Menu
In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom 15
it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-130F,
the speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that DICK
DALE invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp tons of
clean headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I ordered
one and will review it once I've used it for a few days.
I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the statement
that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt amps.
I read this while reading comments on a '65 Twin Reverb reviewed on
Harmony Central.
--- In , "Gavin Ehringer"
<gavinehringer@e...> wrote:
> In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom
15
> it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-
130F,
> the speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that
DICK
> DALE invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
>
> Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp tons of
> clean headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I ordered
> one and will review it once I've used it for a few days.
Wow! Cool, I'm eager to hear what you think! Let us know.
>
> I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the
statement
> that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
> chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt
amps.
Yes. Off the top of my head, the black face Showman, Twin Reverb,
Super Reverb, Bandmaster, and Vibroverb all have the same circuit:
AB763. This new amp probably should have been called a Vibroverb
anyway, as it also had a single 15" speaker. But the Vibroverb had
half the power tube compliment, making it 40 Watts (as did the Super
Reverb and Bandmaster).
We had a discussion about this new amp a while back, you may want to
search the archives.
Looking forward to your review,
BN
I've heard one of these, They definetly have way more low end balls
to them. But nothing can replace a huge sealed enclosure
with 1 or 2 15 in. speakers like a showman,or dual showman cab.
Don't get me wrong,Ive seen tons of bands with Twins and Supers,and
such. But I just like the chunk that comes from the sealed cabs.
Is there anyway or reason that the twins and such couldn't have a
sealed back?? I would think that they would have tried something
like that.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , "Gavin Ehringer"
<gavinehringer@e...> wrote:
> In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom
15
> it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-130F,
> the speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that DICK
> DALE invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
>
> Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp tons of
> clean headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I ordered
> one and will review it once I've used it for a few days.
>
> I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the statement
> that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
> chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt
amps.
> I read this while reading comments on a '65 Twin Reverb reviewed on
> Harmony Central.
Hi,
It sounds like the SF Vibrosonic to me, you know the seventies Twin with
1x15 in it. I believe they came with a JBL (licensed) between 1974 and
1979.
As for the chassis, it could very well be. I just saw a BF Bandmaster
today and while looking at the power tubes I noticed that there are two
(covered) slots for two more power tubes, so the chassis could be used
for a 4 6L6 amp too.
-Jerry S.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gavin Ehringer [mailto:]
Sent: woensdag 2 juni 2004 15:18
To:
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Fender Twin Custom 15?
In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom 15 -
it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-130F, the
speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that DICK DALE
invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp - tons of clean
headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I ordered one and
will review it once I've used it for a few days.
I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the statement
that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt amps. I
read this while reading comments on a '65 Twin Reverb reviewed on
Harmony Central.
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Yahoo! Groups Links
Gavin,
As far as the "chassis" length/width and depth is concerned I
believe they have the same or close to the same dimensions. I hope
this is what you were asking for? D
--- In , "Brian Neal" <bneal@i...> wrote:
> --- In , "Gavin Ehringer"
> <gavinehringer@e...> wrote:
> > In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom
> 15
> > it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-
> 130F,
> > the speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that
> DICK
> > DALE invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
> >
> > Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp tons of
> > clean headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I
ordered
> > one and will review it once I've used it for a few days.
>
> Wow! Cool, I'm eager to hear what you think! Let us know.
>
> >
> > I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the
> statement
> > that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
> > chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt
> amps.
>
> Yes. Off the top of my head, the black face Showman, Twin Reverb,
> Super Reverb, Bandmaster, and Vibroverb all have the same circuit:
> AB763. This new amp probably should have been called a Vibroverb
> anyway, as it also had a single 15" speaker. But the Vibroverb had
> half the power tube compliment, making it 40 Watts (as did the
Super
> Reverb and Bandmaster).
>
> We had a discussion about this new amp a while back, you may want
to
> search the archives.
>
> Looking forward to your review,
> BN
Yep, the basic Twin Reverb chassis with a 15" speaker instead of two
12's was sold as the Vibrosonic or Vibrasonic at various times. Now I
guess they're calling it the TR Custom 15. Most of the big amps are
basically just different configurations of the same 4-output-tube
chassis (85 watt and up) in its various incarnations over the years.
There's a book called "Fender Amps- The First 50 Years" that's a
treasure trove of info on all this.
Regarding Jeff's question about a closed-back combo amp--- it's not
real practical for tube amps because you have to create an enclosed
section for the speaker while keeping the amp chassis in an open
space to vent the heat from all those tubes. It would increase the
overall size since you'd have to move the electronics portion
(including reverb tank) up and out of the space currently shared with
the speaker. Think how tall a Showman Reverb head is and you get an
idea how much extra height would be involved. Not to mention making
the sealed speaker box big enough so it doesn't strangle the cone
movement. It would be one big heavy mutha and most of the big combos
are already hernia-makers as it is...
Rob Woolsey
--- In , "Gavin Ehringer"
<gavinehringer@e...> wrote:
> In January, Fender released a new amp, the '65 Twin Reverb Custom
15
> it has an 15" Eminence that, Fender touts, is based on a JBL D-130F,
> the speaker used in the Showman cab. You know, the speaker that DICK
> DALE invented! (Sarcastic smirk).
>
> Anyway, this sounded to me like a pretty ideal surf amp tons of
> clean headroom and more bottom than the regular Twin. So, I ordered
> one and will review it once I've used it for a few days.
>
> I was curious if anyone knows if there is any truth to the statement
> that the Showman head and the Blackface Twin Reverb had the same
> chassis? It seems plausible, since both were originally 85-watt
amps.
> I read this while reading comments on a '65 Twin Reverb reviewed on
> Harmony Central.
Hey Rob,
What kind of BIG amp do you use?
I was actually looking at this exact amp that Gavin purchased and Marty's
comments made a lot of sense to me. This is a pretty tall/big amp, 26.15"W
x 22"H x 10.5"D with 85 watts, at 64 pounds packs a lot of punch on your
back and with your guitar.
I ended up purchasing a 65 Delux Reverb at 22 watts with a 12" speaker,
since I'm really just getting in the groove with Surf and don't even play in
a band, yet.
Dropping in, Rick!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Regarding Jeff's question about a closed-back combo amp
If you want to have a closed backed cab for the combo, just get an
extension cab and experiment with it. I've been looking for a Fender
with the cahonas of a 15". Hard to find one used in the midwest
(forget about a showman out here). I'm thinking of going with a Twin
and add a 15"
closed backed cab in the chain. More stuff to lug around, but hey,
more speakers to
balance out the drummer :)
The Fender Twin Custom 15" sounds like a great amp. Looking forward
to Gavin's review as well.
Cheers!
DC
Rick,
Depends what you mean by big. If it's about power, for outdoor gigs
I use a 1965 (single) Showman with a 2x12 Celestion cabinet. I used
to run a 1x15 JBL 130 cabinet with the Showman but eventually got
tired of the 15" sound. So that's the "big" amp for me in terms of
watts, although it's pretty compact physically.
When I want a lower-power amp for indoor/smaller spaces, I usually
use a 4x10 Super, which is half the power of the Showman rig but
actually a bigger physical handful to cart around. Reason is, I like
the sound of a lower-power amp working up a sweat rather than a
big/powerful one just loafing along. I've been lusting after the
2x10 Vibrolux in order to get into the sweet zone at low volumes
without the big 4x10 combo cabinet. So, that 22-watt Deluxe of yours
sounds like something real nice to have.
Rob Woolsey
Detonators
--- In , "Johnston, Rick"
<rick.johnston@u...> wrote:
> Hey Rob,
>
> What kind of BIG amp do you use?
>
> I was actually looking at this exact amp that Gavin purchased and
Marty's
> comments made a lot of sense to me. This is a pretty tall/big amp,
26.15"W
> x 22"H x 10.5"D with 85 watts, at 64 pounds packs a lot of punch on
your
> back and with your guitar.
>
> I ended up purchasing a 65 Delux Reverb at 22 watts with a 12"
speaker,
> since I'm really just getting in the groove with Surf and don't
even play in
> a band, yet.
>
>
> Dropping in, Rick!
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
That's exactly why I went with a single 12" and 22 watts, so I can use the
amps power and tone. That would be thanks to Marty's advice and Steve from
the Cocktail Preachers help.
That Vibrolux sounds very nice infact, there is a pretty new one going today
for around $650 on Ebay.
Thanks for your help!
Surf on, Rick!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]