| Author |
Topic: Fender Twin Reverb Custom 15 Question... |
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 4:22 pm |
|
Anyone play though one of these yet? I use a '69 Dual Showman Reverb with an Eminence EPS-15C.. have a chance to pick up a TR Custom 15 for 650.00... I'm a bit skeptical of printed circuit board amps.. I'd like to hear from any of you guys who either own one or have played through one...THANKS!! 
_________________
https://www.reverbnation.com/bigredandtheresonators
Last edited by Chris Boyd on 14 Dec 2012 7:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
 |
Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 4:51 pm
|
|
I've used one - not a nice sound
the new Fender stuff is fairly brittle sounding to my ear - and the EQ and reverb are unusable. I get stuck with them on a backline from time to time
you can probably find a decent used Fender from the hand wired days for about that same price. The difference in tone and feel is worth any headaches that a vintage amp may cause
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 5:07 pm
|
|
Thanks Tim... I kinda figured as much and appreciate your opinion..I've always been a PTP Fender/Ampeg/Vox guy... Did I see in another post that you have a Blonde Twin Reverb cab w/15" that you'd consider selling? Was thinking of taking my '69 Dual Showman Reverb out of the head cab... the 15" Eminence is in a Music Man cab now...
_________________
https://www.reverbnation.com/bigredandtheresonators |
|
|
|
Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 5:09 pm
|
|
I do
that would be a really killer combo amp!
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 11:26 pm
|
|
| The Custom 15 is a good sounding steel amp that was plagued with cheap quality problems. I believe thats why they discontinued it. It's ashame because if it was built with better quality it would have been a good amp. Penney wise and pound foolish. |
|
|
|
Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
|
Posted 13 Dec 2012 11:38 pm
|
|
| Chris Boyd wrote: |
| Thanks Tim... I kinda figured as much and appreciate your opinion..I've always been a PTP Fender/Ampeg/Vox guy... Did I see in another post that you have a Blonde Twin Reverb cab w/15" that you'd consider selling? Was thinking of taking my '69 Dual Showman Reverb out of the head cab... the 15" Eminence is in a Music Man cab now... |
Quite a bit like a Vibrosonic Reverb  |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
|
|
|
Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 7:21 am
|
|
The Custom 15 is simply a Twin Reverb Reissue chassis with a larger cabinet and a 15" speaker. The US made Twin Reissue has been around since 1992 and is still made today. I would guess the reason the Custom 15 is no longer in production has to do with sales volume, and nothing to do with quality.
I recently acquired a used one to use both with guitar and steel, and it fills that role extremely well. I have not found it thin sounding at all, but I have replaced the tubes, so maybe that is the difference. I have been using it live now for a couple months, and really like it. Tried a new Eminence EPS-15C speaker, and although I liked the sound with steel, I did not like the sound with a tele, so I put the original speaker, 23 pounds and all, back in. It is heavy, but I keep it in a road case in the trailor, so it is manageable.
I think before folks start making quality comments, you need to look at the numbers. If a company makes thousands of a model vs. a boutique maker making tens of a model, you would predict there would be many more reported "issues" since there are thousands more opportunities for a failure. And, EVERY failure is proudly broadcast across the internet. You are simply not hearing from the thousands of players enjoying their production amps.
I have owned and own many PTP and PCP amps and have seen no difference in reliability, although the PTP is easier to work on and modify. I have even seen a famous boutique amp fail during a Time Jumpers concert, so I have never bought into the reliability argument of PTP. I have found most failures are due to tube failure, and unfortunately, that is the same risk for all amps.
Bottom line, the reissue amps (including the Custom 15) are good gigging amps, and used, are a great value. I don't think Fender would continue making the series for 20+ years if they are plagued with quality issues. |
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 7:53 am
|
|
The 65 Reissue Twin 15 Custom (or whatever they're calling it) is still in production. At least it still shows up on the catalog, at $100 over the cost of the 2-12. I had my local guys check as I weighed getting Jeremy's green Twin.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 9:04 am
|
|
| Lane, you are correct, still listed on the web site as well, at $10 less MSRP than the 2x12. I just assumed they were DC'd based on an earlier post. |
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 9:09 am
|
|
Tell ya what, I'm diggin' mine
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Brett Lanier
From:
Hermitage, TN
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 12:36 pm
|
|
Good move going with the Milkman cab! I doubt you'd think much of the reissue amp compared to your showman reverb...
That said,,, Cindy Cashdollar played through two custom 15's on Ryan Adams' "Cold Roses" album. If you're unfamiliar check out songs like Easy Plateau, Rosebud, or Let it Ride. Incredible tone. |
|
|
|
Benjamin Kelley
From:
Iowa, USA
|
Posted 14 Dec 2012 5:40 pm
|
|
I own several fender "reissue" amplifiers and have found them to be a great used value. New tubes and a proper biasing as well as breaking in the speaker(s) cured any harshness I got out of mine, and reliability has never been a concern.
Cheers,
Benjamin
_________________
If I die trying I will steel the world one honky tonk at a time. |
|
|
|
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 7:15 am
|
|
I have heard a lot of great sounding reissue amps. Fixed several problems (usually poor workmanship from Fender) and after a bias setup they seemed very good. A technician's nightmare to work on, just like most tube amps of the day (Mesa Boogie, Peavey and others fit that catagory well).
For my money, I prefer an older hand-wired amp that can be serviced without taking all the knobs off and gutting the amp's circuit board out to replace one little part. That is why reissue and newer tube amps cost more to repair, time to disassemble, repair, reassemble and test out. However. people want cheap tube amps and mass production and PC boards fill the bill. For those of use that are willing to spend more, a boutique/hand-wired amp is the ticket.
One of the best sounding Twins to ever pass thru my shop was a 40th anniversary Twin with cream Tolex. Tone to die for in a Twin, period. Problems it had came from sloppy hand-wiring by Fender to some tube sockets and other off the board components that are in fact hand-wired. In fact a few years back the local Fender dealer sent a brand new Twin reissue to me to fix. Cheaper than sending it back to Fender. Same kind of problems with it.
You can play a Taiwan made Fender Squier or an American made Custom Shop Fender guitar. Same with amps. I also prefer to support my fellow American workers. Reissue amps are not made in the USA. Neither are a lot of newer amps on the market. |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
|
|
|
Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 1:57 pm
|
|
| Ken Fox wrote: |
| I also prefer to support my fellow American workers. Reissue amps are not made in the USA. Neither are a lot of newer amps on the market. |
amen to that!
Amps made in the USA are more expensive - but wow are they worth it!
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
|
|
|
Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 2:00 pm
|
|
"Reissue amps are not made in the USA"
Curious where you are getting that, as everything I have read leads me to believe they are still assembled in the US. |
|
|
|
Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 2:11 pm
|
|
They are assembled in Mexico I think with mostly Chinese parts
Most of the "boutique" amps out there are made with US parts - especially important are the transformers. You don't want poorly made ones because they are expensive to replace and they sound terrible.
The cabinets the reissues are built into are also very poor quality - they do not use solid pine with birch baffles anymore. It's all MDF which offers none of the midrange snap that Fender is famous for.
They are made here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensenada,_Baja_California
Beautiful looking place
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
|
|
|
Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 3:37 pm
|
|
I helped installed a paging system some years back in the Subaru plant at Swan Island in Portland, Oregon. The cars were touted as assembled in America. Well the complete cars came rolling in the building and a crew that spoke at least 4 languages (no English) would install luggage racks, custom wheels, leather seat covers or other accessories on the car. Those cars were not made in the USA and probably none of the accessories were either. Just good old advertising at work there!
Next reissue I see in here (and I do see a few locally) I will check it out. Fender offers American made replacements transformers and Taiwan versions (you can see that at Sovtek.com). Be interesting to see where they are made. No great amount of money is spent on high quality component parts in the amps either. Yet they are worth what you pay for them. You are just not going to get high quality parts, transformers, woodwork,etc at those prices.
It used to cost me almost as much in parts alone to build my steel amps as I could spend to buy a Fender Twin reissue amp.
Another reason I am glad to retire. People gladly spend thousands on a steel guitar, as much as $500.00 for a volume pedal and more for rack gear and such. Still they want an amp for nothing, by comparison. It just never ceases to amaze me. |
|
|
|
Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2012 4:48 pm
|
|
Tim hasn't mentioned it in this thread, but he makes an amazing "Custom 15"...the Milkman Pedal Steel amp. Check it out....worth every penny, and more.
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor |
|
|
|
Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
|
Posted 16 Dec 2012 6:41 am
|
|
Looking forward to one of Tim's cabs w/15" baffle to load the '69 Dual Showman Reverb..having started steel in the 70's with a '65 Twin w/D130,I've come full circle with the DSR .
Had a hunch this would prove to be an interesting thread... Thank you all!...
All my amps are USA made except the UK made '64 Vox AC30.. mostly 60's BF Fender,Ampeg,and a few 70's Music Man...
_________________
https://www.reverbnation.com/bigredandtheresonators |
|
|
|
Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
|
Posted 19 Dec 2012 1:35 pm
|
|
I am not sure why this thread bothers me so, but I think it hit on two of my pet peeves, inaccurate information on the internet, and the my way or you're wrong attitude that permeates our society today, no real middle ground. In this thread about a Twin Custom 15 we have heard……
1. “I believe thats why they discontinued it.” Since it is still listed as a current amp at Fender.com as well as for sale at retail outlets, I think we can safely say this was a false statement.
2. It has been stated as fact in a previous thread that the Reissue series amps are made in China. In this thread it has been upgraded to Mexico. Here is a quote from a Fender Representative talking about how they label the origin of the amps.
“If there is no country of origin listed on the label, it's made in Corona, CA, USA. If it's made in Mexico, China, etc., the country of origin is clearly listed on the product. We don't hide it. Custom Series, Reissue, and Pro-Tube are all currently made in USA.
Thanks,
Shane”
Now, granted, that may have changed recently and maybe they are assembled in Mexico, but I have not seen made in Mexico or China on any Reissue amp. There is no question, though, there are a ton of foreign parts used. My point is if you are unsure; don’t state it as fact.
3. “It's all MDF which offers none of the midrange snap that Fender is famous for.” From the Fender Spec sheet on the Custom 15…………Wait for it……………
Cabinet Material: Baltic Birch Plywood Cabinet
'Nuff said.
Final point, and I will shut up….Not everyone needs a $3K+ amp to play gigs and enjoy making music. There is NO DOUBT that US made boutique amps with quality parts are a better product than pro level production amps. But for me, it was a value to dollar choice. As a hobby player on weekends, (I have a day job); $100 to $150 pp is a pretty typical gig. To buy a $800 used Reissue, I have to play about 6 gigs, to get a $3K+ steel amp, I would be looking at 20-30 gigs to pay it off, and only I would hear the difference. It’s not that I want an amp for nothing, or that I don’t see the value in a nice hand wired amplifier, but to fit the bill of a weekend warrior, just getting into PSG, the reissue amps are great value, and frankly, sound quite good. It just seems like the tone of these threads asking opinions of products turn into a crap on everything that's not the brand I use or sell, when really, there is a whole world of great equipment out there, in many price ranges.
Ok, I feel better now. |
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 19 Dec 2012 1:44 pm
|
|
Howard, I'm all over getting the record straight, thanks.
Your last paragraph makes me think, though. I know a few guys, one of them a student of mine, who has 3 D-10 guitars, probably another $2000 in various effects, and plays through a N1000 or a N112. He doesn't gig, plays in his basement and occasionally jams with friends.
I think that's the mindset Tim was talking about.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
|
Posted 19 Dec 2012 5:16 pm
|
|
sorry about the MDF accusation but in my defense, Baltic birch plywood is still a far cry from solid pine and solid birch which house vintage fender and most boutique amps
I assumed the reissues lived in the same cabinets as the less expensive fender amps and was wrong on a technicality.
I am a steel player first, but a tech second and I try to base my posts here on my real world experience. I find the reissue fender amps to be unworkable inside and out, but that's just me! If you find my posts unhelpful or misinformed just let me know. I'd like to think that I am a reasonable person.
Also, if you read the posts about boutique amps on this site, the folks who go to see a certain big name steel player have been raving about his recent upgrade in tone. It's not a mental condition that comes along with spending money - turns out quality in does produce quality out. Not everyone has to get on board with that.
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
|
|
|
