Re: twin reverb

["The Bernadettes" <mdestefano@xxxxxxxx>]

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    Can't help but agree with Andrew's statement below.  I blew thru an =
early 70's master volume Twin Reverb for years and they make great harp =
amps.  Yes they're heavy, yes the build quality isn't as good as the =
blackfaces (but still much better than a lotta stuff built today.)  =
Anyway, these make great candidates for modification if you're inclined =
to go that route....I can attest as an amp tech who's repaired/modfied =
many a Fender silverface amp, the silverface (especially those made in =
the 60's & first 1/2 of the 70's) are the best bargains out there in the =
amp world. =20
    I would say the statement about outperforming BF amps is more a =
matter of opinion than fact, no disrespect intended, but different =
people will have different opinions on what constitute "performance."  =
But in general I'm inclined to say that silverface amps do get a bad rap =
by vintge snobs who feel that it has to be blackface, brownface, or =
tweed.  I have a room full of tweed, blacks, and silvers (no brownfaces =
at the moment!!), but the silvers get the most stage time.  I can modify =
my silvers without a sense of guilt by somehow "ruining" a vintage amp, =
or use them in the rowdier clubs without fear of getting a valued tweed =
or BF amp trashed by some drunken fool spilling beer on the stage, =
whatever.
    As far as mods or tweaks to a 72 SF Twin...jeez I know more than I =
could ever list.  Play thru it first and get an idea of what you like or =
dislike about the amp then start thinking about mods.  I will say that =
if you can pickup a silverface amp at a reasonable price, even with =
quite a bit of tweaking, modification, and servicing by an amp tech, you =
can probably get an amp that will work as well as any of the high priced =
boutique amps for considerably less money....you just have to be willing =
to put in a little time and educate yourself a bit about what you're =
buying.  You should realize that a Twin is a big and loud amp that will  =
work best in a larger room, don't buy it if you're looking for a =
practice amp!

Good luck on your purchase,
Don D.
  Whoever thinks that the SF Twins past 1972 are not good amps is a =
complete fool. To this day I must say I haven't heard a Silverface amp =
that hasn't matched or outperformed a Blackface amp on any given day. I =
hold the SF Twins to be great amps, I have heard Blackface Twins and =
Silverface Twins, and I must say that the sound from the SF Twins is a =
little better. For harmonica I would say the Twin is not ideal, but for =
guitar as a general rule they are the best overall sounding amp ever =
made.=20
  Over the last year I have heard around 5 to 6 different SF Twins (one =
had Altecs, one had JBL's) and around 3 BF Twins (2 of them had JBL's). =
Out of all of them the best sounding Twins were two of the Master Volume =
(post 1972) SF Twins (one had Altecs and the other had JBL's). This =
whole notion that BF amps are better does not hold up to scrutiny. =
Whoever does not regard the post 1972 SF Twins as good amps is either =
near deafness or completely devoid any inclination of good sound.

  The vintage market is filled with people who believe somehow they can =
hear with their eyes and somehow buy the sound that a certain player has =
or had, the fact that the SF Twins are not held in high esteem by them =
is a sure sign that they are great amps. People who shell out $1,500 or =
2 grand for a BF Fender Deluxe as a general rule are not to be taken =
seriously when it comes to tone or anything else. Good sound is not =
determined by how much money you shell out.

  Andrew