Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp  (Used)

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

I ordered my Fender 65 Re-Issue Twin Reverb on a Monday, and was excited to receive it by Friday. It came in perfect condition but when I turned it on and warmed it up...nothing. Nada. Zero. After troubleshooting everything I discovered that the internal speaker connection was faulty. I unplugged it, plugged it in and got about 10% volume. Did this numerous times until I had about the right volume coming from the speaker, and then after one minute or so, it cut out. Musician's Friend was great about it and paid for the return shipping. They are sending me another amp, so...stay tuned to learn about my next experience.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

Powerful amp. Great clean sound. I use my pedals for the crunch.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

Amp makes crackling, popping static sound even when idle. Or when connected to either Strat or LP Studio.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

-- I've been a performing guitarist for almost half-a-century and have owned and played many classic amps in that time, from a Marshall Super Lead 100 stack, to a Peavey Delta Blues, those olded padded Kustom "piggy back" amps, and a bunch of great Fender amps including an original Bandmaster, a 4x10 Bassman combo, 100-watt "silver face" Twins and a Vintage Series Deluxe Reverb Reissue. This Vintage '65 Twin Reverb Reissue is "The One" I've been looking for all this time. I'm just sorry I waited so long to take the plunge.

-- Okay, I'm old school and play mainly blues, garage-band-style rockers from the '50s, '60s and '70s, and originals, mixed with a bit of this and that (country, jazz, folk rock, etc.). I don't do heavy metal, thrash, punk or head banging stuff. I WON'T say this Twin isn't suited for the stuff I don't play, because I think it could be adapted for it. However, it would need some effects pedals to achieve those sounds.

-- But if pure, maximum "clean" is what you are after, this is your amp. eriod. None does it better. It's not cheap, but you do get what you pay for, especially with this amp. You get tube-driven/tank reverb and tube-driven tremolo. No wimpy digital reverb, but the real deal. The controls are as basic as you can get (treble, middle, bass plus basic controls for the reverb and tremolo), but they are sensitive. A little adjustment up or down makes a huge difference. The amp itself is also touch-sensitive to the dynamics of your playing. Many amps are, but the Twin does it best (at least among those I've owned and played).

-- One big thing I love about this amp is its tonal balance. Every note, from the lowest low to the highest high, ring out with clarity that makes your playing stand out in the mix. On the downside, you can't hide your mistakes. An amp like this will make you a better player out of necessity. I HATE a "farty" amp -- one where it mushes out when you wail on the bass strings/notes. The Twin stays tight and focused, no mater how hard or loud you hit those strings.

-- For a long time, I was a basic guitar-to-amp player who refused to use effects. I still am and do, but I do now use a couple of simple pedals, although two of them -- a Boss tuner and Boss EQ pedal -- are not really "effects". A Boss tremolo pedal is coming off my board (don't need it with the lush tremolo this amp has built in). I'm replacing a stereo chorus echo with a delay shortly. That leaves a TS9 Tubescreamer for the "dirt" I sometimes want in a solo or old Ted Nugent tune. The bottom line is that the '65 Twin RI LOVES effects, if that's your thing. Even if it's not, you will need some sort of overdrive or distortion effect to get those overdriven sounds. This amp just won't break-up naturally unless, perhaps, you push it to "10" ... and even then I'm not so sure.

-- One final note: I used this at stage volume during a practice with my band the other night. I have ALWAYS had to tweak things tonally with the EQ pedal, especially with a Strat (which is what I used the other night), but also with a Les Paul and a Carvin guitar I have. But at our poractice this week, I NEVER kicked on the Boss EQ pedal with that Strat. Didn't need it. The Strat sounded full, and rich and deep straight through the amp, with no EQ needed from the pedal. That to me speaks volumes about how good this amp sounds.

-- the '65 Twin RI is solid and, yes, a very heavy 64 pounds. I have a collapsable dolly I picked up cheap some time ago at a major hardweare chain store. I can't recommend something like that strongly enough if you get this amp. It will save your back. The amp does not come with a cover (must be ordered separately), but does come with a footswitch.

-- In summary, I should have bought one of these a lot sooner. I would have saved some serious dinero on the other stuff that has come and gone looking for what the Twin nails so perfectly (at least for my style of playing and the music I play).

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

I want to clarify at least 1 thing about this amp. This amp does not have built-in distortion; it's not meant for metal right out of the box. If you're looking for an amp that let's you hear what your guitar and effects are suppose to sound like, then this is the amp you should buy. For those saying "it's too loud", (scratching head) it is an amp! Lol! Look, if you want to know what this amp is capable of, go test it out at your local music store and see for yourself. There aren't any downsides to this amp unless you're using it for the wrong reasons. Overall, great amp!

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

The most important assessment establish is if the amp itself is sound. If so tear the amplifier cabinet down. If you can use wood glue and wood working cabinet clamps you can restore the cabinet to near new condition. Drill holes for wood screws with a battery powered drill and restore alighnment of baffle board mountings to establish cabinet integrity for the cabinet and speaker baffle. mountings Remove all brads and nails. Reassemble the complete cabinet dry without glue for a test fit. Then teardown all the effected components. Scrape off old glue residue. Glue and reassemble dry all of the componenets together one component at a time, test fitting each component. Allow glue 24 hours for a firm set.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

I was worried about the Twin Reverb being too loud. Everytime you read a review its "This amp is loud!" I finally made the leap. You can easily get good tones out of this at 1.5-2 volume setting. My play area is 100 square feet and my son's bedroom is right next door. I play in the evening and disturbe no one. My son says he hears me but I usually Jazz it at night so nothing too rough. When the guys come over in the afternoon the Twin goes up to 4 and takes my pedals very well. Have to say the frames shake on the walls at 4 vol setting. But the tone on this thing is incredible on its own with no pedals. The vibrato is great. I have mine on casters so I can move it around easier. I would not want to lug this thing around too much. I have had some trouble with the foot switch (works when it wants to). Overall built like a tank. Will never get rid of it and would buy it again in a heart beat.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

The ONLY reason this gets a nine is the weight of this monster to lug around is painfull. Why not have some built in solid casters? This amp is still the best amp I have ever played through and I have been playing for many years. I will never go for any other amp period. Dud I mention that this amp is also VERY freakin loud? I would stand this amp up against any amp EVER built, this is the top dog.
Features, nice clean tone. I use a synth guitar that needed a clean plate to play with. A PA was not the answer, couldn't get that bottom end warmth sound through a PA. Clean is what I wanted and this amp is the cleanest period.
Talk about quality, dependability and remember, TONE, clean tone, melting your ears away. Plenty of head room for small too large venues.
I value this as MY solid sound that I have been searching for YEARS. Thought this was just a country guitars dream as I am more a hard rock guy. Using this with my Roland VG-88 set up just goes hand in hand. I can go from a lustrious 12 string sounding guitar to a deep Drop-D heavy metal sound that just blasts any room I have been in. I play a variety of styles and this amp delivers straight forward deep lush tones that any guitarist would appreciate. I get compliments all the time about my tone that I never got before I had this amp. If you are ANY kind of guitar player at all, you know how important CLEAN tone can be. This amp delivers!

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

Overall I give it an 9 just because it's so darn expensive. In the sound department it's a perfect 10. It has the sound I've been looking for for years. When they say "that Fender sound", this is the amp they are talking about. I've been playing through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for the past 5 years. My wife had been harassing me for spending so much money on this amp from when I ordered until it came in. I gave her a little side-by-side comparison between the Hot Rod and Twin Reverb. There really was no comparison. It even suprised me how much better the Twin sounded. I had thought the Hot Rod Deluxe sounded pretty good, but the Twin Reverb put it to shame. My wife said "oh, I see why you bought it now." No more harassment. Of course i'll say the obilgatory "this amp isn't for metal" statement. You will not get this amp to distort without a pedal. It just keeps getting louder and louder without distorting. It takes pedals well. My Fulltone Plimsoul sounds excellent through it. One thing in reading other reviews and looking at amp forums that made me think twice about this amp was that some people said it was too loud to practice with, gig with in small places, ect, even with the volume below 3. I'm here to say that I practice with it at home between 2 and 3 and it sounds fine and is not loud at all. At gigs, even with it mic'ed I have the volume on 3 or 4. It's not terribly loud at that volume. Now, anything past 6 is just scary. I will say that. It's a great amp, so just close your eyes and spend the money. You won't regret it.
I gave it a 10 for features. It really doesn't have alot of features, but if you are looking at this amp, you already know that. The most important feature is has is it's great sound. If you are looking for a feature-packed amp, look elsewhere. If you are looking for "That Fender sound", here 'tis.
Seems to be very well constructed. Time will tell how tough it is. Really can't say at this point.
I rated the value at a 7. I feel this amp is overpriced. Of course so is most other music equipment.

Comments about Fender Vintage Reissue '65 Twin Reverb Guitar Amp:

Smooth warm clean sounds at high volume. Will showcase the true sound of any guitar, and is perfect for a clean slate platform to add pedal FX. Use it as my main amp for all styles. Just add an Overdrive, Wah, Chorus, Delay, Compressor, and you can pretty much play anything.
The essence of the amp is not really its loaded features, but it has everything I needed. 3 band EQ, Reverb, and a usable Vibrato that is more like Tremolo. Tubes, and loud as heck.

Gave an 8 because it doesn't have an overdrive channel. Though, not a big deal, would save room on my pedal board. Also no built in FX, and a Bright switch that I don't think is necessary. Also, they could have put some wheels on this thing. It is the heaviest amp I've had to drag around. Definitely could use some casters.

Again, this amp is not about features like a Line 6, or other amps with built in DSP fx. The features it does have are right on the money though. Just need to add some stomp boxes for your different sounds.
Built solid. I do get a low crackling sound for the first minute that the tubes are warming up, but once they're revved, sounds spectacular.
You really can't put a price on great tone. Every serious guitarist is always searching for that perfect tone. I don't think you can ever really reach perfection, and that's one of the elements of guitar playing that makes it fun, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. As close as you can get to the true intended sound of the electric guitar I think.