My father bought one used for me in the early 80s when I started playing guitar. It's a 1976 model that he got from a friend who played in a country band. I have to say as a teenager I was happy he got it but was disappointed somewhat as I was into to metal and hard rock. But now Im so appreciative of this amp, it's a true gem, I'm glad I kept it all these years as I just started playing again after taking too long of a break. Thanks Dad.
I, too, own a 1976 Twin. It had Orange Frame JBL's in it early on ... Talk about a real paper weight! Now it lives at my youngest son's house. I mean ... I'm 76. Twelve's attack the human ears the most, IMHO, as their frequencies seem to match the human ear more than any other size.
Hahaha, I remember practicing with mine when I still lived at home. We had a bar in the finished basement my father put tape across the bar glasses to prevent them from falling off the shelf.
I played in a cover band back in the day and used a pair of Twins for my backline w/a Les Paul Custom and a Strat… the Twins were a ’67 BF w/a 15” JBL and a ‘69 w/2 12 ceramic’s… my secret: I was in my late 20’s and early ‘30’s; I kept them under 5 on the volumes and used a volume pedal; I used a Distortion pedal, a Chorus, and a Flanger. Glorious!
Heaven to my ears. Whenever I try to dial in a clean sound my goal is to always emulate what an acoustic guitar sounds like. The Twin Reverb always delivers on that for me.
I'm still playing my 1966 twin reverb i bought when I was 15 years old. I have put it in the closet a few times over the years and tried out what the masses were talking up. I always go back and say I won't make that mistake again.
I understand but cmon is the amp of our dreams, like Jack i play in the second input of the vibrato channel and yes, is the best amp in the world, life is short.
Check home-friendly solutions like e.g. Shift Line Twin or AMT Brics F-Clean, those are tube preamps based on Fender Twin. F-Clean requires a power amp or impulses. Of course, it is not 100% that tone and feel, but will take you in that territory. I use F-clean on my recent recordings, with Torpedo impulses. E.g. here ua-cam.com/video/soGNA6OYW18/v-deo.html&ab_channel=SergeiVlassov
@@yaki_font +1 My silver face sounds better at PA/MIC volumes if I put the channel vol on 10 and master it out at 4-5. If its jazz/100% clean set (where I will be playing rhythm all night) or using a wah, I put the master on 10 and channel volume on 1-3. I use a Flashback x4 for delays and chorus and I have a Klon for lead boosts. Great amps. Hand wired too if you get an older one. The only other amp you will ever need is an AC30 for hard rock or a Marshall for metal.
Glad to see some love for the Twin Reverb, great content Jack. I'm still playing through my 1976 Silverface Twin Reverb. I purchased that amplifier brand new in 1976 for only $400. I can't begin to state how reliable and robust that amplifier has been through the many decades of hard use. As the years went by our Son started using it daily. To date I've had it re-capped 4 times and can't remember how many tube changes its gone through. In the late 1980s I was able to squeeze in a pair of Electro-Voice SRO speakers. At that point the amplifier was as loud as it was heavy! Currently I'm running a pair of custom re-coned Oxfords that it came with. A great amp for sure, these days I'm running a dual amp setup with the Twin Reverb paired up with an old Plexi I have.
Never understood what the big deal with these were until I ended up with one. Partners parents had a 71 twin and a 65 vibrolux sitting in their basement and said “take your pick” I decided bigger was better knowing nothing about fender amps but even tho black faces are more “desirable” I couldn’t be happier with my twin. It just feels alive I’m inspired to play more than ever with it. Long story you didn’t ask for over, great video man!
Awesome tones... I got myself a 74 Silverface Master Volume 135w. Found my holy grail amp. Best clean tone ever, amazing reverb and excelent pedal platform. I see many people saying Twins are "too loud" you have some options, you can get yourself a vintage master volume or simply disconnect one speaker and take off the 2 middle 6l6 tubes, that way you get half the power of the amp and less volume. Ps there are many videos and guides online to do this Other awesome trick is to get an extra gain stage by disconnecting the reverb tank and jumping the reverb tank in and out with a rca cable that way your reverb knob becomes a gain knob
The right Strat into the Fender Twin, its just right isn't it? summons up images of drive through movies, star light nights, paradise islands, warm self reflective moments, groovy jazz clubs at 2am, sailing on the waves for some reason, more than nostalgia, its the sound and the feeling that the tone creates, its very cinematic emotional reaction to it, both for the player and the listener, damn it, now I have talked myself into getting one beyond the emulation of the kemper...nice playing and cheers for the video.
@@billchurch1145 ha nice, thanks, yeah, I have been aiming to get those musical feels into some recent music I have been putting together, the golden age of radio, drive through movies, paradise islands all that stuff, likely will need to get a fender 1000 pedal steel, best! J
Wow! You nailed it. That’s exactly how I feel about the Twin Reverb. The first time I plugged into one I was like yep that’s what I’ve been looking for all this time. It’s an experience for sure! I have the Tonemaster Twin now, and I love it! All the tone without the fuss of valves. I also have an old Peavey Chorus 240 watt 2/12 that’s solid state, and it’s an excellent clean platform. However it weighs about as much as a Twin. So, I’m so pleased with this new version that’s digital. I usually don’t like digital much, but Fender killed it with the Tonemaster Twin. It’s really mind blowing. If you haven’t got to try one yet, definitely give it a whirl. Anyhow, great video man.
Thank you! I haven't tried the Tonemaster yet but I'd love to. Just like you were saying, I think the TM would be ideal for gigging being lighter and requiring less maintenance.
I have played rock through the same Twin Reverb for 50 years. Used it with a Fender Vibratone, Arbiter Fuzzface and a Maestro Boomer 2 wah-wah for years. Now use it with a Boss GX-100. And yes, it very heavy, but worth it.
Ah, the Fender Twin reverb. I've owned three of them throughout my professional guitarist career. Bought my first one in 1971 because my Fender Bandmaster was breaking up too soon. We didn't mike our amplifiers in the early days. Gibson guitars sound terrific through Fender amps. My 65 black face Fender Pro Reverb was also terrific. For most clubs and small venues Twins are too loud and too heavy to carry still they sound good at lower volumes for the right kind of music. I played my last band gig in 1990 with a Mesa Boogie Mark II and a 84 Fender Strat with Seymour Duncan alnico pro ll pickups. After all of those decades of high end equipment, I have a Les Paul Studio Faded cherry sunburst and a modified Peavey Classic 30 tube amplifier. Works for me.
my oldest brother was a musician, as were his, nearby, neighbor friends with whom he played in bands; before I ever knew how to play guitar, I knew about the Fender Twin Reverb. It was “the” amp. I want Fender twins for most of the time I’ve been playing music, and I currently own three. I never thought the amp was all that heavy; I just thought the weight was what a “real” amp weighed. Twin Reverbs are fantastic Amps. Thanks for this video.
the only really heavy twin reverbs imo are the 70s silverface ones that are like 100 watts with the giant transformers. I have a 68 and it's no heavier than a super reverb. My twin is easier to carry than a 4x10 cab
My first amp, Senior in High School, 1982, was a brand new 135 watt push - pull master volume Twin. Super loud. That, my Les Paul and a Tube Screamer and I was set. What a combo. I played in my first couple of bands and gigged out with that amp. Good times.
I bought my very first twin today and I'm absolutely loving it! It's the '65 reissue and I got it for a steal to boot. So of course I had to come to Jack's channel and hear his advice and settings right. Great video Jack and I most definitely agree with your feelings on this great amp.
I cycled through several amps until finally finding a fully restored 1969 Twin Reverb. It's literally the best amp ive ever played through. I play shoegaze and now know why sooo many of those legends play one. Just a wall of sound with unlimited headroom for verb and fuzz. I accept the manual labor.
I watched this so many times and finally ended up getting a Twin Reverb on your recommendation. (Got a ‘74 I’m fixing up) Even with your glowing review, I could not have been prepared for the religious experience of playing one face to face. It truly sounds like nothing I have heard before. I will keep this amp forever. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
To add the Fender Deluxe Twin Reverb is a superb pedalplattform, it takes pedals very very well and does play them like they should sound, thats why a lot of ambient and Post Rock players do use a deluxe Twin Reverb, the Reverb on the Fender is already heaven, but when you got Afterneath , Dark World, Blue Sky, Avalanche Run, Space Spirals, Immerse, Slö and so on its starts to get too cute to hold your tears.
I agree with the observation that drive pedals can "sit on top" of the tone rather than fully integrate with it. Phenomenal cleans though and the mid heavy drives get on well
I have a 1992 1965 reissue ... was the house amp in a blues club I played at (there was also a tone master head/quad). I would bounce between the Twin and TM depending on mood/crowd. (Note: It was a funk/reggae band). The Twin had celestians, so didn't have the full glassy "cut your head off" sound. When the club closed I trialled the Twin and TM side by side with my Tele. They also put the original speakers back in the Twin.... bought it with the Celestians... great work horse amp, toured with it in a road case, gigged with without (fitted in car better... also a two person lift when in the road case. Still have ... only serviced/retubed once! Magic sound, great with pedals .. I play it on low gain input, vol 3.5, B5, M6, T4, bright off, Verb 4, Trem off (mostly). Had a friend use it ....cranked it to breakup Vol 8.5 ... loudest thing in the room, had to hide it side stage (mic'ed) so it wouldn't kill anyone!
Bought a new 65 Twin Reverb from Music Manor in August of 1965 and used it in my band The Revalleers at Ohio State for two years. I bought a 65 Jaguar at the same time. I still have both. The Twin has two D-120 F JBL speakers. Met the Beach Boys on a plane in 1975 and told Mike Love and Carl Wilson that I used to play their music including Surfing U.S.A., In My Room, Help Me Rhonda, and Do You Want To Dance. Mike asked me what instrument did I play and I told him that I played a Jag just like Carl and we all shook hands.
I received my Twin Reverb from a used music store for under half price of new ($599). I knew who had sold it to the store, and he had just purchased the amp brand new less than a month prior, but had an emergency situation come up and had little choice but to sell it. Got my first job in order to raise the money to buy it. Still have it.
I’ve had 3 Twin Reverbs (1976, 2016 ‘68 Custom, and another 2016 ‘68 Custom I acquired a week ago) and a 1972 Quad Reverb. I agree with your assessment and that I was also too immature to appreciate what I had. I love the ‘68 Custom Reissue that I just picked up and I lucked out. It is dead quiet and has an amazing tone. I pair it with an AC30 for that “rock” tone but it’s my deserted island amp. Not letting this one go. I’ve had my share of Voxs, tweed Fenders, Marshalls, etc. but I am always going back to the Twin Reverb sound.
I'm happy with my Fender 2014/15 Hot Rod DeVille 410 III and '59 Bassman LTD. Both have 4 x 10" speakers and 2 6l6's and a solid state rectifier in the DeVille with a tube rectifier in the Bassman. I still want the '65 Twin! They are getting kind of expensive for me though. Hopefully in about 2 more years. I'm 71 this month March 2021. Don't throw things at me, but my second hand Fender Frontman 212R 100watts at 4 ohms, 2 50 watt 8 ohm speakers (with the square lettering) sounds really good too! I play them all back to back so I speak from experience, I would never have guessed it.
Never would throw things, I agree with you - Fender has made some excellent, under the radar solid state amps over the years. Especially clean sounding. I'd gig with them in a heartbeat.
HEAVY, so I replaced the cab with pine, and separated the speakers to a separate cabinet. The amp is as a head, and the tonal qualities are enhanced. Best amp ever made. Love it.
I agree 100%. The reverb in my 64 sets the standard! I had put it away due to weight and driving a car that made it a pain to load. But recently had the ground switch replaced with a 1/2 power switch and then stumbled on to running it through a closed back cab. It’s now my favorite. So I’m going to build a head shell for it and I think it’s going to be my live amp for a while. Also the Klon KTR and humbuckers are a thing of beauty together! I used to think I didn’t like fuzz through…but now I’d say I don’t like fuzz through the stock C12NA’s in it. However through celestial style speakers it’s a whole new story.
I have a 1974 hand-wired silverface twin reverb that is 82 lbs. Playing outdoors in a 12 piece funk band though, where high volume, super clean tone is needed, I'm glad I have this thing sometimes.
I had Crate combo amps starting out (yeah I’m getting old.) but around 2006, I found a coworker selling his 1994 TRRI for $800. Just for kicks, I offered him $550, and he took it! First time I plugged in my 2002 American Strat, I remember thinking, “Ah, there’s the tone!” Pure Yellowledbetter vibes!
Nice passionate video of the Holy Grail of amplifiers IMHO. Beautiful tones from the Strat, Tele and Gibson, not to mention very nice playing.👍 I had a 70s silver face Twin Reverb from around 2000 to 2008, I used to transport it in the back of my Camaro, I was strong back in those days, LOL! Played it at many outdoor gigs wonderful tone! It started giving me trouble took it to the repair shop spent a lot of money to get it fixed, and it work great for couple more years then it started breaking down again back to the shop for repair, finally sold it for cheap, over the last several years bought and sold various amplifiers, until I purchased A 70s silver face deluxe reverb, another very fine amplifier, gigged with that for the next several years, until a divorce motivated me to sell all my amplifiers, and a lot of music gear until I got settled, so last month, bought a solid-state 100watt quilter aviator with 210 inch Celestion speakers, played a few outdoor gigs recently with it and it held its own with the volume and very good tone for a solid-state amp and much lighter weight at about 34 pounds.but still does not quite compare to an all tube Fender amplifier. So the search continued and like a miracle, I came across a 15 year old fender twin reverb 65 reissue in excellent condition for a nice price and bought it, and once I plugged into it with my Stratocaster and those first few Chords that I strummed it was like Eureka! Like I came home again, I just thought to myself wow, there’s that old familiar beautiful full-bodied sound and glorious tone that I remember! So it’s like full Circle homecoming.😊🙏👍
@@JackFossett they don’t hold a candle to a real tube version. That pinging ringing high end is replaced with digital harsh highs. The midrange isn’t that beautiful warm Greek pool. And it doesn’t have that bounce under the fingers. But try and let me know what you think.
I had a Twin Reverb when I was at university and I wasn’t using it cos I started playing bass a lot and then was struggling to pay rent, so I sold it. It was a gorgeous amp, I miss it. So heavy though!!
I put two neo speakers in it, Jensen Vintage Neo and a Celestion creamback Neo. Weight around 25 kg. Sounds perfect 😊 Also got my "amp doctor" to put a master volume on the back.
True, but a lot of his sound also comes from using old strings, he never changed his strings. But to be a devils advocate what is a clean tone, is it a transparent tone? I think the Plexi is a cleaner tone. For me a cleaner tone is a more balanced tone.
@@petersingh486 Aha, I did NOT know that about Robby's strings, Thanks for the info! I was always extremely impressed by the depth and/or "Balls" of the "clean" sound coming from his riffing work on his recordings but then again, he was a known Fingerstyle player too and that too may have been a critical part of his unique recipe of tonal results. Krieger is for me up there in the Top Five most important guitarists of "Classic" Rock.
My 1st real amp, had a li'l fender sidekick reverb that I bought off a friend in high school that Iuv'd so much so I saved up all my $$ working at pizza hut all summer to get a twin reverb & have had it since 1994. It's been through hell but we've had sum goodtimes together. Still gig with it & if I decide to get another it'll probably be a music man 2x12.
I had an original 1965 Blackface Twin that I left behind in a studio in 1981. One week ago I was reunited with my old friend, fully restored. Christmas came early this year!!! My old friend....
Got my first Twin in 1965 and played it a lot until it was stolen in 1982, so then I got a new Twin which I still play and love. Only negative is it weighs a TON. I can't pick it up at 70 years old so I have a bunch of smaller amps now.
Opening licks remind me of John Butcher, nice job on the strat! If wishes were amps, I would ride on a Twin Reverb! My friend in college let me borrow his one semester, I opened the windows and rocked the whole Quad, and slipped a lumbar disc! Great amp! For now I live vicariously through a Tech 21 SansAmp Blonde (I also like the Tumnus Deluxe with the 3-band eq. knobs)
Was it because it was too heavy? I did then bought a light tweed Twin Reverb in 1981 and had it since along with my Hot Rod, Blues Deluxe, Blues Jr., Princeton, Champ, Marshall DSL 50, Boss Katana,
Been searching far & wide for “small” amp that felt great… epiphany happened when I felt power the Twin provides to hear/feel nuance - even at low volume. You don’t get that with small amps. The Twin FEELS amazing (almost like feeling weightless). A 15” neo Jensen speaker in a twin is something special (and lighter weight too). It easier to play & sound better when you hear/feel the nuance of tone (rather than just the sound). You have to experience it in person before the lightbulb goes on and you get it.
There's a whole thread on my gear page I believe where a very convincing case is made that the twin is just better sounding even at low volumes than other smaller amps, the Princeton namely.
@@Fox-86 Do you mind posting a link? That is an article I would like to read. Because I was curious at what tolerable volume do you get a good sound? Thank you in advance
I ordered mine today! They were back ordered but will be in stock soon! It's gonna go in a spot in my living room and stay there! I've got a Mesa Boogie California Tweed on the way too that if I play out I'll use! I've been playing through a Fender Blues Jr. and Super Champ X2 Stereo!
I had a fender twin along time time ago I lost it to a pawn shop ... it devastated me... but being a broke young person sometime life teaches you harsh lessons.. a blues guy once said “ if your guitar hasn’t spent time in a pawn shop... it can’t play the blues!” But after 30 years I now want another one ... good vid
Nice!!! I'd love to see you A/B it with a Dual Showman (b/c that's my amp, naturally). And right-on with gain stacking pedals! I'm currently driving a level-up-gain-low OCD into a PlexiTone (Lo- gain verson). I need to be able to play my clean parts loud in my driving rock band. Going between like a rock-a-billy clean and punk. My dual showman works for that... as I imaging the Twin Reverb would as well. And like Glen below, I also use the Tech 21 Blonde when I can't use the amp. Love the mediterranean pool metaphor!!
I just ordered one yesterday after I plugged my Les Paul into it at the store. After hearing the depth of the tone along with the responsiveness of the tone controls I didn't want to even bother with anything else. I'm looking forward to swapping out my speak on my Blues Deluxe reissue to see what that will be like. Thanks for the video Jack.
Standard twins are heavy enough, but I replaced the Standard speakers on my 1978 with 2 EVM 12L after I trashed the OEM speakers twice...thats nearly 40 lbs of speaker alone. I had to take out the reverb unit so they would fit. Then had the capacitors beefed up so it would stop dimming the lights in the room you were playing in! Installed a toggle so I can have the speakers series or parallel at the flip of a switch. This Amp with proper effects will do and go absolutely anywhere. I'm pretty sure you could roll that thing on ANY stage and it will keep up. Turn it up and stand in front of it and it is shred your jeans and sting your skin loud! It should probably have a warning sticker on it. The down side is yes, it is seriously, ridiculously, unbelievably pain in the ever loving ass, do I really want to take it back home in the wee hours of the morning heavy. And I swear it seems like it is gaining weight as I ger older. I think it actually takes pleasure in crippling people...ears, backs, fingers, knees....it has left its mark on many over the years. But dang, the thing is military grade solid. 90% of my playing has the volume around 7 or 8 with the master around 2-3, or 4 tops. Bottom line, it's a bitter sweet relationship while your looking at it. Pure love when your playing in it.
I recently switched to playing a Fender Twin for my band. Previously I played an Orange Rocker 32 and a Rockerverb 50 MKIII Combo stacked together or by themselves. Both of them were incredible amps especially together but I poked out in the mix way too much and it was very direct,it sounded great but it wasn’t really appropriate for the genre I was playing( we are a post punk, psych, indie rock band) When I played the Twin we sounded so much better and I guess cooler lol The Twin is more so a feeling than a sound. The Rockerverb is technically a better amp but The Twin is more of a team player amp and in my opinion better from a songwriting perspective. Its beautiful and can take anything you throw at it and there is a reason it’s been on so many records.
I’ve owned a few different amps: a vox ac15c1, vox ac4c1, supro 1606, fender bassbreaker 15, fender pro jr iv, fender vibro champ black panel, vibrolux reverb custom black panel, Roland jc40 and a black panel twin reissue. There were things I loved about each individual amp, although I wound up keeping the pro jr iv tweed, vibro champ, vibrolux custom, jc40 and my twin. Of all amps I’ve tried the twin works best for me. The only flaws are how heavy and loud it is but the beautiful cleans, lush reverb and lively trem make for my favorite amplifier that I’ve ever used. It takes pedals better than any other amp I’ve used, it is essentially akin to water, as water becomes whatever you pour it into as Bruce Lee said. Sure it’s not for heavy metal guys, but for what I do, there is no greater amp in its price range. I lust after a dumble sss clone of some sort but don’t have that kind of money to blow on a single amplifier.
The twin has been a dream amp of mine for a long time but could never justify having something that heavy and that loud. Then a few years ago I got the tone master twin and I love it. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a real twin but the tone master inspires me just like I remember it. I’ve sold all my other amps and am convinced it’s the last amp I’ll ever need. I also like using it for my J bass with the bass cut and if you have a good 7 or 10 band eq with a volume and gain it’s a decent and totally useable monitor and live speaker for drums and midi keyboard and other things. It’s also pretty decent for miking vocals or an acoustic. I play the oboe and have been having fun experimenting with using it as a better way to record oboe and clarinet and sax as opposed to just going straight in to an interphase.
I have a '71, and I ordered it with JBLs because in those days I was having trouble with blowing up speakers. I still have it. It was too loud to crank to distortion anywhere I ever played it except for outdoor gigs. I did play it onstage for 15,000 hours but I used it as a keyboard amp. I bought a Crate IIR for guitar.... 60 watts with a master volume. I think the Twin would have been better with a master volume... I worked with a guitarist who had a Music Man twin with a master volume and he got fantastic tone with a Jaguar straight into the amp.
No I personally haven’t tried the new Tone Master twins. I’ve watched a few UA-cam videos on it, and I have mixed feelings on it, in my opinion, the pros: they look beautiful like the real deal, much lighter weight, possibly get more different tones from it, and more affordable than a brand new 65 re-issue. The cons: made in China, the tone is close, but not quite exactly like the real deal Twin according to my ears when compared with the real Twin via UA-cam videos. The real Twin had more presents and chime. Also, one of the guys on the video said that they could not get it to feedback as easily as the real all tube Fender Twin Reverb. Still no substitute for all vacuum tube tone IMHO! BTW, just had my first outdoor gig last Saturday with the new old fender twin reverb 65 re-issue and it sounded glorious, had the volume just a little over 4! And 60% of the time I ran it clean with a boss DD five delay pedal and the exotic EP boost and the reverb set around 3.5, using my 1994 American 40th anniversary fender Stratocaster and OMG!! Tones, bottom end, full presence and chime for days! I was in heaven! And then for some of the heavier rock guitar solos I stepped on a tube screamer and TC electronics dark matter distortion both dimed on the gain setting, with some occasional usage of my new crybaby WAH 95Q, and it turned into a different glorious sounding beast of an amplifier with great feedback when I wanted it, Wow! I was quite a happy camper for that gig to say the least! That being said, it is a heavy Amp especially in my older days, but well worth the big tone when you need it. I used a four wheel flat wooden dolly to move it from my car to the stage area, LOL!
Great video as always Jack. You sound great through the Twin Reverb, as do a great many others. I have and will enjoy music made with it, but I don't want one. For my own playing I like a fuller & rounder sound. If I could have one of your amps it would be the VHT D 50.
Good work Jack! You said @ 16:45, "putting a gain pedal into the front-end of the 2nd channel (with the reverb "on") kinda' changes up your game because there is no effects-loop." Do you simply suggest turning off the reverb and tremelo (knob settings on zero) when using pedals? Or just use the 1st channel when using pedals (like you said in the beginning)? Thank you Jack.
I owned a Fender Twin. Very heavy. I also had a 67 Les Paul Deluxe and I stacked the Twin on top of a 4x12 Fender Bassman cabinet. Twin was pushing six 12's and damn it was loud. Later on a few years later, I got out of rock and roll, sold the guitar and the amp and used the money to buy my first Harley-Davidson. Still riding but not the same bike.
I've played through one and it was a joy. I would just be afraid of hurting my back trying to lug it around or get it into my basement up and down the stairs.
This will catch some flack, but it sounds to me like the amp volume needs to be brought up to let it breath even with some pedal dirt. This is why I prefer Princeton and Deluxe Reverb amps, even for cleans. Just slap a higher efficiency speaker in there if you need the headroom.
Listen to Michael Bloomfield Super Session Live especially Maryann to hear a classic Twin Reverb Sound in a large venue cranked after Michael's intro parts as well as his sweet playing on that! I knew Michael first met him at 16 after a Super Session gig after which I saw all those on the East Coast! Maryann is here on UA-cam!
All my favorite punk bands use fender amps: hot rods, twins, batsmans, deluxes. I think using a specific amp for a style of music is largely a misnomer. It’s so about how you use it: pedals, guitars, volume, all come into play. Fender amps have a naturally grungy sound to them because they’re so big sounding
Most guitar players get too reverb happy with those units I had one and found between 3.5 and 4 reverb was perfect for clubs. My opinion but used them in pro settings a lot of years ago.
This Friday 28th I'm going to Guitar Center and will purchase the Hot Rod tweed or without the tweed style. Fridays at 7pm I'll perform my original Gospel songs at the Baobab theater! Happy Days Ahead. Also I will use it at my recording studio!
I bought my twin it sounded so amazing in the store, I knew this was a rare find. It turned out that it had a bad tube, the failing tube caused a wonderfully natural overdrive I loved (When I turned it off there was a very loud click). The bad tube completely failed and when I replaced it, it did not sound as good. I still like it, the clean is quite nice, I would like to mod it though back to what I had...
If you are looking for an amp very close to the twin take a peek at the Tone Master series from Fender. I have the Deluxe Reverb model and it's so close to my older Deluxe Reverb you have to really listen to tell them apart and even then sometimes you can't. Fender did a great job with this series plus they are really light. I can pick mine up with one hand no problem.
@@JackFossett That's what I do. I found the Deluxe Reverb is plenty loud with lots of head room. The twin is nice too but a bit too much for the types of gigs I do now. I have played in the Largo Botanical Gardens Christmas Spectacular with mine out doors and had no issues in fact at one point I had to turn it down. LOL
I have my mentors 64 twin reverb. it takes pedals so well on top of the clean tones....I take it everywhere with me when I play. Got to have it. It's got that mojo....It even made me put my 58 super down ...
great topics, suggestions and discussion. Picked up.. well, wheeled off lol, an 81 twin a couple weeks ago. I've come to find this is the only sound i care about. awesome amp, have so much to learn with it too.
From Leo, I have dragged one of those 80+ lb monsters around since the 70's. That is probably why I have back problems. They should include a hand truck with every sale, or a strong roadie. The tone is exactly what my ear likes, and no one can play over the top of you if you don't want to let them. I usually pull a couple of output tubes these days, and set it on a big padded chair these days. I just don't need that kind of volume, but I do need the sound. I have thought many times about buying a replacement stripped head and cabinet and transfer the parts. My combo cabinet is really beat up anyway. BTW great chops on the demo plying
Thank you! I agree with what you’re saying totally - I’ll never really use even a fraction of the power this possesses. But the sound is different. It’s a “big clean” even at low volumes.
Did it blow up like mine did . I had an evil twin and after I gig next day at home I plugged in and it caught fire in the back. Lol. I ended up with super reverb 4 10 after that. Which sadly I lost in pawn. Typical huh. Nice to see you amp selection we have same taste. I debate over super sonic now or bassman
Never had an amp blow up, although my older Twin blew a tube once in about the worst sounding way I've ever heard. And for what its worth, I'd go Bassman. 100%.
@@JackFossett lol when I say blow up and mean some smoke and flames out the back. It would suck if amps had components in them that could explode. Well caps maybe. I think your right about bassman over supersonic. I've always wanted a tone master blonde head. Thought I could get close but bassman is so amazing on many levels
I've got a fender champ 25SE that I've seen multiple people call a mini twin based off the sound, I've never played a twin so I can't compare really but the twins I've seen in videos have so much more depth to the sound. I've always wanted to try one because I already love the champ and I can't imagine how much nicer it would probably be. I should add the champ is only a champ in name from what I've read also as it uses 6l6s
Jack, What speakers are you using in your 65 reissue? Any other modifications? Did you adjust the bias? I have read that some re-issues come from the factory with the bias on the cold side. I’ve been listening to some vintage 60’s Twins and listening to you, I thought you were playing an original hand wired 65…Thanks.
Hey Jack, long time listener first time caller, question, do you know what spring pan you have in your ‘65? I wanted to replace mine with a surfy pan I had laying around to see if I could get more “drip” long story short it’s not compatible with the ‘65 TRRI. But I was surprised to find that it already had a made in USA accutronics pan. Yours sounds phenomenal and I’m wondering if it’s the same
If you’re running it for clean tones generally, do you think you should run a compressor pedal into it? Seems like compression sort of fills that need like an overdrive pedal of sustain and fatness without distortion. I am not saying my fender solid state Princeton Reverb compares in real life. But the tones I am hearing over UA-cam sounds just like my amp in the room. It has the best reverb I have ever heard. Again I haven’t played as many amps as you. But for anyone on a budget that likes these tones, the late 80s and 90s solid state fender amps did a great job. And fender didn’t cheap out with speakers either. Mine is a 2x10 of eminence legend 1058 speakers. As well Fender engineered an underdamped circuit for the output section with the speaker. So it gets that high end ring and low end resonance of tube amps. Really enjoyed this video
Hey Jack, if you think a Twin is heavy, try a Vibro King. On the plus side, it has the 3 X 10's you like in a Fender amp and it has a presence that fills a room beautifully.
Actually there's a Brown Face Vibro King near me for sale that I REALLY want. Can't swing it at the moment though - to tell you the truth, the Twin, as heavy as it is, is far from my heaviest amp. My Mesa Nomad and Marshall Bluesbreaker beat this out.
I tried this amp and it does capture the cleans and high tones in a very crystal sparkle way the other fenders amps could not capture. But what is it? the type of components inside? The speakers?
My 65 TR ri is much more controllable (volume) than my HR deville 212. So I’m wondering if my TR has had any modifications because I can play at 3 to 4 in my house without having to raise your voice while speaking but when raised to 5 and above it’s a different beast. Just saying
My Brand NEW 65 TWIN Reverb they will bury me with, but it weighs SO MUCH mine is on a dolly ! Did YOUR's weigh to MUCH? Like 85 Lbs. Love your stuff Jack Fossitt.
I'm dying hahaha 10:52 I do actually want to hear this amp through the gain ranges though. I like to set my amps just on the edge of breakup, so that they're beginning to compress. Hitting the strings hard should have a little bite. I know it's seen as a clean amp, but how high of a setting on the volume knob does it take to get the amp to that point? I'm not scared of volume.
My father bought one used for me in the early 80s when I started playing guitar. It's a 1976 model that he got from a friend who played in a country band. I have to say as a teenager I was happy he got it but was disappointed somewhat as I was into to metal and hard rock. But now Im so appreciative of this amp, it's a true gem, I'm glad I kept it all these years as I just started playing again after taking too long of a break. Thanks Dad.
I, too, own a 1976 Twin. It had Orange Frame JBL's in it early on ... Talk about a real paper weight! Now it lives at my youngest son's house. I mean ... I'm 76. Twelve's attack the human ears the most, IMHO, as their frequencies seem to match the human ear more than any other size.
I tried a twin twice in my 17 years of exsistence. I love it, its fantastic, and the tone is just incredible. My family was far less excited.
Ha-ha-ha!! I get chore driff ...
Hahaha, I remember practicing with mine when I still lived at home. We had a bar in the finished basement my father put tape across the bar glasses to prevent them from falling off the shelf.
I played in a cover band back in the day and used a pair of Twins for my backline w/a Les Paul Custom and a Strat… the Twins were a ’67 BF w/a 15” JBL and a ‘69 w/2 12 ceramic’s… my secret: I was in my late 20’s and early ‘30’s; I kept them under 5 on the volumes and used a volume pedal; I used a Distortion pedal, a Chorus, and a Flanger. Glorious!
Heaven to my ears. Whenever I try to dial in a clean sound my goal is to always emulate what an acoustic guitar sounds like. The Twin Reverb always delivers on that for me.
I'm still playing my 1966 twin reverb i bought when I was 15 years old.
I have put it in the closet a few times over the years and tried out what the masses were talking up. I always go back and say I won't make that mistake again.
I am a Tele man but this video really really brought the strat alive - best clean strat sound i have ever heard ANYWHERE
it's not that I can't afford one. It's that I can't afford the kind of place where I could use one.
I understand but cmon is the amp of our dreams, like Jack i play in the second input of the vibrato channel and yes, is the best amp in the world, life is short.
Get a silverface master volume
@@yaki_font True. I don't NEED to peel the paint off my walls... (*rationalization intensifies...*)
Check home-friendly solutions like e.g. Shift Line Twin or AMT Brics F-Clean, those are tube preamps based on Fender Twin. F-Clean requires a power amp or impulses. Of course, it is not 100% that tone and feel, but will take you in that territory. I use F-clean on my recent recordings, with Torpedo impulses. E.g. here ua-cam.com/video/soGNA6OYW18/v-deo.html&ab_channel=SergeiVlassov
@@yaki_font +1 My silver face sounds better at PA/MIC volumes if I put the channel vol on 10 and master it out at 4-5. If its jazz/100% clean set (where I will be playing rhythm all night) or using a wah, I put the master on 10 and channel volume on 1-3. I use a Flashback x4 for delays and chorus and I have a Klon for lead boosts. Great amps. Hand wired too if you get an older one. The only other amp you will ever need is an AC30 for hard rock or a Marshall for metal.
Glad to see some love for the Twin Reverb, great content Jack.
I'm still playing through my 1976 Silverface Twin Reverb. I purchased that amplifier brand new in 1976 for only $400.
I can't begin to state how reliable and robust that amplifier has been through the many decades of hard use. As the years went by our Son started using it daily.
To date I've had it re-capped 4 times and can't remember how many tube changes its gone through. In the late 1980s I was able to squeeze in a pair of Electro-Voice SRO speakers. At that point the amplifier was as loud as it was heavy! Currently I'm running a pair of custom re-coned Oxfords that it came with.
A great amp for sure, these days I'm running a dual amp setup with the Twin Reverb paired up with an old Plexi I have.
Never understood what the big deal with these were until I ended up with one. Partners parents had a 71 twin and a 65 vibrolux sitting in their basement and said “take your pick” I decided bigger was better knowing nothing about fender amps but even tho black faces are more “desirable” I couldn’t be happier with my twin. It just feels alive I’m inspired to play more than ever with it. Long story you didn’t ask for over, great video man!
Wow! That's amazing!
Awesome tones... I got myself a 74 Silverface Master Volume 135w. Found my holy grail amp. Best clean tone ever, amazing reverb and excelent pedal platform. I see many people saying Twins are "too loud" you have some options, you can get yourself a vintage master volume or simply disconnect one speaker and take off the 2 middle 6l6 tubes, that way you get half the power of the amp and less volume. Ps there are many videos and guides online to do this
Other awesome trick is to get an extra gain stage by disconnecting the reverb tank and jumping the reverb tank in and out with a rca cable that way your reverb knob becomes a gain knob
The right Strat into the Fender Twin, its just right isn't it? summons up images of drive through movies, star light nights, paradise islands, warm self reflective moments, groovy jazz clubs at 2am, sailing on the waves for some reason, more than nostalgia, its the sound and the feeling that the tone creates, its very cinematic emotional reaction to it, both for the player and the listener, damn it, now I have talked myself into getting one beyond the emulation of the kemper...nice playing and cheers for the video.
Some great imagery there, dude. You perfectly captured that magical Fender mystique we've all known and loved for decades. You should be a writer!
@@billchurch1145 ha nice, thanks, yeah, I have been aiming to get those musical feels into some recent music I have been putting together, the golden age of radio, drive through movies, paradise islands all that stuff, likely will need to get a fender 1000 pedal steel, best! J
Wow! You nailed it. That’s exactly how I feel about the Twin Reverb. The first time I plugged into one I was like yep that’s what I’ve been looking for all this time. It’s an experience for sure! I have the Tonemaster Twin now, and I love it! All the tone without the fuss of valves. I also have an old Peavey Chorus 240 watt 2/12 that’s solid state, and it’s an excellent clean platform. However it weighs about as much as a Twin. So, I’m so pleased with this new version that’s digital. I usually don’t like digital much, but Fender killed it with the Tonemaster Twin. It’s really mind blowing. If you haven’t got to try one yet, definitely give it a whirl. Anyhow, great video man.
Thank you! I haven't tried the Tonemaster yet but I'd love to. Just like you were saying, I think the TM would be ideal for gigging being lighter and requiring less maintenance.
I have played rock through the same Twin Reverb for 50 years. Used it with a Fender Vibratone, Arbiter Fuzzface and a Maestro Boomer 2 wah-wah for years. Now use it with a Boss GX-100. And yes, it very heavy, but worth it.
I miss the authority and girth of my Twin. For all my club years I played a 73 Twin bought new, my 66/67 Telecaster, and one cable. That was it.
Ah, the Fender Twin reverb. I've owned three of them throughout my professional guitarist career. Bought my first one in 1971 because my Fender Bandmaster was breaking up too soon. We didn't mike our amplifiers in the early days. Gibson guitars sound terrific through Fender amps. My 65 black face Fender Pro Reverb was also terrific. For most clubs and small venues Twins are too loud and too heavy to carry still they sound good at lower volumes for the right kind of music. I played my last band gig in 1990 with a Mesa Boogie Mark II and a 84 Fender Strat with Seymour Duncan alnico pro ll pickups. After all of those decades of high end equipment, I have a Les Paul Studio Faded cherry sunburst and a modified Peavey Classic 30 tube amplifier. Works for me.
my oldest brother was a musician, as were his, nearby, neighbor friends with whom he played in bands; before I ever knew how to play guitar, I knew about the Fender Twin Reverb. It was “the” amp. I want Fender twins for most of the time I’ve been playing music, and I currently own three. I never thought the amp was all that heavy; I just thought the weight was what a “real” amp weighed. Twin Reverbs are fantastic Amps. Thanks for this video.
the only really heavy twin reverbs imo are the 70s silverface ones that are like 100 watts with the giant transformers. I have a 68 and it's no heavier than a super reverb. My twin is easier to carry than a 4x10 cab
exactly, my '67 is 64 pounds...by no means light but lighter than plenty of other amps that never get mentioned as "boat anchors".
My first amp, Senior in High School, 1982, was a brand new 135 watt push - pull master volume Twin. Super loud. That, my Les Paul and a Tube Screamer and I was set. What a combo. I played in my first couple of bands and gigged out with that amp. Good times.
I bought my very first twin today and I'm absolutely loving it! It's the '65 reissue and I got it for a steal to boot. So of course I had to come to Jack's channel and hear his advice and settings right. Great video Jack and I most definitely agree with your feelings on this great amp.
I cycled through several amps until finally finding a fully restored 1969 Twin Reverb. It's literally the best amp ive ever played through. I play shoegaze and now know why sooo many of those legends play one. Just a wall of sound with unlimited headroom for verb and fuzz. I accept the manual labor.
I watched this so many times and finally ended up getting a Twin Reverb on your recommendation. (Got a ‘74 I’m fixing up)
Even with your glowing review, I could not have been prepared for the religious experience of playing one face to face. It truly sounds like nothing I have heard before.
I will keep this amp forever. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
To add the Fender Deluxe Twin Reverb is a superb pedalplattform, it takes pedals very very well and does play them like they should sound,
thats why a lot of ambient and Post Rock players do use a deluxe Twin Reverb, the Reverb on the Fender is already heaven,
but when you got Afterneath , Dark World, Blue Sky, Avalanche Run, Space Spirals, Immerse, Slö and so on its starts to get too cute to hold your tears.
I agree with the observation that drive pedals can "sit on top" of the tone rather than fully integrate with it. Phenomenal cleans though and the mid heavy drives get on well
I have a 1992 1965 reissue ... was the house amp in a blues club I played at (there was also a tone master head/quad). I would bounce between the Twin and TM depending on mood/crowd. (Note: It was a funk/reggae band). The Twin had celestians, so didn't have the full glassy "cut your head off" sound. When the club closed I trialled the Twin and TM side by side with my Tele. They also put the original speakers back in the Twin.... bought it with the Celestians... great work horse amp, toured with it in a road case, gigged with without (fitted in car better... also a two person lift when in the road case. Still have ... only serviced/retubed once! Magic sound, great with pedals .. I play it on low gain input, vol 3.5, B5, M6, T4, bright off, Verb 4, Trem off (mostly). Had a friend use it ....cranked it to breakup Vol 8.5 ... loudest thing in the room, had to hide it side stage (mic'ed) so it wouldn't kill anyone!
Bought a new 65 Twin Reverb from Music Manor in August of 1965 and used it in my band The Revalleers at Ohio State for two years. I bought a 65 Jaguar at the same time. I still have both. The Twin has two D-120 F JBL speakers. Met the Beach Boys on a plane in 1975 and told Mike Love and Carl Wilson that I used to play their music including Surfing U.S.A., In My Room, Help Me Rhonda, and Do You Want To Dance. Mike asked me what instrument did I play and I told him that I played a Jag just like Carl and we all shook hands.
Love everything about that whole story. I’m a massive Beach Boys fan!
I received my Twin Reverb from a used music store for under half price of new ($599). I knew who had sold it to the store, and he had just purchased the amp brand new less than a month prior, but had an emergency situation come up and had little choice but to sell it. Got my first job in order to raise the money to buy it. Still have it.
I’ve fallen in love with your channel! Thank you for being a joy to listen to Jack 🙏
Thank you kindly! Glad you’re enjoying it!
I’ve had 3 Twin Reverbs (1976, 2016 ‘68 Custom, and another 2016 ‘68 Custom I acquired a week ago) and a 1972 Quad Reverb. I agree with your assessment and that I was also too immature to appreciate what I had. I love the ‘68 Custom Reissue that I just picked up and I lucked out. It is dead quiet and has an amazing tone. I pair it with an AC30 for that “rock” tone but it’s my deserted island amp. Not letting this one go. I’ve had my share of Voxs, tweed Fenders, Marshalls, etc. but I am always going back to the Twin Reverb sound.
I'm happy with my Fender 2014/15 Hot Rod DeVille 410 III and '59 Bassman LTD. Both have 4 x 10" speakers and 2 6l6's and a solid state rectifier in the DeVille with a tube rectifier in the Bassman. I still want the '65 Twin! They are getting kind of expensive for me though. Hopefully in about 2 more years. I'm 71 this month March 2021.
Don't throw things at me, but my second hand Fender Frontman 212R 100watts at 4 ohms, 2 50 watt 8 ohm speakers (with the square lettering) sounds really good too! I play them all back to back so I speak from experience, I would never have guessed it.
Never would throw things, I agree with you - Fender has made some excellent, under the radar solid state amps over the years. Especially clean sounding. I'd gig with them in a heartbeat.
Had my buddy take mine on the road for year..Brought it back in pristine condition.Speakers bloomed. 😊 lovely
My 67 with Altec Lansing's is out being gone thru. Hasn't been gigged with since 1974 and I am stoked to get it back.
HEAVY, so I replaced the cab with pine, and separated the speakers to a separate cabinet. The amp is as a head, and the tonal qualities are enhanced. Best amp ever made. Love it.
Yes I put my twin in a Bass man 100 cabinet,
I agree 100%. The reverb in my 64 sets the standard!
I had put it away due to weight and driving a car that made it a pain to load. But recently had the ground switch replaced with a 1/2 power switch and then stumbled on to running it through a closed back cab. It’s now my favorite. So I’m going to build a head shell for it and I think it’s going to be my live amp for a while.
Also the Klon KTR and humbuckers are a thing of beauty together!
I used to think I didn’t like fuzz through…but now I’d say I don’t like fuzz through the stock C12NA’s in it. However through celestial style speakers it’s a whole new story.
I have a 1974 hand-wired silverface twin reverb that is 82 lbs. Playing outdoors in a 12 piece funk band though, where high volume, super clean tone is needed, I'm glad I have this thing sometimes.
I had Crate combo amps starting out (yeah I’m getting old.) but around 2006, I found a coworker selling his 1994 TRRI for $800. Just for kicks, I offered him $550, and he took it! First time I plugged in my 2002 American Strat, I remember thinking, “Ah, there’s the tone!” Pure Yellowledbetter vibes!
Nice passionate video of the Holy Grail of amplifiers IMHO. Beautiful tones from the Strat, Tele and Gibson, not to mention very nice playing.👍 I had a 70s silver face Twin Reverb from around 2000 to 2008, I used to transport it in the back of my Camaro, I was strong back in those days, LOL! Played it at many outdoor gigs wonderful tone! It started giving me trouble took it to the repair shop spent a lot of money to get it fixed, and it work great for couple more years then it started breaking down again back to the shop for repair, finally sold it for cheap, over the last several years bought and sold various amplifiers, until I purchased A 70s silver face deluxe reverb, another very fine amplifier, gigged with that for the next several years, until a divorce motivated me to sell all my amplifiers, and a lot of music gear until I got settled, so last month, bought a solid-state 100watt quilter aviator with 210 inch Celestion speakers, played a few outdoor gigs recently with it and it held its own with the volume and very good tone for a solid-state amp and much lighter weight at about 34 pounds.but still does not quite compare to an all tube Fender amplifier. So the search continued and like a miracle, I came across a 15 year old fender twin reverb 65 reissue in excellent condition for a nice price and bought it, and once I plugged into it with my Stratocaster and those first few Chords that I strummed it was like Eureka! Like I came home again, I just thought to myself wow, there’s that old familiar beautiful full-bodied sound and glorious tone that I remember! So it’s like full Circle homecoming.😊🙏👍
Like reuniting with a friend right? Have you tried the new Tone Master Twin? I haven’t but it’s one I’d like to get my hands on.
@@JackFossett they don’t hold a candle to a real tube version. That pinging ringing high end is replaced with digital harsh highs. The midrange isn’t that beautiful warm Greek pool. And it doesn’t have that bounce under the fingers. But try and let me know what you think.
I had a Twin Reverb when I was at university and I wasn’t using it cos I started playing bass a lot and then was struggling to pay rent, so I sold it. It was a gorgeous amp, I miss it. So heavy though!!
I put two neo speakers in it, Jensen Vintage Neo and a Celestion creamback Neo. Weight around 25 kg. Sounds perfect 😊 Also got my "amp doctor" to put a master volume on the back.
Don't forget Robbie Krieger of The Doors. He used a Twin remarkably well too!
True, but a lot of his sound also comes from using old strings, he never changed his strings.
But to be a devils advocate what is a clean tone, is it a transparent tone? I think the Plexi is a cleaner tone. For me a cleaner tone is a more balanced tone.
@@petersingh486 Aha, I did NOT know that about Robby's strings, Thanks for the info! I was always extremely impressed by the depth and/or "Balls" of the "clean" sound coming from his riffing work on his recordings but then again, he was a known Fingerstyle player too and that too may have been a critical part of his unique recipe of tonal results. Krieger is for me up there in the Top Five most important guitarists of "Classic" Rock.
My 1st real amp, had a li'l fender sidekick reverb that I bought off a friend in high school that Iuv'd so much so I saved up all my $$ working at pizza hut all summer to get a twin reverb & have had it since 1994. It's been through hell but we've had sum goodtimes together. Still gig with it & if I decide to get another it'll probably be a music man 2x12.
I had an original 1965 Blackface Twin that I left behind in a studio in 1981. One week ago I was reunited with my old friend, fully restored. Christmas came early this year!!! My old friend....
Got my first Twin in 1965 and played it a lot until it was stolen in 1982, so then I got a new Twin which I still play and love. Only negative is it weighs a TON. I can't pick it up at 70 years old so I have a bunch of smaller amps now.
Opening licks remind me of John Butcher, nice job on the strat! If wishes were amps, I would ride on a Twin Reverb! My friend in college let me borrow his one semester, I opened the windows and rocked the whole Quad, and slipped a lumbar disc! Great amp! For now I live vicariously through a Tech 21 SansAmp Blonde (I also like the Tumnus Deluxe with the 3-band eq. knobs)
Those Tech 21s are criminally underrated amps. Awesome solid state modeling years before other solid state modeling was even remotely good.
@@JackFossett I am just using their Blonde character series pedal, for recording direct or DI into a PA.
Was it because it was too heavy? I did then bought a light tweed Twin Reverb in 1981 and had it since along with my Hot Rod, Blues Deluxe, Blues Jr., Princeton, Champ, Marshall DSL 50, Boss Katana,
Been searching far & wide for “small” amp that felt great… epiphany happened when I felt power the Twin provides to hear/feel nuance - even at low volume. You don’t get that with small amps. The Twin FEELS amazing (almost like feeling weightless). A 15” neo Jensen speaker in a twin is something special (and lighter weight too). It easier to play & sound better when you hear/feel the nuance of tone (rather than just the sound). You have to experience it in person before the lightbulb goes on and you get it.
There's a whole thread on my gear page I believe where a very convincing case is made that the twin is just better sounding even at low volumes than other smaller amps, the Princeton namely.
@@Fox-86 Do you mind posting a link? That is an article I would like to read. Because I was curious at what tolerable volume do you get a good sound? Thank you in advance
@@hhattingh around 1.5, 2.
The title was the best bedroom amp or something like that
I ordered mine today! They were back ordered but will be in stock soon! It's gonna go in a spot in my living room and stay there! I've got a Mesa Boogie California Tweed on the way too that if I play out I'll use! I've been playing through a Fender Blues Jr. and Super Champ X2 Stereo!
Hell yes hell yes hell yes. Been waiting for this video for a long time.
Great video! I had a twin back in the mid 70s! And my friend who is my drummer just found one for me for $50 the other day !
I had a fender twin along time time ago I lost it to a pawn shop ... it devastated me... but being a broke young person sometime life teaches you harsh lessons.. a blues guy once said “ if your guitar hasn’t spent time in a pawn shop... it can’t play the blues!” But after 30 years I now want another one ... good vid
Nice!!! I'd love to see you A/B it with a Dual Showman (b/c that's my amp, naturally). And right-on with gain stacking pedals! I'm currently driving a level-up-gain-low OCD into a PlexiTone (Lo- gain verson). I need to be able to play my clean parts loud in my driving rock band. Going between like a rock-a-billy clean and punk. My dual showman works for that... as I imaging the Twin Reverb would as well. And like Glen below, I also use the Tech 21 Blonde when I can't use the amp. Love the mediterranean pool metaphor!!
Thanks! Mm Dual Showman. There are a lot of amps in that line that are awesome. Bandmasters too.
I just ordered one yesterday after I plugged my Les Paul into it at the store. After hearing the depth of the tone along with the responsiveness of the tone controls I didn't want to even bother with anything else. I'm looking forward to swapping out my speak on my Blues Deluxe reissue to see what that will be like. Thanks for the video Jack.
King of the rock amp as well
Standard twins are heavy enough, but I replaced the Standard speakers on my 1978 with 2 EVM 12L after I trashed the OEM speakers twice...thats nearly 40 lbs of speaker alone. I had to take out the reverb unit so they would fit. Then had the capacitors beefed up so it would stop dimming the lights in the room you were playing in! Installed a toggle so I can have the speakers series or parallel at the flip of a switch.
This Amp with proper effects will do and go absolutely anywhere. I'm pretty sure you could roll that thing on ANY stage and it will keep up. Turn it up and stand in front of it and it is shred your jeans and sting your skin loud! It should probably have a warning sticker on it.
The down side is yes, it is seriously, ridiculously, unbelievably pain in the ever loving ass, do I really want to take it back home in the wee hours of the morning heavy. And I swear it seems like it is gaining weight as I ger older. I think it actually takes pleasure in crippling people...ears, backs, fingers, knees....it has left its mark on many over the years. But dang, the thing is military grade solid. 90% of my playing has the volume around 7 or 8 with the master around 2-3, or 4 tops. Bottom line, it's a bitter sweet relationship while your looking at it. Pure love when your playing in it.
Yeah, it sounds so damn good.
I got one 20 years ago for 800 dollars and I still have it, its soars with my tele or my Strat or my jazz master or my Ibanez...so tasty.
I’ve had mine about 9 years. I appreciated this video.
I recently switched to playing a Fender Twin for my band.
Previously I played an Orange Rocker 32 and a Rockerverb 50 MKIII Combo stacked together or by themselves.
Both of them were incredible amps especially together but I poked out in the mix way too much and it was very direct,it sounded great but it wasn’t really appropriate for the genre I was playing( we are a post punk, psych, indie rock band)
When I played the Twin we sounded so much better and I guess cooler lol
The Twin is more so a feeling than a sound.
The Rockerverb is technically a better amp but The Twin is more of a team player amp and in my opinion better from a songwriting perspective.
Its beautiful and can take anything you throw at it and there is a reason it’s been on so many records.
They’re along with the Les Paul, A Fender Strat and telecaster “the sound.” All have limitations but that “that’s it” sound is huge.
I’ve owned a few different amps: a vox ac15c1, vox ac4c1, supro 1606, fender bassbreaker 15, fender pro jr iv, fender vibro champ black panel, vibrolux reverb custom black panel, Roland jc40 and a black panel twin reissue. There were things I loved about each individual amp, although I wound up keeping the pro jr iv tweed, vibro champ, vibrolux custom, jc40 and my twin. Of all amps I’ve tried the twin works best for me. The only flaws are how heavy and loud it is but the beautiful cleans, lush reverb and lively trem make for my favorite amplifier that I’ve ever used. It takes pedals better than any other amp I’ve used, it is essentially akin to water, as water becomes whatever you pour it into as Bruce Lee said. Sure it’s not for heavy metal guys, but for what I do, there is no greater amp in its price range. I lust after a dumble sss clone of some sort but don’t have that kind of money to blow on a single amplifier.
The twin has been a dream amp of mine for a long time but could never justify having something that heavy and that loud. Then a few years ago I got the tone master twin and I love it. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a real twin but the tone master inspires me just like I remember it. I’ve sold all my other amps and am convinced it’s the last amp I’ll ever need. I also like using it for my J bass with the bass cut and if you have a good 7 or 10 band eq with a volume and gain it’s a decent and totally useable monitor and live speaker for drums and midi keyboard and other things. It’s also pretty decent for miking vocals or an acoustic. I play the oboe and have been having fun experimenting with using it as a better way to record oboe and clarinet and sax as opposed to just going straight in to an interphase.
I have a '71, and I ordered it with JBLs because in those days I was having trouble with blowing up speakers. I still have it. It was too loud to crank to distortion anywhere I ever played it except for outdoor gigs. I did play it onstage for 15,000 hours but I used it as a keyboard amp. I bought a Crate IIR for guitar.... 60 watts with a master volume. I think the Twin would have been better with a master volume... I worked with a guitarist who had a Music Man twin with a master volume and he got fantastic tone with a Jaguar straight into the amp.
No I personally haven’t tried the new Tone Master twins. I’ve watched a few UA-cam videos on it, and I have mixed feelings on it, in my opinion, the pros: they look beautiful like the real deal, much lighter weight, possibly get more different tones from it, and more affordable than a brand new 65 re-issue.
The cons: made in China, the tone is close, but not quite exactly like the real deal Twin according to my ears when compared with the real Twin via UA-cam videos. The real Twin had more presents and chime. Also, one of the guys on the video said that they could not get it to feedback as easily as the real all tube Fender Twin Reverb. Still no substitute for all vacuum tube tone IMHO!
BTW, just had my first outdoor gig last Saturday with the new old fender twin reverb 65 re-issue and it sounded glorious, had the volume just a little over 4! And 60% of the time I ran it clean with a boss DD five delay pedal and the exotic EP boost and the reverb set around 3.5, using my 1994 American 40th anniversary fender Stratocaster and OMG!!
Tones, bottom end, full presence and chime for days! I was in heaven!
And then for some of the heavier rock guitar solos I stepped on a tube screamer and TC electronics dark matter distortion both dimed on the gain setting, with some occasional usage of my new crybaby WAH 95Q, and it turned into a different glorious sounding beast of an amplifier with great feedback when I wanted it, Wow! I was quite a happy camper for that gig to say the least! That being said, it is a heavy Amp especially in my older days, but well worth the big tone when you need it. I used a four wheel flat wooden dolly to move it from my car to the stage area, LOL!
You get such a great tone out of that amp. Makes me want one!
wow that sounds incredible. i have a Blues Jr which I thought had a pretty decent clean sound.
Great video as always Jack. You sound great through the Twin Reverb, as do a great many others. I have and will enjoy music made with it, but I don't want one. For my own playing I like a fuller & rounder sound. If I could have one of your amps it would be the VHT D 50.
Sounds so fat and luscious with the Gretsch, love that tone.....
Good work Jack! You said @ 16:45, "putting a gain pedal into the front-end of the 2nd channel (with the reverb "on") kinda' changes up your game because there is no effects-loop." Do you simply suggest turning off the reverb and tremelo (knob settings on zero) when using pedals? Or just use the 1st channel when using pedals (like you said in the beginning)? Thank you Jack.
I owned a Fender Twin. Very heavy. I also had a 67 Les Paul Deluxe and I stacked the Twin on top of a 4x12 Fender Bassman cabinet. Twin was pushing six 12's and damn it was loud. Later on a few years later, I got out of rock and roll, sold the guitar and the amp and used the money to buy my first Harley-Davidson. Still riding but not the same bike.
I've played through one and it was a joy. I would just be afraid of hurting my back trying to lug it around or get it into my basement up and down the stairs.
This will catch some flack, but it sounds to me like the amp volume needs to be brought up to let it breath even with some pedal dirt. This is why I prefer Princeton and Deluxe Reverb amps, even for cleans. Just slap a higher efficiency speaker in there if you need the headroom.
Listen to Michael Bloomfield Super Session Live especially Maryann to hear a classic Twin Reverb Sound in a large venue cranked after Michael's intro parts as well as his sweet playing on that! I knew Michael first met him at 16 after a Super Session gig after which I saw all those on the East Coast! Maryann is here on UA-cam!
All my favorite punk bands use fender amps: hot rods, twins, batsmans, deluxes. I think using a specific amp for a style of music is largely a misnomer. It’s so about how you use it: pedals, guitars, volume, all come into play. Fender amps have a naturally grungy sound to them because they’re so big sounding
Most guitar players get too reverb happy with those units I had one and found between 3.5 and 4 reverb was perfect for clubs. My opinion but used them in pro settings a lot of years ago.
This Friday 28th I'm going to Guitar Center and will purchase the Hot Rod tweed or without the tweed style.
Fridays at 7pm I'll perform my original Gospel songs at the Baobab theater!
Happy Days Ahead.
Also I will use it at my recording studio!
Although I'll never own one of these, I really enjoyed your video. Master clean tones!
I used to carry one of them to my friend's gigs in San Francisco in the mid 80s
Is it possible for you to do some finger picker and not ripping strings. Maybe something on the Chet Akins style so we can really hear the amp
I bought my twin it sounded so amazing in the store, I knew this was a rare find. It turned out that it had a bad tube, the failing tube caused a wonderfully natural overdrive I loved (When I turned it off there was a very loud click). The bad tube completely failed and when I replaced it, it did not sound as good.
I still like it, the clean is quite nice, I would like to mod it though back to what I had...
Never heard of the wonderfully sounding failing tube 😊. You might have transported it while still warm, ruining the tube in the process!?
Great playing and amazing tones. I got a mint ‘71.
Your clean tone with the ES345 is stunningly beautiful. Amazing. That is the Twin tone.
I've just bought a '72 black panel converted twin with JBL orange speakers... I can't wait to get stuck in.
If you are looking for an amp very close to the twin take a peek at the Tone Master series from Fender. I have the Deluxe Reverb model and it's so close to my older Deluxe Reverb you have to really listen to tell them apart and even then sometimes you can't. Fender did a great job with this series plus they are really light. I can pick mine up with one hand no problem.
I’d love to get a Tone Master Twin for gigging and then keep this beastly darling safe and snug at home
@@JackFossett That's what I do. I found the Deluxe Reverb is plenty loud with lots of head room. The twin is nice too but a bit too much for the types of gigs I do now. I have played in the Largo Botanical Gardens Christmas Spectacular with mine out doors and had no issues in fact at one point I had to turn it down. LOL
I have my mentors 64 twin reverb. it takes pedals so well on top of the clean tones....I take it everywhere with me when I play. Got to have it. It's got that mojo....It even made me put my 58 super down ...
Very nice!
great topics, suggestions and discussion. Picked up.. well, wheeled off lol, an 81 twin a couple weeks ago. I've come to find this is the only sound i care about. awesome amp, have so much to learn with it too.
From Leo, I have dragged one of those 80+ lb monsters around since the 70's. That is probably why I have back problems. They should include a hand truck with every sale, or a strong roadie. The tone is exactly what my ear likes, and no one can play over the top of you if you don't want to let them. I usually pull a couple of output tubes these days, and set it on a big padded chair these days. I just don't need that kind of volume, but I do need the sound. I have thought many times about buying a replacement stripped head and cabinet and transfer the parts. My combo cabinet is really beat up anyway. BTW great chops on the demo plying
Thank you! I agree with what you’re saying totally - I’ll never really use even a fraction of the power this possesses. But the sound is different. It’s a “big clean” even at low volumes.
Did it blow up like mine did . I had an evil twin and after I gig next day at home I plugged in and it caught fire in the back. Lol. I ended up with super reverb 4 10 after that. Which sadly I lost in pawn. Typical huh. Nice to see you amp selection we have same taste. I debate over super sonic now or bassman
Never had an amp blow up, although my older Twin blew a tube once in about the worst sounding way I've ever heard. And for what its worth, I'd go Bassman. 100%.
@@JackFossett lol when I say blow up and mean some smoke and flames out the back. It would suck if amps had components in them that could explode. Well caps maybe. I think your right about bassman over supersonic. I've always wanted a tone master blonde head. Thought I could get close but bassman is so amazing on many levels
I've got a fender champ 25SE that I've seen multiple people call a mini twin based off the sound, I've never played a twin so I can't compare really but the twins I've seen in videos have so much more depth to the sound. I've always wanted to try one because I already love the champ and I can't imagine how much nicer it would probably be. I should add the champ is only a champ in name from what I've read also as it uses 6l6s
Jack, What speakers are you using in your 65 reissue? Any other modifications? Did you adjust the bias? I have read that some re-issues come from the factory with the bias on the cold side. I’ve been listening to some vintage 60’s Twins and listening to you, I thought you were playing an original hand wired 65…Thanks.
Hey Jack, long time listener first time caller, question, do you know what spring pan you have in your ‘65? I wanted to replace mine with a surfy pan I had laying around to see if I could get more “drip” long story short it’s not compatible with the ‘65 TRRI. But I was surprised to find that it already had a made in USA accutronics pan. Yours sounds phenomenal and I’m wondering if it’s the same
Yes the Twin Reverb can sound amazing at room volume.
My favorite all around amp for everything.
Best damn amp I 've ever had!
If you’re running it for clean tones generally, do you think you should run a compressor pedal into it? Seems like compression sort of fills that need like an overdrive pedal of sustain and fatness without distortion. I am not saying my fender solid state Princeton Reverb compares in real life. But the tones I am hearing over UA-cam sounds just like my amp in the room. It has the best reverb I have ever heard. Again I haven’t played as many amps as you. But for anyone on a budget that likes these tones, the late 80s and 90s solid state fender amps did a great job. And fender didn’t cheap out with speakers either. Mine is a 2x10 of eminence legend 1058 speakers. As well Fender engineered an underdamped circuit for the output section with the speaker. So it gets that high end ring and low end resonance of tube amps. Really enjoyed this video
Running a good compressor definitely helps. I mean, thats the early Dire Straits sound right there.
I have a 67 Pro (mini twin) Amazing clean tone
Ive got the 65 reissue....great clean.....takes a good dirty pedal as well.
Been touring and recording with a 65 TR reissue since 1994 (before I was a Marshall and Hiwatt guy)
Hey Jack, if you think a Twin is heavy, try a Vibro King. On the plus side, it has the 3 X 10's you like in a Fender amp and it has a presence that fills a room beautifully.
Actually there's a Brown Face Vibro King near me for sale that I REALLY want. Can't swing it at the moment though - to tell you the truth, the Twin, as heavy as it is, is far from my heaviest amp. My Mesa Nomad and Marshall Bluesbreaker beat this out.
Gotta have this and the Super reverb, or really missing out on the joy of playing.
I love my Twin-Reverb. Just wish sometimes I could have the volume over one and a half 😬
I tried this amp and it does capture the cleans and high tones in a very crystal sparkle way the other fenders amps could not capture. But what is it? the type of components inside? The speakers?
I love the sound of the fender twin and found a really good price on a vintage one, but I'm not a gigging musician,should I still go for it?
Well I’m a wicked gear enabler, so yes. Yes you should.
My 65 TR ri is much more controllable (volume) than my HR deville 212. So I’m wondering if my TR has had any modifications because I can play at 3 to 4 in my house without having to raise your voice while speaking but when raised to 5 and above it’s a different beast. Just saying
My Brand NEW 65 TWIN Reverb they will bury me with, but it weighs SO MUCH mine is on a dolly ! Did YOUR's weigh to MUCH? Like 85 Lbs. Love your stuff Jack Fossitt.
Yup 85 is what I recall reading the spec at. Mine is for home use!
I'm dying hahaha 10:52 I do actually want to hear this amp through the gain ranges though. I like to set my amps just on the edge of breakup, so that they're beginning to compress. Hitting the strings hard should have a little bite. I know it's seen as a clean amp, but how high of a setting on the volume knob does it take to get the amp to that point? I'm not scared of volume.