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Post subject: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:59 am
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My first tube amp was a 1973 Twin Reverb with master volume (bought used in 1993). I loved the amp, but had to eventually sell it because I was a broke student at the time and couldn't afford the upkeep.

The reason I loved this amp so much (and why I'm considering buying one now), is that channel two had a beautifully smooth medium-gain overdrive sound with the volume set to about 7 and the master volume compensating for whatever output level I needed. Now, I thought this was normal until I started looking into the amp again this week. I keep reading that the preamp section doesn't have enough juice to get the amount of overdrive worthy of a master volume and that this amp should stay pretty clean even if you crank the volume. So I'm now wondering if my amp had been modded by a previous owner. The reissue at the shop doesn't have the master volume so unfortunately I can't check this.

One other thing. Apparently my amp should have had a push/pull master volume used to boost the signal internally. Thing is, I never actually discovered this in all the time I had the amp. :? So it couldn't have been that. For the record, I was using a Gibson SG with '57 Classic HBs straight in (no fx).

I'd really appreciate some thoughts from people with experience with Twin Reverbs from this era. Original or modded? Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:26 am
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These area's Twin with master volume look to have a pull master volume knob.

http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-s ... in-reverb/


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:46 am
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IIRC the master-volume/pull-boost feature was added to the Twin Reverb in 1974 but it may have been introduced late in the '73 model year. I've owned TR's both with and without these controls and frankly, I found their functions dubious at best. I always relied on pedals to get any kind of ballsy/gritty tone.

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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 4:09 pm
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Must have been modded.

I have a 75 with a Pull/MV... that's been BF'ed. Clean all the way up the dial, unless I dime the mids, then I get a little dirt by using the MV. Most of the time I dial the Reg vol.. on 7 w/ the MV to accordingly, gets me a little more compression and punch than say diming the MV (taking the MV out of the signal path) which gives the amp more of an openness in its tonality.

The old tried and true.. Tube Screamer seems to work best with it.

Been using it for Country gigs for years, still, I haven't figure out just what was Fender was thinking with the pull on the MV. (it's pretty much useless... nothing but a blast of treble)

Mine is extremely quiet and exceptional sounding, has been a true workhorse. Nothing like twang banging with a Telecaster and a Twin. I'm fortunate where I live that Country music is the dominate music people listen too and during the summer months, there is always a gig in a town or village nearby (usually a festival with a beer tent and an open-air stage where I can turn the amp up. )


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:51 am
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Well this is all very interesting. So my amp probably didn't have push/pull. And probably shouldn't have had the amount of overdrive from the preamp that it did. I think the previous owner was a studio, so perhaps they modded it in some way. I guess I'll never know.

So what I thought was the "classic" Fender Twin channel 2 sound turns out not to be. Might still buy another one regardless. I suppose a boost pedal in front might work to get that sound.

Thanks for the comments.


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:52 am
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...so perhaps they modded it in some way. I guess I'll never know. "

You will know if you open the amp and show us some good photos.


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 9:31 am
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stratele52 wrote:
...so perhaps they modded it in some way. I guess I'll never know. "

You will know if you open the amp and show us some good photos.


What part of this......

"My first tube amp was a 1973 Twin Reverb with master volume (bought used in 1993). I loved the amp, but had to eventually sell it because I was a broke student at the time and couldn't afford the upkeep."

......Didn't you get?

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: 1973 Fender Twin Reverb - original or modded?
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:45 am
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"...... Apparently my amp should have had a push/pull master volume used to boost the signal internally. Thing is, I never actually discovered this in all the time I had the amp. "


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