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1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:21 am
by Nickfred
Is there anything I should know? Was this a good year / a bad year?
Is it just twin reverb?

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:22 am
by Larry Mal
They are very good amps.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:36 am
by Nickfred
Larry Mal wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:22 am
They are very good amps.
Guess that's the only reply I need. 😎

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 12:38 pm
by Larry Mal
I think they were still made in the US at that point, if that matters.

Not sure what to say... they aren't quite point to point wired boutique amps or anything, but they sound great. They are Twins, which are always amazing sounding amps. Those reissue amps are of high quality.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:11 pm
by andy_tchp
1991? Not to dissuade you, (but...) those are the first 'reissues' based around PCB construction, which will make servicing/repairs more difficult when compared with a Silverface equivalent built around a turret board with flying leads. Pots and jacks are on a secondary PCB, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted at least.

You'd hope PCB assemblies are still readily available as replacement parts from Fender.

It's crazy to think these things are now approaching 30 years old.

Assuming this is an amp you're looking at purchasing, does it come with a clean bill of health from an amp tech and/or any kind of short term (say 3 month) warranty? Have the electrolytic capacitors been replaced at any stage in the last 29 years?

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:04 pm
by Nickfred
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:11 pm
1991? Not to dissuade you, (but...) those are the first 'reissues' based around PCB construction, which will make servicing/repairs more difficult when compared with a Silverface equivalent built around a turret board with flying leads. Pots and jacks are on a secondary PCB, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted at least.

You'd hope PCB assemblies are still readily available as replacement parts from Fender.

It's crazy to think these things are now approaching 30 years old.

Assuming this is an amp you're looking at purchasing, does it come with a clean bill of health from an amp tech and/or any kind of short term (say 3 month) warranty? Have the electrolytic capacitors been replaced at any stage in the last 29 years?
No idea. Will have to ask.
Would you rather go for a 2014 model then?

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:05 pm
by andy_tchp
Nickfred wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:04 pm
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:11 pm
1991? Not to dissuade you, (but...) those are the first 'reissues' based around PCB construction, which will make servicing/repairs more difficult when compared with a Silverface equivalent built around a turret board with flying leads. Pots and jacks are on a secondary PCB, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted at least.

You'd hope PCB assemblies are still readily available as replacement parts from Fender.

It's crazy to think these things are now approaching 30 years old.

Assuming this is an amp you're looking at purchasing, does it come with a clean bill of health from an amp tech and/or any kind of short term (say 3 month) warranty? Have the electrolytic capacitors been replaced at any stage in the last 29 years?
No idea. Will have to ask.
Would you rather go for a 2014 model then?
I... wouldn't buy either of them. But I already have an early '70s Vibrosonic Reverb, effectively a SFTR with a 15" speaker.

All of the above still applies aside from the question about electrolytic caps, as they'll be fine for a while being ~6 years in use.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:22 am
by Nickfred
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:05 pm
Nickfred wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:04 pm
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:11 pm
1991? Not to dissuade you, (but...) those are the first 'reissues' based around PCB construction, which will make servicing/repairs more difficult when compared with a Silverface equivalent built around a turret board with flying leads. Pots and jacks are on a secondary PCB, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted at least.

You'd hope PCB assemblies are still readily available as replacement parts from Fender.

It's crazy to think these things are now approaching 30 years old.

Assuming this is an amp you're looking at purchasing, does it come with a clean bill of health from an amp tech and/or any kind of short term (say 3 month) warranty? Have the electrolytic capacitors been replaced at any stage in the last 29 years?
No idea. Will have to ask.
Would you rather go for a 2014 model then?
I... wouldn't buy either of them. But I already have an early '70s Vibrosonic Reverb, effectively a SFTR with a 15" speaker.

All of the above still applies aside from the question about electrolytic caps, as they'll be fine for a while being ~6 years in use.
So you wouldn't buy a TR ever?

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:26 am
by cestlamort
It comes down to dependability and price. The reissue twin reverbs sound great, but as circuit board amps, some repair and maintenance issues will be more difficult (and more expensive) compared with the older point-to-point amps. In other words, if you're planning on having it for a long time, it might make sense to look for an old silverface one (which will run forever) rather than one of the reissues. I'm not sure how the used market is in Denmark, but the SF amps seem to be roughly the same price as the '65 reissue ones in the US. (For example, I'm playing a SF Super Reverb that's older than I am and also had a twin reverb from the same era (which I miss). They sound great and there's no reason they won't outlive me).
All will be heavy and all will be loud and clean, varying some by year, etc.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:37 am
by Larry Mal
Nickfred wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:22 am


So you wouldn't buy a TR ever?
I think he's saying that he would quicker buy one of the older silver face Twins instead, and I can only imagine he would buy one of the even older blackface Twins quicker. Of course, that would cost a lot more.

I owned some silver face Fender stuff, it's very good.

I can't speak to the maintenance of the reissue Fenders, but I have owned a couple. I suppose I own one now, and it is in fact a bit of a lemon, but it's a very weird model.

But the reissue Fender amps do sound very good, and they don't cost a whole lot, either.

Now, having said that, take a look at this video. Not only does it show pretty clearly the difference between Fender's expensive point to point wiring amps and the PCB stuff, but they A/B the two.

I was pretty sold on the more expensive amp by the end of it.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:49 am
by Nickfred
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:05 pm
Nickfred wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:04 pm
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:11 pm
1991? Not to dissuade you, (but...) those are the first 'reissues' based around PCB construction, which will make servicing/repairs more difficult when compared with a Silverface equivalent built around a turret board with flying leads. Pots and jacks are on a secondary PCB, but the tube sockets are chassis mounted at least.

You'd hope PCB assemblies are still readily available as replacement parts from Fender.

It's crazy to think these things are now approaching 30 years old.

Assuming this is an amp you're looking at purchasing, does it come with a clean bill of health from an amp tech and/or any kind of short term (say 3 month) warranty? Have the electrolytic capacitors been replaced at any stage in the last 29 years?
No idea. Will have to ask.
Would you rather go for a 2014 model then?
I... wouldn't buy either of them. But I already have an early '70s Vibrosonic Reverb, effectively a SFTR with a 15" speaker.

All of the above still applies aside from the question about electrolytic caps, as they'll be fine for a while being ~6 years in use.
So the electrolyte caps aren't a problem in a SF?

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:51 am
by Nickfred
Larry Mal wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:37 am
Nickfred wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:22 am


So you wouldn't buy a TR ever?
I think he's saying that he would quicker buy one of the older silver face Twins instead, and I can only imagine he would buy one of the even older blackface Twins quicker. Of course, that would cost a lot more.

I owned some silver face Fender stuff, it's very good.

I can't speak to the maintenance of the reissue Fenders, but I have owned a couple. I suppose I own one now, and it is in fact a bit of a lemon, but it's a very weird model.

But the reissue Fender amps do sound very good, and they don't cost a whole lot, either.

Now, having said that, take a look at this video. Not only does it show pretty clearly the difference between Fender's expensive point to point wiring amps and the PCB stuff, but they A/B the two.

I was pretty sold on the more expensive amp by the end of it.
Thanks I'll have a look.
Well I'm on a budget, so I have to think about that too.
Not gonna travel the whole world with it, so it isn't going to be bounced around.

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:51 am
by Nickfred
Also my father's a trained radio technician, so I'm not too worried about repairs...

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 5:42 pm
by cestlamort
Nickfred wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:49 am
andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:05 pm
Nickfred wrote:
Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:04 pm


No idea. Will have to ask.
Would you rather go for a 2014 model then?
I... wouldn't buy either of them. But I already have an early '70s Vibrosonic Reverb, effectively a SFTR with a 15" speaker.

All of the above still applies aside from the question about electrolytic caps, as they'll be fine for a while being ~6 years in use.
So the electrolyte caps aren't a problem in a SF?
Caps in a 1991 amp will probably need to be replaced if they haven't been yet. The ones from the 1970s amps also need to be replaced if original, but it has probably already been done (maybe more than once).

Re: 1991 '65 reissue twin reverb.

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:08 pm
by Nickfred
Why is there a need to change the caps?