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Topic: Ahhh....Got Tubes! Silverface Fender Twin Reverb (picture) |
Jerry Van Hoose
From:
Wears Valley, Tennessee
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Posted 10 Jul 2008 6:24 pm |
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 Here's my "New" Fender Twin Reverb. This project wouldn't have been possible without the skill and expertise of Ken Fox and Rick Johnson. It started out as a 1979 "master volume" 135 watt Twin. Ken restored and modded it to "better than new" specs. In addition to some of the mods he performed, the master volume control was removed from the circuit and reverb was added to Channel 1. It plays clean and clear all the way to the top with a sweet high end. It has new JJ tubes, new Accutronic reverb unit along with new braided cables. The reverb tank is enclosed in a new "Tuki" bag. The nos silver faceplate and knobs compliment the new cabinet by Rick Johnson. Rick built the cabinet to house an Eminence Commonwealth 15 and used silver sparkle grillcloth that contains the matching blue thread for silver face era Fenders. Rick only lives a few minutes from me and it was a pleasure to visit with him at his home and shop the day that I picked up the cabinet. Most often, I use an "Ampwedge" to tilt my amps back slightly at an angle so I'm unsure whether or not I'll install Fender tilt-back legs. The total weight is 74 lbs. Once again, my sincere thanks goes out to both Ken and Rick for their courtesy and consideration because without them, this project wouldn't have been possible.
Last edited by Jerry Van Hoose on 12 Jul 2008 4:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 10 Jul 2008 7:32 pm
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Ooh la la!!!
Now THAT's an amp if there ever was one!
Brad |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Jul 2008 9:03 pm
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How SWEEEEET it is!! Congrats!!  |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2008 1:54 am
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Va-va-va-voom!! She's a beaut'!
I'll be interested to hear how you like the commonwealth speaker with the twin. Is that the same one that's in the Steel King?
Congrats,
Dan
_________________
Durham, NH
dbmCk mUSIC |
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Jerry Van Hoose
From:
Wears Valley, Tennessee
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Posted 11 Jul 2008 4:10 am
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| Guys, thanks for the comments. Yes, the Eminence Commonwealth 15 is the same speaker that's in the Fender Steel King. It just has a different label. An Eminence factory rep. told me that it's patterned after a D130 in the sense of having the same cone shape, a 4" voice coil, and metal dust cap, however, the paper is thicker, and the magnet is ceramic, not alnico. Although this particular Eminence Commonwealth has only seen a few hours of use at home, it nonetheless displays the same clean and clear characteristics of the one that I've become accustomed to in the Steel King. |
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Rick Johnson
From:
Wheelwright, Ky USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2008 5:52 am
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Jerry
That amp looks great, I love the
faceplate. Lets see now, this amp
with your new Show-Pro, its
got to be good
Rick
www.rickjohnsoncabs.com |
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Jerry Van Hoose
From:
Wears Valley, Tennessee
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Posted 12 Jul 2008 4:44 am
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| Thanks Rick. While visiting with Lloyd at his home a couple of years ago, I saw the 2 piece, Fender Twin, head and speaker cabinet that you built for him.....beautiful work! I've wanted one of your cabinets ever since then. Both, the chassis and speaker fit perfectly in the cabinet that you built for me. The quality of your work is outstanding. That nos silver faceplate was quite difficult to find. Yes, I think my Show Pro and this Fender Twin make an excellent combination. Now, if I only had a Blackface Fender Twin with vintage/aged grill cloth like yours..... |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2008 7:11 am
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Thats one sweet Twin !!!.....Good Luck with it ....I'll bet it sounds like a million !!!
That 135 watt Silverface Fender Twin has to be one of the best sounding Twins made for pedal steel, and now with the master volume removed , and reverb on channel one, it must sound even better ...Not to mention you have some great guys doing your cabinet and amp work ....Top shelf all the way ....Jim |
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Dan Beller-McKenna
From:
Durham, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2008 7:35 am
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135 Watt twin is indeed primo for steel. I just thought to plug my '68 tele into mine for the first time since I picked up the twin a couple of months ago. Oh my! Not too shabby for pure country tele either! Too bad my I never play six string anymore.
Dan |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2008 12:54 pm
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| Looking great, Jerry! Let us know how that speaker works out for you. I bet it will sound better after some break in time! |
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Don Griffiths
From:
Steelville, MO
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Posted 12 Nov 2013 6:36 pm Master volume
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Question for you Jerry Van Hoose. Did removing the master volume accomplish anything tone wise, or was it something you just did not use , or was it to accommodate the faceplate ? I never use the pull pot on the master as it never improved anything tone wise to my ears. 
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Shobud Pro1,BMI U12, Santa Cruz F, PRS Standard, Fender Twin Reverb, ‘53 000-28 |
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Jerry Van Hoose
From:
Wears Valley, Tennessee
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Posted 12 Nov 2013 8:04 pm
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| Hello Don. Wow, over 5 yrs. ago. I believe that Ken recommended removing the master volume from the circuit as it wasn't needed for this application, less is more. This was the cleanest tube amp, tone wise, of several Fender Twin Reverb's that I've owned and used through the years. A friend from Thailand, Songwut Sopajaree, custom made the silver, "non-master" faceplate for me (Songwut is a master at making faceplates). That amp was about as perfect as could be, very heavy though. It was practically "as new" with Ken's extensive work along with a new cabinet from Rick Johnson. If I remember correctly, I purchased the new Eminence Commonwealth 15 from David Allen at Allen Amplification. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2013 6:13 am
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| They grow big strong football players down in Florida, I'm not sure how big the groupies are. 74 lb. amp? At least all the buildings are one story too. |
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Mike Bowles
From:
Princeton, West Virginia, USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2013 4:49 pm twin
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nice amp i just got a 75 vintage twin im loving it its a 100 watt its in good shape though. has two 12s d120f in it trying to find out how much rick johnston charges for a split cab and head.
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Mike Bowles |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 13 Nov 2013 6:43 pm
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That amp has character!!!!
How lucky to access the best of the best in the restoration process.
Lenny |
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Paul Boden
From:
Santa Rosa California
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 2:06 pm
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I have a question for any of you gentleman
To remove the silver or black face from a 1970 Twin,
How does one remove the red indicator light for the face to come off
any help would be appreciated
Paul |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Nov 2013 8:35 pm
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| Paul Boden wrote: |
I have a question for any of you gentleman
To remove the silver or black face from a 1970 Twin,
How does one remove the red indicator light for the face to come off
any help would be appreciated
Paul |
The panel lamp is nutted from the back side... and you'll have to unsolder it to get the panel off. Unscrewing the jewel (from the front) doesn't help, although it allows you to replace the lamp.
_________________
New FB Page: Lap Steel Licks And Stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195394851800329 |
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Paul Boden
From:
Santa Rosa California
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Posted 17 Nov 2013 8:48 am
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| thanks Steven |
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Paul Boden
From:
Santa Rosa California
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Posted 17 Nov 2013 8:48 am
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| thanks Steven |
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Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 21 Nov 2013 12:12 pm
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| nice.. looks heavy but I'm sure it sounds amazing! |
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