great review. so refreshing to see someone actually demo something and not trying to highlight their abilities(or lack of them in some cases). I watched quite a few videos and was really interested to see what basic pedals (which I frustratingly couldnt find) would do so thanks for that. not all of us want to widdle self indulgently away in the fender clean. Thanks!
The amp sounds way better than what you hear in this demo, I have one and it's a big difference. The first part sounds like a little CHAMP but trust me it's better, way better.
Saw recently Ronnie Montrose on YT saying he bought a used Bandmaster with 3 10's for 90 bucks at a garage sale and used it for his first album.....every song. No distortion boxes (except bad motor scooter-big muff) Had to rebuild his speakers every-so often...as he 'ran it full up." Hah! I always thought he used a Marshall. You see? It 'is' in the hands.......and the producer......and the amp......but mostly in the hands.
Beautiful clean on this amp,, Classic fender through 3 p10r jensen speakers.. The only thing i wander is why Fender added a 12ax7 in V1,, This should be a 12ay7 with a gain factor of 45 instead of the 12ax7 with a gain factor of 100 (most gainy 12an7 type).
Add to that the preamp is slightly different ,, the phase inverter is very different.. the bandmaster uses a cathodyne PI and the bassman the long tail PI. This affectss sound a lot. Bassman should sound more modern and the bandmaster more vintage.. The cathodyne tends to break up in a nasty fashion so putting a grid stopper in front of the cathodyne limits this.. Oh and put a 12ay7 in the V1.
I've got Clarks version of this amp, the Tyger. I've found you can get a much smoother overdrive while using a Les Paul by jumping the channels, like this chap has done, turning both volumes up to around 9, but then turn down the treble to 2 1/2 and the bass to round 1, or thereabouts. Not a bash on this guy but to my ear his overdrive sounds a little too trebley and fuzzy. The controls on this circuit are very interactive.
