Little tricks for getting what you want from Fender amps

[Johnophean]

Any way to make a RI Twin Reverb sound like a Deluxe Reverb????
The Twin Reverb makes fuzzes horribly fizzy and the Deluxe Reverb's seem to make em sing and be fat and toneful.
Can a Twin take 6V6's or perhaps even EL84's? Anyone ever do this or something like it to make the amp have less headroom and more Mid-MEAT to make Big Muff's etc sound mean and not fizzy and washy?
I guess the point is "more gain, less output".
I've never been able to get the Twin over 2 or 3 MAX. without breaking windows or clipping mic's.
Well it does sound pretty good on 6-10
...well if you wanna go DEAF, get thrown off a stage, make your drummer break 2B sticks and you want to get the cops called on you when your at home. Yeah we don't want to be doing that...I want 2 to be the new 5 so to speak.

[jjones]

Any way to make a RI Twin Reverb sound like a Deluxe Reverb????
The Twin Reverb makes fuzzes horribly fizzy and the Deluxe Reverb's seem to make em sing and be fat and toneful.
Can a Twin take 6V6's or perhaps even EL84's? Anyone ever do this or something like it to make the amp have less headroom and more Mid-MEAT to make Big Muff's etc sound mean and not fizzy and washy?
I guess the point is "more gain, less output".
I've never been able to get the Twin over 2 or 3 MAX. without breaking windows or clipping mic's.
Well it does sound pretty good on 6-10
...well if you wanna go DEAF, get thrown off a stage, make your drummer break 2B sticks and you want to get the cops called on you when your at home. Yeah we don't want to be doing that...I want 2 to be the new 5 so to speak.

I would just sell the twin and get a deluxe if that is the sound you're after. No sense in having a super heavy amp when you desire the sound of a much lighter amp.

[Johnophean]

My thoughts exactly since posting this. The Twin is just a sentimental piece of my gear, but not my main amp, so I think I am ready to part with it.
Went out the other day checking out a few low watt amps and actually found that the sound in my head is getting less Fender and more Vox. Tried 3 Deluxe's and an original 65 or 66. and...
The conclusion I came to was - a Vox AC15...weird...unexpected...but different and kind of exciting!

[kimjongsick]

Vox has never done anything wrong except for make shitty standby switches.

[Johnophean]

Only thing I'm weary about is the Top Boost and Normal channel being 2 separate inputs. Kinda weirded out by that.
Well see, I got my Twin Reverb for sale now so as soon as it's sold I'll have to decide if it's "the new amp" for me. =)

[willfulmurder]

Thanks for a great post. Good information.

[JSett]

I have a question/problem:

My '76 Twin Reverb (master volume, non-ultralinear), if you use the reverb, after about 10 minutes it suddenly SCREAMS.. like at TOP VOLUME (despite what the volume is actually set at). It's loud enough and high pitched enough to actually make you wanna run away and makes me shit myself its so loud.

I don't use the reverb much anyway as there's so damn much hiss on it anyway - another issue I need to rectify. Is the tube the culprit? is that 10 minutes enought to get it hot enough to scream? Is that why its so 'hissy' too?

Any ideas??!?

[kimjongsick]

My uneducated assumption would be a tube that's gone microphonic.

[JSett]

My uneducated assumption would be a tube that's gone microphonic.

That was my assumption. I think it's the 3rd one in from the right, a 12at7, but reluctant to swap it for the only other 12at7 as im not sure what that one does LOL

[Johnophean]

I got the Vox AC15C1...like it alot...I'm now selling the Twin Reverb.
It's mint condition and hardly ever gets used anymore. Anyone interested lemme know.
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... 14&t=44566" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[andy_tchp]

johnnysomerset: You'll want something more durable than a new production 12AT7. Silverface Fenders give them an absolute hiding. Been there, done that :-)

My recommendation is to grab a couple of these JAN Phillips 12AT7s for $10 a pop (plus shipping) here: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=072-658

May or may not help with the hiss. There'll always be some hiss, just the nature of the beast, but it shouldn't be an issue at band volumes though.

[JSett]

johnnysomerset: You'll want something more durable than a new production 12AT7. Silverface Fenders give them an absolute hiding. Been there, done that :-)

My recommendation is to grab a couple of these JAN Phillips 12AT7s for $10 a pop (plus shipping) here: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=072-658

May or may not help with the hiss. There'll always be some hiss, just the nature of the beast, but it shouldn't be an issue at band volumes though.

Awesome, I can get one from Watford Valves for £10

The trem tube is dodgy too so I might change that...any reccomendations for that one... its a 12AX7 I think

[andy_tchp]

Awesome, I can get one from Watford Valves for £10

Good stuff!

The trem tube is dodgy too so I might change that...any reccomendations for that one... its a 12AX7 I think

The vibrato oscillator in V5? Any 12AX7 that lights up and works - There is no tonal impact from this one. What's up with the one already in that slot?

Cheers.

[JSett]

Awesome, I can get one from Watford Valves for £10

Good stuff!

The trem tube is dodgy too so I might change that...any reccomendations for that one... its a 12AX7 I think

The vibrato oscillator in V5? Any 12AX7 that lights up and works - There is no tonal impact from this one. What's up with the one already in that slot?

Cheers.

It makes a popping noise in time with the vibrato...like a static pop.

[JSett]

that's not the fault of the tube. It's a flaw inherent in the design. The neon bulb in the optocoupler sends interference back into the line every time it turns on.

In fact, replacing it with a stronger/newer 12AX7 might actually make the problem worse.

I've heard of guys making new optocouplers using an LED instead of the neon bulb, but I've never tried it myself.

Really? Its quite loud!

I find it hard to believe it's 'supposed' to be like that rubbish. Oh well, I have a colorsound tremolo for vintage throb... its a shame it's not fast enough for that 'swamp' sound.