castpolymer
Joined: Jun 02, 2008
Posts: 16
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 12:53 PM
Wow! I am so excited I found this site! I am fairly new at guitar ( at the ripe age of 37 ). I am really getting into playing Ventures, Dick Dale etc. Anyway, I am currently using a Line 6 modeling amp ( which definately serves its purupose as I like a ton of different music ). I would like to purchase a tube amp for playing surf music ( and perhaps my beloved Stones ). Do any of you learned folks have any suggestions for a newbie. Thanks ahead of time for your input.
P.S. Since I am fairly new into guitar, could you please specify make and model ( I can afford a reissue, but not an original ). Thanks from Oklahoma!
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 01:05 PM
Now that you asked.......Old Edward J Katcher would go with a Twin Reverb. The early ones are still a good bargain. I have had several 68/69's and they were very good amps. I had a blackface original but opted to sell it and keep my '68. I am currently using the same chassis (68 Dual Showman Reverb) to power my favorite 2-15 small Showman cab with 2-15's. This rig will do anything. If I could have only one amp, it would be the Twin. If I could have only two amps, one would be the twin and a Deluxe Reverb. Three amps, a good Bandmaster with matching cab, and so forth and so on and the insanity never ends.
Oh! Welcome aboard!
......ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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TFJ
Joined: Mar 04, 2006
Posts: 278
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 01:11 PM
If I remember correctly, I believe the Stones had some Showmans with 15" Showman cabs in the Rock & Roll Circus video...seems like that would work
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 01:21 PM
I'm pretty sure I remember that the famous hook in Satisfaction was recorded with a Gibson Maestro Fuzz and a Fender Showman amp with JBL's.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 02:20 PM
eddiekatcher
Now that you asked.......Old Edward J Katcher would go with a Twin Reverb. The early ones are still a good bargain. I have had several 68/69's and they were very good amps. I had a blackface original but opted to sell it and keep my '68. I am currently using the same chassis (68 Dual Showman Reverb) to power my favorite 2-15 small Showman cab with 2-15's. This rig will do anything. If I could have only one amp, it would be the Twin. If I could have only two amps, one would be the twin and a Deluxe Reverb. Three amps, a good Bandmaster with matching cab, and so forth and so on and the insanity never ends.
Oh! Welcome aboard!
......ed
New at guitar and he needs a twin?  Of the two amps you listed as your "if I could only have two" a deluxe makes ALOT more sense to a newbie who may NEVER play out. A twin is too much in most of the clubs folks play anyway unless you're Dick Dale or Keith Richards and the club HAS to put up with your volume.
Personally I just looked for help from the folks here to find something smaller than a deluxe reverb as for at home playing I think even those are too much when you crank it to fulfill its tone potential!
For the record, More than once Keith has talked about the magic of a Fender guitar through a Fender amp, and has used everything from princetons and champs through showmans live and in the studio. And yes tweed twins have figured prominently, but we ain't all Keith 
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reventlos
Joined: May 23, 2006
Posts: 209
Costa Mesa
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 04:04 PM
I suppose I should chime in here, as I sub in a Stones tribute band from time to time (the guys like to play with me as I do a pretty decent Mick Taylor, but I'm 100 years old and don't have much of a look). You might consider this: This band is into looking authentic, so I've bought a couple of 70's Ampeg heads (a B-25 and a V-2) off of Ebay at bargain prices. These are cool amps, and, while I tend to dial them in for the Ya-Ya's vibe, there's no reason that these can't be played clean for surfy sound. Most of the V series amps have tons of rocker switches allowing both clean and raunchy settings, and are pretty versatile amps. The B-25 is a very plain amp with no features, but is 50 watts of tube rectified fun, and growls when you crank it (not really using it---make me an offer!). Stick a reverb unit in front of it and plug it into Showman cabinet (rewired to 16 ohms though!!) and you might get what you're looking for. Seriously, check into these vintage Ampeg heads---they can still be had for bargain prices, and are nice amps.
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 05:52 PM
I gotta concur with Eddie...you can't beat a Twin Reverb as "the" combo amp for a clean surf sound. This is assuming you have a wife, significant other, and neighbors that will tolerate the volume, as a Twin likes to be cranked a bit to reach optimum tonality. The advantage of the Twin over the Deluxe Reverb (besides it having vastly more headroom) is that you won't be tempted to trade up later should you ever play in a band setting. I used a reissue Twin in the house for many years without hurting anyone's ears or having the police called. I wish I hadn't sold it, but Dual Showman fever struck back in the 90's.
With that said, I primarily use a Deluxe Reverb in my home studio, as at recording levels it has the perfect level of what I call "urgent tonality" for what I do. It has a reasonably clean sound, but it is a little edgier than a Twin. It would probably work great for many Stones songs as well.
Unless you forsee playing in a band at some point, as others have pointed out perhaps the DR would be the better choice for you. The reissues are really good for the price (especially on eBay), and if you replace the stock speaker with a Weber California series, you will definitely get more clean headroom.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
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