Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue

Not sure of the year it was made, but bought it brand new in the box in December 2006. I play hard rock (GNR, Van Halen), some metal (Iron Maiden, Metallica, not the Nu stuff), classic rock (Led Zep), and some blues, grunge, punk, and this amp can do them all with the right setup. This is a reissue, so none of the modern day conveniences of channel switching, headphone jacks, cd ins, etc. It has 2 independent channels (normal and vibrato/reverb) with 2 inputs each. This amp is mostly for playing at home, but as already mentioned in other reveiews, it could easily play large clubs and tick off your neighbors. It also has an external speaker jack, so the neighbors 3 blocks over can enjoy. She's all tube, 85 watts, has 2x12" Jensen speakers and weighs an awkward 64 lbs.

This is the famous Fender clean/glass sound. Even at high volumes it is difficult to overdrive this amp. I have not taken it to its maximum, but it shakes my house at 5 and still clean. The tones that come out of this amp make me grin. You absolutely need to play it. This amp has that great glassy clean tone that makes me wanna play clean all the time (and I love distortion). As I said this amp does not distort, but I prefer pedals anyway. I brought my Gibson Les Paul Standard Ltd (Manhattan Midnight with Burstbucker pros) and my Keeley modified DS-1, as well as my cables to be sure that I knew what my little rig would sound like. She has a fantastic deep low end, which I love, and beatiful harmonics. With the distortion pedal, the burstbuckers finally squealed with sustained artificial harmonics (something I was missing with my Marshall mg50dfx). When I was researching the amp to replace my solid state marshall that wasn't doing justice to my paul, I read lots of reviews about the twin that said it was great at blues, but also accepted pedals well. Let me tell ya, at the store, I was sandwiched between 2 guys playing marshall stacks (a TSL head and a 50w solid state). I love the marshall tone, but I wanted more versatility and a good value on a combo tube amp. With my keeley pedal, I can get the marshall distortion and harmonic variation with the twin. When it's off, I get the famous fender tone (better than any modeling amp I've tried). This amp is also not too buzzy.

Haven't had it that long. I do recommend purchasing a warranty from a store if you're able. Some reviews say it runs very hot. I don't think mine feels hot. I have a 1966 original deluxe reverb that has been abused and it runs just as hot and still cranking, so the heat don't bother me.

I've been playing for over 15 years. Grew up with late 80's and early 90's hair metal, rock, and grunge, and those are my predominant influences. Lost all my previous equipment in a hurricane, but started over 1 year ago with the les paul. After waiting for a year to follow that big purchase up, I'm very pleased that I found the twin reverb to match with it. The paul really sings through it (oh the sustain!). Don't ever buy an amp (esp one this expensive) based solely on reviews. I compared this to the 65 Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a Vox ACC30 2x12 in the store. I went in planning to buy the Vox after reading reviews on this sight, but tonally, it didn't come close to the twin. The twin is more bassey (love that kick in gut feel), and the lack of a mid tone control on the deluxe and the ACC30 made a huge difference to me. Much harder to get a good tone (at least with my paul). If you want a foundation for great tone and harmonics, try this amp out, it's well worth it, even for hard rock/old school metal (probably not nu metal). Bring your guitar and effects to the store and be sure to compare to find the sound you're looking for. I found mine in the the reissue 65 twin reverb. Good luck.

For me this doesn't matter, I like a minimum fuss at the amp end, iv'e been playing for around 10 years and I just like it this way.

What a phenomenal clean sound, absolutely gorgeous tones and the best Reverb around. The tone controls work really well on this amp.

Leo Fender will be turning in his grave. I've had it for 5 years. After 3 years the output transformer failed, destroying 4 expensive phillips 7581A tubes and it took around 4 months just to get a replacement from Fender. It now looks like after only another 2 years, the same problem has developed and I despair again. The amp has also blown a lot of tubes and like other users I am extremely concerned about the heat that this amp produces, it really is frightening, especially since I heard recently of one of these catching fire in Manchester and anyone i've spoke to has had one of these amps has had problems with them. I wouldn't buy a Fender amp ever again, a shame because I am still in love with the sound of the classic Blackface Fenders.

Again, who do Fender think they are? I was a Fender fan through and through but after waiting 4 months for a replacement output transformer and having to do a shit load of leg work to get them to come good on warranty, I will never, ever buy a Fender product again, not even a plectrum. I think they really need to look at their ethics, either make amps worthy of the price or lower the price. Simple. Fender have too much quality competition in the amp market to be getting by on their name alone, I think they are a joke. What happened to the times when they gave a shit about the hard-working musicians their products where designed for, Leo Fender will be turning in his grave, he designed products to be reliable, maintainable and value for money, now it's the opposite.

The paradox, the tone of this amp will ring in my ears for ever but yet the pain it has caused me in repair bills, inconvenience, fear and heartache will mean like I've already said, I will never buy Fender again, not even a plectrum.

Amp was manufactured in 2006
The amp is very versitile pending effect pedals used
I play country, jazz, classic rock, gospel, blues.
Two channels, Clean, and vibrato. No channel switching, no effects loop, no headphone jack.
I wish it had reverb on each channel. Only has reverb on Vibrato channel.
I use the amp for practice and at occassional gigs. Has a lot of power at 85 watts. very lound amp. I set the volume between 2 and 3 for most purposes. Has an excellent reverb sound, and the vibrato is nice for the 60's sound.

This amp has the best clean sound I've ever experienced. The reverb is also very exceptional. I've owened Marshall, Peavy, MusicMan and other Fender Amps. This one has by far the best clean sound.
This amp does not have a distortion channel. You will need to try a variety of OD pedals out test your specific tastes. I use my Boss
ME50, and with some experimention, I found the distortion sound I am most comfortable with. My American Fender Straticaster sounds the best for my, My Telecaster also is a good match. My Les Paul sounded good for Jazz. This amp delivers all the sounds I need.
I visited Guitar City in Denver Colorado, and played Peavy, Marshall, and Mesa/Boogie amps along side of this amp. The Fender by far had the best clean and reverb sounds. I have not experienced any hum, but rarely play in volumes above 3 or 4.

Just purchased last month. I'll let you know after the warrantee expires in five years. So far, no problems.

Have not had a need for any company support at this time with this amp.

Ive been playing guitar for over 39 years. I've owened other fender amps, Peavy, Marshall, Music Man, Carvin, etc. and this amp has the best clean and reverb sounds. The amp is very dymanic, and responds crisply with your finger picking styles. I would be very disappointed if it were stolen, however, I don't know if I could afford to purchase another one. I love the tone this amp delivers, as few amps can match what this amp was designed for. I hate the 65lbs of weight when moving it around. In my comparisons to guitar amps in this class, no other had the tone I was listening for. The amp is also very easy to run, and the knobs are easy to see ( for those of us in our 50's ). Everything is at the front were easy access. I wish it had a footswitch to change channels. This has to be done physically by moving the input cord. I perfer the clean, undistorted sounds of the blues and county picking styles of Don Rich of the Buckaroo's. This amp delivers for me on these sounds. I could have paid $ 1,000. more for a Mesa/Boogie, that had great distortion sounds, but didn't come close in clean/reverb sounds.

2002 Fender Twin Reverb, 85 watts 4 6L6 Groove Tubes/power, four 12AX7/preamp, two 12AT7/reverb & vibrato, two 12" Jensen C-12K speakers, 2 channels, spring reverb, tube generated "vibrato" (tremolo), silver grille cloth, black textured vinyl, tilt-back legs, 64 lbs.

I use it primarily for classic rock/blues rock, with a Keeley-modded TS9 and a Fulltone OCD in front of the vibrato channel. The clean sound is remarkable, as is the reverb. This amp can handle any live setting. Ample headroom. If you're looking for a tube amp you can crank up for some good tube distortion, this isn't the amp for you. By the time it starts breaking up, you'll already be deaf or have the police at your door. It took me a little while to find overdrive pedals I was happy with - the TRRI is generally NOT pedal-friendly - but after much experimenting, I've found that both the Keeley TS and the Fulltone OCD do the job magnificently. The array of tonal variations at your disposal is truly awesome, just be ready to spend some time playing around w/the settings a bit.

I've had it for a year and no problems yet, but I'm reserving judgement for awhile longer. The obvious pitfall of getting one the Reissue is that a PCB has replaced point to point handwiring, and as a result, the expense of repairing the amp is exponentially higher.

Haven't needed to, and hope to never have to based on the stories I've heard.

Playing 20 years, own a couple of early 80's JCM800s and wanted something different. It's louder than my Marshall JCM800 50 watt half stack and much less of a burden to haul around. I play Fender American Strats exclusively, and the combination of the Fulltone, the Keeley, and the TRRI is just tremendous. I've found what I've been looking for. Other than disliking the PCB aspect, I'm completely satisfied with this amp.

Bought the amp new in 1997 It is versatile enough for all the styles I play: blues, rock, pop, gospel, contemporary Christian, acoustic fingerpicking and strumming. 2 channels it has. I amost always only use the channel w/ the tremelo controls on it. Tremelo is great for adding a lot of emotion to a song. Used the "normal" channel for a vocal mic once...rehearsal...worked great along w/ the guitar playing. I use all the features on it all the time but it only has 2: tremelo and reverb! I've used this amp mainly in church playing worship music (20 years doing that). Also played the blues in bars with it. Has MORE than enough power. I rarely play it w/ volume beyond 2. Fender has 1 volume "LOUD!". I've played it up to 7. Some day I'll have to try it at 10. It's all tube and MAN! What a sweet sound this thing has.

I use this amp with 6 of my 7 guitars. 1 of them needs restoration. I got 2 Gibsons: a 1990 ES335 and 1976 Les Paul Custom, 2 Strats: 1976 Standard, 1994 Eric Clapton signature model, 2 acoustics: 1982 Takamine F360 w/ 1986 Seymour Duncan SA-1 removeable pickup, 2005 Esteban w/ built-in pickup. All my electric guitars have original stock pickups. I'm a lead guitarist, rock and blues mostly, but the past year or so been playing rhythmn in church..kinda boring, but kinda nice to be lazy..I like to really RIP and BURN whenever I can...on acoustic I fingerpick blues, folk, contemporary Christian. Have not yet driven this amp to distortion by overload. I use a Boss pedal for distortion which does the job for me..Sometime I should overdrive it and see what it does besides blow the sheetrock off the walls and frighten small animals. What I LOVE about this amp is the huge fatness and smoothness of the tone and sound. Unbelievable! I've never played another amp that had such a great sound. Other band members love this amp too. It has a sweet sound that only tubes can make and I think the Jensen speakers are a big factor in the sound. I have 5 other amps, 4 of them tube amps, one a 1990 Marshall JCM 800 model 2210, and the '65 Twin Reissue has the warmest, most appealing sound. It really has a world class sound quality.

This amp has been a solid rock. I've used it on many a gig for the 16 years I've owned it with no back up and no worries about needing a back up. It's never broken down but I may have had a tube or two replaced and that's just from regular use. I'm good to my amps, and they're good to me! When they need a tune-up, bring 'em to a good, qualified service technician and let him have at it. I am dismayed when I read about all the problems some other reviewers of this amp have had. Makes me wonder how I lucked out! Or maybe Fender has changed something about them or assembly in low quality factories has messed with the quality. Mine is a jewell!

The 5 Year Warranty expired in June 2002 and I don't think I ever had a warranty claim on it. It's never needed repairs, just a tube or 2 if anything. Normal use, a tube dies, you get a new one. No biggie.

I've been playing guitar for 42 years! Oi vey! That's a long time! I'm a songwriter and singer, play keyboards too! I got gear up the gazoo! It's more like what do I NOT have! Amplifiers: Marshalls: JCM 800 model 2210 full stack, 8080 Valvestate w/ Digitech GSP 2101 studio tube pre-amp, Fenders: '65 Twin Reissue, two 1976 Vibro-Champs, and just today bought a 1976 Princeton Reverb (can't wait to plug into that!), 1977 Yamaha 50-112 (hissy solid state monster which really sucks and which I haven't used for 15 years or so!), all the guitars noted above, speaker cabs: Marshalls: 4x12 model 1960A, 2x12 model 1936 w/ Greenbacks-fantastic sound, 1x12 model 1912, Seymour Duncan 4x12 (VERY nice!), Crate 8 channel P.A. amp (great sound), 1995 Soundtech BZE 12" P.A. speakers, 2 Shure SM58s, 1991 Yamaha MT100II 4 track cassette deck, 1996 DBX 262 compressor/limiter, etc. If this amp was stolen I'd be really mad, or if it were lost I'd be very sad. I'd get another one ASAP. I love everything about this amp except it weighs 65 pounds and is a bit of a bear to schlep around to gigs. I schlep it on wheels, but still have to lift and carry it on and offstage. When I have a roadie to do that, it will be a non-issue! Till then, it's my back...Compared to my other amps, it's my favorite. Compared to ALL other amps, I think only a Matchless might sound better. Maybe. I actually chose this amp because B.B. King uses or used to use an 85 watt Fender Twin. I thought 100 watts was too much, but really, this 85 watts can probably kill bugs flying in the vicinity if it's cranked up past 8. I really wish it had a "half power" switch and may have it modified for that some day. It's so dang loud, half power would be all you'd need except in the most extreme conditions. I'd recommend this amp to anyone. It's one of those "all around" amps you can use for anything, and the quality of the sound is sublime and amazing. In my opinion, of course!

paid 1049 $ im march 06 // for the other reviewer with break up at 6-7 vol. that is normal. how can you be in the same room with the volume that loud. blue label groove tubes break up faster.

Now, THIS AMP SUCKS IMO. mine is in the shop for the same problem again since march 06 . volume loss . now no sound. i had a deville 410 before and in 3 months of owning that he solder joints went out. before that a Blues Jr. volume fading in and out. sold the JR bought another one and been fine for over a year now though. the twins today sound nothing like the ones of yesterday. the devilles sound like the silverface twins to me at vol.on 2 on the deville imo. i tried one only once though. the 65TRRI sounds good at first then seems to get stale.

SUCKS as with most fender amps. im sure others too. the 65 twin reverb is made in mexico ive seen the PCB in mine. Mexico is stamped all over. the warrenty will cover the bill but when its fixed im trading it for another marshall period..

THE REPAIR PEOPLE ARE NICE WHERE I GO BUT IM THINKING THE GUY DID NOTHING THE FIRST TIME AROUND. HE SAID HE RESOLDERED EVERYTHING.( all while i went across the street to burgerking and back.) RIGHT !

30 years of ciggaretts, beer,and gigs. sold the 59 bassman because the loss of control with distortion pedals. the deville crapped out in 3 months and then sounded lifeless after it was fixed, my second BJ is ok 1 year + . now the my 65 twin broke twice in 3 months. my hot rod deluxe is 2 months old and fine but tired of living in fear so im trading that too before that breaks. im buying 2 pre 2000 marshall heads and 2 1960 cabs for my shows and only keeping the blues JR for practises.

Not many features.. just two clean tube channels.. one with reverb & vibrato

This amp has a very good clean tone.. However Im wondering if something is wrong with mine!?... These amps are supposed to be known for ultra clean headroom even at high volumes...

When I turn it up to 6-7 & hit the low E string on my Tele I get a slight overdriving sound (it almost sounded like speaker cone breakup)... So I took out the original Fender / Eminence speakers & ordered 2 big 150 watt honkers... Same sound... So I then used an external cab to make sure the buzz wasnt due to something loose inside the amp... same sound...

The tubes are supposed to be pretty fresh (less than 20hrs).. its got Fender/Groovetube 6L6's in it..

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THIS COULD BE?.. BECAUSE IM THINKING THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS AMP... at least not normal from what others are reporting.

Email me at asims@usxpress.com if you have helpful info!

Not sure, havent owned the amp very long.

I know this amp is supposed to be the be-all-end-all of clean country amps... it sounds GREAT below 5.. maybe I can sort out the problem with the bass distortion.

'05 TR-RI, same features as 40 years prior. Modeling is lame, this is not lame.

Uh, I play an 1985-or-so American Tele, stock pickups-->SIB Varidrive-->1970's Phase 100--->amp. It is deafeningly loud and clean, but not sterile clean; smooth and rich. I use the Varidrive as sort of a lead channel (it is more of a pre-amp and less of a stomp box), the old MXR is a bit noisy, but it sounds really lovely, so I won't complain. I play a wide variety of styles, which is exactly what most everyone says. Everything sound just like it is coming from a Tele through a Twin. To know it is to love it. Rock-type sounds come from the Varidrive. Also, the reverb is just wow. No other words, it is the reverb.

I had a silverface Twin. It didn't sound as good, but it also didn't ever break. I haven't had any issues (outside of the normal wear of parts) with any of the half-dozen or so Fender amps I've owned over the last 20 (oh my god) years. I am very gentle on my amps (now that I'm old anyway), so I don't see any catastrophe on the horizon.

eh, no clue. It is a ubiquitous and low-tech device, so I'd imagine not too difficult to have repaired. The is a five year warrenty, which is far longer than most lesser amps.

I have pretty much pared down my collection to what I use. I've had tons of things, as have most electric guitarists. Now I have my Tele (that I've always had), My newish Twin, and a few cheap acoustic instruments for the company to play with. I feel like I wasted lots of time and money, but that's easy to say when you find "it". The "10" rating here says "fantastic value" which I can't say is true or not, but I would probably call upon the hounds of hell (pretty brave for an atheist) to retrieve my Twin lest someone feel strong enough to run off with 65 pounds of elbow-destroying amplification.

the simple but usefull controls on this amp allow me to dial in a very perfect sound. i love what it has and dont need what it doesnt

2004 american strat, 1990 PRS, 2005 rick 330/12, santa cruz w/ sunrise PU....suits my music style perfectly because it sounds perfect without pedals and, with them. it is not noisy at all...especially compared to my DRRI. without my pedals, its nearly silent. perfectly clear pure sound, with a great warm tone all the way up. mine came with the white label groove tubes...i have read that these suck, but for now...im not tempted to change them. if i decide to not take this back to GT, i will replace them with a set from eurotubes.com and keep the stock ones as a spare set. so far, it sounds great at the volumes im playing at which is below 4....closer to 2.5 actually

I have a question...im tempted to take this back because it gets very hot. does your faceplate, specifically, the area near where "Twin Reverb Amp" is written get so hot that you can barely touch it?..even after 10 minutes? i have never had an amp that gets this hot. i had a twin reverb II head that got pretty hot but nothing at all like this. my deluxe reverb reissue gets hot, but not uncomfortably hot and this concerns me because it seems hot enough to melt plastic. i dont smell anything too alarming...but i do smell something and would expect to even at lower temperatures...i think

if this is a normal thing for a twin, please write to me. i would appreciate it/ srandallf@gmail.com / thanks...

i have no idea. never called them. never had a problem with a fender. i have had a twin reverb II head, deluxe reverb reissue, this twin, princeton chorus, princeston 65 or something..that sounded like dog crap... but no problems ever.

not sure yet. for pure tone its a 10. a perfect sounding amp for clean, loud warm tube tone.
i hate how heavy it is. a dolly and wheels are a must if gigging, for me at least. much prefer this to my deluxe reverb. its much more inspiring and useful. compared it to an AC-30 and it took me only a few minutes to realize which was far better...the Twin.
Wish it had an AC outlet on the back and came with wheels, though thats an easy fix.

Features listed before.
Basic nowdays, modern for their time.

I use a 57' Strat, a Burny Les Paul copy, and a Mexican Super Strat.
I bough the Twin because a ffriend of mine reccomended it for what I play, which is mostly blues, it fits the bill perfectly. I've gotten somehting of Eddie Van Halend Brown sound of it before with my Les Paul so it's quite versatile.


It is a quiet amp for a tube amp, I practice at 10 and the only noise I usally hear (besides a deffening roar of my guitar) are the single coils.


It has a beutiful clean sound. I play some Dire Straits (Down to the Waterline early suff.) and I can pick of the Knopfler tone at the right setting (2nd channel, 1st input, bright swith on, teble 7, mid 5, bass 6 volume about 5). I can a tone similar to Stevie Ray's Couldn't Stand the weather tone easily too. At about 6 or 7 it overdirves nicely, real smooth and rich; you also loosing your hearing for the most part.

I keep mine in garage, I have no studio or real place to keep this magnum of an amp. I've owned it for a year and taken it out to blues jams and the such quite a few times. It's also been slammed around a little bit but nothing too sever. Quite reliable by my stantards.

Never delt with Fender.

I've been playing for abuot 2 1/2 yrs. I listed my guitars above and the only other amp I own is a Vox Cambridge 30 Reverb. For effects I use a Ibanez TS9 reissue, EH Small Stone, and Vox V857(?) wah peadal.


I play mostly blues, funk, and classic rock. I play some Police stuff too, and can get and Andy Summers tone going on with this amp.

If it where stolen I would most likely get another one, these new Vox Ac15's are tempting though.

I love the sound and reliability of this amp. Abolutly fabulouse, gets the tone I want. Did mention the Lovely reverb? The Reverb is the best I've heard.

I've Compared my Twin to the Following: Fender 64' Deluxe reverb, Fender 65' Vibroverb, Fender 64' Vibrolux, 67' Super Reverb. This thing will stand up to those old amps in my opinion; only amps I prefer are old AC15's and Marshall JTM45's.

Overall a Great amp in my opinon, certainly try one out if you're looking for a good tube amp.