Some "Tweed" questions.

[Artie]

The only thing I know about "tweed" is what resides in my J-Station. Its become my favorite preset. But one oddity that I've noticed is that while the factory preset is great, if I roll the gain up or down, it gets nasty. Rolling gain down makes the tweed setting weak and uninspiring. Roll it up and it gets harsh and nasty.

I wonder how much this mimicks "true" tweed amp characteristics. For those of you who have "tweeds", can you adjust different levels of tweediness? Or do you find one sweet spot? How would you define the "tweed" sound?

Artie

 

[ES350]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

The real deal doesn't do that although sometimes you will get a certain blatt out of the smaller Jensen alnicos (10R, 12R) when you hit them hard. The sweet spot depends on what you want---cleans are best with the tones rolled down, old school blues grind with the volume up but tones not maxed out (or vice versa for a different tone, more BB King vs Willie Johnson). For max dirt, you can jumper the channels on most models and it gets very interesting...but it doesn't go into nasty brittle square wave. The smaller ones (Champs, etc) will get a very distorted tone, but it compresses and rolls off the edge.

'Tweediness' seems to have to do with a certain mid-emphasis that produces a thick, woody tone but still retains a lot of clarity. The highs are certainly different than most amp designs; never ice-picky or overly bright (late 5F6A Bassman with P10Q's excepted) but still plenty of detail if you want it. The light construction of the amp and the alnico speakers give the whole thing a resonance like an instrument. FWIW, I've never heard a convincing sample of a distorted tweed amp; it has a lot to do with the speakers and cab.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Hook up with B Bent and play his new Tweed. You'll hear it first hand what we all talk about with the tone. You often hear it described as a bit ragged with a hollow natural reverb quality to it. Tweeds kick butt, no doubt.

Or, go to a local shop and play one. That Jstation certainly isn't doing the real deal justice.

 

[Artie]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Thanks ES350 and Scott. Good info. If I go to a shop and play one, what exactly should I play. I was under the impression that true tweeds aren't made anymore. Is there a modern equivalent?

Hot Rod blues?

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

the '59 bassman is pretty tweedy

every spot on that amp is a sweet spot

 

[Pierre]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Bassman Reissue

To me, a Tweed has a raunchy, aggressive distortion. The cleans are chimmy. I see them not as smooth as your typical Blackface sound. Blackface overdrive less easily but have a smoother type of distortion I feel.

Art, if you're into DIY stuff, I highly suggest that you hunt out parts for a DIY princeton or Champ. Something easy to build, not too expensive, and with Tweed like tone. Obviously nowadays, it won't be 100% there, but it may be 90%. If you're interested you can always PM me, I have schematics, though of course Scott_F is way better placed than me and I can't claim to know nearly as much (I'm learning though...)

 

[B Bent]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Feel free to PM me for my phone number. i would be glad to uload my little bit of Tweed knowledge!!

 

[Artie]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Art, if you're into DIY stuff, I highly suggest that you hunt out parts for a DIY princeton or Champ. Something easy to build, not too expensive, and with Tweed like tone. Obviously nowadays, it won't be 100% there, but it may be 90%. If you're interested you can always PM me, I have schematics, though of course Scott_F is way better placed than me and I can't claim to know nearly as much (I'm learning though...)

Cool. Thanks Pierre. If I spring for a Tweed, it'll probably be from Lew's bro Bruce, at MissionAmps.

Feel free to PM me for my phone number. i would be glad to uload my little bit of Tweed knowledge!!

Ok . . . (editted since everyone may not get my sense of humor.)

Artie

 

[B Bent]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Now after the demo I just gave you 1. You have to come up and visit!! and 2. you must buy a Tweed!! LOL!! Great talking to ya Artie!

 

[Artie]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Now after the demo I just gave you 1. You have to come up and visit!! and 2. you must buy a Tweed!! LOL!! Great talking to ya Artie!

Back atcha. Even over the phone . . . the amp sounded killer.

Put some beer on ice. I'm on my way.

 

[jdm61]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Artie. Plan to come to the SE Jam in August. I know for a fact that there will be a '57 Twin RI there.......mine:laugh2: And possibly a real live Vibrolux (or two if B Bent shows his mug) for comparison.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

If you can, go to your nearest Guitar Center and play the '59 Tweed Bassman LTD and the '57 Tweed Twin. They should have both of them on the showfloor. I got into a bit of trouble with the guys there because I cranked them both a bit, but it was worth it for the 30 seconds of Tweed tone I got out of each of them!

Like everyone said, have a certain resonance to them, and arent harsh or brittle, kind of crunchy, have a very middy Marshall-like distortion to it, and great cleans. Great amps!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Tweeds all have alot of the same character but then again each one has a signature voice. I happen to favor tweeds for their overdrive tones so I tend to go for the lower wattage tweeds...that said they are all very cool amps!

 

[jdm61]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

You are correct, Christian. Even the Twin is not stupid loud like a Twin or Super Reverb even at full volume and it do distort like a mutha:fingersx:

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Bassman Reissue

To me, a Tweed has a raunchy, aggressive distortion. The cleans are chimmy. I see them not as smooth as your typical Blackface sound. Blackface overdrive less easily but have a smoother type of distortion I feel.

This sounds like a great description of my Tweed Deluxe head (clone).

 

[jeremy]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

to me the tweed sound is it. big fat mids, full bottom and crunchy highs when cranked. the pulled back mids of the blackface amps give them a chimey-er clean tone but nothing punches thru a mix like a tweed amp, maybe a matchless

 

[Gearjoneser]

Well, I can tell you they're loud!

Well, I can tell you they're loud!

Ask the lady downstairs from me. She hates tweeds, and just smashed her ceiling 5 times with her fist or a broom! :fingersx: :laugh2: :laugh2: :chairfall

 

[Artie]

Re: Some "Tweed" questions.

Thanks guys. Great info. I'll try to make the SE Jam, but I've just started a new job, so we'll see.