The Steel Guitar Forum

... I hope this link works (Australian E-Bay)

Can anyone positively ID this as a 1967 amp? The seller has given me a chassis number of A29081, but cannot find a date/number on the tube sticker.

Any comments on this speaker combo (suitability for steel?)

Thanks in advance for your advice


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Fender-Twin-Reve ... 240%3A1318

I would guess 1970-73 since it doesn't have the metal framing around the grill cloth(68-69) and the master volume control was introduced in 1974.

A21400 to A25600 - 1970
A25600 to A37000 - 1971
A37000 to A50500 - 1972

Yup - master volume was really introduced in '72, so I'd say '70 or '71 - I don't know if that serialization is exact or not. But it's definitely not a '67, which would be blackface. These pre-master-volume silverface amps are great, but there's a pretty big difference in price between them and a comparable true blackface Twin Reverb. If they're set up right, I think this era of Twin Reverbs just sound great, period.

You can always look at the transformer and pot codes. If they're original, they'll always pre-date the amp itself.

Another telltale sign - the "Twin Reverb -Amp" insignia is generally taken to be from '68 through '71.

Drip-panel around the grill is generally associated with '68 - there may well be some '69's, but not all '69's have it. My '69 Dual Showman Reverb definitely doesn't, and I've seen some '69 Twins that don't.

BTW - you should consider putting your huge ebay link into a small URL like this - Link still works.

The code that does this is here:

Ask him for the date codes on the transformer/choke. The last digit of the year is generally the 4th number. Example:

606-8-42

is the code for a transformer made the 42nd week of 1968 (using context clues to identify the decade, of course).

Good luck.

The serial numbers are from Gregg Gagliano's research on the posted on the web. 5 years of research went into it. He did a pretty good job.

Looks like your amp falls into the 1971 range very nicely.

I thought they stopped using the "-AMP" graphic by '70. I was guessing mid/late '69.


Here's the faceplate of a TR after the "-AMP" versions and before the master volume versions.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Fender-Twin ... otohosting



Brad

Here's what I use to condense those long urls. Couldn't be simpler. Good forever. I keep it on my toolbar.
http://tinyurl.com/

Cool!

Thanks for that tip.

How's this?


http://tinyurl.com/8ebtoz


Brad

Much mo better!
ebtoz! Sometimes you get some funny words in those tinyurls!

Thanks, Guys - much appreciated.

At $1200AUS (say, US$850) it could just be worth it.

I don't know anything about the Fender brand speakers shown in the back, though. Does anyone have an opinion on these?

Not sure, but I believe that Buddy recorded the "Black Album" with a Twin using those type of stock speakers.


Brad

The Fender Amp Field Guide is a great online resource. Dazzle your bandmates and bore your girlfriends with your newfound knowledge of schematics and
component manufacturer codes. I'd be surprised if this link hasn't been posted in this section before:

http://www.thevintagesound.com/ffg/

Some folks feel the best way to date a Fender amp is by the reverb driver transformer date code. This approach, however, can be somewhat problematic if you have a non-reverb Fender.

http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/micKfender ... Codes.html

Good Luck

Peter

Chassis serial numbers have proven to be the most reliable dating system, as the chassis moved through production; other parts with codes were kept in bins, sometimes for years (I've seen tons of '56 pots on 1960-64 pieces, and transformers are sometimes changed.

Bookmark this - it saves a lot of hassle:

http://www.superchamp.dk/papers/dating_ ... e_amps.htm

As far as the speakers - what codes are on them? The code will identify manufacturer and a rough date (not the date of the amp - the date of the speaker(s).

On a '71 I've seen all types, but Utah and Oxford show up a lot...not exactly known for tone. OTOH one of the less-expensive brands they used I really like is CTS; I've had great luck especially with CTS 12's.

Here's another site that gives speaker info:

http://www.superiormusic.com/page195.htm

Sidebar - Amp and speaker codes/dating are pretty common knowledge on most of the 6-string sites; I never have figured out why the questions are asked so much here when all it really takes is a 2-minute Google search to find the info...if you don't already have it bookmarked.

thanks again everyone

i won't ask any more questions about this amp

you have all been very generous with your assistance

wish me luck