The Fender Bassman has been alongside instrumentalists since pickups were invented. A perfectly suitable amp for bass players and guitarists alike, they have a tone that is fat, compressed & driven - and are now often seen in studios used by professionals all over. Used by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, it is widely recognized that these amps are a great stepping stone to achieving bluesy goodness. The circuit would change over time and ownership of the company - every iteration being fairly unique. This AB165 example dates to early 1968, and is from the period of time when Fender was beginning to transition their amps to the Silver faceplates and blue-striped grille cloth that would define Fender’s aesthetic throughout the 1970’s. These early “drip edge” models feature identical circuitry to the blackface models that preceded them. Sonically, this amp is a ripping beast. Everything players have come to love about vintage Bassman's is present; a superior low end (usable for bassists and guitarists alike), the perfect amount of drive when the amp opens up, and an intuitive and musical EQ section that sounds good in just about any context. Cosmetically, this amp is still in good condition with some signs of its age throughout.There is some rust on the faceplate present, but it is still brilliant and shiny, and the screen print is still in great shape. The rear of the chassis is still in excellent condition and is very clean. The tolex is overall in good shape, with some slight peeling present along the edge. The front grill cloth is free of tears and has aged with a nice patina. Internally this amp has seen some older repair work - and is functioning and sounding great still. A quality set of Sprague Atom & Ruby capacitors replace the original filter cap set. Inside the chassis reveals some older replaced cathode bypass capacitors and a replaced two prong power cord, but the amp is completely original otherwise. An Older set of RCA power tubes and a mixed set of newer preamp tubes are currently installed.