Photo of the Day
BTD
BTD
Shoutbox

sysmalakian: Birthday month starts now!
363 days ago

diceophonic: Vampiro Classics 2024 reissue
344 days ago

SabedLeepski: Sunburn Surf Fest for some scorching hot surf music: https://sunb...
301 days ago

skeeter: I know a Polish sound guy.
229 days ago

skeeter: I know a Czech one too!
229 days ago

PatGall: Surfybear metal settings
149 days ago

Pyronauts: Happy Tanks-Kicking!
127 days ago

midwestsurfguy: Merry Christmas!
95 days ago

sysmalakian: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
89 days ago

SabedLeepski: Surfin‘ Europe, for surf (related) gigs and events in Europe Big Razz https://sunb...
50 days ago

Please login or register to shout.

Current Polls

No polls at this time. Check out our past polls.

Current Contests

No contests at this time. Check out our past contests.

Donations

Help us meet our monthly goal:

100%

100%

Donate Now

Cake March Birthdays Cake
SG101 Banner

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink 70s Silverface Twin Reverb - Any Good?

New Topic
Goto Page: 1 2 Next

I have a lead for a 1975 Twin Reverb w Master Volume for $600. Now I have read stories where it is not worth the money, but it is coming from blues players. What do surf players think of the mid 70s twins?

Should I save up for a Deluxe Reverb reissue instead?

One thing to consider about the reissues is that Fender no longer builds amps that are intended to last a lifetime.

I've watched as the prices of big heavy combo amps has dropped like a stone. $700-800 is the going rate here for 1970-1975 Twin Reverbs. It was $900-$1000 this time last year.

I think most players just don't want to carry a Twin Reverb anymore. Saying a $600 twin reverb isn't worth the money is really just saying "I'm too old and tired to lug it around, even if it does sound great."

I get to use that exact model on a weekly basis at band practice, and it sounds great, and has more power than I'll ever need.

If you are buying it to use, value be damned, it's a good price, if the amp is nice. If you are buying it to play occasionally, and have something worth more in the future, I think thats a poor bet.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

Yeah...$600 is a great price for a great amp. Go for it.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

I've had a 1974 twin and loved it. But it is heavy and it's loud and it needs regular check ups to make sure it stays reliable. But since I sold it I went solid state and never looked back, so maybe I'm biased... Smile

Last edited: Mar 30, 2017 01:23:35

I'd go with point to point wiring any time. That's a good price if your back can handle it.

For around the same price, you can get a good Quilter amp you won't break your back. Many members rave about those amps.

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

I find the master volume Twin's a little stiff for blues, but for surf, go for it! Make sure to have the filter caps checked. They might need to be replaced. Every 10 to 15 years max, IMO. A well maintained SF Twin will be much much more reliable than any PCB modern Fender and will probably outlive you, when most if not all Fender RI's will be rotting away in a landfill eventually.

They are also made with much better parts than a RI and are much easier to service. I would shy away from that Deluxe RI. It will also breakup much earlier compared to a Twin so you would lose those sweet surf cleans pretty early on the dial. A Twin will stay nice and clean and I used to run mine with 2 power tubes instead of 4. Roughly half the wattage and warmed up the tone a little. Something to consider.

Last edited: Mar 29, 2017 16:08:52

I had one and gigged regularly in a band called Naked Ruby...getting home in the early hours and carrying it up three flights of stairs. Beer strength. Couldn't and wouldn't do that now. Expect that's the end of this then

Last edited: Mar 29, 2017 16:10:30

Well worth the asking price imho and the SF Twins sound great.

May want to ask about the speakers though?

For Surf it would be a better amp than Deluxe.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Las_Barracudas wrote:

May want to ask about the speakers though?

Looks like they are stock. Thanks so much for the input guys! I just sold a guitar and I have more to invest.

The 1975 he is selling has new filter caps and transformers installed... The 1972 is stock and in better cosmetic condition and he is asking $700. There is also a Vibroverb reissue on CL that I just sent an offer. What's better and will last longer?

So many options!

Ive had a ~1975 SF Twin Reverb for 30 years and I love playing out of it .
When I was young and stronger I had no problem taking it everywhere but I loathe moving it now , its an easy 100 lb amp . I put it in a road case and ask for help now , or just take a MusicMan twin which is much lighter.
The SF Twin has more than enough power for any situation , you will never be drown out by a drummer ever again .I use a big old fender extension cabinet with mine , the sound is huge .
The on board tremolo and reverb are quite good but I use a tank for reverb ..but in an emergency you could easily do a gig with the on board reverb. I like the trem and use it a lot .
If you dont like the master volume feature just turn it up to 10 and use the channel vol only .
Its a lot of amp for the money , hand wired in SoCal and built to last a lifetime . The only negative is those stock 70s speakers werent the best (unless you get the JBL option) but speakers are easy enough to swap .

Last edited: Mar 29, 2017 18:56:01

thomastaylors wrote:

Las_Barracudas wrote:

May want to ask about the speakers though?

Looks like they are stock. Thanks so much for the input guys! I just sold a guitar and I have more to invest.

The 1975 he is selling has new filter caps and transformers installed... The 1972 is stock and in better cosmetic condition and he is asking $700. There is also a Vibroverb reissue on CL that I just sent an offer. What's better and will last longer?

So many options!

I used a Fender VVRI for the entire time I played with The Meteor Men and Meteor IV. They are outstanding amps with the exception of the stock Oxford speakers. I bought mine used, loaded with like new Weber speakers ($600).

Personally I would hold out for the Vibroverb and go with the Twin as a 2nd option.

Win / win really, but imho the VVRI amps are real gems.

METEOR IV on reverbnation

Regarding the silverface Fenders, generally speaking, the earlier, the better.

With that said, I had a 1975 silverface Twin Reverb (with factory JBL's) that was an outstanding amp but VERY heavy. It was in near-new condition, I sold it for $1,100.

But that was last year....

image

Jack
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)

Which RI Vibroverb did you see on CL? The'63 Brownface, or the '64 Blackface? The Brownface is an outstanding Surf amp- its a great all around amp in general. (I have one.)

The '64 Vibroverb (aka the Stevie Ray Vaughan amp) is also a pretty good amp, but is better suited for Blues type stuff.

If the Vibroverb on CL is the Brownface model, try and snatch it up ASAP. Those amps get a lot of love around here.

Happy amp hunting.

-Cheers, Clark-

-Less Paul, more Reverb-

Oh boy, I do hope the Vibroverb is still there. I tried to do a trade last week but he didn't want more guitars.

I started playing surf on a 1970 Twin. Beautiful tone. I still have it but moved to a bandmaster and lately a Quilter for gigs. I paid 500.00 in 2013 for it and it was mint but needs caps and maybe tubes by now. Hauling it out of the basement for gigs was a pain.

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Snag it, as long as it's in good shape. All I use are '70s Silverface amps. In terms of build quality, the hand-wired circuits are far superior to Fender's current offerings. They're easy to work on, and reliable. If you're looking for big cleans, this is it.

Thanks for the input, but I am going to buy the Vibroverb. I am one broke kid now. I'll be sure to move to the Vibroverb thread!

Last edited: Mar 30, 2017 12:07:51

thomastaylors wrote:

Thanks for the input, but I am going to buy the Vibroverb. I am one broke ki now. I'll be sure to move to the Vibroverb thread!

Vibroverb= good choice! I LOVE mine!

Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html

Sonichris wrote:

I think most players just don't want to carry a Twin Reverb anymore. Saying a $600 twin reverb isn't worth the money is really just saying "I'm too old and tired to lug it around, even if it does sound great."

I get to use that exact model on a weekly basis at band practice, and it sounds great, and has more power than I'll ever need.

I've had a 76 SF Twin for years, at least 20. Dick has a re-issue in his back room which we play through often. My SF has the tone.

I will admit I don't know much about music, but I know what good tone sounds like. That comment is subjective of course, however, you can't go wrong with a 70's SF Twin. In my opinion, it sounds better than almost any modern amp that Fender makes, definitely better than the re-issue Twin, and most boutique amps, one that is addressed frequently on this site.

My rhythm player bought one of those boutique amps a few weeks ago for under a grand. He brought it to our training session on Tuesday I told him to turn it off and had him plug into my 59 Vibrasonic, which is half the amp of my 70's Twin.

If Chris says the amp has dropped to $600, unless you are a girly man, muster up the muscle and cash and go get it, maybe offer $500. The current price guide reflects a price between $1100-$1400.

As you can see, the amp fell 50% in a year. Chris may be on to something? Maybe my Showman is dropping in price like a rock?

Goto Page: 1 2 Next
Top