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About 25 yrs ago when I started working in Hammond B-3 bands almost exclusively I had a '66 blackface Vibrolux Reverb.
The first time I used it on a B-3 gig w my '69 L-5 the organ crushed it, just couldn't keep up so I bought a '67 blackface Twin Reverb that week. I used that amp on a zillion gigs and never minded the weight as I used a Kart A Bag 800 to haul it and swore I'd use it the rest of my gigging days.
Fast forward to this year when I suffered a debilitating knee injury. I kept using the Twin but it got to be too much, so a month ago I dusted off the Vibrolux and began using it again though I'm micing it through a PA now. I've always preferred the sound of a VR to a Twin. It's not quite as full sounding but is tighter/less flabby sounding. Also the two 10" Jensens and two 6L6 power tubes give a little hair to the sound when pushed that I like as opposed to the two 12" Jensens and four 6L6s which stays pretty clean.
I used it on 2 jobs this weekend and was really digging the sound, I'm sold.
Unless I have to work a gig w no PA, the Twin is going to be the amp sitting w a cover on it, in semi retirement.Last edited by wintermoon; 06-07-2022 at 01:59 AM.
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06-06-2022 08:22 PM
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Sorry to hear about your knee! The sweetest amp I ever played through was an early BF Vibrolux with a solid pine cab. It belongs to Ron Kraemer, a blues guy from Trenton who used to bring it to the original Warmdaddy’s for gigs when they first opened. I fell in love with it and tried to buy it from him many times.
As you know, we have a reissue SF Vibrolux at the club, but it’s just not in the same league as a real BF. So you should really be enjoying your baby! I’ve had a few Twins over the years and found them to be great for general use but a little short on personality.
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My knees are good (knock on wood) and I still can't handle the weight of a twin. Glad you like the alternative.
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Yes, I wanted to use the VR but it was in the rear corner of the stage and my 10' cord wasn't long enough. I had my Twin but nowhere to put it on that stage and overkill for a small room like that anyway.
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
But the miced Princeton Reverb worked ok w just bass and drums, though I wouldn't want it to be my main amp. I have a couple orig blackface PRs at home.
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As much as I appreciate a great Fender amp. I am so happy with my Quilter amps. TB202 with various light weight cabs for loud gigs and my Aviator 1x8” combo for smaller gigs!
Light weight sound great every time, no tubes or maintenance, it really is a no brainer theses days. Even the newer Twin Tonemaster is a good choice as well!
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I much prefer the sound of our PR to that of our VR. But I’m both sorry and truly irritated that no one told you I keep two 20’ cables coiled in the corner, and there are 3 or 4 more in the back room. I take a week off for hernia repair and everybody takes a nap. Originally Posted by wintermoon
I’m sorry you didn’t at least try the DV Mark Jazz 12. It’s a decent little jazz amp, although I put it on the amp stand hiding in the back room when I use it.
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If both of you guys are going to be playing at Jamey's some night you gotta let us know! I will definitely find the time to get over there
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Nothing would please me more! A few weeks ago, we added a vocal hour from 7 to 8 every Thursday. So far, I’ve had the amazing pleasure of backing Paula Johns and Ella Gahnt as the first two scheduled artists. This week, it’s Phyllis Chapell, another truly world class talent from right here in Philly. In addition to having a blast and polishing my playing, I’m using their charts and regaining skills I allowed to atrophy when I stopped playing heavily and steadily many years ago. Originally Posted by jim777
If both of you guys are going to be playing at Jamey's some night you gotta let us know! I will definitely find the time to get over there
I also must praise our singers for their attitudes and actions. I was a bit fearful of having to deal with difficult divas. But I could not have asked for easier people with whom to work. I’ve now backed a dozen over the last few months, and my apprehension was both unjustified and unnecessary. What’s ironic is that the better they are, the easier they are to work with and support. For years, I backed wedding singers and dive bar blues divas most of whom thought they were as good as these women (and one man so far) really are.
And I love the fact that they come in to listen and join us for a few tunes. Lisa Chavous is a regular and has been absolutely wonderful as a colleague, a singer, and an advisor. It was her idea to add the vocal hour! I’m thinking about having a jazz guitar evening with some of our local greats. Sadly, Sonny Troy, Pat Martino, and too many others are gone. But we have many greats to invite, so I’m pushing the club owner for it. We live-stream too, so it could be a major event. The bass player and drummer in my trio are well up to it, and I guess I’ll just play keys behind them………
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I can't even imagine hauling a twin to gigs.... amazing sound, but in the twin days I reckon most players took the amp to the club and left it there? Even being young, you'll pay the price of all that carrying later..
Last edited by Alter; 06-08-2022 at 05:36 PM.
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My knees so far are pretty good but I sure could not lug a twin around at all. Wintermoon have you check the local Orthopedic doctors to get your knee back in some form better?
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Sorry about your knee! Can relate to the sound of 2 10"s. My '64 Brown Panel Vibroverb sports two Jensens and is just a sweet, sweet lil' thing. Clarity and nice midrange warmth, with just enough hair around the edges to make it interesting. The harmonic tremolo is super nice.
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No worries, I don't think anyone knew I needed a longer cord, and the PR was probably a better choice anyway. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
ps please tell Phyllis I was asking for her. I think she sings in 4 or 5 languages and is a fine guitar player on top of it. A great talent and very humble. I met her about 20 yrs ago at a jazz BBQ and she did a solo set, just her and her guitar, I was very impressed! Last year we played a jazzfest and she went on right before us, I caught her whole set, she truly loves the music.
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well, I foolishly put it off for a month then went in for x rays which came back negative except the usual minor arthritis etc. Originally Posted by deacon Mark
but insurance won't pay for an MRI until I go through 6 weeks physical therapy [which starts at the end of the month]
so another 3 weeks of waiting around for therapy to begin and then the actual therapy for them to tell me that I have ligament damage [which I already know]
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My knees are okay, no pain, but I won't risk my back trying to lift and carry a heavy amp. My VR will only leave the room it's in if someone pays me enough money to carry it out themselves. I'm in okay shape, no injuries, but at my age I have to consider whether something is worth trying. Lifting a Fender amp is not going to be worth it.
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Buy a Quilter Aviator!
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I already have my small amps. I sort of want a RE Luna, but I just can't justify it, even to myself. Sad but true.
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This sounds like a weenie roast, if I don't know what the room and system are I always take a Twin.... Mine has a 15 JBL which isn't twin but ...,
Actually a good hand cart with pneumatic tires manages the load well, once a rough street roll on the casters dropped 2 power tubes leaving me with half power so lesson learned.
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I never hand carry into a gig anymore. Always have, at least, my little folding cart with skate wheels. I am indeed thinking of pneumatic tyres for the next one. Originally Posted by Cavalier
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I've not used my 2002 Twim Amp for at least 5 years
Edit: 6 years!
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Sounds like there will be heaps of cheap twins available soon. I`ll take up weight lifting and buy a few
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I went from a Twin to a Pearce G2r with solid oak cab and EVM, probably just as heavy, I had to install casters on it. And when I lived on a 2nd floor I had to carry it up (and down). Several years ago I switched to a Quilter MP and I love it. ~20lbs. I kept the Pearce for a while in my studio, and finally sold it.
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You can also grab a cheap 429 ci V8 powered Caddy with a trunk big enough to hold them. We now get 300 horsepower from a 4 cylinder engine and go further, faster and safer in cars half its size. Time marches on Originally Posted by JohanAbrandt
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It does yeah, but given that my main interest is in a style of music that peaked in the 50s and 60s I kind of try to ignore that Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
You can also grab a cheap 429 ci V8 powered Caddy with a trunk big enough to hold them. We now get 300 horsepower from a 4 cylinder engine and go further, faster and safer in cars half its size. Time marches on
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For quite some time silverface twins have been far more affordable on the used marked than ligher amps from the same era. Originally Posted by JohanAbrandt
Silverface princetons are about 2-3x the price of silverface Twins. (they are point to point handwired which makes them easier to mod and maintain compared to later PCB models)
I'm a weightlifter and can deadlift >200kg and carry my twin, but it is still quite an effort so I usually bring ligher amps since I have that option too.
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Age has a way of setting one’s priorities! At 65 I’m so glad for great lightweight alternatives!
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