Question:
I play surf. I am looking for a good tube amp with a great bright clean sound and lots of reverb. I am trying to simplify my setup with a good amp because pedals are a bitch to deal with. I have heard good things about the fender ‘65 twin reverb reissue, if anybody has any info about this amp or some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. John Snipes Life’s short…… Kick back and relax
Response:
> I play surf. I am looking for a good tube amp with a great bright clean > sound and lots of reverb. I am trying to simplify my setup with a good amp > because pedals are a bitch to deal with. I have heard good things about the > fender ‘65 twin reverb reissue, if anybody has any info about this amp or > some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. > John Snipes > Life’s short…… Kick back and relax
Repeat the following 50 times: The Twin Reverb IS Surf. Surf IS a Twin Reverb. You said it yourself: great bright clean sound w/ lots of reverb. Ain’t nothing else like it. Have you played one? A no-brainer. I used to have a ‘67 and now periodically kick myself for selling it. I can think of only a few downsides: 1) The thing is HEAVY. With 40W Jensens, it weighed around 75lbs. Add a pair of heavier-duty speakers like JBL’s or EV’s and you’ll need a Sherpa to take with you on gigs. 2) It is SO clean up to a very high volume (80 W), that you will not be able to get power-tube overdrive without causing injury (seriously!). It ain’t no "buzz machine", that’s for sure. There is a mod you can do to cut the power in half, but if you get a Twin, you should really use it for what it was intended…clean and crisp. I never turned mine above 3 1/2. 3) The vibrato isn’t as honey-smooth as the in brown/blonde era, but I guess you can’t have everything.
Still sounds purdy, tho. If you mic your amp to go thru the PA, you might be able to get away with a "lesser"
amp (like a Deluxe Reverb or Pro Rvb), and be able to push it into overdrive occasionally, should you desire. It’s really hard to recommend another line of amps, since only a Fender (or Fender clone) really can sound like a Fender. Mike Schway | "Those who fail to learn from traditions
Response:
Try a blackface Showman with the 1-15" JBL speaker and an outboard Fender Reverb unit. A compressor pedal, like the Boss CS 2 can be useful sometimes too. You won’t need anything else! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I play surf. I am looking for a good tube amp with a great bright clean >sound and lots of reverb. I am trying to simplify my setup with a good amp >because pedals are a bitch to deal with. I have heard good things about the >fender ‘65 twin reverb reissue, if anybody has any info about this amp or >some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. > John Snipes > Life’s short…… Kick back and relax
Response:
>I play surf. I am looking for a good tube amp with a great bright clean >sound and lots of reverb. I am trying to simplify my setup with a good amp >because pedals are a bitch to deal with. I have heard good things about the >fender ‘65 twin reverb reissue, if anybody has any info about this amp or >some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from
you. Lord Valve Speaketh: Get a Dual Showman Reverb head and a 215 cabinet. You need mondo low-end for surf, and you won’t get that from the open-backed Twin Reverb. Lord Valve Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/ Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and join my SPAM LIST; just put "SPAM ME" in the header and I’ll sign you up. (If you only want a set of e-mail catalogs, put "CATS ONLY" in the header.) I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and current-production vacuum tubes for guitar and bass amps. Good prices, fast service. TONS of gear and parts in stock…let’s DEAL! NOW ACCEPTING VISA AND MASTERCARD! "It ain’t braggin’, if ya can do it." - Babe Ruth
Response:
>> I play surf. I am looking for a good tube amp with a great bright clean > sound and lots of reverb. I am trying to simplify my setup with a good amp > because pedals are a bitch to deal with. I have heard good things about the > fender ‘65 twin reverb reissue, if anybody has any info about this amp or > some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. >Repeat the following 50 times: > The Twin Reverb IS Surf. > Surf IS a Twin Reverb. >You said it yourself: great bright clean sound w/ lots of reverb. Ain’t >nothing else like it. Have you played one? A no-brainer.
SNIP >It’s really hard to >recommend another line of amps, since only a Fender (or Fender clone) >really can sound like a Fender.
If it’s clean that’ll go a long way toward surf-worthiness. I’ve heard people say they had pretty good luck using 100w SS amps (I think I’ll stick with my Twin though). Rather than get a RI though I’d recommend looking around for a good price on a SF Twin Reverb. As far as other lines of amps, people have said good things about Ampegs and old Sunn amps for surf. Good Luck, Scott McKnight
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Blonde or brown (Dual) Showman + reverb tank Shooters, Mike
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Iv never really heard ’surf’ live. Iv heard bands do surf with Fender rigs. But if ya check out the man himself, Dick Dale, he helped Leo build the set up and required speaker improvements. Iv heard his recordings like ‘Tribal Thunder’. He goes with 2X15" JBLs , Dual Showman Head and the R tank. Not to mention heavy strings. He is the Man! as far as I can tell. Ain’t no beaches up in here. Peace Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Blonde or brown (Dual) Showman + reverb tank > Shooters, > Mike
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Dick Dale is a hoot to see live and one hell of a nice guy when you meet him. He usually sticks around after his set to sign autographs and chat with fans. The rig you describe seems about right. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Iv never really heard ’surf’ live. Iv heard bands do surf with Fender > rigs. But if ya check out the man himself, Dick Dale, he helped Leo > build the set up and required speaker improvements. Iv heard his > recordings like ‘Tribal Thunder’. > He goes with 2X15" JBLs , Dual Showman Head and the R tank. Not to > mention heavy strings. He is the Man! as far as I can tell. Ain’t no > beaches up in here. Peace Chris > Blonde or brown (Dual) Showman + reverb tank > Shooters, > Mike
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Dick Dale is a hoot to see live and one hell of a nice guy when you meet him. > He usually sticks around after his set to sign autographs and chat with fans. > The rig you describe seems about right. > Mike > Iv never really heard ’surf’ live. Iv heard bands do surf with Fender > rigs. But if ya check out the man himself, Dick Dale, he helped Leo > build the set up and required speaker improvements. Iv heard his > recordings like ‘Tribal Thunder’. > He goes with 2X15" JBLs , Dual Showman Head and the R tank. Not to > mention heavy strings. He is the Man! as far as I can tell. Ain’t no > beaches up in here. Peace Chris > > Blonde or brown (Dual) Showman + reverb tank > > Shooters, > > Mike
Brown Showman never existed instead in 1960 catalog Mike
Response:
> some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you.
The Fender Dual Showman is probably the definitive surf amp. It was specifically developed to survive Dick Dale’s performances. Cheers, Bill
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dick Dale is a hoot to see live and one hell of a nice guy when you meet him. > He usually sticks around after his set to sign autographs and chat with fans. > The rig you describe seems about right. > Mike > > Iv never really heard ’surf’ live. Iv heard bands do surf with Fender > > rigs. But if ya check out the man himself, Dick Dale, he helped Leo > > build the set up and required speaker improvements. Iv heard his > > recordings like ‘Tribal Thunder’. > > He goes with 2X15" JBLs , Dual Showman Head and the R tank. Not to > > mention heavy strings.
Boy. Them ain’t heavy strings. I’ve been playin since 57 and my strings look like telephone poles to some of the young whipper snappers. But the truth is, these were at one time medium gauge, e.g., low E 52 hi E 13. — Phil Roberts, Jr.
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> > some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. > The Fender Dual Showman is probably the definitive surf amp. It was > specifically developed to survive Dick Dale’s performances.
I’m pretty sure its what the Beach Boys were usin’ when my band performed with them back in 61. — Phil Roberts, Jr.
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(snip) >Boy. Them ain’t heavy strings. I’ve been playin since 57 and my strings >look like telephone poles to some of the young whipper snappers. But the >truth is, these were at one time medium gauge, e.g., low E 52 hi E 13. >– >Phil Roberts, Jr.
When Dick was out here in Denver a while back he claimed he was using a 16 on the high E… Heavy enough for me <g> Mike
Response:
Maaaan, I wouldnt even have thought a .016 couldnt be stretched to high E. Ive been using 11-52, and I there are periods where im saying "man, this is like rubber, I can believe how I used to struggle with these", and there are times where I feel that im being held back due to the tension and I should go back down a guage. And I have small hands.. Does ANYONE really settle on a brand/guage? or is everyone else like me trying everything out there? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Boy. Them ain’t heavy strings. I’ve been playin since 57 and my strings >look like telephone poles to some of the young whipper snappers. But the >truth is, these were at one time medium gauge, e.g., low E 52 hi E 13. >– >Phil Roberts, Jr. >When Dick was out here in Denver a while back he claimed he was using a 16 on >the high E… Heavy enough for me <g> >Mike
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In 61 I was checking out Corvettes from the 3rd grade window. I had a crystal radio and an army shovel, that’s about it. My dad had a Harmony with Black Diamonds. On hard tails I play 11s on soft tails 14 to 52. I don’t have a soft tail around any more and that’s ok. I read that Dick Dale was using pretty heavy strings. Iv tried 16s to 58 and always played at 440 A. Some times I feel like they hold me back some times not. I like the feel of a 58 , but not the sound. Currently I’m looking at going 12 to 48 or 52 on an ASAT. In all actuality I aspire to play 9s or 10s ,but I just ain’t got a light touch. Peace Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > some other amp that would be good for surf I would love to hear from you. > The Fender Dual Showman is probably the definitive surf amp. It was > specifically developed to survive Dick Dale’s performances. > I’m pretty sure its what the Beach Boys were usin’ when my band performed > with them back in 61. > — > Phil Roberts, Jr.
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> Does ANYONE really settle on a brand/guage? or is everyone else like me > trying everything out there?
I’ve pretty much settled on DR’s however I go back and forth between 10’s and 11’s. It mostly depends on the scake if the guitar I’m putting them on and how my tendonitis is doing. JD
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> Does ANYONE really settle on a brand/guage? or is everyone else like me > trying everything out there?
I’ve settled on D’Addario 10’s for almost everything, my tele gets 11s when I get these rhythm-king urges. ROn
Response:
Buy a Boogie…Board and Amp
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>Lord Valve Speaketh: >Get a Dual Showman Reverb head and a 215 cabinet. You >need mondo low-end for surf, and you won’t get that >from the open-backed Twin Reverb
Skip Baker at Music Mart had one that I blackfaced and he had a sign that said "Surf’s Up". However, he also had a Pro Reverb that had a really "wet" reverb. And, of course, ya gotta have a geetar with single coil pickups
Response:
Y’know, I finally agree with Lord Valve, for once. Dick Dale talks about his amp, which was a DS with the 15" Lansings in the closed back. However, have you ever tried to lug one of those two-fifteen cabinets? Get some casters. Johnny B.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Y’know, I finally agree with Lord Valve, for once. Dick Dale talks about his > amp, which was a DS with the 15" Lansings in the closed back. However, have > you ever tried to lug one of those two-fifteen cabinets? Get some casters. > Johnny B.
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