more super reverb questions

[saxophonist56]

how much difference is there between a 64 super reverb and say a 66 or 67 blackface super reverb? is there any? or is it just splitting hairs?

besides the obvious speaker differences say between ceramic and alnico, cts and jensens?

are there cts alnicos and jensen alnicos?

so many questions and so little knowledge! lol

[saxophonist56]

in a related question...

if a 65 super reverb has a new replacement output transformer, how does that affect the tone? i've been told it degrades the tone significantly but REALLY? and if it does really make a sonic difference why does it make a difference? or is it just a vintage gear collector who really cares about transformer serial numbers?

[jcs]

fortunately fender used schumacher trannys that arent that difficult to find.

i personally think its less of an issue if its a correct schumacher replacement,others will disagree with me.

as for speakers, the big issue is the 'condition' of the speakers imo.

i would be more concerned that the all the blue molded caps are in the circuit etc.

[soldano16]

if a 65 super reverb has a new replacement output transformer, how does that affect the tone?

My amp tech was Frank Marino's former tech. According to him, the output transformer is the soul of a vintage amp.

[saxophonist56]

My amp tech was Frank Marino's former tech. According to him, the output transformer is the soul of a vintage amp.


so what does that mean scientifically? why is the new one worse than the old one? does wire and iron core age like a fine wine or..... ???

[soldersucker]

I have 5 Supers a 64,66,72,73,and a 74 .Not much difference between the lot of them. Speakers and thier individual vioce/tubes and depending on individual component(resistors caps) drift make the biggest difference but wadda i know.

[saxophonist56]

I have 5 Supers a 64,66,72,73,and a 74 .Not much difference between the lot of them. Speakers and thier individual vioce/tubes and depending on individual component(resistors caps) drift make the biggest difference but wadda i know.


shite! i knew it. great info. gotta love it.



obviously soldersucker is in the catbird seat being able to a/b different years of the same amp at home@! i used to compare a bunch of selmer mkvi's and it's obvious that the old ones aren't always or even usually the best. i sold a near mint 1956 mkvi (very dumb move in retrospect) tenor ........it was a very lackluster horn even after fixing the leaks. the one ive got now is a 61 that was relaquered supposedly a bad thing.....best tenor i've played.....easy blowing and huge tone.

[JimmyR]

A good output tranny is a good output tranny, regardless of age IMHO. I guess it depends on what you use to replace what. IME "old" definitely does NOT necessarily always equal "good". It's a popular thing to say "the output transformer is the soul of an amp" but where amps are concerned I tend to be athiest. Not mojoist!

I think it's perfectly possible to make a great Super Reverb out of new parts if you choose wisely. Some older amps sound amazing, and sound that way partly because of age and partly because of age-related symptoms that could have equally caused it to sound like crap. Like component value drift, etc. I tend to prefer newer amps simply because I like the punchier, livelier tones that new parts can offer. But not everyone wants that so that's cool.

So yeah - find one that sounds good and don't sweat the numbers.

[MusicESP]

For convienence, I had my amp guy swap the output transformer of my 72' Super, for a Heyboyer with 8ohm and 4 ohm taps. Upon getting it home from the shop, I could immediately tell the difference. Where before, the Super was like a punch in the chest, it was now uhhh......less like a punch in the chest. It still sounds great. It still has the tone, but it lost some of the kick. Just a matter of time before I take it back and have the original put back in.

[saxophonist56]

i just a/b'd a 67 blackface and 70's silverface twin. not much comparison there. blackface soo much sweeter. not sure how much the speakers had to do with it.