'80's Twins

[Benjy_26]

Hello everyone.

I'm wondering if anyone has any info on '80's Twins (not the red knob version).

Are they reliable? Are they decent sounding stock? Can they be modded to sound anything like the BF models? If so, would you buy one for $400 USD and get it modded?

Any horror stories about these beasts?

I appreciate any info, gentlemen. :burnout:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: '80's Twins

which Twin is this you are talking about???

 

[jeremy]

Re: '80's Twins

i had a red knob twin that i really liked at the time, two v30's and new tubes made a big difference. i had the clean channel modded to sounds more bf and the dirty channel to sound more marshall. i had that thing for a long time and only got rid of it cause it was way louder than i needed.

i never had any reliability issues with it

does it sound as sweet as a 1964 twin reverb, no. but if you want all tube, channel switching, fx loop, reverb, clean headroom and a decent crunch channel for not too much cash its a good amp to look at

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: '80's Twins

Just as a point of note, I've seen several "Red Knob era" Fender amps that didn't actually have red knobs on them. Notably I've seen a few Champ 12's, which were obviously from that era that didn't have them and they were all original.

It might do well for the OP to be able to narrow down a date on the amp to confirm the era and that way we can probably give a little better information about it.

 

[jeremy]

Re: '80's Twins

the "red knob" amps also came with black knobs a little later in the life cycle

 

[ErikH]

Re: '80's Twins

the "red knob" amps also came with black knobs a little later in the life cycle

I was just about to say that. They also weighed about the same as a Volkswagen Beetle. :laugh2:

From what I remember, they were real workhorses. Pretty reliable, decent sounds. Popular with the Country and Jazz players around where I grew up.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: '80's Twins

the "red knob" amps also came with black knobs a little later in the life cycle

I think it was one of those. I didn't spend any time with it, but a local shop has a pair, one has red knobs, the other black. Aside from that, they both looked very similar.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: '80's Twins

Pretty reliable, decent sounds. Popular with the Country and Jazz players around where I grew up.

This appeals to me.

Y'all think that one of these Twins with the right speakers and the proper stomp boxes (probably just a comp. and a TTC) would make a good all around rig?

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: '80's Twins

I was just about to say that. They also weighed about the same as a Volkswagen Beetle. :laugh2:

From what I remember, they were real workhorses. Pretty reliable, decent sounds. Popular with the Country and Jazz players around where I grew up.

Chiropractors LOVE Twins! They've put more of their kids through schools...

But I have to disagree with the notion of reliability. I've always been told to stay away from the "Red Knobs" due to reliability issues. Having owned a Champ 12 I can vouch that it had a whole host of really terrible ideas crammed into one single location.

 

[ErikH]

Re: '80's Twins

Chiropractors LOVE Twins! They've put more of their kids through schools...

But I have to disagree with the notion of reliability. I've always been told to stay away from the "Red Knobs" due to reliability issues. Having owned a Champ 12 I can vouch that it had a whole host of really terrible ideas crammed into one single location.

Well, definitely not "gig without a backup" reliability. The Twins I had worked with had no issues other than the crappy stock speaker. IIRC, we used to get several of those Champs in for repairs at the shop I worked at. The Twins we hardly saw.

One common mod I did see a lot of guys do was changing the speakers out for JBLs. Less breakup, crisper cleans, and more throw. They didn't have to push the amp as hard. Of course the weight went from a Beetle to a VW Bus at that point.

 

[jeremy]

Re: '80's Twins

mine weighted a ton for sure but i had it from the time i was 18 till i was 25 or so and Never had a reliability problem, except i blew a v30 in a very rock and roll moment, but it was worth it. for a few years it was my only amp and i was gigging pretty regularly with it

 

[these_go211]

Re: '80's Twins

80's twins? geez, i thought this thread was going to be about the olsen twins. was wondering why it was in the amplifier section...........