Trade for Twin?

[nedcronin]

I have a Marshall TSL head that had to go into the shop a few months ago. Total pain in the ass. Took 2 techs to fix it, I guess these amps are not easy to work on. Anyway I was without it for some time. I was using other amps while it was at the doc. As soon as I got it back I was all psyched to play it. Well that didn't last. I'm burned out on this thing. It just ain't working for me anymore. For one thing, the clean channel is just putrid. I only use the crunch channel on this amp, and I can get a good tone out of it but I just feel like its a fight with this amp. I plug into a fender and they just sound good, even if the knobs are set wrong, etc. with this TSL I am tweaking it all the time. So I put it in Craigslist. Of course the gear market sucks right now so I figure 600 bucks is where to start. I'll keep the winged c tubes in there and give the buyer a spare set of EL34's for that price. No one is buying. I have been offered everything from trumpets to all kinds of weird relic guitars, etc....nothing I want lol.
So finally I get a guy who wants to trade for a reissue Twin. I think I'm gonna go for it. I have a 68 super which I love. I'm thinking I may use an a/b box with both the twin and the super, then I can use the super for nice driven tone and the twin for clean. I hate not having a 1/2 stack, but hey, I really don't need it.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Trade for Twin?

Given your opnion of the TSL, I'd go for it.

A good crunchbox and you'll be good to go!

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Trade for Twin?

+1 to the statement above.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Trade for Twin?

I have only worked on a few of each, but from what I have seen the DSL is a better made amp than the TSL.
Those reissue Fenders are a pretty decent amp. If you think the value is about the same, I would say go for it as well.
best

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trade for Twin?

im a big fan and user of the twin....but why use two big fender amps a/b for clean and dirty? Why dont you keep it simple and use one and a carefully selected dirt box of choice?
You can always use an A/b box to switch between channels on either the super or the twin if you are after different eq tones. I'm saying this cos i reckon you can get a killer live sound without having to carry two amps to the gig. (plus ill admit that i prefer the big low end of twins over the tighter super).
Resissue twins are nice amps...same circuit as the original - but if you really want epic tones, you might want to consider a speaker swap at some stage to bring out the best sounds.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Trade for Twin?

Never understoof the Love for Twins, unless you do Surf.
Half the magic of a Blackface is the gorgeous organic breakup tone, with copius amounts of pristine clean mixed at just the right ratio.
The Bassman actually swings the other way from the Twin; too MUCH distortion, not enuf clean.
The perfect Amps are all the other Blackfaces. Silverfaces are different, OTT jangly and fatiquing to listen too for too long .
Even though I'll probably be the owner of a mint Blackface Showman soon, It'll be just to flip. I say Pass.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Trade for Twin?

Resissue twins are nice amps...same circuit as the original - but if you really want epic tones, you might want to consider a speaker swap at some stage to bring out the best sounds.

Same circuit, but sound little like a Blackface..voiced for Silverface glass.
My Super reverb Reissue was supposed to be "original " circuit. Don't get me wrong, It was a really intriguing tone, but NOTHING like the Blackface Supers in the Studio, which had umpteen times more rich and lush breakup, and much rounder sweeter,more full and deeper cleans.
In fact, teh reissues overdrive is unlistenable. The old Blackfaces overdrive are the best on earth , ever. Less difference in the cleans than the Overdrive.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trade for Twin?

except you sold your super jerry cos you didit like the way it sounded till you heard someone else play through it....



With the right speakers and correct biasing the resissues can sound really good. Speaker choice is a really big thing because thats actually the part that you are hearing vibrate - and the right speaker choice to suit the player is important for all amps, not just fenders.
You can cork sniff all you like about pcb's and this brand of capacitor versus that one, but in the end all a good amp is is a tool for the trade. Noone in the band, or in the audience gives the slightest **** if your amp is pcb or has sprague capacitors. The modern amps might not sound exactly the same as the old ones (mine is an old one), but so ****en what? Put two blackfaces next to each other and they don't even sound the same as each other.
If you can't make a reissue sound good, then you cant make anything sound good.
get out of the basement and do some gigs. All the cork sniffing in the world suddenly becomes almost irrelevant when you are next to a drummer or bassist and you are dealing with fold back, front of house, volume, mics, different rooms, crowd sizes etc etc.

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Trade for Twin?

I actually owned a real blackface twin years ago, I don't expect the reissue to sound exactly like it. But a big clean fat sounding amp is still want you get with a reissue twin. I wouldn't be using the Twin for overdrive tones, unless with a pedal. You are correct, probably doesn't make sense to use both for gigs. But it may be nice to have one at home and one for rehearsal/ gigs. It would also give me another fender for a backup. I'm putting together a new band now and there will be no place for a cranked Marshall tone, so the trade may serve me and keep peace with the wife as opposed to laying out more $$$ with kids in college lol. And I agree, my super has a fantastic OD tone when cranked, just magic!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Trade for Twin?

sounds like you have it all worked out!
You might find its worth looking into a speaker swap. You can sell C12K's pretty easily and use the cash to get a nice warm set of speakers. Texas heats are pretty stellar. They are a little less efficient, a lot fatter and less bright. All of which works perfectly to complement a twin's natural strengths.

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Trade for Twin?

I got cold feet. Oh well. I plugged into the Marshall, I haven't for about a week. Sounded pretty damn good. I'm a keeping it. I'll pick up a twin somewhere down the line. That one sound this Marshall does well is pretty killer. Thanks for the input guys.