A Few Silverface Twin Reverb Questions

One of the other guitarists in my band just got a silverface Twin Reverb to use at practice (he's too lazy to move his regular amp i guess.) Trying to figure out when it was made and also have a few other questions

1. It has JBL speakers in it; did Fender ever use those in these amps?
2. It has black grill cloth; they never used black did they?
3. Most silverface Twins I have seen just say "Twin Reverb" but this one says "Twin Reverb-Amp". When was this amp made?

1) Yes They did use those speakers.
2)That is re-clothed.
3)Not sure.
I own a 71'

Is it a master volume? Push pull volume knob?
you can check the serial number on the Fender web site.

1) JBLs were an upgrade option.

A lot of the silverface amps are really sliced and diced up. Not that that relates to your questions but I think if you get one there is a pretty good chance it's been screwed around with. Seems like people like to mod up the Twins more then any other model.

This site... http://www.superchamp.dk/papers/dating_fender_tube_amps.htm
has info on all things related to vintage Fender amps. There is a serial number on the back of the amp that can be used to date that amp. As to originality, these articles in the link above goes through some info to help a person come to understand how to date components in the amps, as well.

I don't know the year range exactly, but the "-Amp" makes it an early SF, so the circuit might even be identical to the BF circuit.

- Scott

I BELIEVE that saying "Twin Reverb Amp" means it is prior to '72. I know my '69 says just that. It is deffinately early 70's. Does it have master volume? This feature was added about '73 (I'm sure others will chime in here).

Black grill cloth is not origional, and JBLs were a factory upgrade (as others have said).

If it has a "drip edge" around the grill, and black lines through the faceplate, it is a '68. For example, this amp has a drip edge:
http://fmogearshop.com/store/images/P/68Champ1.jpg

FWIW, the SF Blackline cosmetics were introduced in April, 1967. Generally, these cosmetics lasted until May, '68 when the circuits changed. I have never seen 'BF circuit' SF amps with anything other than blackline cosmetics, and I can't recall having seen 'SF circuits' in blackline panelled amps. IT could happen, but I haven't seen it....nor have I seen it all, right?

Extract from Fender Amp Field Guide

Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface)

Schematic/Layout:

* twin_reverb_ab763.pdf


Model/Circuit Number: AB763
Years of Production: 1963 - 1967
Era: Blackface

Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface)

Schematic/Layout:

* twin_reverb_aa769.pdf
* twin_reverb_aa270.pdf
* 100W_Mast_Vol_SF_Twin_Rev.pdf
* twin_reverb_sf_135.pdf


Model/Circuit Number: AC568, AA769, AA270
Years of Production: 1968 - 1982
Era: Silverface

It's a non master volume model. It has wheels on the bottom and I was wondering if that was original.

It has wheels on the bottom and I was wondering if that was original.

According to the FFG, they had casters from '72 to '82. For the love of god, don't "blackface" that part of it! :lol:

- Scott

According to the FFG, they had casters from '72 to '82. For the love of god, don't "blackface" that part of it! :lol:

- Scott

Oh I won't! it's HEAVY!!!

So.....did you ever get the serial number and/or date some of the components so as to 'date' the amp with the help of the charts in that link above???

So.....did you ever get the serial number and/or date some of the components so as to 'date' the amp with the help of the charts in that link above???

I'm gonna look at the number tonight. Been on the road and the amp is back at rehearsal studio.

OK, It's a 1968 Twin Reverb