'61 Bassman 6G6 / 6G6A

So, other than my modest Marshall collection and other assorted Fender amps.... This one stands out for wide open throttle blues/rock playing with a great Les Paul or other equivalent humbucker based guitar...

It has a Dec '61 date code on the tube chart and it retains the tube rectifier but has 6G6A circuit elements included in the preamp section. So mine is a hybrid between the two circuit configurations.

Tube rectifier, wow, never seen one that early in person. Used to have a "tuxedo" version of that (black faceplate with white knobs, presence know and brownface circuit), but it was too loud (=too clean) for my purposes.
Nice amps though!

Nice Bassman, and interesting hybrid. I used to have a 6G6, it was rusty on the back of the chassis. I could never bond with it - when I would hit a big chord it would compress to the point where it almost coughed. There would be no sound for a split second before it would come out. I consulted with one tech about trying to improve it and sent it to another tech for only slight improvements. Ended up selling it and use a 6G6B now. Looking back, I guess it could've been a transformer problem.



I wouldn't mind trying another one sometime -the tube rectifier in that circuit always interested me.

Hello Jeff,

What you describe of your 6G6 experience is a sick amplifier. It definitely had things wrong with it. Mine had to be re-cap'ed, not just the power supply but the cap's in the preamp section too. They were all dried out.

What I've found is that for that real Bassman blues growl, you just simply turn all the controls on 10 and have at it. And mine is partial to humbuckers and in particular my '57 Goldtop. This combination gets the "Wow!" response.

Yeah, I've learned a bit in the 10 years or so since I've sold it that I could have given it more help.

I think a '57 Goldtop would get a "wow" response played through a tin can!

Beautiful amp!

Makes me think to myself - "Thou shalt not covet...thou shalt not covet...thou shalt not covet..."

Nice! I have a 6G6-B in my garage that I rescued. Sounds delicious!