Help with Fender Twin

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

I could use some help from you fender guys. I would like some oppinions on the condition and value of this 72 twin and how it would sound with the JBL's. Any help would be appriciated.

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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Kyle Everson · From: Nashville, Tennessee

I bet it sounds fantastic. Not sure about the other components, but the choke dates to 1974. However that is a '72-ish logo. I have a '71 and a '74 and they both sound awesome. Add in the JBLs and I'd think it would be even better.

Chuck Thompson · From: Illinois, USA

yummy

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you wanted some help lifting it!
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LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

I might need that too. I am considering buying this but don't know enough by looking at it to put a value on it. I know there are a lot of fender guys on the forum that really know these things inside and out and might be abole to see something right away. I had a vibrosonic that I love and sorry I soild it. Not sure if I want ti try a twin or wait to find another 15.
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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

The serial number from the back of the amp chassis is the best dating I.D.; but if the MV does not have the pull boost "feature" it may well be a '72, as the earliest MV models had no boost. The "tail" logo would place it as a '72 or '73; non boost a '72, boost most likely a '73.

Here's a link to date info:

http://www.superchamp.dk/papers/dating_fender_tube_amps.htm

'72-ish Twins that have been serviced (and I'm guessing this one has possibly had a cap job from the replaced bias cap) sell for around $600-$800, sometimes more when an unknowing buyer sees the word "vintage" and pulls the trigger on a high eBay buy-it-now price.

The JBL's kick up the value (although IMO unless you can crank it up - which is doubtful - the JBL's *hurt* the tone....they are notoriously tight and treble-heavy sounding at low volume) so that one might be worth $800-900 or so.

The question is - how much it it worth to *you*? Twins are probably the least valuable of point-to-point wired Fender combo amps with Reverb for the simple reason that they are hard to get a good sound out of in smaller venues....and as a home amp they are really impractical (again, this is just my opinion...some may disagree, but there is a big difference in tone between a Twin on "2" and a Twin or "7" - and with the volume at 7 you're going to be rattling windows.)
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

Looks pretty doggone clean to me. The lead dress (wiring) looks cleaner and neater than some others that I've seen from that era (early 70's). I see that the bias cap has been changed out...that's the tubular turqoise cap in the 4th picture down. Cosmetically very very nice. Of course ya won't know for sure until you plug it in, but it's definitely worth your interest if you have a good backbone...and it has wheels!
Worth a listen.
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Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Some would argue (probably me among them) that that vintage Twin is the best setup for pedal steel: pre-ultralinear. The JBL's are going to sound great on stage, and I would not recommend using that amp in your 8'X8' library.

Try it. Bet ya like it. But you might want to book your hernia repair now!!

And I agree, it looks really clean and yummy.

KP

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

Thanks Guys. The vibrosonic I recently sold had an orange frame JBL which I liked. I'm not sure how the 2 JBL's will sound in comparison. There is also a reissue with a 15 inch speaker I can get a good deal on. Not sure if I want to take a chance on that. Any thoughts on the reissues?
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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Buy that amp!! Personally, I love heavy amps. They're macho!

David Doggett · Posted 20 Apr 2009 9:36 pm

That handwired amp is worth way more than a pc-board reissue, and will sound better and have more clean headroom for pedal steel, and will be more reliable. The 2x12s will have a little brighter voice than the 1x15 Vibrosonic you had. But they are less likely to get blown, and they cut through the mix better. A lot of classic pedal steel from the '70s was done with a 2x12 Twin. The JBLs are the most popular vintage speakers for pedal steel. I have never played a Twin on 2 with pedal steel - I wouldn't have enough volume pedal sustain even at low volume levels. Everywhere above 2 it's gonna sound as good as it gets.

Ivan Funk · From: Hamburg Pennsylvania, USA

I have a Vibrasonic Reissue and a late '70's Twin.
If I had to choose between the two I'd pick the Twin.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

At the risk of gloating, my Twin looks just like that except for the JBL's, and my Vibrosonic looks just like that except for the funny orange thing in the back.

Great gear for a guy who can't play for stink.

KP

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

I doubt the speakers are original to the amp. As I recall the gray ones are before the 70's. Here is some info I found on the net:

JBL D-series speakers had orange baskets and Fender by JBL labels in the 1970s. JBL D-series speakers can generally handle upwards of 60 watts each.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

J. Castillo must have assembled thousands of these amps. His name is stamped inside both of my SF amps.

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

option 2 which I'm leaning towards. Not as clean on the outside but has the 15. Not sure how it would sound with that JBL speaker E-130-8
Number stamped in the back of the chases is B-01526
small transformer # 202699 606-4-11
med transformer # 022867 606-3-31
Large black transformer has #s but I can't read them ... it looks old and probably is original

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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

For steel (or jazz guitar) I like the second option better. Should cost more cuz it's been "relic'd."

You'd be amazed how good a tele sounds through a 15", too.

On a distantly related note, Music Brokers in Phoenix has a Blackface Dual Showman sitting in stock that I can't begin to justify, if anybody else can.

KP

Randy Gilliam · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

That Twin Looks Really Clean, In San Antonio It Will Bring $1200.00 If I Had It Or I Would Keep It, Thanks Randy For The Pics.

Kyle Everson · From: Nashville, Tennessee

Bill, what's the price difference between the two? If it were me, I'd still go with the 2x12 Twin. I have four Twins right now, ranging from January '66 to early '74, and the best all-around amp for steel is my '71 with 2x12. Just my 2 cents.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I had a loaner '72 Twin with 2 D-120F's for a while and it was just great. Those are the alnico magnet JBL 12's and they are fabulous.

The E-130 has a ceramic magnet and although some say the magnet makes no difference in tone, I have found that I prefer speakers with alnico magnets. Call me crazy but they seem to have a sweetness that ceramics don't. Course if you go with #2 you could always try a different 15 if you don't like the E-130. The Weber Neo 15 sounds very close to the JBL D-130F (alnico) and would cut the weight down a bit.

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

verdict is................................
the twin. Should have it next week. Thanks for all the info.
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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Drew Howard · From: 48854

'77 and '75 here.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The first T-R is in "Excellent" condition, though as mentioned, the speakers may not be original. (Not a big deal, really. The speakers in there are valuable if in good shape, and with the condition of the amp, I'd bet they are.) The second V-R rates only as "good" condition, and it's easy to tell the grill cloth has been replaced from the wavy edges. The speaker may be original, but the stains on the chassis around the output tubes mean that amp's been seriously pushed. (Probably with the bias way off.)

Without question, I'd take the first one! Winking

Greg Wisecup · From: Troy, Ohio

I bought one brand new in about '83. I recently ran across and old cassette tape of our band at the time and I was playing a Maverick through it and it sounded great. I was 26 at the time. It was very heavy then!
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