Twin Reverb - what speakers?

Hi!

I'm planning to buy a used Fender Twin Reverb. My questions are: - what speakers are better: JBL or Jensen? What's the difference? - what are the best years to look for?

Thanks

You will need speakers each rated at a minimum of 50 watts. I like to stay close the the minimum rating with speakers to allow for the speaker to 'work' under load. Two 120 watt JBL or EV speakers will not even be close to working at normal club volumes. I'd go with Jensen over JBL..just my preference. Go to a music store and play a current production re-issue amp (Deluxe, Twin, Pro Reverb) and see what you think of the Jensen speakers they are using.

Chief,

You lost me right at the start. What do you mean by 'work(ing) under load'? Is there a technical name for this? Generally speakers should be able to handle more than the amplifier's output. I've never heard anyone make a claim that too high a wattage rating was bad though.

Dave M.

Ideally you will be able to preview the sound if it is loaded with anythng other than the stock speakers. I have NEVER considered buying an amp (other than practice amps) without spending significant time playing it. THe kind of money you will be spending justifies taking the time and trouble to find out what the best speakers are for you. My main concern is that you probably do not know what elements of the tone you are expecting (that drives you to choose this amp) comes from the speakers. This is especially true in a 2 * 12 combo (or 4 * 10, or any very powerful and loud) amp. Speakers are probably the single most influential component in any amp (and choosing between valve and solid state is not 'one component', I am talking about more trivial design aspects like which tubes are used, how it is wired, etc.)

I used a Twin Reverb for about 4 years and it is a great amp. However, for the price you are likely going to pay, there are so many other great amps and you may as well buy something you after you know exactly what you are getting. The only down side is there may not be anything that lives up to your *expectation* you have for the Twin Reverb. I think you need to resolve that.

What I meant was that I prefer to have some speaker cone breakup in my tone, and if you use a speaker with a much higher power rating you are less likely to get much of that compared with a speaker which is being driven right at it's limits. I want the cone pumping....pushing some air and giving back some responsiveness and dynamics. Choose a speaker (or set of speakers) with a power rating higher than, but close to, your amps rated power.

I understand him, and thanks for the answer for both of you. I think he mean it isn't good to have an amp with 100 Watts and drive 300 Watt speakers. The performance of the speaker is desired to be more than of the amp, but not too much. Isn't it, Chief?

b.

'David Martel' < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > az alábbiakat írta a következõ

Well, I have a a Marshall 30th jubilee (6100) head and a MESA Formula preamp. That's what I'm using nowadays. But I played a Twin on a casting and I discovered I need one into my arsenal. Anyway, what speakers were Twins loaded in the Fender factory? JBL or Jensen? Any known pros or cons on any side? Or has it changed as time went by?

b.

'Locsmándi Bence' < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > az alábbiakat írta a következõ

Yes, I like this one and meant just the same! Driving the speaker hard...

b.

< This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > az alábbiakat írta a következo hírüzenetben: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Go to this web-site: http://www.provide.net/%7Ecfh/fender2.html#amps

and scan down the page until you get to the Fender Amp Speakers

Yeh, that's right, just the same I confess.

b.

< This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > az alábbiakat írta a következo hírüzenetben: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In a hi-fi system, you are REPRODUCING sound (tone) and so you want a very neutral-sounding speaker system. When you are CREATING tone, you want your speaker to be an active participant in that creative process. IMO, running a 30 watt amp into a 120 watt speaker is essentially using the speaker like a PA system. Put a 30-50 watt speaker in there and the speaker responds more to the amps signal and makes a greater contribution to the overall tone. Of course, if the tone you want is a clean reproduction of the amp itself then by all means load some EV-12's or similar into that Twin.

Thanks, Chief, really! That's something I meant!

b.

< This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > az alábbiakat írta a következo hírüzenetben: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Go to this web-site: http://www.provide.net/%7Ecfh/fender2.html#amps

and scan down the page until you get to the Fender Amp Speakers