What should I get? Mid 70's Silverface Twin/Custom Vibroverb

vibroverb.unless you think you really need 100 watts...

 

Two things:First pick up the twin-they are really heavy.Second I think it would sound better(I don't know about dollar amount?),two 6L6's being my favoriite tube set,and Cesar having worked on my amp,when he was alive...

 

bare in mind, most fuzzes and OD pedals only sound good when the amps tone is natural breaking up by the tubes, clean tone into a fuzz pedal doesn't usually translate into a good tone. A twin is gonna stay clean unless cranked, but then it's too loud. I agree the $$$ difference is huge between the two and $800 sounds like a killer deal for a 70's twin. But if you can afford the Vibroverb, I'd say go for it, I'm sure it will sound amazing - a keeper for sure.

 

Vibroverb. I NEVER play my Twin because I'd go deaf cranking it to the recommended sweet spot levels (the magic settings are Vol - 6, T - 6, M - 3, B - 2. Seriously, A Twin at a 6???) At home or even small venue settings the thing was still too loud. Not to mention it weighs 85 lbs. I'm a young guy and in pretty good shape but that thing is a back breaker. Personally, I'd rather have a cranked amp that needs to be mike'd than a beast that has to be tamed.

 

Are those the only two choices? $800 or $2,700? Sounds like you have a lot of wiggle room to look at some other amps. $800 for a Silver Face twin isn't really a great deal. I see them for $500 in pretty good shape on Craigslist.

You can get the Twin and still get a really nice other amp as well, like a Silver face Vibrolux.

 

Personally, I just don't like Twins. I had a BF Twin back in the day, and it was nice for that grateful Dead sort of sound, but that was about it. The Vibroverb would have much more heart, and would be less of a bone crusher. But $2700 is lots of money. There are a lot of amps I would buy before the Vibroverb for that amount of cash.

 

The Custom Vibroverb comes in a cabinet basically (or exactly?) the same size as the twin, doesn't it? Have you picked up one and then picked up the other? I bet the weight difference isn't very much at all - i.e., both very heavy. Is the twin 85 watts or 135? (it would say on the back.) If it's 85, then it's a standard fender circuit and sound. The 135w is Ultralinear, and not as popular (though many people think it sounds great). the Vibroverb at 40 or 50 watts (depending on the setting) is going to be a loud amp too. Then you've got that 15 inch speaker in the vibroverb, which isn't everybody's cup of tea, vs 2 12s in the Twin which you can swap out constantly like the rest of us.

I would say since you like the sounds you're getting from the twin, and you're only going to use pedals for dirt, the Twin sounds like a better way to go. Size and weight are so similar that I think you would have to really like the sound of the Vibroverb over the Twin spend the extra 1900 bucks.

I also agree that the price is a little high for that twin, though not a lot, especially depending on whether it has been recently serviced and what condition it's in. If it's clean and been serviced that's a decent price.

One last thing I'd mention is there are a LOT of amps out there between 800 and 2700 dollars. I would definitely check some of them out, even drive to nearby towns to check out amps in other stores, before you drop 2700 on that Vibroverb. I've played one and I thought it was nice, but I would never spend 2700 on that amp, personally.

Oh and one more last thing about price, you can resell the twin again for close to what you paid, but you will take a hit reselling the Vibroverb since you bought it new.

Good Luck!

 

yeah, the 135-watter is the least-desired twin, i'd frankly rather play through a reissue '65 TR. i would hold out for a non-master volume silverface twin, or at least a 100 watt master volume version, which will still be less brittle-sounding than the 135-watt and will be capable of being modded to blackface specs. $800 seems high for that thing.

 

+1
I see them on craigslist for 5-600 all the time. I'd pick one up, but Then I'd have to pick it up I want one but man they are heavy.

of course I just looked and for some reason they are all $800 today! But a few of them are reissues.

 

Go with the Vibroverb...the Twin wont take pedals that well for OD because it won't saturate until it's really cranked. I have a '66 Twin and can do a few OD's but doesn't take everything really well. I likes Tube Screamer type pedals, but not much else.

 

I've been throught alot of tube amps in the past 10 years and the 135 watt U/L twin is my one of my all time favorite amps.The U/L transformer is very hi fi,you get a VERY wide response from these tranny's...They are unpopular here though,alot of guys here like the one trick pony amps and thats not a bad thing they know what tone they want to hear out of a certain amp.Guys like me on the otherhand don't have the luxury of owning a dozen amps or so to achieve a particular tone.

The 135 watt twin is very versitile,it's the best platform for pedals out of any amp i've owned.I can do Gilmour,Sabbath,country,metal,polka,you name it.Seriously.......Trick is with these amps is have the right speakers.If they are stock check the codes.If you have Pyle,get rid of them(thin,and bright),If they are Rola's with the bigger magnet KEEP(warm and ballanced).....Also don't let people tell you you have to turn these up to ear bleed levels to find the sweet spot.That is utter nonsense,I also use mine as a recording amp in my house and get great low volume tones.

 

Go with what works for you. But based on what you said, I'd check out an early, pre master volume, silverface Pro Reverb if you like 2 12s, or Vibrolux if you like 2 10s. They're both 40W 2 6L6 like the Vibroverb.

 

Having suffered a slipped disc due to hauling a heavy amp around town, I'd recommend the Vibroverb. It's just lighter. I just tried a good-sounding amp today and would have bought it, if it didn't weigh 70 pounds! If you are looking at hauling the amp around town, weight is a big factor to consider.

Also I heard somewhere (fender forum) that the Custom Vibroverb might be discontinued, so you may want to factor that in. It may be harder to find one further down the road.

All in all, I think the Vibroverb is a pretty cool package, if it weren't for the hefty price tag.

 

i think you made a good call...shoot $2700 can buy a real BF Twin in great shape...i can't bring myself to spend that on a new amp though.

btw i just saw a used custom vibroverb at GC (oklahoma city) for $1800 last week...i wonder if they ship used amps store to store like they can new ones???

 

If you're in Nashville, there used to be a cool guitar store on West End I think. Was it Rock Block? Or is that a different place? It was in an old house. Also I hear great things about a place there called Corner Music, but I've never been there. Just some ideas of more places to check out amps!