Fender '65 Twin Reverb (Reissue)

audiovisceral · 23rd September 2008

I am thinking about picking one of these up. How do you you guys find the reissues compare to the old blackfaces?

Thoughts?

joeydego · 23rd September 2008

never played the original, but I like the silverface ones better. plus they are half the price.

chrispick · 24th September 2008

I've never played an original, but I test-drove the reissue about a week ago. I thought it sounded great. I really wanted to buy it, but I've no budget for that right now.

nickolo · 24th September 2008

I have owned a Twin[silver 70s] and it was fantastic..I put JBLs in and the top and general sound was amazing [Those speakers made the amp even heavier!!!]

Once it had to go into John Kelly for servicing and i hired in a black face reissue.It was a bit softer up top [BTW-this was before i used JBLs] and was not quite as powerful but it had a lovely sound.To me it sounded less spiky with richer low-mids...For what i was doing at the time,the silver face suited me but that black face twin was great..

Tapeworm · 24th September 2008

I have a mid seventies silver face. My friend has a 65 black face reissue. We never A/B'ed them back to back but I thought the sound difference was minimal with the 65 being just a tad smoother while mine was a tad brighter.

That being said, his was brand new and never left his house while mine was 30+ years older and had been dragged through countless bars, outdoor shows and rides in the van so take it all with a grain of salt.

I expected a far greater difference in sound and was surprised when I didn't really hear it.

audiovisceral · 25th September 2008

i found i was surprised to like the sound as well. good reissues of anything seem rare. if i've got any hesitance i think it's from the jensen c-12k speakers. they're quite nice, but i'm a 90s grunge kind of v30 guy, and the jensens sound smooth/clean to the point of being bland imo. they don't excite me. although, a v30 would probably be too much.

would swapping only one/both out be a decent idea? or maybe i should leave it stock and record an extension cab instead ...?

chrispick · 26th September 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiovisceral

i found i was surprised to like the sound as well. good reissues of anything seem rare. if i've got any hesitance i think it's from the jensen c-12k speakers. they're quite nice, but i'm a 90s grunge kind of v30 guy, and the jensens sound smooth/clean to the point of being bland imo. they don't excite me. although, a v30 would probably be too much.

would swapping only one/both out be a decent idea? or maybe i should leave it stock and record an extension cab instead ...?

Well, it seems to me the reason you pick up a Fender blackface is to get that classic clean sound.

The Deluxe Reverb has 6V6 tubes at the power stage which don't break up without driving them pretty hard, I believe. And, given you like a grunge kind of vibe, I don't think would distort in a way you'd like (although you might). The conventional match-up for this amp would be a tele, you know? A guitar with bite leading into a clean amp.

I think you maybe seek something that begs for humbuckers like a Plexi or other EL34-style amp?

audiovisceral · 26th September 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispick

Well, it seems to me the reason you pick up a Fender blackface is to get that classic clean sound.

The Deluxe Reverb has 6V6 tubes at the power stage which don't break up without driving them pretty hard, I believe. And, given you like a grunge kind of vibe, I don't think would distort in a way you'd like (although you might). The conventional match-up for this amp would be a tele, you know? A guitar with bite leading into a clean amp.

I think you maybe seek something that begs for humbuckers like a Plexi or other EL34-style amp?

thanks but no actually i love the twin for its beautifully clear cleans. i have an el34 marshall 6100 already, so i don't want the amp/tubes to break up. i just don't think i like the stock speakers. they come off as 'sterile' imo. i kind of wish i could buy it as just a head.

maybe i'm just neurotic, but i see a lot of people online seem to swap the speakers to webers and others i'm unfamiliar with so who knows.

theGeek · 26th September 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiovisceral

thanks but no actually i love the twin for its beautifully clear cleans. i have an el34 marshall 6100 already, so i don't want the amp/tubes to break up. i just don't think i like the stock speakers. they come off as 'sterile' imo. i kind of wish i could buy it as just a head.

maybe i'm just neurotic, but i see a lot of people online seem to swap the speakers to webers and others i'm unfamiliar with so who knows.

I live close to where Weber speakers are put together and they are worth every penny! The guys there are not only very good at what they do but also very helpful in getting you what you want. WGS speakers are very nice too if you're on a budget. Just as good as Celestions but cheaper. Weber are a bit more expensive than Celestions but far superior.

popvulture · 26th September 2008

Before you buy a reissue Twin, see if you can't find a late 60s/early 70s silverface. I have the '68 (identifiable by a metal "drip edge" around the grillcloth) Twin, and it's great.

Just stay away from any later silverfaces, identifiable by the presence of the dreaded master volume knob.

23rd September 2008	#1
audiovisceral Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,546 Thread Starter	Fender '65 Twin Reverb (Reissue) I am thinking about picking one of these up. How do you you guys find the reissues compare to the old blackfaces? Thoughts?

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23rd September 2008	#2
joeydego Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 2,734	never played the original, but I like the silverface ones better. plus they are half the price.

24th September 2008	#3
chrispick Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 1,023	I've never played an original, but I test-drove the reissue about a week ago. I thought it sounded great. I really wanted to buy it, but I've no budget for that right now.

24th September 2008	#4
nickolo Gear addict Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 491	I have owned a Twin[silver 70s] and it was fantastic..I put JBLs in and the top and general sound was amazing [Those speakers made the amp even heavier!!!] Once it had to go into John Kelly for servicing and i hired in a black face reissue.It was a bit softer up top [BTW-this was before i used JBLs] and was not quite as powerful but it had a lovely sound.To me it sounded less spiky with richer low-mids...For what i was doing at the time,the silver face suited me but that black face twin was great..

24th September 2008	#5
Tapeworm Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Posts: 1,450	I have a mid seventies silver face. My friend has a 65 black face reissue. We never A/B'ed them back to back but I thought the sound difference was minimal with the 65 being just a tad smoother while mine was a tad brighter. That being said, his was brand new and never left his house while mine was 30+ years older and had been dragged through countless bars, outdoor shows and rides in the van so take it all with a grain of salt. I expected a far greater difference in sound and was surprised when I didn't really hear it.

25th September 2008	#6
audiovisceral Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,546 Thread Starter	i found i was surprised to like the sound as well. good reissues of anything seem rare. if i've got any hesitance i think it's from the jensen c-12k speakers. they're quite nice, but i'm a 90s grunge kind of v30 guy, and the jensens sound smooth/clean to the point of being bland imo. they don't excite me. although, a v30 would probably be too much. would swapping only one/both out be a decent idea? or maybe i should leave it stock and record an extension cab instead ...?

26th September 2008	#10
popvulture Gear maniac Joined: May 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 269	Before you buy a reissue Twin, see if you can't find a late 60s/early 70s silverface. I have the '68 (identifiable by a metal "drip edge" around the grillcloth) Twin, and it's great. Just stay away from any later silverfaces, identifiable by the presence of the dreaded master volume knob.