Are Twins good dirt box amps?

[JB_From_Hell]

I've been using the Twin Reverb setting on my modeler lately, and it seems to respond AMAZINGLY well to my various overdrive devices. Distortion, fuzz, overdrive.... they all sound great.

Am I correct in assuming the real thing probably does an even better job?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I know Kurt Cobain used a Twin with a bunch of distortion pedals in front of it. I prefer getting at least a little bit of my dirt from the tubes tho, and Twins are LOUD CLEAN amps. I'm sure somebody with a little bit more experience will be by soon...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I absolutely adore the clean tone of a Twin Reverb (both real and modeled). I've tried some OD and dist boxes in front of one, and the Twin's reaction was mixed.

It did NOT sound good at all with a simple OD (BOSS SD-1 was what I used) ... it was just a loud, flubby version of the clean tone. I think this is because OD's (at least the way I use them) work best by driving an amp into clipping, and the Twin is just too loud and clean to do that in a pleasant way.

With a DS-1, I got a very good tone though. I think this is because the pedal itself was providing the clipping and the Twin was simply fattening it up.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I saw a twin at the music store a couple days ago that had a high gain channel...talk about different.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

i love the twin's cleans, but for some reason i hate the sounds they get with distortion or OD pedals

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

In general, the cleaner an amp is, the worst it'll sound with OD's and Dist. OD's really sound best when they're used with an amp that's set of the edge of natural tube overdrive, and the Twin isn't really known for that.

A Bassman or AC-30 will usually yield better results, because their cleans are more pushed sounding.

Anything is possible though. The trick is finding an OD/Dist pedal that blends nicely with whatever amp you're using. There's plenty of guys that get good gain tones from a Twin/OD pedal.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Which Twin, blackface or chrome?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Hehe yeah, and what version of either blackface or chrome....

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I think Twins are the best with pedals!

Esp if you mess with the speakers. Try some worn in Jensens, or Webers, or heck even some V30s or G12-65's, G12H30s etc. Fuzzes, distortions, OD's, phasers - you name it! THey sound great.

If you want a base tone that has more grind and mids (that the Twin kinda lacks) go for the Marshall 1959 SLP Plexi

If you want a sweet clean with a little big, in your face sound Brit sparkle - try HIWATT.

Another underrated amp is the Mesa Mark IIB. That amp with an EV12L can level a forest!

 

[flank]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

make sure you try your dist and OD pedals with the bright switch OFF, i've found that it sounds much nicer that way. In my experience with my Twin, some pedals are ok, and others not so much. Any boss pedal i've tried didnt sound very good. My SD Tweak Fuzz sounds good only with the bright switch off. However, the SD Twin Tube pedal makes the twin sound absolutely amazing, and also makes the Tweak Fuzz sound better as well. I just keep the Twin Tube on all the time, and fiddle with guitar volume for all shades of gain and clean.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Which Twin, blackface or chrome?

Hehe yeah, and what version of either blackface or chrome....

Good grief, I don't know.... the model is of a 65 Blackface Twin. I've also got it mated with the "Modern 4X12" cabinet, which is relatively neutral sounding (not as middy as the V30 or Greenback cabinets).

 

[aleclee]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

In general, the cleaner an amp is, the worst it'll sound with OD's and Dist. OD's really sound best when they're used with an amp that's set of the edge of natural tube overdrive, and the Twin isn't really known for that.

Maybe the ODs you tend to use. Some are best suited to goosing an on-the-edge amp (e.g., tube screamer) while others are really designed to go in front of a clean amp.

The trick is finding an OD/Dist pedal that blends nicely with whatever amp you're using.

Now you're talkin'!

If you're looking for something to go in front of a clean amp, you'll probably end up with something different from what you'd use in front of a pushed amp.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

My showman reverb (head version of the twin reverb) takes my keeley-modded boss BD-2 very well. It's gotta be pretty cranked for it to sound real nice though. Not exactly something the parents really appreciate .

I can imagine your results would partially depend on what pedal you use, as well as what speakers your twin is loaded with.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I think I'm gonna go steal my dad's old Super and see how it sounds w/ my stuff

 

[theodie]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

He said "Dirt Box"!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Just fill the bottom with catsand....and you have a pretty good dirtbox

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Just fill the bottom with catsand....and you have a pretty good dirtbox

:biglaugh:

It depends on the box. I've tried an MXR distortion and a Rat on a Twin in a store and they didn't sound too good... Tried my Big Muff and it was the best I've heard from the box when combined with a tube amp.
So go ahead, buy a twin and drag it around stores until you find the right pedal... :joke:

 

[Kivitel]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

I'd be inclined to say: overdrive, no (too loud! **** loud!) distortion, yes. I think the problem is more in the distortion pedals - they are designed to sound good going into amps other than the twin. So I would say you should look at distortion pedals that have a lot of adjustable parameters.

 

[thucydides]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Years ago I ran an X2N equipped Strat into a Tube Screamer into a Celestion spkr equipped Twin. It sounded great!

 

[theodie]

Re: Are Twins good dirt box amps?

Mama's got a dirt box she wears on her chest and when daddy comes home, he dont get no rest. Cause she is playing all night, and the music is all right, Mama's got a dirtbox, daddy dosent sleep at night.