Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

[B Bent]

I have been trying to get a deal to go through on a 1970 Twin and all of a sudden it looks like the deal may fall through here at the last minute I hope it doesn't . You can buy post 72' master volume Twins in great condition all day long for cheap. My question is can you really hear a whole lot of difference between the two? I have heard the the MV don't sound as rich and full.If the deal falls through should I snap up a good MV Twin have it Blackfaced and leave the MV there just for looks? I mean really.... would the average Joe be able to A/B a 1970 Twin and a 1975 Twin and hear a whole lot of difference?

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

if you mod it to have no master volume and keep all else the same i think you'd be really, really hard pressed to find a difference in tone

but yeah if blackface is your thing & you can get a good deal on this one & have money left for mods - go for it

[Scott_F]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Since I would be converting either back to Blackface Specs, the MV is a non-issue. It would simply become a non-working item on my amp.

[B Bent]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Suppose I dont mod it for quite some time. Are the MV ones really that bad? I mean... surely theres some of that good Twin mojo still in it.

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

given the right tubes & speakers, yeah they can sound good

silverfaces are underrated, i'd take my current bassman over an AA864 circuit anyday. Of course the ab165 is a bad mother******, but that's besides the point, silverfaces are not as horrid as they're made out to be by a long shot

[Scott_F]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Some feel the reverb on silvers is superior to blacks.

[B Bent]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

I played on a 69' SF Super at GC this weekend and then went right to a 65 Reissue Twin and almost threw up. The Twin was completely sterile compared to the Super. Given that I loved the 65 RI Twin I used to have.

[chill]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Disconnect the master or turn it into a post PI master if you want to have a beast.

[B Bent]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Disconnect the master or turn it into a post PI master if you want to have a beast.

I understand disconnecting the MV, but please elaborate on the PI.

[neosadist]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

I have been trying to get a deal to go through on a 1970 Twin and all of a sudden it looks like the deal may fall through here at the last minute I hope it doesn't . You can buy post 72' master volume Twins in great condition all day long for cheap. My question is can you really hear a whole lot of difference between the two? I have heard the the MV don't sound as rich and full.If the deal falls through should I snap up a good MV Twin have it Blackfaced and leave the MV there just for looks? I mean really.... would the average Joe be able to A/B a 1970 Twin and a 1975 Twin and hear a whole lot of difference?

I'd go for the one with the master volume, because this arrangement allows you to overdrive a channel (put that channel's volume at 10) but control master volume so you don't go deaf. If someone already said this, +1 to you

[Bludave]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

The Master volume Fenders are a long way from the non masters IMHO. I have owned and played thru many for years. I now have a 68'SF Super Reverb and a '67 Dleuxe Reverb Both of these amps are amazing. I have never played thru a master Fender that I would say sounded great.... good yes, but not great!!

[ES350]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

ummm, the 'overdrive' available on an MV twin is nothing you'd ever want to use. Get a MV Twin, (not the ultralinear '135 watt' model), get it set up like an early SF/BF, and save a bunch of money for tubes and speakers...then keep it forever.

[chill]

Re: Master volume vs non master volume SF Twin Reverb

Fender's MV's on the early amps don't have enough gain on tap to get much overdrive. But if you move it back behind the phase inverter (post PI), you have more clipping on tap.

Here's a schematic showing the Orange MV: http://users.telenet.be/orangefg/OFG...geotrschem.gif

And IIRC there are some photos with the Hasserl mods for the Carvin VT50/ Belair/ Nomad here: http://www.geocities.com/rlhassebroc...deremoval.html

I did a similar mod to an Ampeg V4B with a couple extra caps, the MV pot, and a tagstrip mounted on the PCB standoff. It's quite surprising how much clipping that amp has on tap.