NAMM 2016: Fender's nine-strong Bassbreaker amp range promises a "sound that words can't describe"

Introduction

NAMM 2016: After a tease or two earlier this year, Fender has lifted the lid on its long-rumoured Bassbreaker series, revealing nine new amps aimed at the studio and stage alike.

With these new heads and combos, the longstanding American company invites guitarists to “explore the dark side” and experience “Fender DNA with a twist” and “a new breed of sound that words can't describe”.

The lower-wattage range starts with the seven-watt 007 compact head and progresses all the way up to a 45-watt head and combo, plus extension cabs – click through for the full lowdown, and head over to Fender for more.

Fender Bassbreaker 007 Head

7 watts
Two 12AX7 preamp tubes, single EL84 power tube, true class A operation
Vintage-style treble-booster circuit switch on front panel for extra gain and harmonics (also operated by optional single-button footswitch)
Line output (1/4”) for use with recording equipment or larger amp
Single 10” Celestion Ten Thirty speaker (combo model only)

Fender Bassbreaker 007 Combo

7 watts
Two 12AX7 preamp tubes, single EL84 power tube, true class A operation
Vintage-style treble-booster circuit switch on front panel for extra gain and harmonics (also operated by optional single-button footswitch)
Line output (1/4”) for use with recording equipment or larger amp
Single 10” Celestion Ten Thirty speaker

Fender Bassbreaker 15 Head

Modern, touch-sensitive voicing
15 watts from two EL84 tubes for aggressive midrange character
Three 12AX7 preamp tubes
Gain Structure switch for three distinct tonal flavors and overdrive levels
Recording-friendly Power Amp Mute, switchable speaker-emulated XLR line output and ground lift
Digital hall reverb
Pairs with BB-112 extension speaker cabinet

Fender Bassbreaker 15 Combo

Modern, touch-sensitive voicing
15 watts from two EL84 tubes for aggressive midrange character
Three 12AX7 preamp tubes
Gain Structure switch for three distinct tonal flavors and overdrive levels
Recording-friendly Power Amp Mute, switchable speaker-emulated XLR line output and ground lift
Digital hall reverb
Single 12” 8-ohm Celestion V-Type speaker
Pairs with BB-112 extension speaker cabinet

Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 Combo

Channel one is a 30-watt version of the blackface Fender Deluxe amp, delivering bell-like clean tones that gradually warm up with a twist of the volume control
Channel two is an 18-watt version of the brown 1961 Deluxe amp, for lower-headroom tube tone and warm, compressed overdrive
Designed to be pedal-friendly
Channel-selection footswitch included
Four EL84 output tubes for tighter rock distortion character
Simple signal path for pedal-friendly operation
Two 12” Celestion V-Type speakers for tight response and “vocal” tone character
Cabinet has birch ply construction and semi-closed back for full, resonant response and low-end “thump”
Pairs with optional BB-212 extension cabinet

Fender Bassbreaker 45 Head

’59 Bassman circuit with touch sensitivity and pedal-friendly response
Dual EL34 output tubes for tighter rock distortion character
Output level knob takes power from 45 watts to a single watt and anywhere in between, tailoring full-powered Bassman overdrive capabilities for studio, stage and arena – players can dial up many 'sweet spots' with various combinations of level and channel settings
Normal and Bright inputs, plus BOTH input for achieving “channel blend” tonal variations without a patch cable
Pairs with BB-212 enclosure

Fender Bassbreaker 45 Combo

’59 Bassman circuit with touch sensitivity and pedal-friendly response
Dual EL34 output tubes for tighter rock distortion character
Output level knob takes power from 45 watts to a single watt and anywhere in between, tailoring full-powered Bassman overdrive capabilities for studio, stage and arena – players can dial up many 'sweet spots' with various combinations of level and channel settings
Normal and Bright inputs, plus BOTH input for achieving “channel blend” tonal variations without a patch cable
Two 12” Celestion V-Type speakers for tight response and “vocal” tone character (combo only)
Cabinet has Birch Ply construction and semi-closed back for full, resonant response and low-end “thump” (combo only)
Pairs with BB-212 enclosure

Fender Bassbreaker BB-112 Enclosure

Semi-closed back for full, rich lows
One 12-inch, 8-Ohm Celestion V-Type speaker
Total impedance 8 Ohms
Fits neatly under Bassbreaker 15 combo and head
Also works well with Bassbreaker 007 head

Fender Bassbreaker BB-212 Enclosure

Semi-closed back for full, rich lows
Two 12-inch, 8-Ohm Celestion V-Type speakers for tight response and “vocal” tone character
Total impedance 16 Ohms
Fits neatly under Bassbreaker 45 combo/head
Fits neatly under Bassbreaker 18/30 combo