lower wattage, simplified Super Reverb: DR's power section?

[Pott]

I'm REALLY interested in building basically a simplified Super Reverb, less power, (around 25W will be more than enough), without the vibrato (but the same channel, if you see what I mean...) and still with the reverb.

Unfortunately in Europe we have very little in the way of kit so I'd most likely have to source it all myself from scratch. So I need a bit of help finalizing the project.

I'd probably be better off using 2 6V6s driven hard, a la Deluxe Reverb.

Question is, would a Deluxe Reverb head be pretty much what I'm looking for, or would a SuperR preamp be that much different with the DR's power section?

This summer I played a 67 SR and it sounded BEAUTIFUL on the vibrato channel (without vibrato though) and I've been obsessed with a blackface clean channel ever since. And I like building amps too :D

I could probably get a Bandmaster Reverb around here but these are around 1,400 for the cheapest I saw, which is way out of my immediate budget. If I do this on my own I could source the parts together.

Thanks a lot if you can help me, and yes I know of working inside amps a bit, I've built one before and worked on my own. Thanks!

[JubileeMan 2555]

Since most of these fenders you are mentioning are basically the exact same circuits minus speaker config. and changes and power sections, you might not be happy with the end-game.

A super reverb sounds like a super reverb because its got four 10" speakers and a 2x6l6 power section. Any change from that setup and it simply won't sound the same. Will it sound bad? Probably not... but a deluxe reverb is bascially the same as a super with the above changes... but you proabably like the super reverb for its bigger bottom end and thump given with the higher wattage.

[Blue Strat]

I'm REALLY interested in building basically a simplified Super Reverb, less power, (around 25W will be more than enough), without the vibrato (but the same channel, if you see what I mean...) and still with the reverb.

Unfortunately in Europe we have very little in the way of kit so I'd most likely have to source it all myself from scratch. So I need a bit of help finalizing the project.

I'd probably be better off using 2 6V6s driven hard, a la Deluxe Reverb.

Question is, would a Deluxe Reverb head be pretty much what I'm looking for, or would a SuperR preamp be that much different with the DR's power section?

This summer I played a 67 SR and it sounded BEAUTIFUL on the vibrato channel (without vibrato though) and I've been obsessed with a blackface clean channel ever since. And I like building amps too :D

I could probably get a Bandmaster Reverb around here but these are around 1,400 for the cheapest I saw, which is way out of my immediate budget. If I do this on my own I could source the parts together.

Thanks a lot if you can help me, and yes I know of working inside amps a bit, I've built one before and worked on my own. Thanks!

Yeah, a Super sounds like a Super due to that output power and speakers. What you're describing is EXACTLY a Deluxe Reverb which DOES NOT sound like a Super. They both sound great but very different.

With the US$$ being what it is you should be looking for an amp kit in the USA. There are plenty of both types available.

[Pott]

I've never played a Deluxe, and this Super was pretty much the only Fender I ever spent more than 5 minutes with... I couldn't tell the difference. Yes I LOVED the sound and the plan was to build a head and maybe a 210 further down the line, not sure yet. I totally see what you mean but I haven't though it this far basically.

What I loved about the super was that the basic clean tone I was using was unbelievably rich sounding, full of harmonics and while bright, didn't make a Tele's bridge pickup ear piercing or nasty sounding. It's that sound I fell in love with. So I guessed that with a decent speaker combination I'd get something close, or something at least I'd like, with a similar circuit... if you see what I mean...

I want a truly inspiring clean tone more than THE super sound basically.

[Pott]

Oh what kits? So far I looked at Weber and Ceriatone kits but I don't know of many others.

And so it looks like I'll be building a Deluxe Reverb then :D I could always get a 410 someday for the heck of it, who knows.

[Pott]

Ook... TAD kits are way too much, and Torres kits in the UK are too expensive too.

That leaves a SF DR or a DR kit. A kit from the US would be WAY cheaper than any SF deluxe reverb.

[Blue Strat]

Ook... TAD kits are way too much, and Torres kits in the UK are too expensive too.

That leaves a SF DR or a DR kit. A kit from the US would be WAY cheaper than any SF deluxe reverb.

Look at Allen Amplification kits and www.mojotone.com (http://www.mojotone.com) too.

See if you can find a Deluxe Reverb to try out before doing this. DR's aren't known for their cleans the way Supers are. I think you might be off the mark by thinking you want 6V6s and/or a DR.

[Pott]

So perhaps the SR IS the amp for me then? Thing is, it's probably way too loud for any gigs I'd hope to play.

I'm basically wanting an amp that's inspiring to play. Play it loud enough to get a hint of breakup, clean up with the guitar and just use a single boost pedal to get into lead. For Blues and rock basically.


Both these brands are way too expensive for me as well... for maybe 200 bucks more I could get a SF here in the UK.

[JubileeMan 2555]

So perhaps the SR IS the amp for me then? Thing is, it's probably way too loud for any gigs I'd hope to play.

I'm basically wanting an amp that's inspiring to play. Play it loud enough to get a hint of breakup, clean up with the guitar and just use a single boost pedal to get into lead. For Blues and rock basically.


Both these brands are way too expensive for me as well... for maybe 200 bucks more I could get a SF here in the UK.

You, sir, Just described the grand battle EVERY one of us here a the Gear Page has been struggling with since the beginning of time. good luck! HEHE;)

[Pott]

DOH! Well if I find a solution other than Super + attenuator I'll let y'all know :D


Thanks for the help everybody. It seems that all kits aside from Weber's (whose kits I haven't heard only great things from :() are way too expensive for me, so are Silverfaces. This is perhaps just a dream that won't come true anytime soon.. :(

[GearHeadFred]

I built the Weber 6A40 head kit. This is a AB763 Super Reverb. I can swap in 6V6s and a 5U4 regulator to get the deluxe vibe, or go with GZ34 and 6L6s to get the Super thing.. I also have 2 cabs: A 2x12 and a 4x10, so I really have a lot of options..

That said, I do still use a hotplate to dial-down the volume at most clubs.

[Pott]

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_60a.htm#6A20H

I was considering this a while ago. I could always upgrade the caps and OT later on (as I heard these may be the weaker points) and it's a CHEAP kit, a third or quarter of a SF amp.

For the cab I was thinking of a single Alnico gold speaker. Or maybe something classic Fender, who knows. Not the main thing right now.

What I'm wondering is, CAN you use a rectifier tube, instead of those substitute modules?

[Rosewood]

I would try a set of JJ 6v6's first to see if it gave you the feel and sound you're looking for.

[Pott]

I just happen to have 2 spare sets of JJs AND another random pair that are still working :D Plus another matched pair that I barely used in my old Laney AOR 30. :D

And it appears you can use a rectifier tube. Weber kit it will be I guess!

[GearHeadFred]

What I'm wondering is, CAN you use a rectifier tube, instead of those substitute modules?

Yes - you can wire the socket to accept either a CopperCap or a tube rectifier.

I found the quality very good on 98% of the components in the Weber kit. I only upgraded a few minor items such as the AC Power receptacle, tube clamps, etc.

I had my kit side-by-side with my buddy's vintage 65 Super Reverb last week.... Very very very close in tone!

[soldersucker]

I found a 74 Bandmaster reverb last week and plan on putting it in a 1x12 cab.After blackfacing it i ran it through a deluxe reverb cab and it sounded somewhat like what you describe.1400?! sound steep they are 400 ish around here,after e-baying the cab ,footswitch,logo etc a 199.99 JD Newwell cab is almost free.What they are saying is true a Super is an animal unto itself with the 2 0hm 4x10 thing happening.I have 4 Super's so i have fun making these amp's that Leo never did.ie. a 40 watt 1x12 AB763.

[Pott]

Yeah in the UK some of those non reverb heads hit the 700 pounds mark, which is 1,400 USD. They get more expensive with state of course. The Bandmasters are still amongst the cheaper ones but still a lot.

[soldersucker]

That sucks stuff here in Canada is reletively inexpensive.A good friend from Scotland visits here and i send him back with gifts for his guitar playing son 200.00 Mex strats and various pedals here and there he is thrilled every time!

[Pott]

Yeah they are... but it's still cheap compared to the rest of our stuff.

I played a SF Twin Reverb today, had a master volume. Didn't sound bad, but it wasn't exactly what I'd hoped for. For some reason that band practice place has got loads of SF/BF and reissues amps. I saw a '63 vibroverb reissue in sorry state and the room we were using had that Twin Reverb and a Fender Concert (no idea what it is. Had a 410 complement of speakers and a bunch of push pull buttons. Rivera era?)

[JimmyR]

I'm not sure what a TAD kit is - do you mean Mojotone? The Mojo kits look to be pretty good. I wouldn't use the OD caps in them, but apart from that the parts look good. I would buy the kit without speakers as Ted Weber's speakers are fantastic for that kind of amp.

Another option which I tried once was to buy a used SRRI from the US (I'm in Australia) which was very affordable, even with shipping. I then rebuilt a fair bit of it - purely because I could! I had to replace the P/T for 240V but that's not a huge expense if you can do it yourself. It's pretty easy. And I built it as per original spec except I used a bias-vary trem instead of roach trem. Sounded heaps better.

[Pott]

Tube Amp Doctor here in Europe. A full kit is 1,000 euros, which is around 1,500 dollars I think.