Fender Stratocaster &
Fender Twin Reverb
While the Twin Reverb technically has more
power than the Bassman (running at 85
watts rather than 50), it’s arguably better
known for its low-volume sweetness. Where
the Bassman is bright, the Twin Reverb is
best when it’s warm and bassy, getting a
crystal-clear chime few amps can emulate.
The iconic spring reverb is second to none,
and the separate Vibrato channel allowed
players to either add some warble or simply
thicken up their sound when rolling the
Rate knob back.
The legendary Stratocaster would come
out two years later and it would be a match
made in heaven. Adding more pickups,
more tone controls, and a whammy bar,
Fender marketed the Stratocaster on its
diversity, and the most famous guitarists of
the day would show that off
to the world. The ‘50s had
the tender pop rock of Buddy
Holly, the early ‘60s would
have the furious surf-stylings
of Dick Dale, the late ‘60s
would have the psychedelic
fuzz blues of Jimi Hendrix,
and the ‘70s would have
prog-rock gods like David
Gilmour. With the different
effects and playing styles
all mentioned artists would
have, there was little the
Stratocaster and Twin Reverb
couldn’t do.
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TONE TALK //
5 Legendary Guitar and Amp Combinations Throughout History