1973 Twin Reverb: What to look out for?

[rydia is hot]

I'm helping a family member check out a 1973 Twin Reverb. The seller doesn't know much about it, but the price may be right. I'm pretty sure it has Jensens (def. not JBLs). Other than watching out for the obvious (torn/blown speakers, gnarly mods), is there anything in particular I should check for? We're going to fire it up and put it through its paces.

Heck, while we're at it: what would a fair price be?

Also: we will be sure to watch out for hernias.

 

[rydia is hot]

Lunch bump!

 

[strumminsix]

1st - make sure it has a grounded plug
2nd - run though paces
3rd - bring an RCA cable where you've opened, stripped, twisted the 2 wires together and taped so you can engage the tremolo and disengage the reverb
4th -check the caps under the dog house for bloating

Those are for a players price. For more of a collector:
- check codes on transformers

 

[Oatie]

Here are some pics of my 1966 Factory JBL Twin Reverb, this is what a clean amp looks like, just make sure you pull the chassis and inspect the
caps and stuff. Remember not to touch anything inside as the amp still
holds a charge in the caps. Unplug the amp and leave the 2 power switches in the on position.

 

[zacmac]

orange and black speakers!

as long as it sounds good it probably is good. I'm sure the caps have drifted out of tolerance but if it powers up and sounds fine with no rattles or crackles you are good.

 

[dmagalhaes]

That might be the cleanest Twin I've seen.

 

[smolder]

wow... very nice.

 

[rydia is hot]

Thanks for the replies!

That Twin is INSANELY clean. I wouldn't have thought that possible! Very few gear photos get me piqued, but that is seriously a wonder.

The one we're looking at certainly won't be anything like that.



Any thoughts on what a good price for the 73 might be?

 

[aflynt]

Yeah. The guts on a '73 are going to look like spaghetti vomit compared to the '66 in the picture even if they're untouched. I think they moved from pine to particle board too on the cabs at that point.

-Aaron

 

[davebc]

Here are some pics of my 1966 Factory JBL Twin Reverb, this is what a clean amp looks like, just make sure you pull the chassis and inspect the
caps and stuff. Remember not to touch anything inside as the amp still
holds a charge in the caps. Unplug the amp and leave the 2 power switches in the on position.

Now THAT'S a f***ing Twin!

 

[capnjim]

Yeah baby! Seriously, Its not gonna be a museum piece. That old Twin in the pics is probably pristine because it sounds so bad. Just one of many of the ole blackface duds! Nobody could bear to hear it, so they kept on sticking it in a closet where it belongs.
The best thing is to bring a guitar with you, plug it in.. and put everything, all the controls, to the extreme right. Then, hit a really hard open "E". If your ears start bleeding, its good to go!

 

[dharmafool]

FWIW, according to The Fender Amp Book by John Moorish, in 1973, Twins went to 100 watts and sported a master volume. That master volume acts before the phase inverter. If you buy the amp you should consider modifying to a post-phase inverter master volume or remove the MV altogether.

 

[sunburst79]

The cab will almost certainly be particle board. And if it needs repairs that might be difficult. As mentioned if is sounds good its probably pretty healthy. It should have a three prong plug from the factory. If its got the original red plug and its In good shape that's a bonus. Sometimes a alligator clip will work for shorting out the vibrato foot switch as mentioned. With any luck the amp will still have is factory foot switch. Most Twins I've seen seem to. If its got the master volume try pulling it for the gain boost. Some like it. Most don't. Be prepared for some of the nicest clean reverb tones you've ever heard.

 

[jcs]

SF Twins are easy to find in less than mint condition for pretty low dough.

Fender sold lots of them, but the demand these days isn't as high as smaller Fender amps, so you should easily be able to find a decent one for cheap if you look around.

The 1973 and later are the least desirable ones and they won't have Jensens.....the Fender/Jensen era was done by the late 60's as Fender went mainly Utah, CTS & JBL.

 

[walterw]

Here are some pics of my 1966 Factory JBL Twin Reverb, this is what a clean amp looks like

wow, nice repro! who built that for you?

 

[smolder]

The cab will almost certainly be particle board.

In '73 the cab would still be pine, but the baffle would be particle board.

 

[rydia is hot]

Thanks again for the info! I'm expecting some messy wiring.

I believe it has Oxfords. How are those?