Fender Super Reverb Silver Face

Larry Haas · From: Morganton, North Carolina USA

I was just recently given a Fender Super Reverb with the silver face front. A year ago, I heard this amp work but didn't play with it at the time. After finding what I think is the schematic and wiring diagram for it, I started looking it over real good before looking inside at the component and wiring. I did notice that the cord has been changed to a 3 wire cord and the Acc. recpt. also has been changed to 3 wire. While trying to find numbers to go by to date this amp, I noticed the transformer has been replaced with one that said tested in 2003. I haven't turned it on yet and was wondering if I should bring the power up slowly by way of the light bulb variac??? first. It has a 2 amp fuse in it and the power rating is 1.5 amps. The face on the back is black and it has the ground switch on the back but I don't know if the switch has been bypassed with the updated parts unless I open it up. I am a little confused about the ground switch when it had the 2 wire cord. All I can see is that it switched one leg or the other through a capacitor to the chassis ground. Was this a safety thing years ago so you wouldn't get bit since this was a non polarized plug. If you got bit then flip the switch to the other leg????
Also, what size bulb should I use to start with. 15, 30, 60 watt. Since it is 1.5 amps, after putting a 100 watt bulb in the line, give it full power after that. I can leave the bulb in series with the line for any length of time as needed to reform the caps since I am retired and can watch it.
I have some deoxit that I would like to use on the pots but won't do that until I have tested it out first.
Other than a piece of one of the knobs on front is broken off and a missing red cover for the power light and one bright switch broken off on the normal side it doesn't look too bad. I am a little concerned about the speaker cones being dried out.If they are, is there something that can be sprayed on them or other means to make them a little more flexable???? I guess I won't know much else until I try it out. It does have the reverb and vibrato pedal with it also.
Any advise will be appreciated since I would like to use it only at home . It is way to heavy to try to take it out and play with.

Thanks for any advise offered.
Richard

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

An interesting post, Larry, is there any reason to expect that this amp will not power up properly? Unless there is I see no need for variac action, in fact too low a voltage over too long a time can mess things up that were fine to start with due to the potential increase in current - bear in mind that "if it ain't broke we can fix that too!"

While the grounded (three-pin) power plug may not be the original one the silver face line of Fender amps was built after the NEC required grounding plugs and receptacles in all new equipment and as such this is not a modification. The ground switch is simply a phase-reverse on the AC supply to the transformer, no different than the early two-pin circuits. Bear in mind that the "ZAP!" when touching a microphone can be worse with a grounded chassis than the early two-pin system due to the fact that regardless of AC phase the holder of the guitar is a GUARANTEED path to electrical ground (unless you put a ground lift on the plug, which raises other safety issues), in any case there's no definitive win in these matters, we take them one case at a time.

I am not sure what your concern about "speaker cones being dried out" is as it would be a wet speaker cone that would be a problem, dry is good. If there are no tears in the cone or surround and the voice coil is good you should be golden. With a foam-surround speaker there might be some concern about the condition of the surround due to dust mites (who absolutely love the taste of the moistening oil used in the foam) but to my knowledge such speakers were never used by Fender in their Twin Reverb amps.

It sounds to me like you have a few knobs and switches to replace if you want to restore it but othere than that I would say "just turn it on and make some noise!"

Colin Mclean · From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Do you know what year your amp is? What are the numbers on the other transformers? Specifically the numbers that start with 606-xxx? Does it have a pull boost on the volume knob? That will help you figure out exactly which schematic you need. I believe Fender started installing 3 prong plugs and receptacles at the factory sometime in the mid 70's.

As for the ground switch, I would leave it in the middle position or take it out of the circuit altogether. If the electrolytic caps are original or more than 10-15 years old I would just replace them.

Larry Haas · From: Morganton, North Carolina USA

Thanks Dave, My only concern was with age of the cones and drying out, but there doesn't seem to be any tears or holes in them looking from the rear.

Thanks Colin, The smallest transformer has # 606-2-15 and the one beside the power transformer has # 606-2-31 on it. The big one in the middle of the amp doesn't have anything but FENDER stamped on both sides on the cover lip.

Since I have heard this amp used for a little bit a year ago, I am going to turn it on and let the tubes warm up good, then throw the standby switch on. If no big boom occurs then I'll hook my steel up to it and GO-FOR-IT.

Thanks
Richard

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Bring the amp to a tech that knows these amps. A 30 minute evaluation can answer all your questions by someone who knows these amps. If there is a problem with the power supply, powering it up slowly will still cause damage when it reaches it's power point. I guess the better question to ask would be, why would you turn it on if you are not certain what you have in front of you ?

t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Larry Haas · From: Morganton, North Carolina USA

Well I turned the power on and let the filaments heat up for about 1/2 hour. Hooked my bass up first and turned the standby switch on and it worked GREAT. Then I hooked my steel up without the RV-3 and I couldn't believe the sound from this amp. It totally blew my mind. Playing with the bass,middle,and treble setups, I found a very good sound. Then I adjusted the reverb,speed and intensity and pushed the foot switch on and did it make this steel sound great. I'll try the RV-3 next and really get some tone out of it.
This just tickles me crazy since the amp was just given to me. This amp has such a mellow sound it really makes me very happy. With the volume turned all the way down, it has just a tad of noise but nothing that makes me worry about for now. It isn't a hiss or rumble but just a slight noise.
With what I have heard so far, it looks like a good amp to restore. There are a few very minor tears and rubs on the tolex and 1 knob needs replacing along with the lamp cover and a bright switch replacement.
When I can finally calm down from being so excited from the sound I am getting, I honestly think it will make me be able to learn more quickly on playing instead of what it is sounding like.
All of the pots work good without any scratchy noise but I think I'll start looking into replacing the caps if they look like they haven't been replaced before. I don't know the past history of the amp other than it was given to me by a musical friend and know it was used at a country music club that has since closed down. The person that used it was a steel player that is now SK.
This amp is so heavy that being my age and physical ability, it won't be taken out of my home setting. I have a small Peavey practice amp that I have been using, so after hearing this amp it looks like I'll be in the market looking for a better lighter amp to carry with me. Our group only plays about once a month but it looks like we will be playing more often this year.

Any suggestions on a good amp for gigs would be appreciated. I am thinking maybe a split system since it can be carried around seperatly but I'm up for any suggestions. Very Happy

Thanks
Richard

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Excellent!!!

You could always put casters and a cover on it and roll it to your gig Smile

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

glad it worked out for you, they are awesome amps... at some point though, it would be wise to have it looked at, the very least have the chassis evaluated so you know what you have. These are very easy amps to bring back to real rugged and reliable condition.

enjoy

t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Get Rick Johnson to make you some split cabs. His prices are very reasonable, and his work is wonderful! Here's my Quad Reverb with his cabs. A 15" JBL in the bottom. Easy to carry!

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