I had one until very recently and played about 100 surf gigs with it. It is not a bad amp at all. You'd think that the highs would be lacking somehow with the large speaker but, in actuality, you need to watch it to keep it from sounding too bright. The Eminence Commonwealth that is in there is really a good-natured attempt at a (4 Ohm) JBLD130F clone. However, it does not really sound much like one, to my ears. That said, it is a damn fine speaker and will not likely need reconing, unlike the JBL, due to the very high power handling.

The guts of the amp are the same as the Twin Reverb reissue and there is much written about that. IMHO, it the closest Fender has come to recreation in their Vintage Reissue Series. (Though I have not heard the Princeton Reverb yet.)

If you want to read a lot of quality info about real world use of this amp by gigging musicians, head on over to the Steel Guitar Forum. Those guys know their high-power, sparkling-clean, 15"-speakered tube amps. They don't screw around.

SSIV

LHR
I had one until very recently and played about 100 surf gigs with it. It is not a bad amp at all. You'd think that the highs would be lacking somehow with the large speaker but, in actuality, you need to watch it to keep it from sounding too bright. The Eminence Commonwealth that is in there is really a good-natured attempt at a (4 Ohm) JBLD130F clone. However, it does not really sound much like one, to my ears. That said, it is a damn fine speaker and will not likely need reconing, unlike the JBL, due to the very high power handling.

The guts of the amp are the same as the Twin Reverb reissue and there is much written about that. IMHO, it the closest Fender has come to recreation in their Vintage Reissue Series. (Though I have not heard the Princeton Reverb yet.)

If you want to read a lot of quality info about real world use of this amp by gigging musicians, head on over to the Steel Guitar Forum. Those guys know their high-power, sparkling-clean, 15"-speakered tube amps. They don't screw around.

Did you think that it was superior to a regular 2*12 version for the big "surf" kind of thing?

Fargen Amps will take a stock TRRI and rebuild it with ace components, and point to point throughout and a lifetime warranty for 1300. I can get the RI at a good price. That would put the whole thing at about 2000 which is far less than a real one in great or near mint shape (I'm kind of nuts about condition). And you'd still have to spend bucks getting it brought up to speed.

How does everyone feel about blackface amps? I like them very much as I grew up with them, but I know they are brighter than the true blonde circuits in the Showmans, etc.

Tom

dannylectro

LHR
The Eminence Commonwealth that is in there is really a good-natured attempt at a (4 Ohm) JBLD130F clone. However, it does not really sound much like one, to my ears. That said, it is a damn fine speaker and will not likely need reconing, unlike the JBL, due to the very high power handling.

The speaker in the Twin 15 is not a Commonwealth speaker. It's a 75 watt Eminence JBL D130 clone that's made especially made for the Twin Custom 15 amp. And you're right, it does not sound like a real JBL. I found it to be very harsh in high end, I didn't like the sound at all. Weber makes much better JBL type speakers like the California and NeoMag series.

Does the Weber sound like the real deal?

Can one still find the originals around?

TH

oceantracks

dannylectro

LHR
The Eminence Commonwealth that is in there is really a good-natured attempt at a (4 Ohm) JBLD130F clone. However, it does not really sound much like one, to my ears. That said, it is a damn fine speaker and will not likely need reconing, unlike the JBL, due to the very high power handling.

The speaker in the Twin 15 is not a Commonwealth speaker. It's a 75 watt Eminence JBL D130 clone that's made especially made for the Twin Custom 15 amp. And you're right, it does not sound like a real JBL. I found it to be very harsh in high end, I didn't like the sound at all. Weber makes much better JBL type speakers like the California and NeoMag series.

Does the Weber sound like the real deal?

Can one still find the originals around?

TH

Dannylectro: Well, it is a more closely a clone of the JBL E130-4, despite the Fender sales pitch. I don't recall ever seeing a factory 4-Ohm JBL D130F. It has a ceramic magnet, a 4-inch aluminum voice coil, a cast frame, shallow cone, and an aluminum dusctcap, etc., etc. But you are right, the speaker is not technically an Eminence Patriot Commonwealth 15; it is a "Fender Special Design driver made in USA by Eminence, P/N-064398". However, I would bet folding money that these are the same part with different names. Though, you may know some particulars I do not. Then again, who cares much?

oceantracks: The Weber California seems to be not quite as clean as the JBL. There is a little speaker cone distortion there for sure, which I kind of like to be honest. Also, it is not so pronounced in the upper midrange and highs. One odd thing is that it has a 2-inch voice coil and a 4-inch dustcap. Weird. Does this affect the high frequencies? Maybe. After years of that Eminence speaker, this is a welcome relief.

Word on the street is that the Weber Neo 15 comes very close to the old JBL D130 sound. FWIW, I like the (ceramic) Weber California 15 a lot! YMMV.

SSIV

oceantracks

LHR
Fargen Amps will take a stock TRRI and rebuild it with ace components, and point to point throughout and a lifetime warranty for 1300. I can get the RI at a good price. That would put the whole thing at about 2000 which is far less than a real one in great or near mint shape (I'm kind of nuts about condition). And you'd still have to spend bucks getting it brought up to speed.
Tom

Or for 2k I'd sell a mint one off Surfer combo with 15" neo...

I'm a pride owner of a Fender Twin Reverb Amp Custom 15" and a 65 Fender Showman with a really bad 15" Eminence Patriot (yeah I know, but it's the only "decent" speaker I found in Argentina ) I have to say that I choose the Twin, it's a bit harsh but if you turn off the bright and add some treble you can get a great surf sound (with the reverb unit) The spring reverb that came with the amp it's really baaaad! so you need the 6G15. I had a Silverface Twin Reverb years ago and like the Custom 15" better, the silver twin was too bright but also more powerfull (130w!).
I think the amp sound it's a very subjective matter, it's depends in a lot of aspects (the guitar that you use, strings, effects) I read a lot of people who hates the Custom 15, I love it !