Fender Vintage Reissue 59 Bassman Ltd

What we say about the Fender Bassman 59 Reissue

This amplifier probably has more stories about it than any other amplifier. Buy this and get a piece of history. Well actually, you'd be buying a re-issue of a bit of history. If you find an original, then wow, they're hard to come by and the price reflects that.

For years, I thought it had been immortalised in the ZZ Top anthem "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide", but they mention Bluesman, not Bassman. Maybe they mean a musician rather than an amp. Paints a different picture in my head. Think I prefer the idea of a Bassman combo sitting on the backseat being driven around the US.

Putting the mis-heard lyrics to one side, these are great amps. Full of soul, with a sound that's been going strong for five decades.

Now for interesting twist, the Marshall JTM45 was meant to be based on this amp, but using British parts. And the Marshall Bluesbreaker was based on the JTM45. So what we have in this re-issue of the Fender '59 Bassman and the Marshall 1962 Bluesbreaker are two amps going back to their shared roots.

Note that despite the name, the Fender 59 Bassman reissue is a guitar amplifier, not a bass amplifier as it used to be. Fender still make Bassman amplifiers for electric bass guitars, but not this one.

What Fender say about the Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD

The ’50s Fender Bassman was the pro bassist’s answer to amplifying a great new invention: the Fender Precision Bass® guitar. This powerful 50-watt rig could easily compete with the common instrumentation of the day: horns, piano, four-piece drum kit with calfskin heads, and maybe even an electric guitar through a nice, new 10-watt amp! By the ’60s and ’70s, the original all-tube “Tweed” 4x10 Bassman was popular with rock, country and blues guitarists as a reliably great-sounding and easy-to-use guitar amp. Even some emerging British amp designers of the day copied its circuitry for use in their most celebrated designs.

In the 1990s, Fender released an affordable reissue of the now-collectible ’59 Bassman amplifier to massive acclaim. Many guitarists, tired of experimenting with preamps, equalizers, and effects racks, rediscovered the simple pleasure of plugging into a Fender tube amp. The Bassman’s wide stage coverage, touch-sensitive dynamics and full-frequency “swirl” make it the perfect vehicle for building a great tone with almost any guitar or effect. The reissue Bassman continues to be a staple of the Fender guitar amp line to this day.

The new ’59 Bassman LTD is enhanced with:
• Genuine lacquered Tweed covering.
• Finger-joined pine cabinet for woody, resonant tone.
• Original spec 5AR4 rectifier tube for natural compression when playing hard.
• Internal bias pot makes it easier to experiment with various output tubes.
• Two GT-6L6 Groove Tube™ output tubes.
• Three improved 12AX7 preamp tubes.
• Fitted cover.

Where to buy Fender Bassman

Try Musician's Friend for the Fender 59 Bassman as well as number of other similar amplifiers such as the Fender '57 Twin-Amp.

Additional Information

The straightforward Fender 59 Bassman outperforms most of the fancy amps on the market today. In the 1950s, the Bassman was perfect for amplifying that new invention, the Fender Precision Bass. This 50W rig allowed the bass to hold its own onstage with drums, electric guitars, and miked piano, the common instrumentation of the day. Over the years, it also won the hearts of guitarists who, after experimenting with all kinds of preamps and effects racks, found its simplicity, great tone, excellent dispersion, and touch-sensitive dynamics a true pleasure. This reissue is true to the original while adding several enhancements: U.S.-made GT-6L6 output tubes, improved 12AX7 preamp tubes, and an internal bias pot, making it easier to experiment with other output tubes. It also features a genuine lacquered tweed covering, solid finger-jointed pine cabinet, and an original-spec 4AR4 rectifier tube for natural compression when you play hard. Includes fitted cover.

Fender Vintage Reissue '59 Bassman LTD