Buying a SilverFace 70's - speakers? mastervolume?

[PetterAlexander]

Hi folks,

I'm Petter from Sweden, new to this community. I am about to get me an Fender Twin Reverb Silverface from the 70's cause that's what is affordable over here (around $1500). However, I have two issues:

1) Is there mastervolume on all 70's Twins? I play guitar and need the sound to break up a bit, and not be totally clean. I have a Guild Starfire IV and a Fulltone Fulldrive, as well as an MXR dynacomp. Are the mastervolumes to prefer?

2) I have found three amps, apparently with different speakers:

* Altec 417 8C 2x 12 (see http://www.blocket.se/vi/10190220.htm)
* "Original Fender 2x12 speakers" (see http://www.blocket.se/vi/10092789.htm)
* JBL speakers (http://www.blocket.se/vi/10277582.htm?ca=23_10_s)

Do you have any comments on the differences? Are there any other speakers I may look for?

Very grateful for any input in this issue...

Regards,

Petter, Sweden

[Bob Ross]

1) I'm pretty sure some silver face 1970's Twin Reverbs did not have the Master Volume, but I'm not 100% positive. What I *am* certain of is that cranking the "preamp" Volume control while backing off the Master Volume (on those Twins that do have the Master Volume control) is not nearly as satisfying a sound as one might hope for. Worst case it borders on the cheesey; best case it makes you want to turn the amp up louder, which sort of defeats the point.

2) Based on a sordid history growing up with Fender amps, I came up with some favorite vintage/speaker combinations:

- Tweed sounds best w/ stock speakers
- Black face sounds best w/ Electro-Voice SRO's
- Silver face sounds best w/ JBL D-series (orange or gray magnet)

Naturally, YMMV.

[max cooper]

I had a silverface twin with master vol. It was a seventies.

I really didn't like the sound of that amp. The other guy in my band had a similar one. It didn't sound nice either.

Those amps don't break up until super-earbleed vol. and the breakup isn't that nice, to me.

Just my thoughts. I think there are so many better options.

[PetterAlexander]

Goood information!

Perhaps I'll go for a JBL with master volume. I have some pretty good tude overdrives, and a powerbreak - that might make the sound a bit less 'solid'. BTW - is there a 135 watt and an 85 watt version?

However, yesterday I tried a Fender Deluxe Reverb, 22watt combo with a 1x12 jensen alnico speaker. Really, really sounding nice.

What I am curious about is if the little amp can match my bandmates AC30, volumewise and soundwise.

Greetings

Petter

[Kris]

you won't get much in terms of 'break up' with a silver faced twin... Super loud and clean... check out a silver face super if you can find one.

[Kris]

Can't beat the Delux ... if it's not loud enough, just get two... (or a Super)

[NW Smith]

I have a 1978 Twin with the master volume and the Fender Stock Speakers (your 2nd link).

I will be contrary to a lot of opinions expressed and say that I love my amp. My 1978 twin is the 135 watt model and produces a sound that suits my style of playing. In my opinion, if you have good tubes and a qualified amp tech to set it up correctly, you can't go wrong with a late 1970's Twin.

[audible]

[QUOTE=PetterAlexander;1007881]Goood information!

Perhaps I'll go for a JBL with master volume. I have some pretty good tude overdrives, and a powerbreak - that might make the sound a bit less 'solid'. BTW - is there a 135 watt and an 85 watt version?

However, yesterday I tried a Fender Deluxe Reverb, 22watt combo with a 1x12 jensen alnico speaker. Really, really sounding nice.

What I am curious about is if the little amp can match my bandmates AC30, volumewise and soundwise.

Peter,

Fender definitely made both wattages in the silverface era with the higher powered models coming out towards the end of the production run. The lower powered silverface models, especially the 1968/1969 made in Santa Ana amps, sound really great. One aspect to keep in mind is that the cabinet construction in the 70's was not as well put together as the earlier Fender amps- thinner materials, particle baffle board, etc.

Personally, a Deluxe Reverb is a much better sounding amp for rock roll than a later silverface twin. It might not be loud enough to keep up with an AC-30 onstage without proper monitoring. Have you tried a Pro Reverb? 50 watts with 2x12" speakers is a really great sleeper amp that guitar players never really latched onto. The Silverface Bandmaster Reverb heads are also really great sound-plus a closed back cabinet can push a lot of air.

Good luck on your search

audible

[TAVD]

The 135 watt Fenders used an Ultra-Linear design, IIRC, I'd stay away from that one unless you're able to hear it first. Also, with fixed bias Fender amps, they sound pretty crappy when they break up, imo. The JBL & Altec speakers will give you an even cleaner & louder sound than the Fender speaker. The Altec will project like a laser beam. The JBL's would be my 1st choice but I'd probably do a post PI master, rewire the ground lift switch as a cathode/fixed bias switch and maybe try a blackface NFB circuit. You might also look around for a Rivera era fender as they are usually reasonably priced. In any case, a good amp tech should be able to get it the way you want.

[PetterAlexander]

Guyz,

I'm amazed. Truly.

GREAT thanx for sharing. Actually found a pro reverb in sweden (!) Or is this the one you've been referring to?

http://www.blocket.se/vi/10289363.htm?ca=23_10_s

BR

Petter

[PetterAlexander]

...have anyone an opinion about the Twin Reverb Blackface Reissue? Found one in the local store...blond!

Petter