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Hey guys,
Are there any amp heads out there that come close the sound of a Twin Reverb 65?Last edited by PrayaagB; 07-05-2021 at 07:37 AM.
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07-05-2021 06:38 AM
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Prayaag, as I indicated on the other thread you started, Quilter at least tries hard. Their newest amps have in fact several Fender voicings. Yet, I believe that the cherished Twin tone, at least in part, comes from the interaction of the two speakers, inside and outside the cab. Several Toob customers have two cabs, one for smaller gigs and the second for either stereo or daisy-chaining into a seriously loud, 200W, 4 ohm outfit.
Cheers,
MarkkuLast edited by Gitterbug; 07-05-2021 at 08:39 AM. Reason: Additional information
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It's been 35 years since I actually played a Twin Reverb... but IMHO the Quilter Superblock comes close. Otherwise, Markkuu is probably correct.
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Originally Posted by PrayaagB
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Fender Showman was the Twin in a head configuration; tubes and all:
Fender Showman - Wikipedia
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I don’t have a Twin but I do have a 35-watt 6L6 amp based on the AB763 circuit in. Deluxe Reverb sized cab. Even at practice volumes there can be a chest-thumping punch to my amp that I think our brains conflate with tone. I imagine with a full Twin this phenomenon would be even more pronounced. If you need the punch, your going to need the big cab and speakers, the powerful transformer, etc. If you just want the pure tone there’s any number of preamp pedals that should get you in the ballpark. Joyo American Sound (a near-clone of the Tech 21 Blonde) can get you there for around US $40.00. Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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There is the 100 watt Supersonic head available used
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Not sure of your location but here in Texas an original handwired silverface Twin can be had for 700-800 dollars US. That's cheaper for the real thing than some of the modelers and other clone amps so why not? Yes, you might have to pay a tech a couple hundred more to go through it, add maybe 200 extra for tubes if needed. Cheaper, and more reliable than a new "65 Twin Reverb" reissue. There is nothing that compares to a JBL loaded Twin with a humbucker equipped guitar plugged into itf. And I'm not talking about cheap-o built tonemaster modeling amps and "65 Twin Reverb Reissues" built with ribbon wires and cheap PC boards either. Originally Posted by PrayaagB
JJ tubes are the best production tubes available for a Twin in my opinion. JJ ECC803s gold pin for the V2 position are what I put in my Twins.
As someone said you can get a Showman in a head form. I've seen a Twin converted to head form. But the 2x12 speaker arrangement is ideal so I don't see the point in messing with it. There is also a Quad Reverb, basically a Twin with 4x12's and a Super Six Reverb, a Twin with 6x10 speakers. Both combo amps. Often cheap because most guys don't want to deal with the weight. Get a hand truck or dolly and it's no big deal.
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Fair warning, I'm an artist/endorser, but Brad Sarno builds a wonderful tube preamp that's essentially the front of a Twin. I got mine years ago, and paired it with a Walter Woods, there are many more options for clean musical power these days
The Finest Ultra Simple Reverb Tube Preamp | SMS Classic Tube Preamp | Sarno Music Solutions
PK
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I think you have to rephrase your question to get a useful answer. I assume you’re asking for a head that will sound like a Twin when played through the right cabinet loaded with the right drivers. Originally Posted by PrayaagB
The sound of a Twin is the product of the electronics, the cabinet, the speakers, and the various interactions among them. There are several heads that will have similar sound and power output to a Twin through an open back 2x12 cab. My DV Mark EG250 head has the sound and the power to do that. Almost any 4x 6L6 based head with a clean channel can do that. My trusty old Boogie Mk 1 did that even through a single 12.
I haven’t heard a modeler that could move that kind of air through smaller FRFR speakers, but I suspect the good ones can come mighty close through the right cabinets. And as already pointed out, Quilters are serious contenders in that arena. My SBUS has the sound but not the power. The only high powered Quilter combo I’ve played through was a single 12 a few years ago, and it was very nice - but it was no Twin. I’m told the current 200W combos are much closer.
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Most of the dumble clones so popular today are basically modded Twin Reverbs. Most of them sound exactly like a modded Twin (with more gain) to me but they are generally much more expensive. Fuchs ODS, Van Weelden Twinkleland, Two Rock, etc. They are in a head package. The Ceriatone is probably the most affordable but most of the kits use cheaper components unless they are owner upgraded.
An actual Twin is still the cheaper option for a tube amp by comparison and probably the better one unless you are going for heavier overdrive sounds. My Twin sounds pretty similar to all those at it's highest volume settings. Grainy to my ears, until you dial back your guitar's volume knob at which point it is a thing of beauty. I used a dB meter and clocked my JBL loaded '69 at just under 130 decibels one foot from the speakers so you can definitely get on top of a loud band! Sounds like crap on it's own but incredible live with a band or in a mix. Doesn't make sense but that's my experience. Best of fortune on your search!
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Does it need to be a head? I am using the Universal Audio Dream 65 to get that sound.
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Well, I used to own a silver face Twin (with an EV speaker upgrade) from about 1967-74, and I used it exclusively. (And it took both me and a friend to move it in and out of my car and into gigs—both of us strapping young lads at the time!) Anyway, 50 years or so later, I honestly cannot accurately recall how close anything would some to that sound. However, though, I do have a great Fender Jazz Ultralight 'stack', and, according to one description I found online just now (YT demo), a commenter stated that "...The two inputs are voiced differently, with the 2nd voiced to emulate a Fender Twin. I find it amazingly close to the sound of my 70's Music Man RD amp." I do seem to recall hearing that Twin comparison about the JMUL at other times, too.
That being said, I've been playing exclusively through my Mini-Brute IV or my Polytone head into my RE Twin Tower these days, in lieu of the Ultralight (which I definitely still love the sound of, too, just digging the Polytone sound more these days). Anyway, there's still always the JMUL amp to consider—or even the 7 lb. head alone if you prefer—*IF* you can still manage to find one, that is. Long out of production. But they do show up (I recall seeing one at my great local shop last year).
I always pretty much stick to the first 'clean' channel, but the 'overdrive' one is nice, too, especially if you leave its gain off and treat it more like another boosted clean channel for solos. Great, clear Fender tone with really nice built-in effects. Super-portable and even classy looking (IMO). Highly recommended. Hope this helps.
PS edit... I just came across this old thread here on the JMUL if you feel like learning some more...
What Happened to All the Lust for the Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight?
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If the OP wants high powered clean sounds, similar to a Twin, I'd consider a DV Mark Raw Dawg 250. That's 250 watts of loud, clean class D power. Best of all it has great EQ controls that are designed to interact for greater flexibility. Connect it to a dual 12 speaker cab and one has a lightweight, powerful, clean rig.
dv mark raw dawg eg250 demo - Google Search
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In my experience based on a lot of trial and error. Obviously, many of these are very specific use cases so a Fender Twin and a preamp-in-a-pedal without an XLR out are very different offerings:
Great:
- Universal Audio Dream 65
- Sarno Tube
- Actual Fender Twin
Pretty Darn Good or Better:
- Strymon Iridium
- Quilter
- Helix / AxeFX / NeuralDSP / etc
- DSM & Humboldt Simplifier
- Ethos Clean II
Good to Passable:
- Joyo American Sound
- Roland Cube emulation
- Yamaha THR emulation
- Boss FDR
- AMT F1
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Can you get a lot of clean output (and I mean clean, no edge of breakup) out of the UAD 65? Thanks! Originally Posted by Silentwiz
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Another Quilter recommendation. In this case a Mini 101 head. Dirt cheap on the used market, great cleans, light and reliable.
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You could ask Fender for their recommendations. They might know a thing or 2. :P
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Yes Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
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Darn, I wrote up a great response and lost it... well I thought it was great. Here's the link to scout out ALL the different output configurations: Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
Security check
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Thanks, it's still very helpful! Originally Posted by Silentwiz
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That amp doesn't sound like a Twin at all to me, just solid state and pretty sterile and harsh. No offense intended. I should be biased in it's favor because I have met and talked with Eric. He is an incredible player and is a really nice guy to hang out with but he seems to switch amps every couple years. I can't see this being his main gigging rig after having used big money Fuchs ODS and Two Rock EG signature amps in the past. I'm guessing he put his name on it and got some free gear for doing so. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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I bought a DV Mark Raw Dawg after attending an Eric Gales concert and heard it with my own ears. He and I chatted afterwards and I asked about his rig. He connected his to two DV Mark 2x12 cabs...Way too loud for any gig I'd perform at. However, mine sounds warm and full connected to my 2x12 cab loaded with Jensen C12N speakers...and virtually every speaker cab I connect it to. Originally Posted by DawgBone
Just goes to show that one man's 'sterile and harsh' is another man's clean and toneful.
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I agree that the DV Mark Raw Dawg 250W does not sound like a Twin Reverb. But I do not agree that the DVM sounds sterile and harsh. Originally Posted by DawgBone
Mine sounds warm and has not much treble. Sometimes I wish he would have more treble. The intention of that amp is to serve as a good platform for pedals, hence a harsh sound would be contradictional for a good reproduction of pedal sounds.
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Obviously, we differ in our perceptions of tone, and that’s fine. But the front end of the DV Mark 250 heads is built around a 6205 vacuum tube that (at least, to to my ears) puts out a much warmer, richer tone than you describe. Reviews have almost all described the need to cut the bass to about 9 o’clock and boost the treble to 2 to get a neutral tone through various cabs, and all praise it for its warm, clean sound to very high SPLs. I agree. Originally Posted by DawgBone
Mine is definitely Twinish through a 1x12 and even more so through 2. With my laminated archtop (with Benedetto B pickup), it pumps a lot of thumping thunk through my 10” Toob and/or my RE 10” cab, both loaded with Jet neos. And it just makes my carved spruce archies (16 and 17” Eastmans that are on the Benedetto side of the Gibson-Benedetto tone scale) louder with their natural tones intact.
Those who would consider one should try it first. But I think it’s a great jazz amp that serves nicely subbing for a Twin.
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