Bassman Inputs
Fri, 07/27/2012 - 12:49
Hi, Skip.
Can you explain the differences between inputs 1 and 2 on the normal channel of a Bassman 59 RI? Input 1 definitely sounds louder, but it also seems like there are other tone quality differences...or is that my imagination?
And if the input circuits are different, how does it affect bridging options from the normal channel to the bright channel, if at all?
Thanks.
Mark H.
Hello Mark- Most classic Fender circuits (including the RI Bassman) have two inputs per channel. Number two always has less gain than number one. The technical reason that the number two input has less gain is "load resistance. For those of you who aren't nodding off already, here's some more........
Plug a guitar cord in to an amp. With an ohmmeter, measure the ohms reading between the tip (the 'hot") and the sleeve (the "ground") of the plug. This is the load resistance. Input one will read around one meg and the number two will read around 100K. The lower the value, the lower the volume. Tonally, keep in mind that high frequencies are disproportionately rolled off as the load resistance is reduced, therefore the number two input will be a bit darker.
As far as bridging inputs goes, we could blab on for another paragraph but all that really matters is how it sounds to you. Generally speaking, when you bridge two inputs you are putting each input's load resistance in parallel, which lowers the the total load resistance even further.
Skip Simmons