From timequ–(at)–ol.com Sat Oct 10 19:57:40 CDT 1998
Article: 131286 of alt.guitar.amps
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From: timequ–(at)–ol.com (Timeque)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Low Power Tweed Twin?
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A low powered tweed Fender Twin — the amps built from 1953 to about 1958 — do
not sound like Fender tweed bassman. Two twelve inch speakers do not sound
like four tens. However they sound damned good, and there is a definite tweed
family genetic marker.
The tweed twins went through various circuit and tube changes from their
inception. The first had seven pin, metal can preamp tubes, and two 6l6s with
a single rectifier tube. Like a tweed deluxe they are cathode bisased. They
only put out about thirty watts, but they have more tonal impact and “spread”
because of the baffle width and twin twelves. They start to compress past
three on the volume knob…but the compression is delicious. And for playing
blues, you can hear why these things are in such demand. With single coils at
about 12 oclock on the volume dial, the amps are so touch sensitive they’re
like electric blues heart/lung machines!
Later changes in the mid nine-teen fifties were 12ax7 and 12 ay7 preamp
tubes…circuit modifications…the dual rectifiers…changes to the biasing
schemes…all in an effort to make the lamps play louder. You can trace the
circuit changes by looking at Pittman’s or Webers amplifier books. Any of the
twee twin amps…if you can find them…are capable of sounding great.
Haven’t heard the reproductions, so I can’t comment. Anyway, the great lesson
with Leo’s tweed machines is that while volume is good…TONE IS GOD…and in
my opinion Leo had his godliest moments in the nineteen fifties.
From timequ–(at)–ol.com Sat Oct 10 20:00:00 CDT 1998
Article: 131304 of alt.guitar.amps
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From: timequ–(at)–ol.com (Timeque)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Low Power Tweed Twin?
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Alnico 2 is misinformed.
Tweed twins were built from late 53 on. There was an article in Vintage Guitar
Magazine (the glossy) by Gerald Weber a few years ago. It’s got wrong
information in it (thanks Gerald, again), but it has a photo display of Tweed
Twin Serial number 223. It’s owned by a dealer in New Hampshire, and it is the
proverbial amp that lived its life in a closet.
The 1955 series Tweed Twins are the one where Leo made his first revisions to
the circuit to gain more volume. Note the difference between 5c8 and 5d8
schematics…also note that early 5d8s had a single rectifier tube…later one
had the two rectifiers tubes to make them go louder…like the one Clapton
plays as his personal amp.
I helped restore tweed twin serial #224, (yes, the one right behind the amp
that ended up in the closet in New Hampshire.) This amp was bought brand new
by a pedal steel player in 1954. He tore the jensens out and put in Altecs in
the sixties, and he got rid of the tweed and put on naugahyde and pillow
padding. We restored the original speakers and Paul Lamb retweeded it. Before
we did anything to the amp, we found out as much as we could about early
tweeds.
Best,
timeque
PS: the famous photo of BB KING playing in bermuda shorts at a Missippi concert
shows him playing a tweed twin…not as commonly assumed, a Super. Check the
album DO THE BOOGIE — EARLY FIFTIES CLASSICS (rhino release) if you want to
hear the sound through a hollow body and p-90 pickups.
