Fender Twin Reverb for bass?

gbazinet · #1 11-06-2010, 03:29 PM

I have a chance to buy a real clean 1979 Fender twin for a pretty good price. I wouldn’t mind having it around for my Rhodes or to use as a guitar amp in my studio. However, I’m curious to know if anyone has ever used one for bass. Obviously you can’t crank it without blowing the speakers but could you use it for a small room/coffee shop type gig if you were easy on it? Or should I not even risk it. For conversations sake the seller claims that it has original speakers.

billfitzmaurice · #2 11-06-2010, 03:37 PM

Same amp chassis as the Bassman 100.

somegeezer · #3 11-06-2010, 03:37 PM

I think it'd be cool if you wanted a top end distortion to run alongside your clean, deep bass amp. But I wouldn't use it on it's own.

gbazinet · #4 11-06-2010, 03:41 PM

I have an SVT and 8x10 i use for big rooms. I'm just wondering how it would work for a small space when i don't want to lug the fridge.

#5 11-06-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbazinet

I have an SVT and 8x10 i use for big rooms. I'm just wondering how it would work for a small space when i don't want to lug the fridge.

You can record and practice (solo) with it... And though the amp will work fine in smaller sits, the speakers just can't handle it in a band sit - with drums, etc... Unless you use zero bass and sound like a great big guitar. Then it would be fine.

I've recorded with my vintage Princeton and Deluxe amps using the combo speaker... Though I prefer using the amps as heads through bass cabs (disconnecting internal speaker of course). Your Twin would work for many situations this way.

#6 11-06-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Same amp chassis as the Bassman 100.

+1

As said, nearly the same "guts" as the Bassman 100.

fu22ba55 · #7 11-07-2010, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somegeezer

I think it'd be cool if you wanted a top end distortion to run alongside your clean, deep bass amp. But I wouldn't use it on it's own.

+1

I've also used it in this capacity... but I wouldn't recommend using it standalone. The temptation will be too great to turn up the bass and mids since you'll need them live, and then you'll cook those nice old speakers.

I'd strictly use it in a bi-amped (treble and high-mids only) situation, or just in the studio for a lead tone...

At least put those nice old original speakers aside and put in some late model crap if you plan pushing too much bass through it.

coreyfyfe · #8 11-07-2010, 06:54 AM

When I had one I used it for home (dorm room) practice and recording, but wouldn't have wanted to push it much more than that.

beans-on-toast · #9 11-07-2010, 07:06 AM

I had what I think is the same model, 135 W master volume. I used to use it for guitar and with a Yamaha CP-30 piano. The amp can be seen being used by the Beatles on Let it Be.

Very clean, lots of high end.

Plugged in to a different speaker cabinet, it would work for bass.

It also uses eyelet board construction so it is easy to modify.

I'm sorry that I sold mine.

Thunderthumbs73 · #10 11-07-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbazinet

I have a chance to buy a real clean 1979 Fender twin for a pretty good price. I wouldn’t mind having it around for my Rhodes or to use as a guitar amp in my studio. However, I’m curious to know if anyone has ever used one for bass. Obviously you can’t crank it without blowing the speakers but could you use it for a small room/coffee shop type gig if you were easy on it? Or should I not even risk it. For conversations sake the seller claims that it has original speakers.

The notion of louder, lighter, and cheaper bass amp available for purchase instead of a guitar amp may well be applicable here. Especially for coffehouse gigs and the like. Never seen a Twin in a coffeehouse... ...and I think there's a reason for that. And it's not that I don't drink enough coffee.

JimmyM · #11 11-07-2010, 11:55 AM

i wouldn't use a twin on bass for anything but recording or very light volume practice. used to have one...loved it...couldn't even get louder than a b-15 without me thinking it was going to blow.

OldogNewTrick · #12 11-07-2010, 01:44 PM

well, no point really using a Twin Reverb for bass.

Though the amp section is identical to the Dual Showman, which makes a great amp for clean sounds (within it's power limitations), the internal speakers are useless for bass and on top in an open back cab.
So you definately need a seperate bass cab. Lugging a Twin Reverb combo plus a bass cab is no fun, unless it will all reside in a studio or is for home use. You can then disconnect the internal speakers and use it as an oversize Dual Showman head with a good bass cab....

That will sound nice

2400 · #13 11-07-2010, 01:58 PM

I've got a 1974 Twin Reverb myself. I've always wondered if I'd be able to use it for bass - I love those glassy cleans, but obviously the speaker problem is a bit of a worry. I'd save me some money, though

.

I'm interested in what's going on in the Tweed Bassman Faux Ten thread (doc540's Tweed Bassman Faux Ten Stack Project - MERGED)... Would something like that be possible in this case? A separate cabinet for the lower (harmful, if you will) frequencies and a crossover, so that the two 12" in the Twin only handle the highs?

JimmyM · #14 11-07-2010, 02:56 PM

sounds like a lot of work for not much payoff.

2400 · #15 11-07-2010, 03:14 PM

I figured as much, thanks for the input. I'm hankering for a tube amp - which aren't as easy to come by for bass here in the EU - and since I have the Twin already my mind tends to wander

JimmyM · #16 11-07-2010, 03:18 PM

you could pull the twin head and mount it in a headbox. it really does sound great with bass if you have a good cab.

4Mal · #17 11-07-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you could pull the twin head and mount it in a headbox. it really does sound great with bass if you have a good cab.

Double plus One ...

2400 · #18 11-07-2010, 03:27 PM

Unfortunately, that's not an option. It's kind of a family heirloom

. I suggested it, but both my father (previous owner) and brother (guitarist) went rather spare.

I'll just save up until a Bassman 135 comes along, then

.

meatwad · #19 11-07-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you could pull the twin head and mount it in a headbox. it really does sound great with bass if you have a good cab.

I've seen this done, and actually used it a few times... it did okay.

I have owned and used a silverface Fender Super Reverb (same thing, but 4x10 combo instead of 2x12) around the house for practice and giving lessons, but always knew it would never work for a band situation. On guitar, it could melt your face off!

Wes Whitmore · #20 11-07-2010, 03:43 PM

Im in the same boat. I inherited a twin reverb. I don't play guitar, so it sits. I have played it through a Ampeg 410HLF a couple of times, and it sounds really good. If you were planning to play your combo out, it makes even more sense to buy the empty head case, put the amp part in it, and use it. If you use your combo out, the cab will get dinged up more than sitting in the house. Might as well sacrifice a new head case, and just put it back into the combo some day when you are done with it.
Wes