[cite web]
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 1953-1955 "Wide Panel" Twin
work =
publisher = The Fender Amp Field Guide
date =
url = http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/index.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-07-16] "Narrow Panel" Twin
After the preceding looks of the early 50's (TV front from 1950-51/2; wide panel '52-54), Leo changed the cabinet design again, this time opting for no extra wood on the front of the amp, except for the narrow top and bottom panels that hold the baffle board to the cabinet.
These "narrow-panel" tweeds are also remarkable for their refined electronics whose circuit design is improved by the replacement of input capacitors for resistors in the preamp. The long-tailed phase inverter is another improvement given Fender's quest for a louder, cleaner amplifier. The entire line of Fender amplifiers from 1955-1959 (later for smaller models & bassman) was uniform in this look - tweed or "airline linen" covering with a maroon w/ gold stripe woven saran grill cloth. To the ear of this writer, the 1x12 Deluxe-Amp, the 1x15 Pro-Amp and the 3x10 Bandmaster are exceptional in dynamics and tone.
Like its predecessors, the narrow panel tweed Fender amplifiers used Jensen Alnico V Concert Series Speakers.
Tweed Twin
It was modified in 1958 for more volume, switching to four 5881 power tubes for a power increase to 80W. This "hi-powered," tweed-covered design continued into early 1960, after the other Professional Series of Fender amplifiers had made the transition to the modern brownface design.
1960
The exact plight of the Twin-Amp during the months between January and May of 1960 however, remains open to considerable speculation, debate and study. The prevailing explanation is that production was temporarily interrupted during these months as they coincide with the debut of Fender's new "flagship" or top of the line amplifier, the Fender Vibrasonic-Amp. Nonetheless, Fender Musical Instrument Co. kept the image of the Twin-Amp before potential consumers during this short period. The image of the Twin-Amp in the 1960 Fender Catalog has been the subject of considerable scrutiny.
Blonde Twin
The re-emergence of the Twin-Amp in mid 1960 revealed a new aesthetic design that would become prominent among Fender's top of the line amplifiers, with the exception of the Vibrasonic-Amp. By 1961, the Bandmaster-Amp, the Bassman-Amp and the newly debuted Showman-Amp were all covered in the new look exemplified by the late 1960 Twin-Amp: blonde tolex and maroon or "oxblood" grille cloth. The Twin-Amp of this period (late 1960-1963) was manufactured with a variety of speakers including Jensen, Oxford and JBL designs. This variation lends support to the idea that the 80-watt circuit was beyond the power handling capacity of the speakers of the late 1950s.
Blackface Twin
After a slight change in appearance, from the rough blonde tolex and maroon grille appearance to a smooth blonde tolex with a silver grille cloth, the Twin-Amp changed both circuit design and appearance in 1964. Along with the rest of Fender's line of instrument amplifiers, the Twin-Amp was covered in black Tolex at this time. Like many of the most popular designs, including the Super Reverb-Amp and the Deluxe Reverb-Amp, the Twin would also incorporate an on-board reverb circuit. As opposed to earlier designs that required the use of a stand alone, outboard reverb unit, this new design incorporated a spring-reverb circuit in the combo design. Paired with the Vibrato feature (technically a "tremolo" effect) and the monstrous 80-watts of output, the ability to create instrument sustain through the use of reverb made the blackface Twin-Amp an instant favorite among electric guitarists.
ilverface Twin
Twin Reverb II
"The Twin"
'65 Reissue Twin Reverb
References
* [http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/fender_amp_twin_amp.html Kelly Industries Audio Gear Review]
* [http://www.fender-amp.com/history.asp Unofficial Fender Amp history page]
* [http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/courses/phys498pom/5G8_Twin_Amp.html The Brown Twin Page] Linden, Paul, "The Myth of the 1960 Small-Box Brown Fender Twin," The Tone Quest Report, March 2005, vol 6, no. 5.
