What amp sounds the most like a Twin Reverb?

[Massimo636]

If you had to pick a couple amps that most sound like a Twin Reverb what would they be?
I love the sound of the Twin Reverb, but it's a bit too expensive (~$1399 new is a bit out of my range), loud, and heavy for my tastes. I've tried to search around for heads or combos that have that Twin Reverb sound, but to me it has a very unique sound (sounds like high overtones in there or something) and no other amps sound like it... Is it all in my head or are there any amps you guys can suggest that get that type of bright Twin-ish tone for cheaper/lower wattage? Thanks!

[stantheman]

Massimo Brother....shhhhhhh....buy a Silverface Twin....shhhhh....

[robt57]

The first one that sez 'A Twin' as an answer should be banished.

[fezz parka]

Ultra Linear Pro Reverb.

[T Prior]

Another Twin ?


ok, what I meant to say was most of the Fender 40 watt plus or minus amps sound like a Twin at lower to somewhat moderate volumes, remember that the Twin is famous for CLEAN and LOUD, you can get CLEAN and NOT SO LOUD with the Supers,Concerts,the Pro's etc...My little Tremolux and Bandmaster has very similar tones to my previous TWINS but they don't kill ya with the volume that the TWINS are known for.

I would say if you run across a 2x12 PRO Reverb , that's half a Twin, but probably twice the price !

I would also say that getting a Silverface Twin would be less expensive than getting a Pro Reverb ! Just get the dang Twin and be done with it !

Here is neat rig which I used the first time this past weekend, 73 Bandmaster with a Single 12 Roc Pro closed back cab with a vintage Oxford 4 ohm 12...just like my Twins at low volume but when we got up around 6 or so on the volume meter , well you'll just have to take my word for it !

[Goluphi]

Find yourself a Silverface Twin - you can get them for $600-800, all day.

[Teleglide]

I believe Vince Gill uses a Rivera - he gets a great 'Tele through a Twin' sound. Probably not much lighter than a Twin, and it might be more expensive.

I think your best bet would be would be a Silverface Pro Reverb.

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by robt57

The first one that sez 'A Twin' as an answer should be banished.

O.k., I won't say "Twin".

Showman Reverb.

Originally Posted by Massimo636

(~$1399 new is a bit out of my range), loud, and heavy for my tastes.

I explained this here the other day... SFTRs are selling for around $500 on CL in Massachusetts and a little over $300 on eBay everywhere. Of course there are guys like the one selling a "67 Showman Reverb" (it's probably a '77 and it's been messed with hard) for $800 on CL in your area. $300 to $500... That's a lot of amp for very little money. $600 tops for a clean one. It's not like they're rare. I wouldn't be selling at those prices. I suspect a lot of guys are hangin' on to theirs until the economy gets better.

[Massimo636]

Originally Posted by muchxs

O.k., I won't say "Twin".

Showman Reverb.



I explained this here the other day... SFTRs are selling for around $500 on CL in Massachusetts and a little over $300 on eBay everywhere. Of course there are guys like the one selling a "67 Showman Reverb" (it's probably a '77 and it's been messed with hard) for $800 on CL in your area. $300 to $500... That's a lot of amp for very little money. $600 tops for a clean one. It's not like they're rare. I wouldn't be selling at those prices. I suspect a lot of guys are hangin' on to theirs until the economy gets better.

The Showman Reverb would be perfect, but I don't know much about electronics and would have no experience at determining what I was getting/ what kind of shape the amp is in so I was hoping to get something new that approximated the sound. Looks like you just have to get the real deal. I wish they still made the head or would come out with a smaller version of the Twin.

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by Massimo636

The Showman Reverb would be perfect, but I don't know much about electronics and would have no experience at determining what I was getting/ what kind of shape the amp is in so I was hoping to get something new that approximated the sound. Looks like you just have to get the real deal. I wish they still made the head or would come out with a smaller version of the Twin.

Beater Twin chassis + repro Showman Reverb head cabinet = instant "Twin" head.

A Twin just went out for $317 down in Connecticut and on eBay. They pop up semi-locallly no matter where you are. At $317 I wouldn't get hung up over condition unless it had bulletholes in it. $317, pick it up... you have money left over to take it to a tech.

Just sayin'.

[polymolly]

how about the "twin-amps". Versatile, "twinish" enough, Loud and clean. And hated by many ;)

[Wally]

Nothing but a TR or a Dual Showman REverb yields what a TWin REverb does.
The Rivera's come close, but they are just as heavy and more expensive than a FEnder Reissue....plus they are much more versatile in that they have that higher gain channel that a FEnder doesn't have. I am in the camp of suggesting a used SF amp of one of those models. OR....one of the smaller Fender SF Reverb amps and mod it to solid state rectification.

[Tele295]

Wally has a good idea. You could do a mini Twin/Pete Anderson kinda thing and get right in there. Deluxe Reverb, plug-in ss rectifier, and an efficient EV speaker.

[Flewis]

the peavey valveking 2x12 sounds like a twin it also has a switch that cuts the power to more usable levels in smaller rooms

[eggman]

Howdy,

I'm just waiting for GetBent to tackle this!

Eggman

[Wardpike]

I didn't think a twin really had a sound all its own. It was more like 100+ generic watts of super clean and well balanced power. Obviously, I'm wrong about this as you all hear so much tone in a twin.

Curious.

[polymolly]

Originally Posted by Wardpike

I didn't think a twin really had a sound all its own. It was more like 100+ generic watts of super clean and well balanced power. Obviously, I'm wrong about this as you all hear so much tone in a twin.

Curious.

I believe some of us find "tone" on "gritier" amps (smaller fenders, etc), while others find tone on "cleaner" sound. Like him or not (i personally don't - BUT I RESPECT HIM, just to make this clear before some kind of nuclear war starts) B.B King HAS tone, and he always favors Twin's...

I've always liked the clean sounds of the twins. I guess that with age we tend to favor the natural distortion on smaller amps.

I've started with a twin, then passed for a twin-amp (goes from 100watt clean, to 15watt). I've also used a AC30, and a super reverb. But these days I favor the volume, portability and "gritiness"(?) of a champ.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Wardpike

I didn't think a twin really had a sound all its own. It was more like 100+ generic watts of super clean and well balanced power. Obviously, I'm wrong about this as you all hear so much tone in a twin.

Curious.

IME, if you don't hear the 'tone' of a TR, then sit it next to any of the alternatives noted above. A TR...or a Dual Showman REverb,Super Six,Quad Reverb, or Vibrosonic...has its own voice. IF one doesn't hear the difference when it is side-by-side with anything else, then that person's search for tone is much simpler, imho.
As alluded to early on in this thread, you can sit all of the fEnder reverb amsp..excepting the PRinceton REverb...side by side and find that at some volume they are all very simular. But nothing else has the volume and the bottom end at that volume that the TR/DSR have. Also, none of those amps have the sheer sparkle on the top end that the big Fender has. The only Fender guitar amp that gets bigger and stays cleaner might be the Super Twin/Twin REverb at 180 watts with 6X6L6's. And, yes, the Super Twin/Twin REverb is heavier than a regular TR. lol

[davidge1]

I'd agree with everyone who said a Pro Reverb. A silverface Pro will cost even less than a silverface Twin. Sounds pretty much the same as a Twin, plus it's lighter and plenty loud! I used to own one.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yup. A used Twin.

And I'm sure the mentions of Pro Reverbs are worth listening to.

Or: When I think Twin, I think fat, emotional, and aggressive. Maybe something with a pair of EL-34s would fill the bill? I have a modded Bassman head with EL-34s, and it does do fat/emotional/aggressive admirably.

[ericmichel]

Originally Posted by Tele295

Wally has a good idea. You could do a mini Twin/Pete Anderson kinda thing and get right in there. Deluxe Reverb, plug-in ss rectifier, and an efficient EV speaker.

Last time I saw Pete Anderson perform he was playing through two line 6s...

[ericmichel]

Back in the days there was a line of amps called "Lab series";they were transistor amps and sounded great;they were called" the Twin for the poor";santana and BB king were notorious owners and players of this amp;you may find one if you google them up(Lab series 5).
they sell for nothing.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by davidge1

I'd agree with everyone who said a Pro Reverb. A silverface Pro will cost even less than a silverface Twin. Sounds pretty much the same as a Twin, plus it's lighter and plenty loud! I used to own one.

The littel output transformer and the tube rectification in the Pro REverb really yields a different sound compared to a TR especially when pushed just a little bit. A Twin REverb doesn't want to staurate the way a PRo REverb does. OF course, if you aren't looking for volume, a Pro REverb will fool you if you aren't listening really closely.

[sprokett]

Mesa Boogie heartbreaker. Channel 1. Clean it up and it sounds like a twin on steroids.

[fezz parka]

I tell ya, an Ultra Linear Pro Reverb is a loud and clean machine. Same OT as the Bassman 70 (it's pretty beefy). SS Rectifier.

[umasstele]

Honestly, a Rivera 5512; the clean channel is MODELED after a twin reverb...I have both amps, they sound VERY very simular. check it out, Im in Massachusetts, and actually have said Rivera (possibly for sale), if you wanted to get together and try out both and compare, feel free to contact me.

[Wardpike]

So... you all can hear a twin on a recording and just point at the speakers and say "That there is the sound of a Fender Twin"??

Because I can do that with a Vox AC30, a Marshall JMP especially the 50watt and several Dr.Z models. I can also tell a blackface super-reverb. But not a twin.

I'm not doubting it can be done. And because of that...Can you name me 6 to 12 cuts that represent the "twin tone" well?

Kindest regards,

Ward

[polymolly]

Originally Posted by Wardpike

So... you all can hear a twin on a recording and just point at the speakers and say "That there is the sound of a Fender Twin"??

Because I can do that with a Vox AC30, a Marshall JMP especially the 50watt and several Dr.Z models. I can also tell a blackface super-reverb. But not a twin.

I'm not doubting it can be done. And because of that...Can you name me 6 to 12 cuts that represent the "twin tone" well?

Kindest regards,

Ward

I (at least) am not going to the "listen to a recording a point the amp". we have all been down that road once, and we all have made a fool of ourselfs at least once (I believe it's called "growing" or "learning" ). Maybe i'd say it's a twin when it was a deluxe, maybe you would say it was a ac30 when it was a ac15 or a solid state supreme (the stones used them...). In recording, there is a lot going on besides the amp. I'm only giving my opinion about playing with the amps. What you listen when your next to him.
(and i'm not going to tell you my opinion on the JMP's )
Massimo636's question was "what amp sounds most like a Twin"...
Wally nailed it, I make his words my own: "As alluded to early on in this thread, you can sit all of the fEnder reverb amsp..excepting the PRinceton REverb...side by side and find that at some volume they are all very simular. But nothing else has the volume and the bottom end at that volume that the TR/DSR have. Also, none of those amps have the sheer sparkle on the top end that the big Fender has."

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by Massimo636

I've tried to search around for heads or combos that have that Twin Reverb sound, but to me it has a very unique sound (sounds like high overtones in there or something) and no other amps sound like it... Is it all in my head or are there any amps you guys can suggest that get that type of bright Twin-ish tone for cheaper/lower wattage?

No, it's not in your head. Other Fenders can remind you of a Twin, but nothing else has that exact sound.

[Flewis]

Originally Posted by Flewis

the peavey valveking 2x12 sounds like a twin it also has a switch that cuts the power to more usable levels in smaller rooms

also I should mention that you can pick these things up all over craigslist and kijiji dirt cheap, around $450 - not bad for 100 watts driven by 4 6L6 tubes, don't get me wrong I'd prefer a fender amp but this things are decent amps for the money, another option is the peavey vintage 212 from the early 80's,

[televirgo]

About a year ago I did a side by side comparison between a Twin Reverb RI, Super Reverb RI, 59 Bassman LTD and a Hot Rod DeVille.

Like Wally said above,the Twin Reverb has a voice all its own and none of the other amps sounded close to the Twin. If it´s too expensive, buy a used one, and if it weighs too much workout in a gym or at home.

At 2:00 am after a 2 hour gig and a few beers and rum, lifting a 65lb Twin or 40lb Hot Rod Deluxe feels the same and is just as hard and tiring.

[muchxs]

Who says a Showman Reverb has to be perched on top of that hog of a Showman cabinet? It's a Twin Reverb in a head cabinet. That's one way to get it down to managable size, set it up as a piggyback rather than a combo. Make two trips, one for the head, one for the speaker cabinet.

Who says a Twin needs to be plugged into 2x12"? 2x10" would work fine. Or 4x10", they should have made that the "Super / Twin"! If it's a head it can be plugged into anything. That's all the excuse I need to change the output transformer, wouldn't it be cool to have 2/4/8/16 ohm taps? I think 4 and 8 ohm taps would be most useful.

[Flewis]

Originally Posted by muchxs

Who says a Showman Reverb has to be perched on top of that hog of a Showman cabinet? It's a Twin Reverb in a head cabinet. That's one way to get it down to managable size, set it up as a piggyback rather than a combo. Make two trips, one for the head, one for the speaker cabinet.

Who says a Twin needs to be plugged into 2x12"? 2x10" would work fine. Or 4x10", they should have made that the "Super / Twin"! If it's a head it can be plugged into anything. That's all the excuse I need to change the output transformer, wouldn't it be cool to have 2/4/8/16 ohm taps? I think 4 and 8 ohm taps would be most useful.

well if my memory serves me right the 70's super six is a twin stuffed in a 6x10" speaker combo amp - wouldn't want to lift it but it probably sounded good!

[Tsetse]

Well, almost every Fender amp produces the trademark "Fender clean" sound, or a variation thereof. However, the Twin Reverbs really do have a voice of their own and this really starts to show as you increase the volume on them and compare it to other Fender amps. They're a pain in the a** to carry around, of course, but to me it's really worth it. I love my Bandmaster Reverb as well, but it doesn't produce such "big" clean sounds as my Twin Reverb (that's why I use it for my overdriven sounds).

With regard to the TRRI: Imho not worth the money. They're fine amps and sound really great, but I decided to get a SF instead because of three reasons:
1. SF TRs are comparatively cheap and there's really lots of them around. I'm not from the US, but judging from ebay price levels I'd say you could save a lot of money.
2. SF TRs are handwired. If a problem occurs with such an amp, you should be able to get it repaired without a problem and without having to burn up lots of money.
3. To my ears, they sound better than the RIs. This is of course just my highly personal and prejudiced opinion, but my TR is the 100w version with Master Volume and those "bad" original speakers, but still I like it a lot better than the RIs.

I've tried to search around for heads or combos that have that Twin Reverb sound, but to me it has a very unique sound

That's the point. Some other (Fender or not) amp might come close, but you should ask yourself if you'll be happy with some sort of compromise in the future? After all, there's a reason why so many people risk damaging their backs using those beasts ;).

[Tidepoolbay]

How about a Vibroverb or a Deluxe Reverb?

[spankdplank]

A Pro Reverb sounds about as close to a Twin Reverb as you can get up to to a volume level that will peel paint, after that, the Pro will get gritty and the Twin will stay clean. Rectifier "sag" on a Pro is also not a sonic factor until you are painfully loud. I have played gigs for over 25 years with a 1970 Twin (w/ blackface mods), and for ten years side by side with another guitar player playing a 1966 Pro. At any club level of volume the tone differences between the two amps was negligable. As the cabinet and speakers are essentially the same, the weight difference is also neglibable, with the Twin only slightly heavier. Price wise, 25 year old Twins are dirt cheap and 25 year old Pros actually cost a little more. I still have my old Twin and my bandmate still has his old Pro, but for the clubs we play, he now plays a Deluxe Reverb and I play a 5E3 Tweed Deluxe clone. Our backs are happier.

[doster]

Originally Posted by Goluphi

Find yourself a Silverface Twin - you can get them for $600-800, all day.

+1 they are nice, bought won for a buddy for $500 on CL.
I guess a Vibrolux, but once you get over about 5 on the volume it starts to break up.

[AngryEL34s]

Keep your eyes peeled for a Traynor YGL-3 mkIII. It comes in combo and head format. The combo is as big and heavy as a Twin, but the head is more reasonable to carry around. Fantastic Twin sounds and very pedal friendly! Plus, because they're pretty underrated amps, you should be able to get it cheap - probably ~$400