Holy *&#%!...I'm a believer now...

[rubbersoul]

...in vintage gear. Had a little time to kill today and went into GC just to hang out for a bit and played a '73 silverface twin reverb. Holy crap...it's a tone I can't get out of my head. It was sooooooo fat and rich sounding. The vibrato and reverb weren't working, but who cares...it sounded that good to me. They wanted $850 for it and if I had the money...I would've had to grab it right up.

I had just grabbed a cheap Tele that was buzzing and out of whack like every other guitar at GC and even that thing sounded like heaven through the amp! I guess it IS better to have a cheap guitar and great amp rather than the other way around!

This is undoubtedly the next item on my wish list...NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!

[rubbersoul]

Huh...just read past threads on this amp and found its spotty record among forumites. Harsh and icepicky were terms being used. Hmm...this one didn't sound like that AT ALL!!! Strange. I don't know anything else about these amps but what I heard today and I was impressed.

Is getting one of these a crapshoot?

[Analog Assassin]

Not really a crapshoot. Silverface or not, they still have that distinctive bloodline. I bet they had good speakers in there. I think even silverfaces are hard to beat if they have good tubes, good speakers and are biased correctly.

[Wheeler004]

I got bitten by the vintage gear bug a couple years ago. It can be an expensive affliction, but sweet Jesus how satisfying! You have found your first, but certainly not your last, vintage love affair.

[vicdeluca71]

Originally Posted by rubbersoul

Huh...just read past threads on this amp and found its spotty record among forumites. Harsh and icepicky were terms being used. Hmm...this one didn't sound like that AT ALL!!! Strange. I don't know anything else about these amps but what I heard today and I was impressed.

Is getting one of these a crapshoot?

I've owned 5 twins.For some reason I just keep coming back to them.........One of my favorite amps

[meterman]

'73 is still a good year, particularly if it does not have a master volume, I think they started adding them in '73. The MV itself is not too bad just that there are other circuit changes starting to happen by that point. Still great amps. But yes Twins are loud, clean and kinda bright, I love them but to some that might be cold and ice picky, compared to say an AC15 or something...important thing is if you liked it! But, $850 is high I think for one with reverb and trem not working, make sure there aren't other more serious issues with it, and try a couple more before buying vintage from GC b/c their prices on vintage gear seem high to me. Could just be the tubes that drive the 'verb and trem are worn out....also keep in mind that when buying an old amp some preventative maintenance is usually in order, it will need a filter cap job if it hasn't been done, that usually runs around $100, plus maybe new tubes etc. But, with basic maintenance that amp should run for years to come and the value should slowly increase as well...

[rubbersoul]

Originally Posted by meterman

'73 is still a good year, particularly if it does not have a master volume, I think they started adding them in '73. The MV itself is not too bad just that there are other circuit changes starting to happen by that point. Still great amps. But yes Twins are loud, clean and kinda bright, I love them but to some that might be cold and ice picky, compared to say an AC15 or something...important thing is if you liked it! But, $850 is high I think for one with reverb and trem not working, make sure there aren't other more serious issues with it, and try a couple more before buying vintage from GC b/c their prices on vintage gear seem high to me. Could just be the tubes that drive the 'verb and trem are worn out....also keep in mind that when buying an old amp some preventative maintenance is usually in order, it will need a filter cap job if it hasn't been done, that usually runs around $100, plus maybe new tubes etc. But, with basic maintenance that amp should run for years to come and the value should slowly increase as well...

Those are great tips...thanks! Since I got the GAS attack this afternoon, I've since searched online and, yes, $850 seems high now. In the future though, one of these babies will be mine.

[meterman]

No problem...Before you decide on a Twin you may also want to check out a Super Reverb and/or Vibrolux Reverb if you can! Similar great tone at lower volumes...

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by meterman

no problem...before you decide on a twin you may also want to check out a super reverb and/or vibrolux reverb if you can! Similar great tone at lower volumes...

yes!

[pfflam]

The important thing to remember is that most players use Twins when they want to remain clean at volume, and I mean VOLUME.

You can have the same Fender sound, maybe even better with smaller amps.
The amp I like best is a Super - but that too is loud ( I like Clean at volume - I have a Showman (think Twin in Head form))

[jaxworlds]

There was one with no reverb at the GC in Sherman Oaks, if that is where you saw it..just note it has been there over 6 months, I am sure they want to get rid of it.. so make a lowball offer..

[vds5000]

Originally Posted by pfflam

The important thing to remember is that most players use Twins when they want to remain clean at volume, and I mean VOLUME.

You can have the same Fender sound, maybe even better with smaller amps.
The amp I like best is a Super - but that too is loud ( I like Clean at volume - I have a Showman (think Twin in Head form))

The '78 Fender Super Reverb I tried out a couple of weekends ago had the best sounding cleans I had ever heard - this coming from a guy who just parted ways with his Victory 80410 (High Powered Twin).

[ROKY]

Rubbersoul - I'm assuming your a Beatles fan ? >who isn't<

Get yourself a Showman and a Blonde-era-circuit Bassman, & you'll have
a lot of the 1965-69 Beatles tones sorted.

I love my Showman amp for big, full, cleans in the normal channel, or
I'll dial up the Vibrato channel for less treble, full mids, and a leaner bass
and it gets some really gritty edge-of-dirt rhythms, and tasty overdrive
if you plug in a humbucker guitar.

The Blonde Bassman is THE amp that Paul,George, and John ALL adored
using in the studio, & that amp is really dripping w/ great tones

Between the Showman and Blonde Bassman my particular Fender tone
cravings are covered, tho' I'd like to get a Brown Fender Concert in
the future for the sick vibrato .


Read this informative thread when you have some time -
http://dam.10.forumer.com/a/the-beat...l_post732.html



SF Twins !
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&oq=don%27t+le

[taddertot]

Originally Posted by rubbersoul

Those are great tips...thanks! Since I got the GAS attack this afternoon, I've since searched online and, yes, $850 seems high now. In the future though, one of these babies will be mine.

If the amp has THE tone your looking for then $850.00 aint bad. Sure it's a little high as far as what you can get the same for on the street. I am a firm believer in..if it aint broke dont fix it. I love the sound of old (not worn out) caps. Same with the right speakers. I read where Eric Johnson feels the same...leave the old caps in if you can..mojo/tone. If you remember how the amp sounded and felt and can't stop thinking about it. You better find a way to buy it..it's amp love..and this could be the one that got away. Funny..but true.

[rubbersoul]

Originally Posted by ROKY

Rubbersoul - I'm assuming your a Beatles fan ? >who isn't<

Get yourself a Showman and a Blonde-era-circuit Bassman, & you'll have
a lot of the 1965-69 Beatles tones sorted.

I love my Showman amp for big, full, cleans in the normal channel, or
I'll dial up the Vibrato channel for less treble, full mids, and a leaner bass
and it gets some really gritty edge-of-dirt rhythms, and tasty overdrive
if you plug in a humbucker guitar.

The Blonde Bassman is THE amp that Paul,George, and John ALL adored
using in the studio, & that amp is really dripping w/ great tones

Between the Showman and Blonde Bassman my particular Fender tone
cravings are covered, tho' I'd like to get a Brown Fender Concert in
the future for the sick vibrato .


Read this informative thread when you have some time -
http://dam.10.forumer.com/a/the-beat...l_post732.html



SF Twins !
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&oq=don%27t+le

Thanks ROKY!! Great info...I'm going to start researching the Showman and Blonde Bassmans. And, yes, I'm a raging Beatles fan. That clean tone yesterday just took my breath away. I could have sat for hours just noodling in the cleanness. "Don't Let Me Down" never sounded better.

GAS...oh my! Thanks again.