Building a Fender Twin

[shredaholic]

My friend is wanting to build a Fender Twin from an amp kit, but I only build/mod Marshalls so don't really know anything about Fender amps, not enough to help recommend him a kit anyway.

So what models are the best, and more importantly, what's the best deal for a kit of one for someone in the UK? Shipping from elsewhere in Europe would probably be OK too. Tell me everything he needs to know about the Fender Twin.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

If you know Lew on this Forum his brother Bruce is very well respected as a Fender Amp Guru. I would recommend reaching out to him..... Here

http://missionamps.com/

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

Kits from the other side of the pond might be very pricey though - cheap in terms of the exchange rate, but very hefty shipping costs for an amp kit I imagine.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/product_info.php?cPath=96_112&products_id=843
This is a little like a smaller Twin. They also have a Twin Tweed, but no Twin Reverbs. I wish I could afford these, I'd jump on them...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

Bruce does make an amp called the Crusader that's like a single channel blakcface amp with reverb. I'd think he could put a kit together for that model. I have a one x 12 version of it. I think of it as being like a single channel 40 watt Super Reverb with one 12 instead of four 10's.

http://www.missionamps.com

Lew

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

Try http://www.hoffmanamps.com/ He makes a AB763 board kit which is your common 2 channel BF Fender circuit with reverb/vibrato. He doesn't sell the kits directly, But he listed the vendors on his site.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

Given that your friend is in the UK, but most of the kits seem to come from the US, I suggest doing some of the parts-sourcing yourself. Maybe you could buy a kit of the little parts (boards, resistors, caps, etc.) then find a European supplier for the transformers. That would save shipping the heavy stuff overseas.

Or just buy a much-maligned silverface MV twin and mod it to pre-CBS specs.

 

[ES350]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

By the time all is said and done, a SF conversion to BF spec would probably be the best bet in terms of reliability and expense. Fender BF reverb amps are not the easiest amps out there to reproduce and a kit with cabinet, speakers, tubes, etc will run you almost the same money with a lot more hassle. Buy a MV Twin, change to BF AB763 specs, and throw a BF faceplate on it...done.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

All in all, wouldn't be easier and cheaper to buy a nice silverface Fender Twin Reverb already made and ready to play??? :laugh2:

lew

 

[shredaholic]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

Probably lol - I think he just wants to have the experience of building an amp, after seeing how much fun I have with Marshalls. The thing is, if we got into things like sourcing components and scratch building, he'd have to rely on me more and more for help, and I wouldn't want to take over his project.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Building a Fender Twin

If he wants a Twin Reverb, tell him to buy one. If he wants to build an amp, tell him to go for a Tweed Bassman. That way, your Marshall expreience will do him some good.

Other likely candidates are Champ, Deluxe, Princeton, AX-84 California Dreamer, or any one of a number of kits.