Fender Twin Reverb '68 CustomFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 51 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment37%
PROS 37%
CONS 63%

Rank based on 51 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want big, loud, classic Fender clean tone with lush reverb and vibrato for stage or recording
  • You're willing to have a tech address noise floor and channel-mixing issues for a 'bulletproofed' amp
  • You play hard rock or need extra punch and bottom end from the Bassman-style normal channel

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need a quiet amp straight out of the box without tech modifications
  • You play mainly at home and don't need the Twin's high volume headroom
  • You want vintage-level reliability without servicing a modern reissue

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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1Mid
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Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendly
Tube-like tone and feel
Excellent clean channel
Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules
Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel
No included footswitch
2Premium
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatility
Great cleanup via guitar volume
Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage
Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some
Price relative to alternatives
Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Best value
3Mid
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatility
Great with pedals / clean platform
Long-term keeper amp
Cleans not its strongest suit
Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box
Stock preamp tubes considered weak
4Mid
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound quality
Good speaker pairing versatility
HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience
AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue
DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs
Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
5Budget
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its size
TonePrint effects built in
Clean, full, realistic tone
Always-lit tuner display
Insufficient power for loud full bands
Single effect slot limitation
6Premium
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain tone
Built-in CabClone IR / direct out
Build quality and versatility praised by owners
High price
Missing third channel and solo boost
No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
7Mid
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphones
Compact, high-quality build
Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality
Early sound-mode switching bug
Limited single-ended power for some planars
Not fully wireless
8Premium
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatility
Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment
Smooth, musical high-gain distortion
High price
Overwhelming number of options
Some find it too polished or lacking rawness
9Mid
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
10Mid
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platform
Lush onboard chorus
Exceptional clean tone
Background hiss/hum
Weak onboard distortion
Some pedals don't pair well
You are here
31Mid
Fender Twin Reverb '68 Custom
Fixable with modest tech investmentExcellent clean tone and headroomTrouble-free for some long-term ownersHigh noise floor / hissCheap components / build quality concernsPoor reverb/tremolo channel-sharing design
Fender Twin Reverb '68 Custom
Fixable with modest tech investment
Excellent clean tone and headroom
Trouble-free for some long-term owners
High noise floor / hiss
Cheap components / build quality concerns
Poor reverb/tremolo channel-sharing design

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Tone and headroom win people over immediately. Multiple commenters call it one of the best clean tube amp sounds, citing gorgeous reverb, vibrato, and huge headroom on both channels. The Bassman-style tone stack on the normal channel gives it more punch and low end than the '65 Reissue, appealing to both clean players and hard rock users pushing pedals. Owners with JBL speakers or well-set-up units report the amp running dead quiet and sounding heavenly, showing the design's potential when everything is right.

A high noise floor is the amp's most repeated complaint. Dozens of commenters describe hiss, crackle, pops, and thump, especially when reverb or tremolo are engaged, with several calling it unbearable or maddening even with no instrument plugged in. Many trace this to Fender routing reverb and vibrato across both channels instead of just one, plus cheap capacitors and EU-spec optocoupler substitutions. The consensus is that it's a widespread, known design flaw rather than isolated defective units.

Fixable, but often requires tech work and money. Owners report success disabling the unused channel, swapping preamp/reverb-driver tubes, upgrading capacitors, correcting negative feedback, or restoring the original optocoupler, usually costing well under 200 dollars locally. Several recommend consulting Psionic Audio's teardown videos for a full mod list. Some frustrated buyers instead returned the amp or switched to alternatives like the Tonemaster Twin, vintage silverface units, or handwired clones for better out-of-box reliability.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?