Is a Twin Reverb the only way to Bakersfield country tone?

I think that just about any BF or SF Fender amp with reverb ought to work. I know my Princeton Reverb gets there...

Cheers, Tim

 

Don and Buck switched because they weren't getting the authentic Bakersfield™ tone that they were chasing.

 

Well, if you want a modern bulletproof BF Super, try an Allen Amplification Old Flame. I just got one and with the 3-knob reverb section, it's the best clean tone I've ever had....

Running it through a custom 2x10 cabinet with a couple reconed 1966 Jensen C10N's, with Weber Beam Blockers.....

 

I like my mean ol' Silver face twin from '73, for 6 bills and some new speakers of your choice You'll get that Don rich tone in any hall you play, they are heavy tho and if you wanna, check out Peavey, Redd uses em and he ain't no slouch in the tone dept, and hell, he's on this forum , ask him direct!

 

You said you have a Fender Reverb unit...

If you have a decent speker cab to run, I would keep my eyes peeled for a black, brown, or blonde (take your pick, they all kill) Tremolux head.

They can still be had, in great shape, for a lot less dough than alot of other vintage Fenders, and the tone? How sweet it is!!

 

I am sure that some folks will disagree with my choice but almost any amp I have used lately and that includes my 5f4 and 5e3 and my Silvertone 1472 and my two SS bass heads which are a Kustom III and a Traynor Mono Block I can get good country twang using my Digitech PR Pedals either of my 50s or my 80. Use the black face setting and you really can change the tone of a tweed amp or a bass amp and the added effects help too. Using brighter speakers for these amps help too.

 

A key piece of needed info is missing - at what volume level do you need to sound like that? And if it's at high volume, can you mike the amp or do you need to have the amp do all the work?

 

+1. Imio, any BF/SF Fender REverb amp will do that sound at some volume level. The TR does it best, imo. The SS rectification, big wattage and the big iron in the OT gets that sound done the best, to my ear. Big firm bottom end, sparkling highs....
The 5F6A Tweed BAssman that was mentioned yields fairly firm lows at some volume and the GZ34 rectification is fairly firm, but there is a reason why LEo and Co. went looking for bigger, firmer lows and cleaner sounds. LEo always listened to the pro players, and he gave them what they wanted. This path sort of led Fender away from what many rock players eventually decided on..which were amps based on the tweed Bassman, which have more preamp gain tied to strong power sections.
TR's do that sound like no other amp...at ANY volume you want or need.

 

Bill Kirchen did exactly that kind of music for many years on a Deluxe Reverb, like his SFDR shown below (the other amp was a backup) before moving to his Talos amp. Jim Weider's gig amp of choice is also a DR.

 

That 35310 wont' get that big firm bottom...the Bandmaster 5E7 circuit allows a lot of compression and singing tones when pushed. YEs, some different speakers would firm things up, but then you lose the beauty of that amp. And...the 35310 never gets that big, firm low end hit. The 5F6A Bassman and the TWeed Twins get closer with the increased rectification and long-tailed PI.
Imho, a TR would you good. A Super REverb might get it done. Without micing in the clubs, a DR won't cut it for my money. The TWin REverb would have no problems working that sound for you in the clubs or outdoors.

 

If you're talking about large club volume, unmiked, I'd say Super Reverb at a minimum, or Allen Old Flame which is a better amp in the same concept / tone family.

 

If cost is an object, stop overthinking it and get a SF twin. Clean and bright, any volume.

 

I'm a Twin convert; I say, just get one.

Mine is a current reissue, and the clean tones are perfect. I think you'd nail the tone you're looking for, and even if you don't -- I bet you end up loving the amp.

 

If it doesn't have to be a combo and since you have a tank reverb you could get a dual showman.

 

I've thought a lot about this.

YES.

 

Howdy,

No, but they're a great way to get Bakersfield tone. Considering how affordable used Twins (SF and especially the red knob variant) are these days I probably wouldn't consider anything else. Of course, I respect anyone who wants to follow his/her own path!

Eggman

 

I certainly don't think a Twin Reverb is the only way to get the tone you're looking for, but you clearly need more amps, so I say get one immediately.

 

I've had two Twins and loved them, but the weight got to be too much for me. I'm sure you don't need one to get the sound. Certain smaller Fenders listed above should do the job. I did like the Deluxe I had. I don't know enough about other brands to comment.