Fender Super Reverb

Dennis Bonfiglio · From: Mullica Twp. NJ

Has anyone used a Fender Super Reverb? I'm finally starting to get the hang of playin ( I consider myself intermediate) but sitll not happy with the sound. I've been using a 68 Fender Super Reverb that I purchased new when I was a kid. Is it time to sell it for a Peavey?
thks, dennis

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Dennis,I've done some really stupid trades in my life...Keep the Super Reverb and save up for the Peavey if at all possible.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Mitch Adelman · From: Pennsylvania, USA

I traded a 68 Super Reverb too, years ago. I got it new back when I was a kid and I kick myself for doing that.One of the best guitar amps of all time and valuable! Keep it and do what Stu says!A Peavey 112 is affordable!

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Maybe use the Super Reverb to power another speaker configuration. I sometimes use a 1968 Super Reverb with a 15" Altec or JBL and it sounds real good. I would keep the Super too.

Dave

Dennis Bonfiglio · From: Mullica Twp. NJ

Thks Stu, I really don't want to sell it as there is some sentimental value to me. My daddy who really couldn't afford it at the time bought it for my 16th b-day and he is no longer with us. The amp is absolutely mint condition too. Maybe I can try some different effects with it. Currently using digital delay with newer version LDG.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i used a super for years. they'll work. you can sit on them too!

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

You can always find a Peavey for cheap....not so with a Super Reverb. Don't ever sell it.

Dennis Bonfiglio · From: Mullica Twp. NJ

You guys are all so right. Its not like I'm broke although a few extra bucks are always welcome! Yeah, I think I'll keep her and look for a used Peavey. You can never have too much equipment or guitars, right?
thks guys

Brick Spieth · From: San Jose, California, USA

Even though your amp looks mint, give it a checkup. Might just need some new caps. I also agree to maybe getting a 15" speaker cab. Don't ever sell it.

Jon Hyde · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

A super isn't the right amp for every gig but I use one a lot. Used one at my gig just last night - sounds cool!

Here's another conversation on this very subject...

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=138660

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Dennis, as previously mentioned there's an important question - have you ever had the amp serviced? If not, the filter capacitors are about 20 years past their safe life expectancy, and weak caps can lose you a ton of headroom (meaning it'll break up early). At this point in its life it should have had TWO complete "30,000 mile" service jobs - caps, tubes checked, replaced if necessary and bias set for best tone for how YOU want it to sound; speakers checked carefully - depending on what type they are they have likely lost about 25% of their efficiency. You might (especially for clean steel) want to remove the original speakers and store them, and get some cleaner, tighter speakers - the Weber California series is a good one that's not expensive.

But I can absolutely guarantee if you have never had the amp serviced 1) it's not getting the best sound it could, and 2) you are sitting on a time bomb - if one of the filter caps blows, it can take out one of the transformers...a VERY expensive repair that will also severely devalue the amp as a collector's piece.

Also, as a '68, it could be one of several circuits. There are often improvements that can be made that are reversible should you ever decide to sell it. If it's actually a '68 it should have aluminum trim around the grill cloth; if you post the serial number we can check it against the Fender amp database and verify the actual year (many assumed '68's are actually '67's and have blackface circuits...and are much more highly prized).

At any rate feel free to email if you need more info on service...and I'd suggest getting it up to speed and set up for steel...it's a great amp!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Dennis Bonfiglio · From: Mullica Twp. NJ

thks all for responding, I guess I should learn how to search the archives as I now see this tread was discussed last month. Jim, I've never done anything to this amp except replace a couple of tubes, one last month. (the rectifier) I never knew all this stuff I should be doing. Haven't changed the oil either (joke).
It may just be a 67 in disguise as I may have received it Christmas of 67 which means the early 68's would have been out. Here's the serial number A 34171.
dennis

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Dennis it's a very late 1968 - so it IS somewhat of a collectible amp, but also is likely one of the CBS engineering circuits, which really fouled the amps for guitar players. the changes really affected the tone and increased headroom - which means while it could be a crappy guitar amp, it might be a GREAT steel amp!

I answered your email with service info - basically if you have decent electronics experience it's something you can do - if not, you can kill yourself just opening the chassis - the capacitors store enough juice to kill you long after the amp has been turned off and unplugged...sometimes MONTHS later! So if you are not electronics-savvy I do not even suggest *looking* at the inside of the amp wiring - touch one wrong thing and you'll get knocked across the room, if not killed. I'm very serious about this - it has happened too many times to take lightly (I've been nailed twice, and once it took 2 days to get full feeling back in my arm. Every experienced tech I know has been popped twice - but that's all. Once from inexperience, the second from a stupid mistake...hence rarely a third time!)

Regardless, the amp definitely needs to be serviced. I'd be a little scared to play it myself - as I said, those caps are WAY over their life expectancy - some say 20 years max, but most now figure 10 years is a safer number. One could blow at any time, even with the amp just plugged in and turned on with nobody playing; and if it happens the chances of more parts being taken out with a cap are very high. If you have to have the work done by a tech, a full cap job (filters and bias cap, plus any leaky bypass caps, which are a less common problem, output tube replacement, bias circuit rewiring and bias adjustment) it should be in the $200 - $300 range...higher depending on what tubes you get.

I'd do that work first and see how it sounds...if it breaks up *more* after servicing, it probably means you had lost a lot of power due to parts age and the speakers could handle it, but with "as new" electronics the speakers might show their age. Then you get into the speaker replacement I mentioned, which might be another $350-400. This all sounds like a lot of money - but if that amp has never been modified and you've kept it in nice shape, it's value to an amp collector could be up to $1500 or so - so it's worth doing the work.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

seems like you might do well to put it in the closet, take the $300 and buy a good used peavey amp, use it to play and make money for awhile and then restore your super. then sell it for $1500 'cause by then you'll realize the peavey does the job your looking for.

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

I agree with Chris. Don't sell the Super Reverb (unless to me). They are great amps, but not suited for PSG in my opinion. I own a 68 and a 70. I actually prefer the CBS modifications up to 71.
My 1970 super is a great Tele amp. Save a little money and buy a Peavey amp for PSG. I have a Session 500, Fender Vibrosonic reverb, and a Mesa Boogie 15 that I alternate for PSG, but clean is what it is all about for PSG. I have always regreted things I sold without taking time to consider.
Lefty

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Jim Sliff tells the truth, service that amp, and while you are at it, you can actually voice it better for steel.

I also agree, the "buy a Peavey" deal is only a magic bullet for SOME players. I myself LOVE my fender tube tone. You already have a fine steel amp, if you set it up that way. And there are hords of threads to be found through the search system, especially in the old forum archives. Believe it or not, I did find a Peavey that I actually like--the LTD 400 and the Session 400--the old versions. But they are still second to my Fender Twin. Laughing

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

it's a personal preference i suppose. but i played an emmons and sho-bud through a super for ten years, then scored an LTD 400 peavey and instantly things got better. much more centered. i still play that amp today with my zum. never could get comfortable with any tube fender type amps after that in a barroom or concert stage battlefield. jim likes sneaky pete, but personally, i never liked his tone or style compared to emmons, rugg, jernigan, myrick and others. it's all personal preference. nashville 400's, 112's and ltd 400's , sessions etc. can be found in the 300 dollar range and are great for my playing of which i've done professionally for close to 40 years now. it's all a matter of finding what works for you!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i just meant that tone , style, and equpment are all personal preferrence..whatever makes you comfortable is fine...nothing personal, jim!

peavey stuff is very affordable and usable.

and really cool expensive sought after gotta have it fender and otherwise stuff is not necessary to me.

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

As often happens, we're getting into each other's
personal biases. It's a good thing to express equipment preferences, as long as Dennis realizes

1)there's no holy grail
2)suggestions for particular gear can give you a place to start, but
3)ultimately you need to think of your own needs per
your own playing style and preferences, and, finally,
4)use your ears!(you may still be confused, but trust
yourself, and your ears will at least tell you what you don't like...)

Regardless, a 1968 Super Reverb is a valuable piece of gear that bears going through (Jim's detailed instructions for servicing/setup pretty much nails
what you need to do, to keep that Super working, weather or not you decide to keep it).

Some players like both Fender and Peavey amps, so
that may tell you something as well. Smile

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

"One dimesional perception" isn't that what makes each players sound unique? Jim this is not a debate about which equiptment and sound is correct, as that is subjective. A Peavey is just an affortable example of one section of the tonal spectrum (clean end).
My experience with low power Fender amps in a band setting tells me that they did not work for me due to the low clean headroom, but everyone has a sound in there head they strive for.
Even players sound preferences change over time. The type of music and band sound level have a lot to do with equipment choices as well as you stated. I have used my Mesa Reissue for some venus because of its warm sultry sound at medium-low volume.
Lefty

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I was commenting on Chris's comment, Lefty...which he tried to unsuccessfully backpedal out of.

Dennis already has the amp and it's a type that's perfectly usable if set up properly.

And no, Lefty - "one dimensional" is what makes clones.

Your experience with Fender amps and low headroom simply means they were not set up properly for clean steel. I can and have (but usually don't) set up my Deluxe Reverb or Pro Reverb so I can crank them to "10" and still play fairly clean...it's in knowing HOW to work with your equipment.

OTOH, you can't take a Nashville 400 and dial in a warm distortion tone. It's a far more limited amp - great for clean country players, but not for everyone.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

My first steel amp was a Black Face '63 Super Reverb but thought I needed a Peavey LTD 400. Sold the Fender too cheap and missed that warm sound of the Super Reverb. Playing C6 really honked through the Fender. Wish I had it back.

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

I would say that the fingers are what make the player, not the tone. Good tone is a wondeful thing though. Jim if you can make a low powered Fender play clean on 10 you have really done something, but I have never seen it in my 40+ years of playing.
I have never seen a steel player using a super reverb either, but I guess it is possible.
Not for my taste preference, however.
Lefty

Forum Index > Electronics	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic