Fender '57 Twin Amp Reissue 212 Combo

2005 Handwired all tube, dual rectifier, 40W laquered Tweed Twin Amp. The amp is fairly no-frills. It doesn't have a mid control, that woulda been the '58. It's greatest feature is it's tone. For reverb, I use a Fender outboard reverb tank which sounds better than any of built-in reverbs IMHO.

I use it for a country band with a few guitars including a Strat XII, a couple of Teles, and a '54 Masterbuilt Strat. It performs beautifully at gigs, recording sessions and rehearsals. Distortion ain't my bag, I like a clean sound and this amp is the best around for that.

Out of habit I bring a back-up head to gigs (The Crate Power Block at 4.5lbs is fantastic!) but with this amp, I don't see there being a need for the back up. It has been very dependable for the last 6 months of regular use. The fact that it is handwired is a nice feature in that it will be easy to work on if anything goes wrong.

I've been playing for nearly 35 years. The only thing I don't like is that the amp didn't come in at the advertised weight of 25lbs. It's actually 65lbs!

Fender advertises it as an amp with boutique quality at a more favorable price. It's true. If a boutique builder built this amp, it would be much more expensive than the $2100 street price.

This amp is straight forward and simple. The other reviews I've read have accurately covered the controls and features. At first I thought that I'd like to have a reverb in it but now that I've played it for a while, I see no need for one and haven't given it further consideration. That REALLY surprised me. I am giving it a 9 because all the features that are needed are provided. It is about as simple as it can get.

This amp sounds great to me. I love it! I am playing a PRS Singlecut most of the time. I use my PRS Custom 22 somewhat. Both have stock PRS pickups. Both come with humbuckers. I have had so much fun with my Singlecut / '57 combo that I haven't tinkered with my other electrics. I use a Maxon OD808 overdrive. I play Rock, Blues and Jazz. I approach all three styles with a screaming sustained rock sound. The amp is very quiet. This is a very "warm" sounding amp and very beautifully presents complex tonal relationships that a lot of other amps destroy when they are distorting or breaking up. It has a very nice compression that can be increased by removing one of the rectifier tubes and running with only one. This amp is a loud 40 watts. I have a THD Hot Plate for bringing the sound pressure level down (SPL). This sounds very good. The SPL with the volume at 6 is WAY too much for My Neumann U87 mic that I use for recording. The U87 with the THD Hot Plate ends up sounding too "warm" because of the U87 frequency response. I have tried using my Sennheiser MD421-II on it but this accentuates the highs too much for my taste. Micing with both the MD421-II and the U87, one at each speaker center, captures the beautiful tonality of this amp. I had no intention of purchasing this amp before the music store sales person suggested that I try it out. I'm glad he did. I liked what I heard so much that I walked out of the store with it without needing time to think it over or try out any other amps.

I have not had it long enough to say.

It's got a 5 year warranty and being a Fender, qualified service should be readily available.

I've been playing 25 years. If it were stolen I'd have to replace it. I have not found anything that I hate about it. I was originally interested in a reissue black face Super Reverb as an additional sound to my Marshall rig. In comparing the Super Reverb to this Tweed Twin, the Twin really did it for me. I never gave the black face Super Reverb another thought. The Tweed Twin has basically replaced my Marshall JCM 900 head and MF 280 slant face 4X12 cabinet. Be sure give it a good test-drive before buying it. It's too expensive to buy one on a whim. So far as value is concerned, in this case you get what you pay for and then some. I've got to give it a 10.

Four input jacks (2 each of high input and regular (the #2 jacks being lower output)). The only reason I don't give a ten in this category is because this amp is pretty simple and only really has tone options.

Using a Rickenbacker semihollow. The tone of the guitar is really accentuated by this amp. I was worried, originally, that I would not be able to get this amp to break up, but it breaks up very nicely when I hit the strings harder.
A Rat distortion sounds really great with these speakers.....if you can control the feedback.

I had a vintage super bassman before this...but I chucked that one, and this little tweed is my new baby. So sweet....so pretty.

I give this category a 10 simply because this is a no frills TONE machine. Simple controls, no reverb needed, Bass, Treble, Presence, and Volume. 4 inputs (2 normal, 2 bright) Power and Standby Switch.

This amp really does sound amazing. I use it primarily for Blues with my Heritage Classic 535 loaded with Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. This amp LOVES that guitar and those pickups, but also responds VERY well to my Epi Les Paul loaded with the same pickups. GREAT Bluesy/Rock approved tones. I have a 63 Fender Reverb Unit with the appropriate 6K6 tube in it, and it does sound GREAT with this amp, but for most of my playing I run the amp "as is." There is just something magical about a Fender Tweed circuit in a finger jointed pine cabinet. VERY organic, and resonant, with a 3D type "layered" tone. I actually think the reverb (as good as it does sound) detracts from the tone instead of adding to it.
I have re-tubed this amp so it's more to MY liking, but right out of the box, this amp is GREAT. The Weber designed, Eminence manufactured Alnico's are a little "stiff" at the beginning (as are most of Ted's speakers) but once they open up a tad, WOW!
As I mentioned earlier I have re-tubed this amp, but only because I use it PRIMARILY with humbuckers, and SELDOM with single coils. With the stock tubes I found that my humbucking equipped guitars didn't give me much leaway between "clean" and edgy/overdriven, and with the volume on 4, IT WAS LOUD. I have replaced the stock GT-6L6-GE's with TAD 6L6WGC-STR's (short bottle) and I couldn't be happier. VERY similar in tone to the vaunted Tung Sol 5881's at a 1/5 of the price. (REALLY brings out the MIDS in this amp!) I have also opted for the 50's "low gain" sound by replacing the three 12AX7's with NOS RCA 12AY7's, and the stock (Sovtek) Phase Inverter with an RCA 12AX7 long Gray Plate. The finishing touch was replacing the two EH 5U4GB rectifier tubes (which are actually quite good) with two RCA 5U4's. USING A "Y" CORD into Normal 1 and Bright 1, I can now run the volume on the "Bright" Channel on 4 and the volume on the Normal Channel at 3 without this amp being too loud. GREAT "comlpex" cleans with just a hint of break up, and I can now use my Digitech Bad Monkey or my G2D Cream Tone for Blues approved grit.

So far so good. No complaints, rattles, or sounds that shouldn't be there. Just GREAT tone for days!
As always though, time will tell how these "new" amps stack up to the old ones.

Fender is Fender. They have good days and bad days just like any other company. Hit them on a "bad" day and weeeeeeeelll, not so good, on a good day, there're MORE than adequate. 5 year warranty is one of the BEST in the business.

I've been playing guitar for 35+ years. This is one GREAT amp, and should have been in Fender's (reissue) amp line up a LONG time ago. I have always been a Blackface/Reverb type of guy, (owned a mint 1966 Super Reverb for 15 years) but his amp has made me realize how such a simple design can yield stunning results. As with the Bassman LTD., it doesn't get much better than this for "Tweed."

This is a reissue of the Twin from '57, which is kind of strange, I could find nothing re: the '57 Twin Amp the made it stand out from preceeding years or the years that followed. I can tell you what makes this amp stand out from others. Typically I am drawn to tube amps and have a fair number, Prosonic, Blues Jr, Sound City, couple of Sunns, including the T50C and a Peavy Ultra 112. Some have had speakers swapped out, tube changes but none, save the Prosonic sound as good as this '57 Twin.
The '57 is fairly straight forward, normal/bright channels, volume for each and than bass, treble and presence. That's it and if you want more buy a different amp. The speakers were designed by Ted Weber and are fantastic, hand wired, point to point, no PCBs, Tubes are Sovtek 12AX7s, and rectifiers (dual) are also Sovtek. The 6L6s are GT GEs made in the USA.

Power, I mean 40 watts is a lot of decibles. For my private uae it is too much and I employ a THD HotPlate.

I play mostly Gibson's with the variety of pickups they offer. The PAFs and the P90s sound fantastic, as does my Tele. However my LP with the burstbuckers is kind of weird and doesn't really nail it, no matter. Equally as pleasing is my Resolectric amd Paloma. So I would have to say this is a very versitile amp, I mean rock/blues/resonator/classical I'm pretty sure that covers a lot of ground. at very loud settings it will overdrive, nice warm, "brown" sound. Very little 60 cycle stuff.

The sound is a profound clarity, very complex, it sucks you in really. Prettiest tone I have ever heard, multi-layered.

I've been playing for 10 years or so. I would really try to replace this amp were it stolen or whatever but they say no two point to point amps are the same, there isn't the consistency you have with PCBs. I love the texture of the sound this thing produces, really very special. I bought this amp as I wanted to step back in time and I get tired of the high gain, brittle, 15,000 emulations amps that are out there. Fender has and does make a good solid amp.
I am sure there are boutique amps out there of the same quality and I am sure I could afford them but Fender is a neighborhood deal, I mean think of the Twins, Strats, Teles and all they turn out and for the most part very well turned out. Maybe I'm a fool but when I buy into Fender I feel like I'm buying into a bit of Americiana. With all the shit going down with the present administration it's nice to feel good about something comming from America.

Straight ahead and full steam. This amp is very simple to use
volume, bass, treble and presence. If you can't figure that out..
I play blues with some country and classic rock. This amp could
not be better suited.

I use a Fender Eric Clapton Strat, 57 Goldtop Les Paul Reissue,
75 Fender Telecaster and an Epiphone Zepher Blues DeLuxe. All of
these guitars sound great through this amp. I have a tonebone
hot british and it sounds amazing through this amp - big Marshall
sound. Previous amp was a Fender Blues Deluxe, the 57 absolutely
lays the Blues Deluxe to rest it just kills it!

Well, I just got the amp so I don't know. However, I've used far
lesser Fenders and never had a problem so I see know reason to
doubt this one. It will be my only gig amp. I have faith in Fender.

Never had to try but the 5 year warranty is good stuff for a
gigger. I have used Fender support for the Blues Deluxe when
I needed help trying to put some KT88's in it and they were most
helpful.

As stated previously this is the best amp I have owned and I have
played 35 years and used MANY amps. I have to believe this will be
the last amp I will ever need. My only complaint is that Fender
sought fit to add a bias control(nice) which makes it not truly
historically acurate why not add reverb(I think the amp would have
been just a bit better for it).

brand new custom ordered..deposit and they build it...I ordered it to have it..and use on certain gigs..love the versatile sound....

i have 2 custom tele's and 2 custom strats...i use joe bardens on one tele and 57 classics on the other..i uze texas specials on one strat and 57 classics on the other..this amp is very versatile..i play anything from chet to eric...and wiht each guitar it gives everything in between

i always have a backup amp nearby..but im not worried about this amp

not concerned about the need for support...

been playing since 1955 or so...I own a cple tweed namm -edtion blues juniors, a peavey classic 30, a blues deville with a jbl 15", a 59 bassman ltd, and if it were stolen I could get along with the bassman, although I'd miss it terribly, i bought it just to have it and play it for certain gigs...it does a great job..but expensive..and it took a while to get..but worth it....very worth it...

This amp is what it says, a narrow panel 1957 Fender Twin tweed amp. IT IS HAND WIRED, 8 tubes,no circuit boards. Has two channels, normal and bright, two imputs on each. You CAN NOT loop the channels like you can with '59 Bassman or on my original '57 Deluxe Tweed. So if you want effects pedals, put them between your guitar and amp as usual. The amp came with four 12AX7 preamp tubes and manual suggests you can swap out the first three with 12AY7 to get the original low gain sound. I did as I'm old school and tired of high gain brittle sounding amps.
As a rule, if the 12AX7 tube is gain rated at 100, then the 12AY7 is about 40 and an often overlooked and still available 12AT7 is a 70. As a note, if you have one of the newer Fender Hot Rod amps, try putting one of these low gain tubes in the second spot and watch the amp warm up and the volume dial doesn't blast out on 2, you can actually work in the 3-5 range with out killing your ears.
The amp comes with two 5U4 rectifier tubes and the manual suggest removing one to get a dirtier sound, I would suggest the second one. They put two 5U4's in to clean up the amp not knowing that some of us would all grow to love the "sag" distortion from an overdrivin tube amp.
Amp has two 12" reissue Jenson Alnico speakers. No external jack. Who in '57 would have thought anybody would want more the two(twin) speakers?
The amp comes with a rather weak looking leather? handle. Since a similar handle on my much lighter '57 Deluxe amp soon failed, I would expect this handle to fail it handled a lot. The most notable flaw I see in the '57 reissue is the back two panels are of thinner 3/16 stock, similar to the Hot Rod series back panels, rather than the 1/4" stock that came on original 50's Tweed amps. It means the back panels are not flush with the back of the cabinet edges. Also, there was a small gap between the chrome control panel and the top panel. I put in a couple of matching screw in the middle to fix it. No big deal. This is not vintage collectors item.
It came with a cover. A poor quality cover. Very thin.

This amp is pure clean Fender sound. It reminds me of my old Blackface Band Master. My favorite guitar is my '61 Tele and I bought the amp because I wanted to get my '57 Deluxe killer sound but with more volume. It does that at 40 watts. I would be happy if it only had 30 watts, but I can turn it down.
The volume dial can be set in the 3-4 range and you are at moderate loudness. Set the amp volume at 10-12, guitar at low volume and get a warm dirty sound, set the amp volume at 3-5 and the guitar at full and get clean tones. I'm old school and don't want to sound like somebody else. I'm a bit nostalgic. I like tweed amps, cases and redheads. I even bought a '50's Fender 4 String(what's with that?)Mandolin because it came in a tweed case with red plush interior.. I'm not objective. I also have a '70 Les Paul. I like this amp.

It say's it comes with a 5 year warranty, if I find nothing wrong in the first 90 days it will last longer than me. It's old school Fender, unless it's under water, a lot of water, it won't fail. Remember, this thing was designed before accountants came to save money. I have played fender amps that still worked with speakers missing, tubes missing, had been rolled down the stairs and with the cord stripped and bare wired into an outlet. I love fender because they don't fail.

At list, $2999.00 this amp is not for the unhealed. I wouldn't buy it if you don't have the money. You can find many fine amps for much less. I bought it because I have been looking for bigger old Fender non-junk Tweed for 15 years and this was what was available. I've been playing for 40 years. I bought it to play. I know it won't ever be an investment like my original '57 Deluxe is, but I don't have to worry about it if it gets rained on, floods, burns up or gets stolen. I love looking at it and playing through it. My first amp was a Fender and I've never needed anything else.

This is a tweed Twin reissue, with Bass, Treble, and Presence controls. Other features include a Power switch, and a Standby switch, and there's a red jeweled light to indicate power on. There are 2 bright instrument inputs, and 2 somewhat less bright inputs, and a volume control for each pair of inputs. There's a 1/4" phone plug for the speaker out, a very nice feature which lets me plug my Weber MASS brake in, and there's a perfectly sized space for it under the left-hand 12" speaker in the rear. It lives there now, and travels with the amp to gigs. There are 2 5U4 rectifiers for a good solid B+, and I notice no swirling artifacts through my tone when hammering the bright channel with the Pearly Gates in my Bluesbird with everything dimed. It starts, it cranks, that's all the features I need.

The sound is exquisite. I play rock, rhythm, and blues, everything from Allmans to ZZTop (and all points in between), and the character of my guitars really comes thru this amp. Pearly Gates humbuckers in my '72 Bluesbird will sustain forever, and clean up beautifully when the guitar volume is backed off. My PRS Custom 22 Soapbar with 3 - P90's has gone straight to bed with this amp, and will not leave. This is Fender Strat-on-Steroids heaven. Again, back off the guitar volume, back off the pick attack or fingers, and you have distortion at your beck and call. The amp is very quiet at all settings, and the Bass control is very interactive - each guitar seems to have a different sweet spot.

I clipped the 4700pf cap off the Bright volume on my Marshall 1987X reissue 50W Plexi, and this amp and that amp now are almost identical in tone and response. I can swap the speakers (4-10" Celestion Greenbacks in a 1972 4x12 cab) between amps, and the tone follows the speakers.

I am now running my guitar straight into the Twin, then taking the line out signal from the WeberMASS box and driving my pedals and my other amps - I generate tone with my fingers, axe, and this amp, and then process that tone, sampled at the speakers, with reverb, delay, wah, etc., into the other amps (Marshall, Fender '63 Vibroverb, '62 Bassman).

If you want to rock, roll on the guitar volume. If you wanna play ballad or do some blues chicken pickin', just roll back off. Simple.

I bought this one so I could gig with one amp and get my tone, even without a pedalboard. I usually gig with multiple amps on stage anyway, but I wouldn't hesitate to go out with this one. A spare rectifier, power tubes, fuses, and a 12AX7 ride in the back, and I'm good to go.

I've never contacted the vendor, so can't speak for that. I do my own service, so no problem there, especially with the included schematic and the hand-wired tag board construction. I am my own authorized service center, and I buy quality, not warranty.

I've been playing since the Beatles hit Ed Sullivan, and I own/have owned tons (literally) of tube gear. This is it. I would kill the MF who stole this one, and, when I got out of prison, I'd buy me another one. It's my 50W Plexi half-stack in a one-hand portable box, the speakers (Alnico Weber-designed 12" by Eminence) are fabulous, it will sustain until I get hungry or gotta go pee, and "It's Tweed, it's All You Need!" (look behind Robbie Robertson in The Last Waltz). It was this or the VibroKing, and I've got the reverb action covered with my '63 Vibroverb, or my PV Outboard Tube Reverb/Tremelo box driving my '62 Bassman. This is as pure as it gets. It wants for nothing, and neither do I (except perhaps another HiWatt Custom 100)....