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Asking because actually, Twins aren't expensive second hand - you'll pay no more for one than a Deluxe Reverb in the same sort of condition, and possibly less - people are put off by the size, weight and the idea of having 'too much power' - although this is wrong really, since they have a good volume control taper and sound great at very low volume as well as up loud.
But they are a pain to carry anywhere. They're actually not *that* heavy - although some of the 70s models are, there are still quite a few heavier amps - but they are a slightly awkward shape and not very well balanced, and don't have end handles so can't easily be carried by two people. You can get wheels for them - the sockets are fitted as stock - but it doesn't help much with stairs or getting one into a car.
The Traynor is actually heavier than a Twin as well.
Something you might not have come across yet is a Mesa F-50 - it's an old model now but not impossible to find second hand, and doesn't sell for much by Mesa standards - probably no more than a second hand Twin reissue. The clean channel is unusually 'Fendery' for a Mesa, and the overdrive channel is obviously a Mesa. It's a 1x12" combo and not too heavy for a Mesa either. (The even smaller F-30 is nowhere near as Fender-like unfortunately.)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2322090.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC1.A0.H0.Xrivera+amp.TRS0&_nkw=rivera+amp&_sacat=0
you wont get gain unless you buy a twin amp/the twin.
But you're young and strong .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/123815/bargain-fs-1981-fender-75-handwired-1-x-15-combo-400-no-offers/
Buy it, and put @voxmanjohn out of his misery!
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
R.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
At the end of the day I wouldn't worry about copying the amp exactly - anything which gives a Fender Blackface/Silverface clean sound will get you into the right ballpark, and after that the guitar, effects and how you set everything is more important.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The Hotrod is also notorious for having a very steep volume taper - basically off to too-loud in about a hair-width turn of the volume control - but don't let that put you off because it's easily cured with a small, cheap gadget which you put in the FX loop and which essentially becomes a second master volume that works on both channels.
The problem you may find with the Hotrod for what you want to do is that if you want to use the amp's overdrive channel, the EQ is shared between both channels. To get the Twin sound on the clean channel, you will need bass and treble high and mid low - but to get more of a Mesa-like sound on the drive channel, the other way round. However, a lot of people use Hotrods purely for the clean sound, with pedals for overdrive. You might also be able to get closer to the Mesa on the drive channel with your Maxon, which is a very mid-heavy pedal.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
have you looked at any princeton reverb reissues?
these can be had for around your budget second hand and would be a better fit volume wise for a primarily home-use amp.
I used to rehearse with a Twin in Manchester that had 'Roses' stencilled on the flightcase. It certainly didn't sound like John Squire's sound, that could be the reason why.
I remember it being very clean and a bit sterile, but I was used to small dynamic combos at the time and didn't know how to get a good sound with a twin.
The using the reverb driver circuit to add overdrive idea was also used in three production Fender amps - the Fender 75 mentioned above, and the Super Champ and Princeton Reverb II of the Rivera series - but not any other amps from that series, or any other Rivera amp. (The pull-boost circuit on 70s Twins is a very primitive version of it but doesn't sound good.)
The Super Champ is rather rare and expensive nowadays and doesn't have the depth of tone either, although it's very small and neat. (I've owned four of them .) The Princeton Reverb II is less expensive, although also quite rare, and is a reasonable size and weight but surprisingly loud if you want it to be. The 75 is big and heavy, but has a fantastic depth of tone.
I don't think any of them will actually give you that sound at very low volume though, they're a bit dry and raspy until they're turned up a bit.
For what it's worth, the modern Super Champ XD/X2 is nothing like the original, but might actually be quite a good choice for a home-use approximation...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein