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Post subject: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:23 am
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Hello everyone. New member of the forum here. Greetings from Norway!

After playing guitar for a few years, i have come to the conclusion that the sound im looking for is vintage fender amps, just gotta admit it :) I bought my first vintage last year, a great deluxe reverb silverface model, all original, sounds amazing. However lately I have been offered to buy a
69 twin reverb to add to the collection. I have read quite a lot of posts on this forum, trying to dig up anything i can around this particular year and model.

1: As i have understood it, according to forum members here: The AB763 circuit ended sometime summer 68, and then changed for the dreaded AC568 circuit. However this circuit was changed again sometime in July of 1969 to a better variant of some sorts?

2: The amp I can buy has: Drip edge and blackline faceplate. This would indicate this is an 68 to my knowledge but seller says its a 69.


As i have very little knowledge, just the things I pick up around here, my question for the community is: Will I take a big risk in buying this? Especially if it has the AC568 circuit?


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:20 pm
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There is risk involved in any purchase.

The amp's serial number will reveal the approximate date of manufacture. Once that's been ascertained, it becomes easier to track down which circuit revision is extant. And though certain model years are less desirable than others, most of the components remain the same -- it's merely an issue of how they are wired together. Thus, amps can generally be altered to earlier (or later) versions.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:52 pm
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Thanks for reply! Yeah i reckon in some ways its a risk no matter when we are talking 40 year old gear. However, since its most likely this is the AC568 circuit (will have a closer look this weekend) would you stay away from it all together, or does it have potential as it is or maybe converted to AB763. And for example, would you take a 1972 plus year with Master Volume over the AC568 circuit?

Just read a lot of different opinions, and some say these late 68-70 are to stay away from all together and some say they are brilliant both as blackfaced, and just kept original AC568 circuit, and the difference is marginal.


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:00 pm
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I would prefer the AC568 over a Twin Reverb made after 1970 for the simple fact that the cabinetry is superior. And as I mentioned, an AC568 can be back-dated to the AB763 configuration with the requisite technical expertise and a few parts of only minimal cost.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:11 pm
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Thanks a lot Arjay! Really appreciate it!


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:13 pm
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Kenti,

Welcome to the Forum!

As Arjay said, backdating the AC568 to AB763 is not a difficult thing to do. Many techs have done this mod succesfully, on several models that used this circuit.

The AC568 should be a silverface --- drip edge Twin Reverb. One of the better looking Fender amps. Ampwares is a good site for checking model specs.

Good luck with that amp!

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


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:24 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
The AC568 should be a silverface --- drip edge Twin Reverb. One of the better looking Fender amps.


The silverface drip-edge era ran from late spring of 1967 through early spring of 1969. Thus, several circuit revisions were encompassed during this time. For the '69 model year, the grill cloth was slightly changed from the original silver/black/blue weave to one of silver/white/turquoise-metallic. The earlier "snowman" knobs also disappeared. A few '69s may be found with the blackline front panels. The tilt-back legs, if original to the amp, should be stamped "PATENT PENDING" and those installed on silverfaces built in '67 and some '68s will be marked with a serial number as well.

Best of luck.

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: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:29 pm
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Cheers, ill check the website!

Cant wait to try it out this weekend. Hopefully it will be fantastic. And with the option to mod this thing I'm pretty certain I will bring it with me home if it looks, sounds and checks out alright! Not really after the big collectors items, as its primarily as a players amp, but fun to find the rare models when its possible. Specially up here in Scandinavia where the picking is pretty slim :)


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:35 pm
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Pics of the amp would be extremely useful in tracking down its pedigree and determining what's original and what's not.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:39 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
BMW2002Ti wrote:
The AC568 should be a silverface --- drip edge Twin Reverb. One of the better looking Fender amps.


The silverface drip-edge era ran from late spring of 1967 through early spring of 1969. Thus, several circuit revisions were encompassed during this time. For the '69 model year, the grill cloth was slightly changed from the original silver/black/blue weave to one of silver/white/turquoise-metallic. The earlier "snowman" knobs also disappeared. A few '69s may be found with the blackline front panels. The tilt-back legs, if original to the amp, should be stamped "PATENT PENDING" and those installed on silverfaces built in '67 and some '68s will be marked with a serial number as well.

Best of luck.

Arjay



Thanks again! awesome info here. I will definitely remember to look for those things. The pictures are kinda bad so cant really see the details, and have to wait until i can see them up close but from what i have gathered so far:

- Drip edge
- Blackline faceplate
- Does not seem to have to snowman knobs, which would be in correlation with your statement.
- Cant make out the serial number so that has to wait.


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:41 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Pics of the amp would be extremely useful in tracking down its pedigree and determining what's original and what's not.

Arjay


If/ when i get it home I will take some good pictures and share. Would be most interesting to find out exact dating, circuit with or without mods etc, and would really appreciate any help with that!


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:44 pm
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That's why we're here.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 11:25 pm
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Kenti, seems like the amp is the early Silverface. Arjay, the blackline faceplates were the first iteration, if I'm not mistaken? I'm thinkin' that this may be a 763. Yeah it's the luck of the draw, and wouldn't that be cool!!! Kenti, it's most important that you're happy with the sound. It's really, hardly relative which circuit the amp has, as long as it sounds good to your ears!!! Art

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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:31 am
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aclempoppi wrote:
Kenti, seems like the amp is the early Silverface. Arjay, the blackline faceplates were the first iteration, if I'm not mistaken? I'm thinkin' that this may be a 763. Yeah it's the luck of the draw, and wouldn't that be cool!!! Kenti, it's most important that you're happy with the sound. It's really, hardly relative which circuit the amp has, as long as it sounds good to your ears!!! Art


Aint that the truth Art! If it sounds like i hope, and it doesn't look like it will fall apart any day its going home with me. Been fascinated by the twin reverbs since i was young, and feel it surely belongs in my collection. Huge fan of Peter Green among others, and it was straight 59 les paul into cranked twins and showmen. Gotta love that sound! At the same time, I'm naturally curious and would love to get exact dating and circuit knowledge of the gear etc.


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Post subject: Re: 69 twin reverb project
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:54 am
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Kenti wrote:
At the same time, I'm naturally curious and would love to get exact dating and circuit knowledge of the gear etc.


We'll do our best to help you out.

Arjay

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