Got new amp -Super reverb questions

[squeally dan]

Got my 1970 super today. Its in great shape for being that old. Sounds good. Sounds simmilar to my deluxe but with more woof and better low end.

I'm curious if anyone can share their eq settings. Also, any tubes suggestions to bring out the best in the beast? Anyone blackface their super?

[Zuper]

Hey Dan- Are you playing singles or HBs?

[esoteric pete]

whatever you do, dont ever run the bass above 3.

definately turn the volume up to 7 though.

[ozspawn]

I've got a '72 Super Reverb. I only use the vibrato channel. I always run mine: Treble: 10; Middle: 10; Bass: 0; Reverb: 3. I've had it blackfaced. I don't know if that improved it because I had the CTS alnicos reconed at the same time. Apparently, the CTS alnico 10" speakers commonly need a recone. The cones sink in toward the frame. That's what happened to mine. I also disconnected the vibrato, split the cathodes, reversed the octal fils, and put in Mullard pre amp tubes and RCA output tubes. It is so very, very loud I have difficulty finding a time/place to play it.

Hope you enjoy yours.

[squeally dan]

Curret tubes from left to right

Rectifier: RCA
Power; ARS 5881/6L6WGC x2
RCA 12AT7
RCA 12 AX7A
RCA 7025
RCA 12 AT7
RCA 7025
RCA 7025

[squeally dan]

One question: Shouldn't this amp be a good bit louder than my deluxe reverb when at the same volume number?

[EndOfSystem]

I've got a 67, I've had mods done to it to have it a bit more 'silver-faced', I wouldn't blackface it. It probably needs a going over, caps,.. etc. I'm also using a diod for recto, no tube. Very tight at volume. It roars just one step behind a vintage Marshall. Another thread was talking about Jimmy Page tone. My first thought was, my goldtop and my super dimed. Straight in. t-8, m-5, b-4.

The EQ on a super is going to change output. I've had mine voiced so I can use the bass and the tone won't fall apart above 7. I've also got 65 watt carvin vintage 10's in it.

If I'm using my Strat and I want to be LOUD,.. tr 8-10 / mid 5 / bass 8/ bright switch on. But again, mines voiced differently than most. (most blackfaces that is) Keep it silverfaced, it will sound better loud. Have a tech go over it. If you have a tech who (really) knows supers he can set you up with a dream amp.

My 2 cents.

EOS

[squeally dan]

The amp sounds good but its not as loud as my deluxe at the same volume. That can't be right could it? Could that be from old tubes? Its very quiet so I thought the tubes were fine. I have the amp volume on 4 with my RC engaged to bump it up and I just thought it would be louder at that volume.

[shngn7]

For hb's on the normal channel I like treble 6 and bass 4-5 with bright switch on. For sc's I do pretty much the same but fluctuate the bass between 4-6 usually. For the vibrato channel I like treble 6, middle 6-10 and bass 4 with the bright switch on. I usually keep my vibrato channel this way with both sc's and hb's and adjust the mids accordingly.

And for squeally dan, based on my experience there is not a very big volume difference between a 22 watter and a 40 watter (or 45 depending on the model). More about the head room.
40 watts is 94% as loud as 50 watts.
30 watts is 86% as loud as 50 watts.
25 watts is 81% as loud as 50 watts.
22 watts is 78% as loud as 50 watts.
20 watts is 76% as loud as 50 watts.
etc.

[stratzrus]

Originally Posted by squeally dan

The amp sounds good but its not as loud as my deluxe at the same volume. That can't be right could it? Could that be from old tubes? Its very quiet so I thought the tubes were fine. I have the amp volume on 4 with my RC engaged to bump it up and I just thought it would be louder at that volume.

I'm not really sure, but I can check mine against my DR this weekend.

One thing for sure is that it should have more headroom (stay clean at a louder volume) and it certainly should have more volume when cranked. It may need a new set of power tubes if the ones in there are old.

[woof*]

Originally Posted by squeally dan

The amp sounds good but its not as loud as my deluxe at the same volume. That can't be right could it? Could that be from old tubes? Its very quiet so I thought the tubes were fine. I have the amp volume on 4 with my RC engaged to bump it up and I just thought it would be louder at that volume.

yes something is wrong..
a super is a very loud amp! ive never had a deluxe that could get over a drummer(for me).
it could be several things, but it would be best to take it to a tech for recap and tubes.
i can't say enough good things about ron veil (Uncle Spot) you just ship him the untubed chassis. he's very fast and fair priced and does work on fenders for many top shelf players.
i think the last super i sent him from dallas was back on my doorstep in 7 days.
http://www.unclespot.com/amps.html

[hunter]

The tapers in Fender volume pots vary. A different volume at the same number setting probably means nothing. If the volume pot (and your amp) is functioning normally you will be able to turn it up to a volume with clarity the Deluxe Reverb won't have. FWIW, that may be more about the speaker coverage than the Super's doubled power rating. 4-10s can move some air.

hunter

[eric-d]

Originally Posted by esoteric pete

whatever you do, dont ever run the bass above 3.

That's absurd - The bass frequencies don't even really kick in on my '65 until 3 1/2 and I still like it higher. I usually run it around 4-5 depending on the venue. Now the treble on my amp is another story. Anything about 4 1/2'ish it just gets WAY TOO BRIGHT!!!! IMHO - of course. I usually keep the mids around 5-6 depending on the guitar. I never turn the Bright Switch on. It's just too much for me. My usual settings are treb-4, mid-6, bass-4 for single coils and for HB's it's usually treb-just under 4, mid-5'ish, bass just over 4. This is what works for me 95% of the time. Now there are special occasions of course. It also depends on what gain pedal I'm taking out but those settings usually are about the tone I'm going for.

[Pedro58]

As far as setting go, use your ears. Turn the knobs until you like what you hear.

I have a '66 and I set the mids pretty high, say "8" or so, and go from there. I'll turn on the bright switch and then bring the bass up to about "3-4." Next is the highs, and with a Super Reverb, they can get pretty bright. I usually end up around "6" or "7." This is for a Strat. A Tele is another ball of wax, for sure. For a Tele, I set it to sound killer on the neck pickup and know that I have to work the tone knob when I'm on the bridge. If you set any amp to work with the bridge pickup on a traditional Tele, then your neck p'up will sound too bass-heavy. And generally speaking, I leve the setting the same for humbuckers, though I might pull the mids or bass down a wee bit, and the highs up. A lot of what I do is with the understanding that I have brown-label, ceramic speakers in mine. Oxfords? Warm is what they are. I don't like the brighter alnicos in my blackface stuff, but others get wonderful tones with 'em.

An Ayan Smooth N' Slim works wonders on blackface circuits. You get your bass knob back. Try one if you plan on keeping you blackface Fenders.

Last, the Super should be a heckuvalot louder than a Deluxe, period. Somethin' ain't right.

[EXP]

Originally Posted by Pedro58

An Ayan Smooth N' Slim works wonders on blackface circuits. You get your bass knob back. Try one if you plan on keeping you blackface Fenders.

Last, the Super should be a heckuvalot louder than a Deluxe, period. Somethin' ain't right.

Yeah, sounds like it could be tired power tubes or poor filtering. Try swapping the V1 and V2 with another 12AX7 or even the RCA 12AX7A in the tremolo and see if that helps. You should get an increase in volume and bass response it could be just a weak preamp tube. Also the pots might need to be cleaned with some contact cleaner.

What does the Ayan Smooth N' Slim do exactly? Smooth out the flabby bass of cranked BF Fenders and omits the inherent flatulence?