier: High-end

5.0 (11)

2 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Fender Bassman 50

2 community setups

5 wishlisted

23 saved

Page last updated Jun 17, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 17, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (6)

$1,200.00 1 available Used

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Average Price: $1,200

High-end/Boutique

$200

$801+

Price Tier

In the Bass Amplifier Heads category, Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface) is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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The Fender Bassman 50 Silverface is a cornerstone of rock and blues history, offering a distinct vintage tone that musicians have cherished for decades. Emerging in the 1970s, this amplifier head represents a time when music was raw, authentic, and full of soul. The Bassman 50 is renowned for its 50-watt power, delivering robust, punchy sound that cuts through the mix with precision.

Designed for those who seek a classic sound, this amp head pairs beautifully with a variety of cabinets, giving you the flexibility to craft your perfect tone. The Silverface styling is not just aesthetic—it's a nod to an era of legendary performances. With its straightforward controls, the Bassman 50 is easy to dial in, allowing musicians to focus on their creativity rather than getting lost in a sea of knobs.

Whether you're playing smoky blues clubs or rocking out on stage, the Fender Bassman 50 Silverface stands as a testament to timeless quality and enduring sound. Its reputation as a reliable workhorse makes it a favorite among professional and hobbyist musicians alike.

Key Features:

50 watts of power for a powerful, clear output
Separate head design for versatile cabinet pairing
Classic Silverface aesthetic for vintage appeal
Simple control layout for ease of use
Iconic sound that captures the essence of rock and blues

Product specs

Brand	Fender
Model	Bassman 50 2-Channel 50-Watt Guitar Amp Head
Year	1972 - 1976
Made In	United States
Categories	Guitar Heads
Color Family	Black
Direct Output	No Direct Output
Electronics	Tube
Impedance	4 ohms
Model Family	Fender Bassman
Model Sub-Family	Fender Bassman 50
Number of Channels	2 Channels
Number of Inputs	4 Inputs
Output Power (Watts)	50
Power Tube Type	6L6
Reverb	None
Series	Fender Vintage Silverface Amps

FAQs

What are the main tonal characteristics of the Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface)?: The Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head is known for its warm, rich tones with a strong midrange presence. It delivers a classic tube sound that's ideal for both bass and guitar, providing clean headroom and smooth overdrive when pushed.
Is the Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head suitable for gigging?: Yes, with 50 watts of tube power, the Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head is suitable for small to medium-sized gigs. It offers ample volume and headroom, making it versatile for various performance settings.
Does the Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head work well with effects pedals?: The Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head is known for taking pedals well, especially overdrives and distortions, due to its clean and dynamic tube sound. This makes it a popular choice for musicians looking to shape their tone with external effects.
What type of power tubes does the Fender Bassman 50 use?: The Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head uses 6L6 power tubes, which contribute to its warm, punchy sound and are known for providing a balanced tone with ample headroom.
How many channels does the Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head have?: The Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head features two channels, allowing for flexibility in sound shaping and accommodating different instrument inputs.

Videos

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Zachari Smith

Spotlight: 1977 Fender Bassman 50 (review and demo)

Zachari Smith

1971 Fender Bassman 50 played by Paul Jackson of Blackberry Smoke at Brown's Guitar Mill

Brown's Guitar Mill

1973 Fender Bassman 50 Head - BEATLES , AC/DC & NIRVANA and everything in between..

Alex Zilinski Guitar

Reviews

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PROS

Versatile: stellar performance for both guitar and bass
Customizable sound with different cabinets
Excellent for achieving vintage Fender bass tones
Modifiable for unique sounds (e.g., "Tweed" and "Blackface" channels)
Low noise level compared to other Fender tube amps
Ideal for achieving a sweet spot in volume without excess noise
Aesthetically pleasing with minimal cosmetic issues
Offers several sounds - crunch, clean, and fat
Works well at low stage volumes in modern settings

CONS

May require upgrades or safety checks (e.g., capacitors)
Not as powerful as some might need without additional amplification
Some modifications may stray from original design, affecting collector value

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Bassman 50 Amp Head (Silverface).

Features and functionality

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The Fender Bassman 50 is noted for being loud and clean, making it an excellent platform for pedals.
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Using Yellowjackets can attenuate volume, making the Bassman 50 more suitable for home use without losing its tonal character.
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Cranked Bassman 50s are compared to a JCM 800 clone, highlighting its capability for impressive overdrive tones.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners have mentioned the need for a recap to maintain reliability over time.
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Mods and upgrades

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The amp is reportedly easy to modify, with Mr. Fuchs recommended for Bassman-specific modifications.
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Early silverface models with the blackface AB165 circuit are praised for unique gainstage placement, enhancing tonal sweetspots unattainable by other Fender amps.
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A common modification includes converting the power section to AA864 specs and brightening the bass channel for improved performance.
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Some owners have added a master volume mod for better control at high volumes without compromising tone.
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User experience

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A specific model from 1974 was identified by its transformer date code, indicating a production date after the 10th week of that year.
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Owners who initially underestimated the amp found its tone ideal for 80s rock when cranked with a tube screamer.
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Value and pricing

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Found for $600 at a pawn shop, it's considered a good deal, with potential resale value of $900-$1000.
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Use cases and applications

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The amp's breakup is described as "musical grunt," particularly appealing for those seeking a distinctive low-mid presence in their sound.
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The amp excels as a pedal platform, particularly when paired with a Marshall 4x12 cabinet for enhanced sound.
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Comparisons

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The AB165 circuit in silverface models offers a breakup that is distinct from other Fender amps, with attractive low mid frequencies.
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A Bassman 50 through a greenback 412 cab is preferred over using an attenuator, which diminishes sound quality.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 11 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

jimmarchi1

41026

almost 8 years ago

it deserves these 4 stars, trust me

this is a 4 star silverface fender... AS A BASS AMP... bassman 50 and 100 are excellent fender-sound bass amps, the best fender ever made. Not powerful enough back in the day, but in these days of low stage volumes they're an excellent choice for vintage bass tone. These guys deliver that Carol Kaye sound and then some with much better transient response than a blackface. If you want a guitar amp? look elsewhere, but the bassman live only became a guitarist's favorite because it was so bad at bass. Fender kept making regular bassmans in addition to the 50 and 100 but these 2 bass-voiced bassmans are pretty much the only thing CBS did right! They're a real sleeper if you can find one that hasn't been hacked by someone trying to make it into a guitar amp.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Orchestra Alternative rock

ilovegibson20

over 8 years ago

Perfect Pedal Platform

A great amp for filling space if you don't have 13 piece band such as tedeschi trucks band. A lot of bass!

Roles:

Guitarist Audio Engineer

Genres:

Rock Blues Funk / Soul

jimmarchi1

41026

8 years ago over 8 years ago

and it really sounds like a bass amp, not a dark fender guitar amp like the blackface bassman on bass (for some reason the dual showman is a better bass head in blackface and tis not just the 85 watt rating and gigantic transformers)