65' ReissueTwin Reverb VS The Evil Twin

Jim McNealon · Post by **Jim McNealon** » 13 Dec 2000 3:32 pm

I'm in the process of buying a twin reverb. The options are a 65' Reissue or "The Twin" which has two power levels & various volume presets. Its rated @ 100/25 watts vs 85 watts for the reissue. I have used a silver faced twin for years & loved it.
Now the questions are:
1. Has anybody used the evil twin for steel, & can you get that same retro steel sound.
2. Are most of the steelers that are using twin reverbs using original 60's thru 80's amps or are they the new reissues?
3. I plan to play mostly steel & some Tele. Which would be preferred.
I appreciate your input.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 13 Dec 2000 10:04 pm

I play nothing but Fender Twins now and I have to tell you.
That new "The Twin" is total crap. I had to play through one on tour where I couldn't bring my amp and was majorly disappointed.
I have however played through the Reissue and it is great compared to the "Evil Twin".
Actually that is what I played through on the new Live from London CD in the Dale Watson band; to be out in March. After I heard the playback I was very suprised at such a good sound the reissue had. It gave me everything I needed on stage that night and I even play through an original '70 twin>just for the old honky tonk sound.
So that is my opinion and "Just say No" to that evil "The Twin".

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Ricky Davis

My Homepage
Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@aol.com

[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 13 December 2000 at 10:06 PM.]

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 13 Dec 2000 11:30 pm

I have to agree with Ricky, I owned a red-knob "The Twin" for a while, and didn't like it at all. It does have some nice modern features, like channel switching / combining, balanced line out, even sockets on the back to connect a volt/ohm meter to set the bias current. Tone wise, though, I thought it was a loser. A good amp tech might be able to tweak it and get a better tone, I don't know. At 80+ pounds, I just didn't feel like it was worth carrying around, and soon got rid of it.

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 14 Dec 2000 1:17 am

I always thought that the "evil Twin" referred to the "Twin Amp" model which sounds much better to me than "The Twin"....am I confused????

Andy

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 14 Dec 2000 4:12 am

Andy, that's what I thought too. Jim, is the Twin you're talking about have red knobs or does it look like an old blackface amp? Big difference. The twin reissue will probably suit you well, but be prepared to change the tubes and speakers if it already hasn't been done.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 14 Dec 2000 7:22 am

Ok I was talking about "The Twin">the ones with the red knobs>"garbage". All the others; I have no problem with.
What is an "Evil Twin">is that another model?
Ricky

Greg Derksen · Post by **Greg Derksen** » 14 Dec 2000 7:33 am

Jim ,if you can try them both out, that
would be the best,don't let those red knobs
bother you ,use your ears. That so-called
Re-isue blackface to my ears is very honky
and stiff sounding. If I have a choice when
I play out its usually my last pick.
If I were buying , I would buy a Silver Face
Twin late 60's, early 70'S, convert it back to blackface spec, ( Cheap). And you would
have a hand-wired ( easy-to-repair), better
tone and components, and you would be sailing. There easy to find! and at least you
would be out of this circuit board so-called
Re-isue thing, Use your Ears not your eyes!
Greg

Jim McNealon · Post by **Jim McNealon** » 14 Dec 2000 2:01 pm

Both of the amps have a black face. No red knobs.
The "Evil Twin" is what the Fender catalog has nicknamed a blackface "The Twin". Its rated at 100 watts with a selectable output of either 100 or 25 watts. It has 3 volume knobs that you can preset & then select one with a footswitch (this seems handy for guitar). If it has the same tone for steel as the "Twin Reverb" reissue, then it may be a keeper.
Greg,your idea about the silver face seems real good, but I havent been able to find one for sale lately.
Ricky, are using a reissue or the 70's models?
Are the reissues as good for steel as the originals? If so, I may quit agonozing over this purchase and run down to the local music store & get it over with.

Hamilton Barnard · Post by **Hamilton Barnard** » 14 Dec 2000 2:12 pm

I played an Evil Twin and I thought that the cleans sounded like cr@p.

Hey Ricky, you sounded great in Orange County a couple of months ago.

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Home page.

Rusty Hurse · Post by **Rusty Hurse** » 14 Dec 2000 4:53 pm

Just buy a new Nashville 1000 and be done with it. I played Fender Twins for years and they sound great but if you have to carry that monster be ready for back surgery at so time. The Nashville 1000 is alot lighter and it will do everything that you want to do, IMHO.

Brian Stear · Post by **Brian Stear** » 14 Dec 2000 7:43 pm

I just recently aquired a early 70's Twin ( without the hum balance ) and had it blackfaced. Plus removing the master volume/boost pot out of the circuit is a must.
Now there's a few things that'll make it never exactly like a real 65 Twin ( baffleboard and cabinet included ), but it sounds great.
The 65 reissue is a great amp and let's face it, new.
They sound awfully close as Ricky says. The only reason I like the older ones is the organic nature of the electronics. They are so easy to modify so you can make the tone truly what you want. Want more headroom? Tighter bass response? Warmer tone? No problem! You can tweak one channel for guitar, and the other for steel. Nothing like old point to point wiring.......
You can pick these up for less than a reissue in many times great shape. Fact is, I've seen quite a few with the blackface ( AB763 ) circuitry for sale lately. Half your work done for you! And many times these amps have already had a cap job AND new tubes. Voila!
Ricky, it was all your talk about a Twin for steel that got me to this point!
Between the Evil and the 65 reissue, no contest. Reissue all the way.
But I would still still recomend looking at the old ones as an option. Many of them out there in great shape. Just don't buy one off of Ebay, or you'll pay too much!.........Brian

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 14 Dec 2000 10:20 pm

Thanks Hamilton for the nice remarks.
Wow Brian; that's pretty cool I affected you that way; glad it worked out>"ain't it just the best sound">????
Yeah Brian did pretty much exactly what my amp is. Mine is a '72 silver face; and blackfaced and removed master. I have either a JBL D-130F in it or the original Blue Backs 2-12s.
I don't know the "Evil Twin". I've only played through my Twin and a Reissue and one of them new jobs with the red knobs.
The Reissue did well; but my twin>"I love it" and the red knob thing was crap.
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 14 December 2000 at 10:24 PM.]

Robert · Post by **Robert** » 15 Dec 2000 5:37 pm

Jim, Ricky, et al:
This is the third post about the same Twin Reverb, and the second one today addressed to Jim: www.flynnguitars.com lists a '67 Twin Reverb (BF) with JBL's. I was in the Flynn brothers' shop today, and this was a clean amp. I did NOT play through this amp, because I didn't want to know how good it might sound next to my '68 (SF) with Eminence speakers! Anyway, it's a consignment deal - so maybe no trades, huh?

Rob

Jim McNealon · Post by **Jim McNealon** » 16 Dec 2000 6:09 pm

Thanks Rob. I had a friend take a look & listen today. On Monday they will confirm the shipping costs & the deal is done. I'll have my twin reverb. I think that a 67' w/JBL's is exactly what I've wanted. I'll let you know when it gets here. But for now, thanks for the tip....Jim

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 17 Dec 2000 9:53 am

Congratulations Jim! Awesome amp, I have a '66, it's a ringer when you need good tone. [This message was edited by Chris DeBarge on 17 December 2000 at 09:54 AM.]

Robert · Post by **Robert** » 17 Dec 2000 10:37 am

Jim:
Hey, don't mention it. I'm just excited that somebody here bought that amp. I think that it's going to SMOKE. BTW - I've been a customer of the Flynn Brothers' for ten years and they're straight-shooting guys with great gear in their shop, always.

Have fun,
Rob

Brian Stear · Post by **Brian Stear** » 17 Dec 2000 8:13 pm

Man, a 67 with JBL's! I had a 70's one with that had a great clean sound ( nothing like a true blackface though ). I did get rid of it to get a 65 Deluxe Reverb, so the deal wasn't tooooo bad........
I'm looking for some JBL 12's ( that I can afford! ) to put in the one I have now.The Oxfords are cool, just different That's an awesome choice Jim. I just wish I had the bucks to go that route.
Yea Ricky. I don't drink or smoke ( anymore ), but I'm an admitted " Fenderholic "! Just got Cartwright's old Dual Showman head that I'm going to give a listen to for steel also.
Now you just need a Fender volume-tone pedal to go with that Fender amp.......
Thanks for the link to Flynn guitars Rob. More stuff to drool at!

[This message was edited by Brian Stear on 17 December 2000 at 08:18 PM.]

Jim McNealon · Post by **Jim McNealon** » 18 Dec 2000 6:36 am

Brian,
I really dont know about the Fender vol-tone pedal. The recipe that I love is my Emmons with a Sho-Bud pedal,& a Twin Reverb.