Amps

[GoGoGoTheBand]

Hi everyone. I'm moving from my rural(ish) house to a city apartment here pretty soon. I have a Twin Reverb that I love, but I'd really hate to piss of the neighbors, and it's such a pain to move. So here's what some pros and cons to the twin. Maybe you guys can help me figure out something I can do.

Pros: clean to, brightness, huge reverb (my band uses a lot, so ill need a really big spring sound) I love that kind of *twack* sound you get on the low strings.

Cons: it's heavy, (even at home I can only turn it up to two) too loud for my purpose.

I don't have really more an $100 to trade up, so it'll have to be around the price of what I can get for my twin. Some options I've thought of are the Princeton or maybe getting a Fender Excelsior and a reverb unit, saw a cool video of a guy who did that. Anyway, I don't know too much about amps, but the tone I'm trying to get is a sort of Dick Dale, Grizzly Bear, Tennis sort of sound. Or should I just say screw the world and keep what I've got? Thanks everyone!

[Mr.Grumpy]

Yeah, good luck... Lots of people are dumping their big amps in favor of smaller, lower-wattage combos, so ironically Princetons are worth the same or more than a Twin of similar vintage. Now that big PAs are the norm, big amps aren't really needed even by gigging musicians. Just look at craigslist, everyone selling a Twin or similar says "too big, too loud, too heavy..." blah blah blah... Funny, people never make that complaint about Marshalls. 

I have a MusicMan HD-212, sort of a Twin on steroids; I tried to sell it a few years ago and didn't get any takers even when I dropped the price to $325. I just kept it and use it, so what if the master volume is never turned past 4. 

Blackface Twins are the most valuable, early Silverfaces are still desired, the later "Ultralinear" models are less desireable and harder to sell. 

[Kid Klash]

I'd hang on to your Twin if I was you... just turn it down for practicing when you get to the city. Twins are animals unto themselves, and everyone that I know that had one and sold it (including me) regretted selling them. If it's getting to be too heavy, buy a set of casters for it and roll it around as much as you can.

[thom]

I used to have an early '70s SF twin. Excellent amp for Rhodes players, but I personally can't imagine ever needing that much clean headroom for guitar. Doesn't sound awefull at lower volumes, but it's just overkill and way too inconvenient for most styles and circumstances. 

I'm partial to 12" speakers, so I ended up with a DRRI, which I absolutely love. 

If that's still more than what you need, I guess it'd make sense to try a PRRI. Haven't even tried one myself, but people around here seem to love it. Fwiw, lots and lots of credible/established guitarists too btw, if that means anything

I'm currently on the lookout for a used AC15 C2. Don't know how you feel about vox, but apart from also being way too big and loud, the AC30 I used to have was FAR from a flimsy chinese piece of crap

Another option, for whatever amp you'll end up with: Attenuator. I know a lot of people hate the whole idea, I know I used to. But the only real downside to a GOOD attenuator I can think of: It's pricey:s 

[Steve2112]

It's funny you should mention it. I have been trying to replace my 1964 Fender Twin Reverb for about 6-7 years now. This could be a long post because it has been a long journey. I will try to keep it as brief as possible while being informative.

I realized my OLD twin wouldnt be around forever. So I needed some sort of "my go to" amp. I have used outboard preamps and later some modellers....given the nature to the single channel clean Twin. I had many levels of distortion and integrated effects with the convince of a "throwdown" pedal board and midi-type switching. I could change from a clean verb to chourusy overdrive to lead delay at the tap of a button- usually had integrated volume, wah and tuner built in. For example..the Vox SE pedal- used it for a long time.

Here are, iirc...some the amps rigs I tried:

H&K Switchblade head

Mesa single rec head

Trace Elliot Tramp head

Peavey 50/50 power amp

Laney GC-60c combo

Randall G75 combo

GK SEL head

GK 100 combo

Crate G130C

Now that is all I remember for now. What I bought and owned- not to mention all the ones I tried out. There was good and bad in all of them. But none of them could give me the flexibility, versatility and ease (F/V/E) of use I had with my Twin and outboard preamp. The Vox SE and Rocktron Voodu remain my favs (of the many I have had). My biggest reaon for staying with the twin? A BIG sound with a low footprint. If you want to call that "clean head room" okay. Fine. It just has a huge sound. Some of that it 6L6. Some of it is 2x12. Some is my outboard preamps...and alot of it is old school Fender.

Always amazed me that players bitch about the weight of a real Twin, whilst hauling in a big heavy 4x12 cab and monster head. Twin is smaller and less overall weight. Will keep up in volume and have just as much dimension and depth. IMHO of course. It will also spread sound around the whole room/stage. Something the closed back cabs have issues with (if you see it that way).

I often use a folding cart to haul my gear around. Works great.

I have recently been playing on a Mustang III, and it is the CLOSEST I have gotten to the F/V/E factor. It plays well clean, has FX, tuner and distortion options. Easy to transport. No...it isn't the perfect booteek amp sound...but I never expected it to be. Price point and design balanced against USABLE tones are what I asked of it.

Recently played a JVM head and that thing is VERY NICE! Very flexible. But I aks myself....do ya want to carry around a head and cab, along with FX rack and/or pedal? It's why I didn't stick with the H&k Switchblade. That was a pretty good amp, but by the time I put it's footswitch down, plus a volume, wah and tuner, I might as wel be playing the Vox SE.

I realize you do not have a lot of free cash. I recommend that for now...keep your Twin and get something like the Fender Mustang III or the Blackstar ID series amp...which seems EXTREMELY interesting to me. I know we say this about a lot of stuff...but a good twin is the amp we always regret selling.

Having said ALL that...if you are happy with justa couple sounds,,,you have so many options it's not funny. Telling you what to get would be silly.

[Steve2112]

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Kid Klash wrote:
I'd hang on to your Twin if I was you... just turn it down for practicing when you get to the city. Twins are animals unto themselves, and everyone that I know that had one and sold it (including me) regretted selling them. If it's getting to be too heavy, buy a set of casters for it and roll it around as much as you can.

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Do NOT do this! I almost killed a man for rolling my twin acrossed the parking lot. These days I rarely have the castors in.

Use one of these instead (it's cheaper both now and in the long run):

[HKSblade2]

Keep the Twin. Go for the lighter Mustang Series modeling amp for noodling around. Another decnt one for Fender sound is the Super Champ XD

Or you can buy S-Gear software from Scuffham Amps. Sounds good too for guys with limited space and nearby neighbors.

[Harvester1199]

keep it and buy a Line 6 pod or somehting for home practice use, you can use headphones too and play at any time of day and never bother anyone

[Steve2112]

My reply was probably tl;dnr  

So in keeping with a short answer....in might be a good idea to ditch the Twin is you just plain don't need it. Can alway re-buy?

The Mustang III would serve you well. It's easier to edit than the smaller I/II, and can still be played in a band setting, while getting satisfying tone at low volumes. It's all Fender...the cleans and breakup are there. Solid reverbs will get you Dick Dale easily. You have other options within just in case- hard rock and metal for "those times".

[Kid Klash]

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Steve2112 wrote:

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Kid Klash wrote:
I'd hang on to your Twin if I was you... just turn it down for practicing when you get to the city. Twins are animals unto themselves, and everyone that I know that had one and sold it (including me) regretted selling them. If it's getting to be too heavy, buy a set of casters for it and roll it around as much as you can.

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Do NOT do this! I almost killed a man for rolling my twin acrossed the parking lot. These days I rarely have the castors in.

Use one of these instead (it's cheaper both now and in the long run):

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You almost killed a guy for rolling your amp across a parking lot?  WTF? 

[Steve2112]

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Kid Klash wrote:

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Steve2112 wrote:

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You almost killed a guy for rolling your amp across a parking lot?  WTF? 

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Haha...I was waiting for someone to ask about that. No...I didn't ALMOST kill him. I DID!

No not really. But I was pretty pissed. It's not like rolling a Randall 4x12 cab across the parking lot. This is a (real) 1964 Fender Twin Reverb- complete with a bunch of little electronics and glass tubey thingies. Those things can become unseated or even broken maybe. This amp is my Precious. I have owned it since 1986-87- for 20 years it never let me down. Been having a bit of trouble with it of late, but I'd say it's performed it's duty in this life, and really belongs in the museum, or at least tucked away in my studio.

Unless it's in a padded case, I do not reccomend rolling a tube amp (any amp really) across anything but a very smooth surface- certainy not a dive bar parking lot! Treat her like your baby and she'll treat you good, roit?

Use the cart instead, see?

[benzem]

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GoGoGoTheBand wrote:
Hi everyone. I'm moving from my rural(ish) house to a city apartment here pretty soon. I have a Twin Reverb that I love, but I'd really hate to piss of the neighbors, and it's such a pain to move. So here's what some pros and cons to the twin. Maybe you guys can help me figure out something I can do.

Pros: clean to, brightness, huge reverb (my band uses a lot, so ill need a really big spring sound) I love that kind of *twack* sound you get on the low strings.

Cons: it's heavy, (even at home I can only turn it up to two) too loud for my purpose.

I don't have really more an $100 to trade up, so it'll have to be around the price of what I can get for my twin. Some options I've thought of are the Princeton or maybe getting a Fender Excelsior and a reverb unit, saw a cool video of a guy who did that. Anyway, I don't know too much about amps, but the tone I'm trying to get is a sort of Dick Dale, Grizzly Bear, Tennis sort of sound. Or should I just say screw the world and keep what I've got? Thanks everyone!

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GoGoGoTheBand wrote:
Hi everyone. I'm moving from my rural(ish) house to a city apartment here pretty soon. I have a Twin Reverb that I love, but I'd really hate to piss of the neighbors, and it's such a pain to move. So here's what some pros and cons to the twin. Maybe you guys can help me figure out something I can do.

Pros: clean to, brightness, huge reverb (my band uses a lot, so ill need a really big spring sound) I love that kind of *twack* sound you get on the low strings.

Cons: it's heavy, (even at home I can only turn it up to two) too loud for my purpose.

I don't have really more an $100 to trade up, so it'll have to be around the price of what I can get for my twin. Some options I've thought of are the Princeton or maybe getting a Fender Excelsior and a reverb unit, saw a cool video of a guy who did that. Anyway, I don't know too much about amps, but the tone I'm trying to get is a sort of Dick Dale, Grizzly Bear, Tennis sort of sound. Or should I just say screw the world and keep what I've got? Thanks everyone!

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Keep the twin, all those and any that can be suggested are gonna be too loud.

Just run an fx box into it once in awhile if you can get away with it, and buy a little practice amp.

[James Clausen]

My guess is based on what ya gonna use it for. I use my Cyber-Twin when I need the stage volume (also a great recording amp). I use my DT25 for smaller venues and recording. Late at night (when my wife is sleeping), I plug into my HD500 and use headphones. I can plug both amps directly into the PA so that pretty much covers all the situations that I am going to play in.