Peter Bernstein's amp setting

**monkmiles** · 06-09-2015, 11:11 AM

Here's a clip I recorded form the show:

**Greentone** · 06-09-2015, 12:45 PM

Golding's Trio with Bernstein sounds good in the clip...and PB's guitar/amp sounds great, to me.

**Jabberwocky** · 06-09-2015, 01:15 PM

Given the wide tolerance of these pots, I would use those settings as a guide and use your own ears. I love it when guys compare amps and then say that they do it by matching all the numbers on the dials; see, I set both amps to 6 and one was louder than the other...What's '6' on one is not '6' on the other. These are not the tightest specified pots in the world.

So, let your ears be the guide. And if you are going to compare amps, please use an SPL meter and place it on axis at the same distance to the speaker (1m or 2m is the standard) that is being measured, and keep it at the same height. The louder one will always sound better even though they are both '6' on the dials. Match actual SPL, and not what is written on the dial.

**Jabberwocky** · 06-11-2015, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

interesting.
I use Twins and set it to 5's across the board, even my guitar volume and tone knobs.

Another cat, albeit a young 'un but good 'un, who lives by 5-5-5:

Peter Bernstein's amp setting-graham2-jpg

**vinnyv1k** · 06-13-2015, 03:58 PM

Bottom line the Fender Twin is the KING of tone whatever archtop you plug into it. I have a old 1976 Musicman 65w 212 Alnico's that is just as sweet too. It is a hybrid. Solid state pre with a tube power section. Thing has worked without a glitch for 39 years. The Fender Twin has way better reverb though but the Musicman has this deep switch that is to die for. Both amps are the King of clean.

**yebdox** · 06-14-2015, 02:54 AM

Speakers play such a big role in generating that elusive tone. Wish I knew what Bernstein was using.

What speakers have you guys been satisfied with in your Twins? I have a Vintage Sound Twin that began life as a 72 Dual Showman head and was blackfaced. It came with Weber Cali's, which I thought sounded harsh. Given my affinity for Robben Ford, I put 2 G12-65's in it, but not sure I really dig that, either. Those amp settings sound really muffled with those speakers.

Right now, every amp I own, including the Twin, sounds best through a deep 1x12 Mather cab I have, with a removable 1/3 back panel and a ceramic EV SRO. (I most often use it with a 40 watt Allen Old Flame head, really versatile for pedal boards or straight in. )

I have a Swamp Thang sitting around that wouldn't fit in a Deluxe I bought it for, might swap that out along with putting a Cali back in, but Cali's sound harsh with pedals to my ear. I am NOT putting 2 SROs in that thing. I'm in good shape, but not into self abuse.

Any strong, polite opinions on warm, clear, high head room choices for a Twin, or can anyone report on what the Deluxe at Smalls is loaded with? Shallow combo cabs seem to lose so much of the tone I want to hear.

**Little Jay** · 06-14-2015, 03:44 AM

My Twin uses Pyle speakers, the ones that came in the later 70ies and early 80ies SF. I like them a lot.

**jorgemg1984** · 06-14-2015, 06:34 AM

I would love to try a WGS G12CS - sort of a smooth Jensen speaker. In theory, it should be great. I believe Rick at VSA
has experience with them.

I don't know what speaker Bernstein uses on his blackface Vibrolux but I know they are new, not the stock ones.

**yebdox** · 06-14-2015, 10:25 AM

Thanks Jorge, Little Jay. You guys always exude such honest, sincere interest in your replies.... That's what a community should be about.

Little Jay, what are those old Pyles rated? As much as I read, I never find any info pointing me to a modern day substitute for Pyles.

Jorge, my man, have you had experience with the Jensen C12k? I will check out the WGS, though my limited experience with them (et65 and British lead) has been that they sound tighter and thinner than the speakers they are supposed to emulate. But, the price is sure nice.

Thanks, guys.

**jorgemg1984** · 06-14-2015, 10:39 AM

No direct experience with the C12K but lots of good reviews for a jazz / clean use.. Also no direct experience with WGS but always heard great things about their speakers and a smoother jensen seems perfect, in theory at least. Speaker hunting can be hard and expensive, been there done that... I am now using a digital rig and my favourite speaker from there is the Altec 417H, but hard to find and expensive.

One thing that helps when blackface sound muddy is a low cut. It's the simplest pedal ever - just the opposite of a tone control of a guitar - and it works wonders. Sometimes I have to cut everything below 300hz (yes, that high) with some archtops in order to remove the blanket sound.

**monkmiles** · 06-14-2015, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I would love to try a WGS G12CS - sort of a smooth Jensen speaker. In theory, it should be great. I believe Rick at VSA
has experience with them.

I don't know what speaker Bernstein uses on his blackface Vibrolux but I know they are new, not the stock ones.

Jorge brings up a good point in that he has a Vibrolux he usually uses when able. This Twin that he used at this gig that I took pics of was provided by the venue I believe.

**grahambop** · 06-14-2015, 01:02 PM

When I saw Peter Bernstein recently he had a Fender Deluxe. But he had to fiddle with it quite a bit before he got his usual sound (for the first tune of the set, he had quite a dull, muddy sound and I was getting worried I was not going to hear his usual clear tones!)

**yebdox** · 06-14-2015, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

When I saw Peter Bernstein recently he had a Fender Deluxe. But he had to fiddle with it quite a bit before he got his usual sound (for the first tune of the set, he had quite a dull, muddy sound and I was getting worried I was not going to hear his usual clear tones!)

I know it's ultimately in the player, but I would love to sit with Pete for 20 minutes while he fiddles with 2 or 3 amps to get close to his tone. He must have a system, or something he hears in his head. The process of adding and subtracting, while he plays would make for a great lesson in tone, by itself.

**grahambop** · 06-14-2015, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by yebdox

I know it's ultimately in the player, but I would love to sit with Pete for 20 minutes while he fiddles with 2 or 3 amps to get close to his tone. He must have a system, or something he hears in his head. The process of adding and subtracting, while he plays would make for a great lesson in tone, by itself.

Yes it was quite remarkable how his tone was muddy, although he kept reaching over and making adjustments to the amp, then suddenly he must have made just the right tweaks to the tone controls, and suddenly his sound was transformed. It wasn't really a gradual thing.

**Little Jay** · 06-14-2015, 02:49 PM

I had C12Ks in my Twin first and they give a powerful and big round sound, with a 'creamy' quality to it. I would have left them in there if they weren't so darn heavy! They maybe lacked a little bite for funky stuff and I could get the Pyles for $60 the pair and gave them a try. The Pyles have a bit more air and more hi end, but in a pleasant way, as if they are a bit more precise (if that makes any sense). I think the Pyles are around 70 watts or so. They handle the Twin's power easily without farting out or anything. Needles to say the C12K has no difficulties either in that area.

**r_cc_c** · 01-21-2016, 03:52 AM

I had a chance to see Peter Bernstein Live at SFJazz.
I took a snap of his Twin Reverb RI setting.

Peter Bernstein's amp setting-img_2774-jpg

**Little Jay** · 01-21-2016, 04:31 AM

According to his settings he is compensating for the Fender mid-scoop.

**Jabberwocky** · 01-21-2016, 02:47 PM

I just stole that setting and it works well on the Mustang 3 V2.

**docbop** · 01-21-2016, 03:45 PM

He plays at Smalls a lot on their Deluxe Reverb.

I've seen Peter just walk in to Smalls or Mezzrow at whatever amp is there just play a few notes and tweak and repeat and always finds his sound. Only time he seemed upset it ended up a tube was dying and they pulled out the backup amp a JazzKatt.

**r_cc_c** · 01-21-2016, 04:28 PM

It is a house amp. SFJAZZ is spray painted in the back.

**John A.** · 01-21-2016, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

I guess that he doesn't know that the Twin amps are too big, too heavy, too powerful, use a lot of electricity, are expensive to maintain, can fail at a moment's notice and take up too much space in the trunk eh? Maybe he has a staff of roadies with a hydraulic lift gate and a truck? :-)

His own amp is a Vibrolux Reverb, which he doesn't bring to gigs away from home. On the road, his contract calls for the venue to supply one from a list of models that are OK with him. Twins are one of those (at least that's what he told me).

John

**gggomez** · 01-21-2016, 04:48 PM

I was lucky enough to see Peter on my trip to NYC. Cant recall the venue, I think in the Lincoln Centre on about the 7th floor.

He was supporting a trumpet guy. Red hot players but you would have thought they were playing at a funeral. Lots of shredding, the acoustics were not great and the piano was lost in in the space. One song ran into another, my wife and her friend were told to "shut up" and I nearly bopped the guy. Yes they were wrong but that is no way to speak and it was so boring. For $45 I wanted and expected better than this.

Peter's sound early on was lifeless, you know when you plug into a Fender on 1 or 2. During the night he kept increasing the volume and it was like he was coming to life. By the last set he was tastefully loud and saved the show. He brought it to life with a great sound, vibe, rythm and of course his stories. No one was talking during set 3. Interesting he was the only band member that smiled and seem to enjoy the gig.

**GNAPPI** · 01-21-2016, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

His own amp is a Vibrolux Reverb, which he doesn't bring to gigs away from home. On the road, his contract calls for the venue to supply one from a list of models that are OK with him. Twins are one of those (at least that's what he told me).

John

That would be an interesting list to see.

Of course you all know that the Twin can be run with only one pair of 6l6's? All the great sound and longer life from four power tubes :-)

**Greentone** · 01-21-2016, 09:07 PM

The Twin Reverb is an excellent choice. Most venues are able to get one. The setting you see in the photo will get the job done.

One difference between spec'ing a Twin Reverb for a gig on your rider these days versus back in the day is that tubes today are not very robust. A quad of 6L6gc tubes will weaken on a house amp after about six months. Will the venue know this and put new tubes in, or will you walk in and plug into an amp with dodgy tubes? 40 years ago this wasn't so big a deal--tubes lasted much longer. AND, replacing a quad of tubes with a new set of RCA or GE tubes was comparatively inexpensive.

**Little Jay** · 01-22-2016, 05:24 AM

The only problem with a Twin Reverb is that once you played thru one, you'll be looking for that sound in other amps... And mostly be disappointed.

More seriously: I love my Twin to death! But I found a portable low volume alternative in the Award Session BluesBaby 22 with blackface-switch (it's rather a transistor Deluxe Reverb). Needless to say that only goes for low volume situations.