Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

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Riffraff
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Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

Post by Riffraff »

This is something I needed to do because the amp is slightly too much of a load for my Mass 100 to handle under full attenuation. My current living situation doesn't give me the ability to run this amp wide open so attenuation for silent recording is a must. I was contemplating buying a Powerstation and would love to have one but I don't play out, haven't in years and likely never will again so dropping nearly $1k on another toy when I can solve the problem with a couple of bucks worth of parts is ridiculous. If I'm going to spend money on something it needs to be a guitar. Welp, long story short it worked out just as planned and it's nice to be able to play this amp without worrying about setting my attenuator on fire. :lol:

Some mod details, vintage toob upgrades and a tone test clip below.

https://youtu.be/v7kw-orblAM



This amp has 500V on the plates. There aren't too many 5881's I will be able to run in this sucker. I'm using a tough old set of Sylvania's right now. I'll pick up a set of JJ's when they are back in stock. Re-issue Tung-Sols would roast in minutes. The tube balance control came in very handy because the tubes weren't well matched. Between that and the adjustable bias pot I installed I was able to dial them in to 33ma on one side and 32.5ma on the other which is damn near perfect in my book.
Last edited by Riffraff on Tue Apr 26, 2022 9:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Devin
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Re: Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

Post by Devin »

Video unavailable :cry:
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Riffraff
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Re: Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

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Devin wrote:Video unavailable :cry:


Fixed
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VTM
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Re: Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

Post by VTM »

Very cool, liked and commented on youtube.

:hi5:
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Tortuga
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Re: Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

Post by Tortuga »

Sounds and looks great, man! I really gotta get back to my Bassman project :thu:
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Riffraff
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Re: Installed a balanced variable bias mod in my Bassman 70

Post by Riffraff »

Tortuga wrote:Sounds and looks great, man! I really gotta get back to my Bassman project :thu:


Hey! What's up brother?
Saw you shop jamz, very cool man. :thu:

Work has been brutal for months so I don't get much time off the leash these days. Hopefully things will lighten up eventually but I don't see that happening.
My YouTube page containing gear clips & original music
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