Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

RogerMexiko

RogerMexiko

New member
Looking for a amp that has the Twin Reverb sound but doesn't weigh 65 pounds. Looking for something that weighs half that and don't need the 85 watts, 40 watt tube amp would work most of the time.

The problem is I think the 6L6 power tubes are one of the key ingredients and it seems like all the smaller amps are using 6V6s and EL8xs.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

Egnater tweaker 40, bassbreaker combo. You pick. Sounds like your into clean/pushed clean, so either would be good. Egnater for versatility although it has no reverb
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

65lbs isnt all that bad for 85w. i just got scotts vox that is the same weight and only 35w.

youll never get the twin sound out of another amp. two 12's and four 6l6gc in a fender bf circuit are wonderful. you could get a dual showman reverb head and cab but the weight wouldnt change much. if you want something close but smaller and lighter id look for an old vibrolux reverb. 2x10, 40w, and 40 lbs. using a ss recto instead of the gz34 would give a little more clean headroom if you need it
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

A Silver Face Bassman is STILL one of the best amps, and one of amps best deals going.
You can run it into all kinds of cabs:
1x10 2x10
1x12 2x12
A Bassman into a 1x15 is glorious. Nothing wrong with a SS Reverb Pedal in this day and age.
good luck my friend
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

the bassman head is a nice amp but even with a reverb pedal, it doesnt sound like a fender reverb amp. plus you have a 35lb head and cab to haul around.

the bassbreaker 45 is el34 and 55lbs but it is a cool amp for sure
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

dxlxntxxlxr said:
Egnater tweaker 40, bassbreaker combo. You pick. Sounds like your into clean/pushed clean, so either would be good. Egnater for versatility although it has no reverb
Click to expand...

Oh, to replace his backbreaker. I get it.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

My favorite Fender is the blackface or pre 75 silverface Pro Reverb. I'll never sell mine, and Seymour even has two of them in his office.

However, the closest thing you can easily find used is the 112 6L6 Supersonic. It's got the authentic Fender cleans, plus an OD channel.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

Gearjoneser said:
My favorite Fender is the blackface or pre 75 silverface Pro Reverb. I'll never sell mine, and Seymour even has two of them in his office.

However, the closest thing you can easily find used is the 112 6L6 Supersonic. It's got the authentic Fender cleans, plus an OD channel.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestions, either one, based on the specs I looked at, would do the trick sonically. problem is the Pro Reverb weighs 75pounds and the Supersonic 55. Have been looking at schematics trying to find a dual 6L6 amp and looks like the old Bandmaster is close to the Twin although lacks reverb. Will check with my techy friend and see what might be involved in building a bandmaster amp head with reverb and what it would weigh. Just sold a Hot Rod Deluxe and with the equity in my Twin can afford a one off build if it gets me the sound I want at max 40 pounds including a 12" speaker.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

one more time... old fender vibrolux reverb.

two 6l6gc, two 10's, same preamp as your twin with a smaller power section. basically the same as a pro reverb with two 10's and smaller box than two 12's. if you need a 1x12 then youll have to look at a custom amp. the super/pro/vibroverb circuit with a single 12 would be about the same weight as the vibroverb
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

I dont think you will get all that close to that tone in a lightl/easily manageable weight. Big bottle combos are just heavy. All of them. Even 1x12s.

If the weight is crucial thing, a Fender modelling amp might be the way to go (as much as I hesitate to ever recommend a modelling amp). The Mustangs do a fairly decent impression of a twin.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

jeremy said:
one more time... old fender vibrolux reverb.

two 6l6gc, two 10's, same preamp as your twin with a smaller power section. basically the same as a pro reverb with two 10's and smaller box than two 12's. if you need a 1x12 then youll have to look at a custom amp. the super/pro/vibroverb circuit with a single 12 would be about the same weight as the vibroverb
Click to expand...

thanks man, fade I missed it the first time. Going out to test drive a Vibrolux this afternoon...output is right, 6L6s and weight all look good. If it sounds like I hope the price is a bargin and I can keep my Twin and haul it with a hand truck when necessary.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

jeremy said:
65lbs isnt all that bad for 85w. i just got scotts vox that is the same weight and only 35w.

youll never get the twin sound out of another amp. two 12's and four 6l6gc in a fender bf circuit are wonderful. you could get a dual showman reverb head and cab but the weight wouldnt change much. if you want something close but smaller and lighter id look for an old vibrolux reverb. 2x10, 40w, and 40 lbs. using a ss recto instead of the gz34 would give a little more clean headroom if you need it
Click to expand...
Completely agree with this. Nothing on the market will give you that Twin Reverb sound, nothing. It's one of the all time best amps ever made and I would rather you go to the gym and work out to be able to carry it then get something else and not be happy.
A single 12 combo will not sound like the Twin but you can get something nice with less weight. Check out Mesa Boogie 1x12 combos. The cleans on most of them are very nice and might be something you would want to move to. It's different then a fender but very clean with lots of head room. Not to mention you enter an entirely new world with Mesa Boogie. You get so much versatility it's incredible. Probably the best all around amps on the market today.They are well worth digging into.
The Fender Amps in the 1x12 probably will not sadisfy you much. Different tone, different feel and probably not the way to go.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

There will always be a weight issue with tube amps. And...you want to make sure you've got quality cabinetry, or it will fall apart.

I like Mesa amps, but my Mark III and IV combo amps with their 112 EVM speaker weigh as much as a Twin. My Mark V combo is a little lighter.

You could look at the Mesa Lonestar Classic, Electro-Dyne, Espress 5:50+, or an F-50. These would all be good choices.

Another amp to consider would be Fender's low-power Tweed Twin Reissue.

And also...think about some neo-dym speakers for your Twin Reverb. They can shave off an amazing amount of weight!

Good luck.

Bill
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

Neodymium speakers will save you a little weight, but they aren't as efficient as stock stuff. Basically, they are about 4 dB down, just have to turn it up.
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

thats not always true, you can make neos just as or more efficient. mesa make great amps but they are heavy as hell.

an old vibrolux reverb isnt the same as the new custom vibrolux reverb. the new ones break up much earlier but arent bad for what they are. new speakers help
 
Re: Amp suggestions - my Twin Reverb is getting to heavy for me to lug around

thanks y'all, many excellent, thoughtful and helpful recommendations.
tested the Vibrolux, knew from the first chord that it is an excellent amp but not in the same league as my Twin. can't say you didn't warn me but still a disappointment. sorta funny thing, Chuck the music store guy said he has seen several people with twins looking for the same thing. Said their tech has splitbthe amp and speakers for a quite a few. Leaves the speakers in the cabinet and builds a head for the amp. works out to be something like a little over 30 pounds for head and something like 40 pounds on for the cabinet. thinking about going this rout and joining a gym lol.
any opinions on this?
thanks again for all the information.
 
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