Fender twin reverb clone

Iamweasel · 2014-04-07T15:38:07+00:00

Has anyone done such a build? Maybe some help if I want to get started? I am looking for someone that could do it?

Fender twin reverb clone

Gearhead

Iamweasel wrote:They just so rare...

Don't worry, first they are only hard to find, then hard to lug around and finally just bloody loud. Fortunately easy to get rid of 'cuz they sound so great (from a distance).
My advice: build something 5..20W.

RobbieZ

ez wrote: So my recommendation is either:
Build it and be happy with the expensive and enjoy the thing you created yourself

I agree, build it because you enjoy the process and then enjoy your handiwork.

refuogee

You could also just build a head...

Yes transformers will still cost you but then you save on speakers and can use it with any variety of speaker cabs.

Heads supposedly also contribute to less wear on tubes as vibrations are minimised.

Just another option.

ezietsman

refuogee wrote: You could also just build a head...

Yes transformers will still cost you but then you save on speakers and can use it with any variety of speaker cabs.

Heads supposedly also contribute to less wear on tubes as vibrations are minimised.

Just another option.

This is the way I went but speaker cabinets are expensive too. Also, a 20 Watt amp is generally a lot smaller and lighter than those beastly twin reverbs. It is kinda a weird situation. If you are not going to lug it around i.e. you don't gig, you don't need a big amp like a twin and if you DO gig, you also don't need a big amp like that because you can never turn it up. The point is, nobody needs a 100 watt (or even a 50 watt) amp these days.

If you really want a Fender amp with reverb, get a Deluxe Reverb or build a clone.

Attila

Transformers, power and output can be wound locally, at a fraction of the big brand name stuff.

RobbieZ

Attila Barath wrote: Transformers, power and output can be wound locally, at a fraction of the big brand name stuff.

Can you please PM me with details? ???

Attila

Karel Mars(Paarl - forum member) (0724465072) http://www.marsamps.co.za/

Or Peter Souris Eloff Ext SE St, VILLAGE DEEP 2001
011 493 2042

There are a bunch of others Sue Andrews in Marlboro Gardens.

Depending on what OT you are looking for I have and can calculate the winding plans (which Karel does as well) so any pro winder can execute easily

PS don't ask to speak to Peter he passed on many years ago

ezietsman

Attila Barath wrote: Karel Mars(Paarl - forum member) (0724465072) http://www.marsamps.co.za/

Or Peter Souris Eloff Ext SE St, VILLAGE DEEP 2001
011 493 2042

There are a bunch of others Sue Andrews in Marlboro Gardens.

Depending on what OT you are looking for I have and can calculate the winding plans (which Karel does as well) so any pro winder can execute easily

PS don't ask to speak to Peter he passed on many years ago

So why put his name down then? Who is the correct person to ask for? Or is there a business name to ask for?

Attila

Its the business name, I cant remember what the guys name were .....shees I am getting old

Attila

S.J.Andrews Electronics (Pty) Ltd
Address:
41-14th Street, Eastgate Gardens,
Malboro, Sandton
South Africa
2090

Telephone: (011) 444-1521
Fax: (011) 444-8054
Mobile Phone Number: 082 372 1805

Kelvin Foxcroft

Iamweasel

Thanks for all the replies!!! ? I am getting a good idea to maybe look at something smaller , but CLEAN....any suggestions?

I would like to build myself for the making it "mine"

AlanRatcliffe

In the same family, the Deluxe Reverb (22W) and Princeton Reverb (15W) both have similar cleans. Both quieter for the power than a similar rated higher gain amp (like an AC15 or 18W Plexi). The Deluxe is the perfect club/pub amp, the Princeton is great as a home/practice amp. Both start getting gritty on 4 (with humbuckers) or 5 (with single-coils) - but have plenty clean volume and headroom (for the application) below that.

Neither sound quite like a Twin, which is designed from the ground up for high volume cleans (80W, 4 x 6L6, SS rectifier, 2 x 12 with 50W speakers) but both have similar, great clean tones.

Still, for all of the Twin bashing above, nothing punches like a Twin and they still sound great at 2.5 (just better at 5 or 6), which I've found is about right for even a small venue (and for home play, I have tolerant neighbours).

ezietsman

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: In the same family, the Deluxe Reverb (22W) and Princeton Reverb (15W) both have similar cleans. Both quieter for the power than a similar rated higher gain amp (like an AC15 or 18W Plexi). The Deluxe is the perfect club/pub amp, the Princeton is great as a home/practice amp. Both start getting gritty on 4 (with humbuckers) or 5 (with single-coils) - but have plenty clean volume and headroom (for the application) below that.

Neither sound quite like a Twin, which is designed from the ground up for high volume cleans (80W, 4 x 6L6, SS rectifier, 2 x 12 with 50W speakers) but both have similar, great clean tones.

Still, for all of the Twin bashing above, nothing punches like a Twin and they still sound great at 2.5 (just better at 5 or 6), which I've found is about right for even a small venue (and for home play, I have tolerant neighbours).

Yes. This last sentence. Any amp greater than about 3-5Watt gets pretty loud when they start breaking up. If you are building, build anything you fancy that is 20 Watt or less. IAmWeasel, i

f you don't believe me and live in Cape Town, I will gladly demonstrate this issue with my 18 watt Marshall and my 14 Watt Tweed Deluxe (both home builds) and show you the solution I used to combat it.

TomOlsen1

As both a hobbyist builder and occasional twin user, I'd like to throw my two cents in here.

I use a twin whenever I do the odd Mango Groove show. And yes, while a deluxe reverb has the same heritage as a twin, nothing sounds quite like a Twin. 4x 6L6, hefty 2x12" gives it a great gigging voice. And yes, they sound great throughout their range. But it depends on what you're looking for. A twin with some good pedals is a fantastic rig, although a bit weighty.

But, for my own shows and the appropriate sessions where amp drive is required I prefer my 18 watter equipped with power scaling. But when you enter the world of amp drive there are a lot of factors all contributing to the sound. That sweet spot of preamp, phase inverter, power amp and speakers all crunching just right is magic. And changing anything effects the sound. Dropping the VVR lessons speaker crunch, master volume drops power amp drive and gain brings down your pre. But there is a window of absolute magic, and even with some factors lessened, it gives me what I want.

A recent show had two players from each side. Me running the rig above, and Michael Bester (great player) running a pedals and clean amp rig. Michael had the more polished sound, with all his delays and mods running post drive, and riding his volume pedal the whole time. When it came to solos, I was reliant on the engineer to lift my level. BUT, I traded this for the ability to clean up with my right hand only and all the touch response that comes with an amp drive rig. Both were great rigs, and both have pros and cons. Which you would have preferred comes down to personal taste.

You'll never regret having a great clean amp in your arsenal.

-Edit- saw you already have a Marshall. Get a second hand twin!

Iamweasel

Hi Guys,

Have been away on work, sorry for late reply. Thanks for the reply Alan thomas & ez, i am leaning towards so something smaller, what do you guys think about these kits?

http://www.marsamps.co.za/guitar-amp-kits.html

AlanRatcliffe

Speak to Karel about them - he's pretty forthcoming. I might be mistaken, but I think his kits are sourced from Mojo Tone (which are good kits). Karel also does occasionally do building courses with kit included and is an absolute mine of info.

I only see Tweed and 18W kits listed though...

ezietsman

I have both a Tweed and an 18 Watter. If you build them to their original specs they are quite different.

The 18 Watter has more clean headroom and is a lot tighter in the overdrive. They're also much more trebly. Classic Marshall overdrive. This one is my favourite and if I can have only one amp it would be an 18 watt Marshall.

The Tweed has a loose bass response and is very sensitive to the guitar you plug into it. My Tele can only drive it mildly even with the amp cranked open whereas my Les Paul will give it the full Neil Young treatment.

Neither of them are really 'clean' amps and will overdrive with humbuckers at all but the lowest volume settings. Both clean up in a remarkable way if you turn the guitar down.

You cannot go wrong with either of them and installing power section / phase inverter VVR in them is pretty easy if you are building from scratch (the Tweed chassis is pretty small though, it may be tricky to get the extra components in because of this, mine scales the whole amp which is not ideal).

Make no mistake though, they are very loud amps if you play them at their respective full power ratings (18 watt and 14 watt), as with most old amps they go from zero to rockstar volume between 1 and 2 on the volume dial and from 3 onwards you have overdrive. Power scaling is highly recommended if you are building. I cannot stress this enough.