Tweed vs Blackface

[loudriver23]

Which would provide a better ie. warmer, fuller, richer clean tone from which to build from?
I've played BF's and SF's but I can't recall ever playing through a tweed.
Is my thinking on course by saying the tweed is geared more towards natural power tube distortion than shimmering cleans? Or do they just provide a differently voiced clean tone.
Thanks

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Beautiful shimmery cleans are usually the way that people will describe a blackface twin. Loud as hell SUPER CLEANS are how many people would describe a silverface twin. Generally the tweed amps are lower power and distort easier.

 

[Curly]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

tweeds are richer, fuller (IMO); BFs are cleaner

tweed twins have pretty decent headroom, so do Bassman amps when set up that way -- both of these amps will go from clean to mean with your playing dynamics, so can a Super Reverb and even a Deluxe Reverb IF they're set up that way

it sounds to me like you want a BF amp though, since they were built to be cleaner

I think you should approach the problem from the question of how much power you need for your playing situation, then go from there

 

[therizzla]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Brownface :13:

 

[ES350]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Tweed cleans are a lot fuller sounding, but the headroom is limited except for the most powerful models (5F6A, 5F8A). Even the 35-40 watt BF models will have a lot more clean headroom, although the cleans are a lot brighter and lack the mids and lows of the tweeds...depends on the application/volume levels/style...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Comparing a tweed Deluxe to a blackface Deluxe Reverb, the blackface will be louder and cleaner and clearer.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Well,
I already have my Boogie Mark IV I like it's clean channel just fine. I suppose I'm looking for something with a little less output than the 85 of my boogie.

 

[louthunder]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

I would recommend a low powered tweed twin. It will give you decent,rich, full cleans w/ just a little hair on them. If you like touch sensitivity, You can't beat a tweed twin. I.M.H.O. Hope this helps.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

One option is to have a BF or SF amp modded so the 'normal' channel has more of a tweed-like/warmer/more middy tone (and reverb if you want it in both channels). That's what I did to my Pro Reverb and I like it a lot.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

my low power tweed twin is a clean machine. Even at full volume it doesn't really "crunch" out. No sag what-so-ever. As you increase the volume, it just gets thicker and woodier. Of course it breaks up, but it doesnt have that crunch sound (think AC/DC) but it just gets fatter, hard to explain. I think that at half volume, if you know how to use your volume knobs, you can get a lot of different variations of clean and slightly dirty. The Tweed Twin has the fattest clean sound I ever heard, and of course, takes pedals very well.

Id definitely go this route - lo po tweed twin with high gain tubes (all 4 pre-amp tubes being 12AX7s) - great clean sounds, more natural and transparent than a blackface IMO. As for Bassman amps, I think theyre great too, but the Tweed Twin was built for the big clean stuff, and I really think this is because of the dual rectifier design.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Victoria do a high-powered tweed twin, rated at 80 watts. I've played the low powered tweed twin, and that had a decent amount of headroom, similar to my vibrolux.

Personally, I prefer tweed over blackface, though I haven't played a vintage BF amp, only modern fender ris. If you like the tweed character but wnt soething that leans more toward blackface, try a brownface or early blondeface amp. In many ways the best of both worlds.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

How much clean volume do you need? Not a lot, tweed champ. A bit to country grit, tweed deluxe. A moderate level Tweed Bassman/Low Power Tweed Twin a lot high power tweed twin.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

How much clean volume do you need? Not a lot, tweed champ. A bit to contry grit, tweed deluse. A moderate level Tweed Bassman/Low Power Tweed Twin a lot high power tweed twin.

Thanks,
I think this breaks it down quite well actually. I think I"m between the Low Power twin and the Regular twin.
Although I am a bit interested in the 410 BF super, and Tweed Bassman.
TOO MANY CHOICES!!!!:smack:

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

It just kinda depends on my mood. If I had to choose, I'd go tweed. But, that's just my ears and my decided lack of clean headroom needs.

 

[Curly]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

this is not that difficult to solve ... just go play a Fender tweed Twin, Super Reverb RI, and Bassman LTD.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Even though I haven't played many vintage pieces, knowing from reissues, word on the internet and of course, listening to albums with these amps, your best one would be the Super Reverb. Small enough so you can turn the volume up a little bit and get that thick clean tone. And of course, Supers sound great when overdriven. Like I said though, I prefer the Tweeds

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

One option is to have a BF or SF amp modded so the 'normal' channel has more of a tweed-like/warmer/more middy tone (and reverb if you want it in both channels). That's what I did to my Pro Reverb and I like it a lot.

Always an option... I had Bruce Collins at Mission Amps mod my Twin Reverb just like that...verb abd vibe on both channels and one of the channels set up as a stock BF Fender tone the other channel as been slightly revoiced for a thicker/richer midrange compared to the BF channel. Each channel sounds amazing on it's own plus with an A/B/Y box I can blend to 2 for even more cool tones.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

Well,
I already have my Boogie Mark IV I like it's clean channel just fine. I suppose I'm looking for something with a little less output than the 85 of my boogie.

Try running your Mark IV in Class A, Triode, Harmonics, Tweed Power: That should put you down around 15 watts. I like using the Winged C/SED EL34 power tubes in the outside Class A sockets. Using Pentode Mode will give a little more power and headroom, or you can use 6L6s in the Class A sockets. You can even use 6V6s with this amp! Or, mismatch your amp impedance--if you have a 8 ohm speaker in a combo, plug into the 4 ohm speaker jack. Lots of combinations!

The Mark IV has one of the most versatile power sections ever produced in a guitar amp. There are a lot of great tones in there, but you have to find them. Review the Mark IV's Owner's Manual--you can download it from the Mesa site in *.pdf format. You can call and ask them to send you the Mark IV settings chart (a MUST HAVE!!!!) if you didn't get one with your amp.

Good Luck!

Bill

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Tweed vs Blackface

One easy way to feel the difference; almost every guitar store you go in nowadays has one of the Vox Valvetronix amps sitting around, and while they are not perfect replicas, they will let you hear, and feel, the difference between those two marvelous fender flavors. I miss living in a big city! I rarely get to test drive many "real" amps anymore. I'm lucky if my local store has a blues Jr to play through, much less a twin.