Quote:
Originally posted by Brad McGowan
One more thing about the Twin Reverb.
I have compared the '65 reissue to my vintage '71 and the real thing slaughters it hands down. I owned a reissue for a good 6 months or so. I put some Webers and SED tubes in there and the tone improved dramatically. The cabinet is made of birch plywood so it had a nice punchy tone. It's a very useable amp, don't get me wrong. It captures the essence of a Twin Reverb. But something about it just wasn't working for me so I sought out the real thing and spent some time comparing them. Even with tired old tubes and crappy stock CTS speakers the vintage model had more depth, harmonic content, and character. I was blown away. So if you have the patience and are comfortable working on your own amps I would seek out a late 60's or early 70's silverface non-master volume. They can be had for about the same price as the reissues on the used market. With a little love you will have a tone monster of an amp.
Brad |
Well, I have a 65 reissue, and a 66 original. When you change the reissue over to tube rectifier, I defy you to tell the difference- when you use the same set of speakers. The rectifier makes a tremendous difference, as does putting some sylvanias in there.
That is the only Fender reissue that I think has some consistency of tone with the original. The Super Reverb is sooo far off base that Fender should get a class action lawsuit against it. I was really looking forward to it coming out so that I could use a reissue instead of my original for gigging, but it sounds NOTHING like the original. I didn't even want to contemplate how extensive the mods would need to be to get it to sound the same.
I guess your 71 is re-wired to blackface specs? Stock, the 71 would sound a tad bit treblier at similar settings, and a little bit grittier, easier to overdrive. I wouldn't say that it is inferior to the Blackface spec, as many feel, just that it is different.
I have to say, I absolutely despise it when people change over the circuits on these amps, because each one really had their "thing", and I don't think the silverfaces were necessarily worse. If you want a blackface get a blackface.... nothing personal though!
I second the
on original HiWatts... if you have ever seen the inside circuit work, it is very impressive, like a work of art.