Blackfacing a 71 Super reverb..Yes or No?

[pepperedmoth]

My friend just got a 71 Super Reverb. He wants to know
what the guys from the gearpage think. Should he blackface
it or not and why?

[BurgundyMist]

I like to keep amps the way they are, so NO. '71 Super Reverb is a great amp!

[Blue Strat]

Not unless there's something about it he doesn't like (which would be, what?) and definitely not until it's fully up to speed. Cap job and complete checkout, new tubes (if necessary) and speakers he likes.

The only "must do" is to convert the "bias balance" control to a "true bias" control and possibly to blackface the reverb driver circuit (which will make life easier for the reverb driver tube in V3).

[walterw]

if by "blackface" you mean put in a real bias circuit, lose the tone-killing bleeder caps on the power tubes, and the other little tweaks involved, then hell yeah.

changing faceplates and all that seems bogus to me, though.

[pepperedmoth]

Thanks for the replies guys. the amp has been recapped and retubed so it really does sound good! He is just thinking it might sound better if it is blackfaced and wanted to know what some folks on here think about that.

I personally think you can't go wrong leaving it the way it is or blackfacing. They sound great either way, but this guy wants to know what others have to say! haha

Thanks again for the replies fellows

[smolder]

Originally Posted by pepperedmoth

Thanks for the replies guys. the amp has been recapped and retubed so it really does sound good! He is just thinking it might sound better if it is blackfaced and wanted to know what some folks on here think about that.

I'd love to hear impressions of the tonal difference. I have not had the benefit of years or the chance to side-by-side or A/B the difference those resistor values in the PI and output section make (763-next circuit).

[pepperedmoth]

Originally Posted by smolder

I'd love to hear impressions of the tonal difference. I have not had the benefit of years or the chance to side-by-side or A/B the difference those resistor values in the PI and output section make (763-next circuit).

Well i have a 71 twin and had it blackfaced. it sounded warmer and was told by the amp tech that it would be tighter sounding than a real blackface twin reverb. I'm not sure if this would go the same for a super reverb or any other fender amp.

[Kurzman]

A buddy of mine has a fully serviced '74 SR. I don't think it would be possible to make it sound "better". If you want to make an amp sound "different" just change the speakers.
I love silverfaced, blackfaced, brownfaced and chromefaced Fenders.

[meterman]

I had a '71 SR with CTS alnicos for about 5 years, and had it BF'd about 3 years in. It was a great sounding amp before, and great sounding after. To be honest the difference was quite subtle with my amp, can't say I liked it any better or worse than before. If he's curious and got the money go for it, if not leave it be it's a great amp as is. I don't think CBS had done too much to mess them up yet by '71....

[Tuberattler]

I'd leave that one stock as they sound awesome stock, he won't regret it.

[LarryN]

Adjustable bias and maybe remove the extra stuff on the power tubes.