AndrewTesta
Joined: Mar 18, 2020
Posts: 123
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 11:36 AM
Hey guitar surfers, been a while for me
I have what I think is a pretty nice trade in the works. I currently own a ‘65 TRRI which I would love to downsize, but getting rid of a twin is like pulling teeth.
I surprisingly found a trade with a guy who owns a ‘65 DRRI who wants something with more power and would like my twin. He wants something bigger, I want something smaller. Perfect match
however, I love my twin and fear if I get rid, I’ll never have this tone and sound again. I’m underutilizing it by playing bedroom levels in my basement, but it still just hits the sweet spot.
My question is, can I still surf and get classic tone with a DRRI? He’s allowing me to keep one of the original Jensens from the twin (made in 1992 and they’re broken in to perfection, sound amazing) since he plans on installing a cannabis Rex with the other Jensen. He’s also letting me swap the reverb pans so I can keep my made in USA accutronics which I think sounds superior vs when they migrated to Korea. His DRRI is an ‘06 so I’m sure it has a Korean pan inside.
I like the trade, just worried the little brother to my twin won’t give me what I already have. Strictly tone, not worried about volume or saturation. I can’t turn my twin past 1.5-2 so I imagine the deluxe won’t get much higher either for bedroom noodling.
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AgentClaret
Joined: Jan 30, 2024
Posts: 129
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 11:53 AM
I'm sort of in the same boat. I'd really like a Twin but it's way too much power for just playing in my room like I do. I'm even considering Tonemaster or maybe a UA Dream 65 so I can get good breakup at sane levels.
I don't know, I've never actually owned a tube amp. It'd be really nice to have a resource that breaks down the characteristics of each classic Fender amp model without getting too deep into the weeds with transformers, capacitors, etc.
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AndrewTesta
Joined: Mar 18, 2020
Posts: 123
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 12:38 PM
AgentClaret wrote:
I'm sort of in the same boat. I'd really like a Twin but it's way too much power for just playing in my room like I do. I'm even considering Tonemaster or maybe a UA Dream 65 so I can get good breakup at sane levels.
I don't know, I've never actually owned a tube amp. It'd be really nice to have a resource that breaks down the characteristics of each classic Fender amp model without getting too deep into the weeds with transformers, capacitors, etc.
A buddy of mine has a tone master twin reverb and he loves it. Half the weight and has a built in attenuator. Twins aren’t meant to have any “crunch” you’ll definitely need a pedal if you want any sort of distortion, you’ll be deaf by the time you hear any sort of break up lol usually a Princeton or Deluxe are the go-to’s for bedroom level playing. Obviously you can get a champ or any other low watt fender but PR and DR are the most popular. My first tube amp was a ltd blues jr tweed. Hated it, way too bright but you were able to drop the master volume and crank the gain to get a natural distortion without killing your ears. But the reverb was awful and just all around too bright. Think it was a dud. Even with the treble on 0… anyway, any of the blues jr’s or hot rod series. Anything tweed or with a master volume you can get natural overdrive and still keep it quiet and they’re half the price of a new Princeton/deluxe reissue
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 756
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 12:47 PM
Obviously you should play through the DRRI first to see what you think about the sound. I don't have one, but I built an amp with the AB763 Deluxe Reverb circuit, and it sounds great. Also quite loud - I hardly turn it up more than 4. Both the TR and DR reissues are based on amps with the AB763 circuit, so much of the tone circuitry, etc. should be the same - the main differences are in the power tubes, how much air they move, and how clean they stay when turned up loud.
I'd expect if you put your broken-in speaker into that DRRI, you'd be quite happy with the sound. It probably won't feel the same, but the tone should be great. And yes, it will be great for surf as well. And if you find it's not quite there, get the Blossom Point pedal to put in front of it.
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AndrewTesta
Joined: Mar 18, 2020
Posts: 123
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 01:46 PM
edwardsand wrote:
Obviously you should play through the DRRI first to see what you think about the sound. I don't have one, but I built an amp with the AB763 Deluxe Reverb circuit, and it sounds great. Also quite loud - I hardly turn it up more than 4. Both the TR and DR reissues are based on amps with the AB763 circuit, so much of the tone circuitry, etc. should be the same - the main differences are in the power tubes, how much air they move, and how clean they stay when turned up loud.
I'd expect if you put your broken-in speaker into that DRRI, you'd be quite happy with the sound. It probably won't feel the same, but the tone should be great. And yes, it will be great for surf as well. And if you find it's not quite there, get the Blossom Point pedal to put in front of it.
Already got one and it helps a lot! But as much as I’d love to sit down and play with both amps, we’re meeting halfway for the trade which is 2 hour drive both ways so him and I are just going off good faith, sound demos and repair invoices. Both of us have owned our amps roughly a year and each had a fender certified tech go over them, rebias, etc. mine has new tubes though his does not, but he says he believes it to be in tip top shape so we shall see. I’m essentially giving him my TR with one speaker, and he’s giving me his DR with no speaker and my original reverb pan. Leaving my Jensen at home to re-install once I bring it back… trading big brother for little brother. But you’re lucky to get $800 for a used TRRI when the DRRI is much more valuable/desirable so I think it all evens out financially, hopefully
Last edited: Sep 08, 2024 14:07:27
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 756
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 02:40 PM
I think you are getting the better part of the deal, especially in getting to keep that speaker you love and the older reverb pan. And as you say, Twins are not easy to sell - I've seen silverface Twin Reverbs for sale locally as low as $700, and the reissues don't go for much more. So if you do end up regretting the swap, you'd be able to sell the DRRI much more quickly.
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TheOutpost
Joined: May 26, 2020
Posts: 257
Highlands Ranch
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Posted on Sep 08 2024 03:53 PM
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4446
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Sep 09 2024 08:24 AM
I’ve owned both. I wouldn’t give it a second thought. Unless you are playing a lot of huge venues, or outdoor gigs, you’ll never get that Twin to its sweet spot. DRRIs sound great.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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