Fender Bassman AB165 Drip-Edge Black Line Custom 1x12 Combo 1968, Brown

This Bassman began life as a transitional-era model, built shortly after Fender moved from the Blackface to the Silverface design, as indicated by the black vertical lines on the front control panel. Rather than its original drip-edge headshell, it has been rehoused in a custom Mather-built 1x12 combo cabinet, loaded with a single 4-ohm Warehouse speaker. One of the great things about this era is that the circuit and many of its components remained largely identical to the earlier Blackface versions, making this a particularly interesting Bassman combo configuration that Fender never offered from the factory.

Internally, the power cord, electrolytic capacitors, screen grid resistors, and power resistors have been replaced. A couple of additional resistors have been changed to modern equivalents, along with one coupling capacitor, but the rest of the circuit remains original, including the coveted Blue Molded Ajax coupling capacitors. A sag resistor has also been added in series with the B+ supply to lower the voltage and simulate some of the characteristics of a tube rectifier. Please see the internal photos for further details.

The power transformer has been replaced with a vintage equivalent, while the output transformer is an original Fender unit from a 1972 Bassman.

Overall, this is a quirky, GREAT-sounding, player-grade Bassman with a custom paint job across the front and sides. As a neat bonus, this amp was previously owned for many years by beloved Nashville guitarist and Premier Guitar personality John Bohlinger!