Totally Smitten

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 6 Nov 2000 9:17 am

Well folks, it’s official, I’m in LOVE!!!!

She’s 32 years old, overweight, and smelled like a used ashtray when we met. She’s a twin, and I wish I knew her sister too.

I’m talkin’ about my ’68 SF Twin Reverb Amp (with the retrofitted 15" JBL D-130- F) that I purchased from a forumite for my birthday a while back. The transaction went well, shipping UPS only marginally worrying me and with no actual damage evident.

After only a light cleanup, and replacing the dried out zipcord from the speaker out jack to the JBL with fresh wire, and re-soldering an internal reverb-pan connection, I then let it "air out" for a while in the garage and the cigarette smoke smell diminished considerably.

I have not had the opportunity to play it out but once before this past weekend. I played the <a href=http://www.lasttrainhome.com>Last Train Home</a> gig at Bishops Collar in Philly Saturday night with it. All I can say is OUCH!!! And WOW!!!

I have made no secret of my affection for Fender tube amps, and I own several of various types. But this baby is now the Queen of My Amplifier Heart! Never have I gotten closer to the "ideal" pedal steel guitar sound I have in my head than with the combination of my Zum U12 with the Bill Lawrence 712 `custom’ PU and this Twin.

And I have yet to have made any "Improvements" (new tubes, bias adjust etc…)

I will never abandon my old reliable BF'd Vibrolux, or my BF Bassmans, but like I said, I am in LOVE!!!

Just thought I’d share my happiness with y’all

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 06 November 2000 at 11:01 AM.]

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 6 Nov 2000 9:25 am

OK Lover Boy - How much is due to the amp, and how much to the JBL (I want exact percentages!)?

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 6 Nov 2000 9:59 am

Congratulations Dave!

That amp produces the Steel sound we all have known and recognized. A bell like sound bright, but not too bright, bass but not too bassy.

In the 70's I had a Twin with 2 JBL's and a Vibro-reverb with a 15" JBL. Great amps. Of course, I could hardly lift them, but oh boy when you sit down to play!....al

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 6 Nov 2000 11:00 am

OK Lover Boy - How much is due to the amp, and how much to the JBL (I want exact percentages!)?

That's like askin' if I married for her brains or her body; the only correct answer is "both"....and I daren't quantify it in %'s

actually I guess the way to find out is for me to unplug the built in speaker, plug the Twin into one of my 2x12 Bassman cabs- or BOTH of 'em- and then try and answer 'amp vs JBL'

Al- I think someone else on the forum once said something like this in a thread about Fender Twin Reverb Amps:

You only carry it for a few minutes- you get to listen to it ALL NIGHT!!!

Robert · Post by **Robert** » 6 Nov 2000 1:19 pm

Hey, Guys:
I've got the same amp, but with Eminence 12" speakers. When this thing warms up it'll give you chills, if that makes any sense! The one mod (other than those replacement speakers) is a seldom-used extra ohm or something that electronics whiz, pedal steel, and guitar playing phenom named Radar did for me: he took the bit of power that continually runs to the vibrato channel whether you use the vibrato or not, and routed it back into the pre-amp circuit (I think!) - anyway, the little extra gain you get when this mod is engaged seems to open the amp up a bit - the sound is a little more saturated or something. Some people love it and some don't. I don't use it, like I say, but it's not hurting anything by being there, either. Anyway, it's a great amp, for sure.

Rob

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Nov 2000 3:49 pm

Well Dave, now you know why I've never sold ANY of my Fender amps!

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 6 Nov 2000 5:37 pm

I hate hearing how good these Twins are because I want one so bad, and you guys keep greasing the skids

I used to eat my heart out listening to Lloyd Green's tone.

So they don't have an effects loop right? Dave, Al, Robert, Donny, how do you guys use fx with these? Or do you? Do you use an impedence matching box such as the Matchbox with them?

Thanks (for any more grease), Bob

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 6 Nov 2000 7:04 pm

Hello all;
I just could NOT pass this post up on my all time favorite amp!!.I own 2 Twin's at this time.NOTHING else sounds like a Twin..
I also have 3 "boutique"(sp?)amps that are going to be sold soon..It is real funny how they all try to copy the famous Fender tube sound-some close & some not..The only drawback is the weight factor.I have 1 Twin that i put the chassis in a separate cab & that helped.To Bob Kagy-The older GOOD Twin's have none of the toys that you asked about because you just DON'T need that stuff.Just use steel;volume pedal & amp-that's all-pure sweeeeet tone.....My congrats to Dave & DON'T let her go-EVER!!!Ron

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 6 Nov 2000 7:27 pm

I'm looking for an old Showman, for those gigs that my little 15 watt tube amp won't cover (that's a loud sucker, sorry you missed it in Philly, Dave).

I've got the tube amp jag, too. I am happy for you.

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www.tyacktunes.com

JB Arnold · Post by **JB Arnold** » 6 Nov 2000 10:02 pm

I'm in the twin camp as well. Took it on my first gig, and it really sounded great in a large room.

John

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Fulawka D-10 9&5
Better Late than Never!
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 6 Nov 2000 10:55 pm

Dave, nothing but sincere best wishes for you to get a ton of joy from you're new tone bax.You deserve it big Guy.

Please call me about our recent issues and con you please square up some scsi chain issues I having (switched Scanmaker E6 from Recording beige G3 to PowMac 7200/120 Please hollar, bud, Big "H" 610 279 0250.

Thanks,
HH

Frank Venters · Post by **Frank Venters** » 7 Nov 2000 11:24 am

I was living in Anchorage, Alaska in 1971 and I found this ad in a magazine from a wholesale music place in Dallas Texas.I soon got there catalog and lo and behold they had a Fender Twin for something like $436.oo plus shipping.Well I sent them a money order for my Twin,and they in turn ordered it from a music store in Miami, Fl who shipped it to me by truck to Anchorage,with delivery to my front door. I wasn't home at the time and my next door neighbor signed for it.When I got home he came limping over and said your ^&%$# amp arrived.It's one heavy dude. I have the stock 12" Fender speakers in it.I still have the shipping bill and the instruction book is still in mint condition.I've never added any toys to it.One thing I did for a long time was change the red light to a blue one and boy did it PO true Fender Amp lovers.About a year ago I found a mint sliver face plate for it, and one of these days I'll get it changed because my face plate is a little raggedy. I just love it.I had a Fender Pro reverb before I got the twin. Great amp.

ToneJunkie · Post by **ToneJunkie** » 8 Nov 2000 9:03 pm

I plan to get an earful of that Twin this Friday!

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Robert Hicks - Fessenden S12U

Home Page: http://www.members.home.net/tonejunkie
Email: rhhicks@home.com

Danny Hullihen · Post by **Danny Hullihen** » 9 Nov 2000 5:51 am

Dave, be carefull about airing out the amp too much. If you loose all the cigarette smoke, you'll loose the tone as well.

For your "Twin" lovers, if you haven't tried this yet, you owe to yourself to do so. Check out the new Peavey Ranger 212. This amp was maticuluosly voiced to sound just like the old Black Face Fender Twin, and indeed it does! I challenge you to compare the difference.

In the Ranger 212, Peavey has managed to keep all the sound of the old Fender Twins, while incorporating some newer features like patching points for effects units. 120 watts of awesome tube power, and yes, just like the old Twins... it's heavy.

If you haven't tried one of these amps yet, get to your local Peavey dealer and check it out. Suggested retail on a new Peavey Ranger 212 is $999.99. and worth every penny. I've compared this amp myself side by side to point-to-point wired Black Face Twins, and litterally could not tell a difference in tone.

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 9 Nov 2000 9:48 am

I had a similar Twin with the D-130s that I used in a Top-40 band (playing a Gibson ES-335). It served me well, but was heavy! I sold it and bought a Peavey Bandit

-Bill

PS The 335 and other assorted guitars now play through a Mesa Mark I Reissue (another heavy tube amp) so all is not lost