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Description

Step into the realm of iconic sound with the Fender Bassman AB165 Amp, a timeless choice for musicians seeking classic tone and reliable performance. Designed as part of Fender's revered lineup of guitar amplifier heads, the AB165 model has been a staple for bassists and guitarists alike since its introduction. This amp head is celebrated for its rich, warm tube sound, making it a perfect companion for both stage performances and studio sessions.

The Fender Bassman AB165 Amp features a dual-channel design, offering Normal and Bass Instrument channels to cater to diverse playing styles. This model is equipped with Fender's signature tube circuitry, providing that distinct vintage tone that many musicians desire. With a simple yet effective control layout, the Bassman AB165 delivers a straightforward user experience, allowing you to focus on your music rather than fiddling with knobs and switches.

Enthusiasts appreciate the amp's robust build quality, ensuring it can handle the rigors of touring and frequent use. The Bassman AB165 remains a popular choice for those who value authenticity in their sound, providing a bridge between the classic and the contemporary in music amplification.

Key Features:

  • Dual-channel design: Normal and Bass Instrument channels
  • Pure tube circuitry for vintage tone
  • Simple control layout for ease of use
  • Renowned for its warm, rich sound
  • Robust construction for durability and reliability
Psionic Audio

Psionic Audio

'66 Fender Bassman AB165 Part 3 : Overview of the Completed Amp

Video thumbnail for '66 Fender Bassman AB165 Part 3 : Overview of the Completed Amp by Psionic Audio

'66 Fender Bassman AB165 Part 3 : Overview of the Completed Amp

Psionic Audio

Psionic Audio

Video thumbnail for '66 Fender Bassman AB165 Part 4 : The Final Playing Test by Psionic Audio

'66 Fender Bassman AB165 Part 4 : The Final Playing Test

Psionic Audio

Psionic Audio

Video thumbnail for '67 Fender Bassman AB165/AA864 Hybrid - the Most Versatile Amp Ever? by Psionic Audio

'67 Fender Bassman AB165/AA864 Hybrid - the Most Versatile Amp Ever?

Psionic Audio

Psionic Audio

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Bassman AB165 Amp.

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners recommend 65 watt Creambacks over 30 watt Greenbacks for better power handling when cranking the amp.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Channel jumping on the AB165 allows use of both channels simultaneously and can enhance drive and preamp breakup at lower volumes.

    Source
  • Some Bassman amps labeled as AA165 are actually AB165 models, due to a labeling overlap that extended several months after the circuit change.

    Source
  • Missing rear panel blocks can be replaced with glued wood scraps to restore the back panel's mounting capability.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • It's suggested to replace the power tubes and install a three-prong power cord for improved performance and safety.

    Source
  • Ensure the transformers are original Schumachers with numerical codes starting with '606' for optimal tone and value retention.

    Source
  • If the electrolytic caps have not been replaced, the amp may become noisy, weak, or dull over time due to parts drifting out of spec.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Known for producing a tone more reminiscent of a cranked Marshall than a Marshall itself, particularly suited for rock styles.

    Source
  • The Bassman AB165 circuit, specifically from 1967, is favored for its drive characteristics, making it suitable for rock and distortion-heavy styles.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Celestion speakers are noted to be underrated, making them compatible with the Bassman despite wattage concerns when not maxing the volume.

    Source
  • Some owners prefer the tonal quality of the AB165 circuit over later Silverface circuits for its unique drive characteristics.

    Source

Build quality

  • Specific label codes like "OD" can indicate the actual production month and year, helping verify if an amp is mislabelled.

    Source

User experience

  • Running the Bassman AB165 through a closed-back cab with British-voiced speakers like Greenbacks enhances its tonal quality significantly.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 23 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
T

One of the best tube amps

It sounds amazing for clean or dirty tones. Works fantastically for both guitar and bass.

casey_gomez

Sick

Sick. I play this in combination with my Supro guitar and basses. I have it hot-rodded on the second channel and it screams.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kurt Cobain uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Kurt Cobain

Singer, Guitarist

Nirvana

...
Verified via Livenirvana

Kurt played a left-handed Mosrite a lot. He had a Mesa Boogie amp, and we rented a Fender Bassman, a Vox AC3O and a Marshall stack which we didn't really use.

See how Jack White uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Jack White

Singer, Guitarist

The Raconteurs

...
Verified via YouTube

As you can see Jack is using a pair of 1485 silvertone amps and a fender twin reverb.What you might not see hiding in the background is what appears to be a fender bassman to the right of the silvertone pair. Time stamp : 34:06 / 34:07. It is only shown for about 1 second so you may need to replay a few times. near the dapper roadie.

See how Stevie Ray Vaughan uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Singer, Guitarist

The Vaughan Brothers

...
Verified via Photo

Stevie Ray Vaughan used a Fender Bassman with matching 4x12 cabinet for some stage work.

See how Noel Gallagher uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Noel Gallagher

Singer, Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via YouTube

As you can see in the minute 4:08 to 4:13 Noel is using a fender bassman amp.

See how Mike McCready uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Mike McCready

Guitarist

Pearl Jam

...
Verified via Premierguitar

According to Premier Guitar, Mike McCready's main clean tone also comes from the Fender Bassman AB165 Amp.

See how Kim Gordon uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Kim Gordon

Singer, Guitarist

Sonic Youth

...
Verified via Photo

Here we can see Kim's Fender Bassman AB165 Amp. Source.

See how Nick O'Malley uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Nick O'Malley

Bassist

Arctic Monkeys

...
Verified via Ashdownmusic

"I also have a 1970s Fender Bassman, which I've always used in the studio - a very honest sounding amp." - Nick O'Malley in Bass Guitar Magazine.

See how Izzy Stradlin uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Izzy Stradlin

Singer, Guitarist

Guns N' Roses

...
Verified via On Down The Road l Unofficial Izzy Stradlin Fanpage

Appetite for Destruction tracks Izzy has recorded using Gibson es175, Fender Bassman head and Mesa/Boogie cabinet

See how Peter Frampton uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Peter Frampton

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via YouTube

As seen in this Private Gear tour video with Peter Frampton at (1:08), the guitar player plays through Fender Bassman head for his clean tones.

See how Bill Wyman uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Bill Wyman

Bassist

The Rolling Stones

...
Verified via ProSoundWeb

Used on "Brown Sugar", as stated by mix engineer Jimmy Johnson in this September 21, 2018 ProSoundWeb interview.

And guess what we came up with for Bill Wyman? Do you remember those Plexiglas body basses that were around then?

I checked with David Hood later and he says it was a Dan Armstrong. So to the best of our recollection, that’s what it was. He played through David’s Fender Bassman setup, the tube head and separate box.

(...) Did you have a mic on the bass amp?

Yes, the bass guitar mic was an RCA 44. We didn’t have direct back in those days.

An image of Hood's Bassman rig, taken from this March 1, 2019 al.com interview, reveals that it was an AB165.

That said, the bass amplifier rig Hood used for his classic Muscle Shoals Sound Studios work is a Fender Bassman amp head and blonde Fender speaker cabinet.

In 2016, Muscle Shoals Sound reopened at original Sheffield location 3614 Jackson Hwy. and restored to retro ’60s/'70s prime. Hood’s rig was returned to the same spot it was during many vintage sessions. Against the studio wall, just left of the drum booth.

Hood thinks he acquired the Fender head and cabinet in the mid to late '60s.

"My father was in the tire business and got hooked up with a purchasing-agent-type place who would connect you with people to buy things wholesale," Hood says. "They hooked us up with Manny's Music in New York, on 48th Street. It's no longer there, but it was a famous music store. I would call and order things from them. I could hardly talk to them because they spoke so fast, but I started buying amps and would sell them to somebody and buy another one, things like that."

(...) From Manny’s, Hood purchased the blonde cab, containing two 12-inch speakers, originally to use as an extension cabinet with the bass amp he was using. He ended up selling that amp. Now he had an extra cabinet. He then purchased a black Tolex-covered Bassman piggyback amp. “And I can’t remember why I did it, but I brought the blonde cabinet to 3614 (Jackson Hwy.) and we started recording that and using the black Bassman head with it, to monitor myself. Sometimes they’d mic it and sometimes we’d go direct. But I used it always as a monitor. In a studio full of loud guitars and keyboards and everything, you just can’t hear the bass well, even with the headphones. It’s getting where nowadays they have so many channels on the recording stuff they can use several channels for a bass. A long time ago you were lucky if you’d get one channel.”

See how Brody Dalle uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Brody Dalle

Singer, Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

...
Verified via Brodydallemusic

Brody used a 1974 Fender Bassman AB165 Amp when recording in 2011 at her home studio with Alan Johannes.

See how Rocky Lynch uses Fender Bassman AB165 Amp

Rocky Lynch

Singer, Guitarist

R5

...
Verified via Instagram

In this photo you can see the fender bassman amplifier

Album Usage

The Fender Bassman AB165 Amp has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Bassman AB165 Amp, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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thaler

thaler

Gear IQ 193

A

akidcalledoutlaw

Gear IQ 1662

thaler

thaler

Gear IQ 193

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