Fender '65 Super Reverb Reissue

Brand spankin new reissue, 2004.All specs details been stated before in other reviews.
Versitile combo being Blackface 40 odd watts. Fantastic combination
of features for the roots,funk, blues/jazz and reggae player.
Tube rectifier, tube reverb/vibrato.....tubes in all features...yeah!!!
A clean sounding amp indeed.if you need extra drive,...just plug your favourite pedal in. Is this a versatile amp?...you bet.

Strat and 335 ibanez. Both guitars sit nicely with this amp.
Beautifully toneful and clean. nice reverb too.
Great rhythm guitar amplifier.
Speakers sound good too. I can do a jazz gig one nite and a groove and roots gig the next.

early days, but good so far.

Not being a mteal head or grunge munger....this amp is king for me.

'65 Super Reverb re-issue, with reverb and tremelo. Normal and vibrato channels. Four 10" Jensen speakers, 40W power (but don't quote Fender on that).

Well, one buys this amp to get a great clean tone, and it gives just that. Mine begins to break up (distort) around 5 or 6, is this too early? I really don't care, though, because I like it.
First off, I play mainly rock stuff, with some blues and some punk, among other things. I find it hard to put what I play into catagorization, but go to www.blurty.com/users/tsge for the project I'm involved in. I'm into the whole tube overdrive/Jack White sound right now (plus I need a more dependable amp than my Yamaha G-100), so that's why I got the Super Reverb.
I play a Squier Fat Tele (modded, with a new Fender '52 Vintage bridge pickup) into a Boss DS-1 (sometimes, for overdrive) into a Electro-Harmonix Big Muff (Russian re-issue), which then runs into the first input on the Vibrato channel on the Super Reverb. I'm still trying to get a good sound with the Big Muff through this amp; it sounds decent with the EQs set around 8-9 1/2, and it seems to lack the amount of treble I like; but flick on the Bright switch, and everything thins out (and begins to sound like metal distortion). I'll get the tone I like eventually, if I mess around with it enough. The DS-1 sounds pretty cool though this amp, the tubes give it a slightly warmer sound.
Lastly, don't let the 40W rating fool you. I had an 'amp war' with my brother's Fender Stage 100 setup, and it matched it.

No piece of equipment is perfect. Also, the more parts an amp has, the more likely its going to break down - and the Super Reverb has a lot of parts.
I've had this amp a day, so I really can't say how dependable it is, but its fired up every time it should.

Never dealt with Fender, I'll just get it repaired locally.

It's a good, solid amp. I don't regret buying it, and its probably the last amp I'll ever buy. (Unless I get into hardcore metal, but that probably won't happen.)

65 super reverb 4x10 combo, 50 watts. reissue. hi and lo input jacks, clean and vibrato channels. switch must be used to operate the 2nd channel. has extension speaker jack, very nice. runs at 2 ohms. 2x6L6 power tubes and some preamp ones of the 12ax7 family. onboard "surf" reverb too.

this is the king of clean for any sort of guitar, makes fender strats sing esp. well. not noisy, very loud, less control at volume 1-3. don't be fooled by the low watts you can still go deaf. with a boss mega distortion i can get metal sounds out of this puppy as long as i don't use the bright switch.

i've heard of various problems with heat in the fender amps. don't play it flat up against a wall!

nada.

i like this amp but i wish it had the ability to have LESS volume for the basement. great for club gigs. eq is balanced with hi/lo, crank the mid for fun. reverb is a little surfy, i always like the marshall spring anyway but that's all on marshalls. best clean i've heard in awhile, 4x10s not enough bass. this rivals mesa clean i think and for better money.

You know the features - vintage amp, limited features - i love the option of the built-in vibrato...

Absolutely the best clean sound ever! Aspen Pittman of Groove Tubes called it the "king of clean", and it really is! But it also does very good slightly driven bluesy sounds. But everything above 5 on the volume is fucking loud and ear-splitting!!! It really can hold on with boutique amps and the old handwired ones (i a/b'd it against an original '63 vibroverb (yes!) and liked the new super better - i think because of the 10'' speakers, they have a much quicker response) - and this one was not that noisy as the old vibroverb was.

Who the fuck is the idiot that rates the headroom of an amp by sneering at it's weight??? Because it weighs a ton it has to have much headroom??? The super weighs as much as the twin because it's construction is similar... But it has 40 watts, not 85 and it was designed for clubs not for big stages - if that idiot plays big stages, he needs probably a twin - but a twin sounds very different because of it's 12" spekers - that two amps are not comparable. And if i am a pro, playing larger venues i know what i need and it try it before gigging - so i know if the headroom is enough... "Anonymous", you are just a fucking asshole idiot, go deaf with your twin!!!

Built like a tank.

My favorite amp - besides the marshall jtm 45 reissue with the large 4/12-cabinet (the grey "tall vintage" one) - but the super has the vibrato and is not that heavy...

Purchased brand new - made in '03. Two input channels (non channel switching), #1 has Volume Bass and Treble, #2 adds Mid control, both have a Bright Switch and hi-lo inputs. Vibrato and Reverb (footswitch included for these). 40 Watts all tube. Tube rectifier as well. 4 x 10" Jensen speakers. Plenty powerful for even large stages (400+ seat venus), and sounds good at lower volumes for smaller gigs. Amp is a great platform for use with pedals (read on for details), which provides the versatility. On its own, the amp sounds great, but you'll only get one sound out of it. So its versatile with pedals and not on its own.

I use this amp as a clean platform from which to build upon and it performs wonderfuly in that capacity. Very big, open and transparent sound. Reacts very well to both Single Coil and Humbucker guitars. Mid control doesn't do as much as I thought it would, but it does enough. Bass and Treble controls are very responsive and almost sound active. My last amp was a Custom Vibrolux, and while I really enjoyed that amp, there wasn't quite enough clean headroom (I didn't like the kind of break-up it provided at higher volumes) and I felt it lacked a little balls in the low and low-mids. Both amps are far more transparent than I thought an off-the-shelf amp could be. Very dynamic and every bit of my guitar tone comes through (you can tell what type of guitar you are playing through this based on sound alone). This amp in my opinion gives me exactly what I was missing in the Vibrolux...however...the Vibrolux had a far better vibrato circuit and I liked the reverb in the Custom Vibrolux better than this Super, which can get "surfy" (not good for me) if you use too much. Reverb rarely comes across live anyway (unless you use too much and risk muddying up your sound), so its not a big deal to me. I only used the Vibrato on the Custom Vibrolux a little bit, and it was just fantastic. I acutally suspect there might be something wrong with this on my Super, because even with the intensity cranked, you can barely tell there's anything going on. I play in a 7-pc band that covers everything including Rock, R&B, Pop, Funk etc. I use either a Strat, Les Paul or 335 copy depending on the tune. My signal chain from guitar to amp is: Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah -> Carl Martin Compressor -> Maxon OD808 -> Tech21 DoubleDrive -> Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive -> Maxon CS505 Chorus -> Guyatone MD3 Delay -> Fulltone Fat Boost all in an MKS Pedal Pad Pedal Board (fantastic board). Too bad the pedal chain does suck a little tone out, but its not much and by the time you mic this puppy up and put it through the PA, it probably doesn't even make that much of a difference. This amp takes very well to pedals. Specifically, my Maxon OD808 gives a great overdrive sound and for the heavy distortion stuff, this amp takes every ounce of gain my DoubleDrive can muster up. A fantastic amp with pedals, and the clean sound is just amazing. Pretty good headroom too. I gigged with this amp this weekend and had the volume on 4, which is pretty damn loud, and this amp just sang. You start to get a little natural breakup at about 5 or so, which sounds great, but you're also talking serious volume and I only hit those levels on the biggest of stages (but it is fun when I do open her up)!!! I normally run the amp at bout 3 or so, and I use the Fat Boost to boost leads etc. I deducted a point for the Vibrato issue and surfy reverb, but to me these are minor issues.

I only got this amp recently, but my Vibrolux was a solid as a rock. I always bring spare tubes/fuses and even a little solid-state practice amp as a backup just in case.

Never had to deal with Fender and I probably never will. I have complete faith in my local shop to take care of anything that might go wrong - those guys are the best (www.parkwaymusic.com)!

Overall, I could not be much happier. My main tone is a light overdrive on the edges of a great clean tone, which I get from this amp and the Sparkle Drive or this amp and the OD808. I wanted to get a custom amp that would give me these sounds at the amp and without pedals, but since finances can't justify it and because that sound doesn't exist in a sub $1500-1800 amp, this is the next best thing and I am very pleased. Sure, if I had $4,000 I'd buy a Two-Rock, but until then, this rig is it!

ok. its not a vintage vibroverb or vibroking...but its great for an amp under a grand....and has balls and character....great verb, abd good for harp too.

using sd antiquity hb's and fender custom relics on my tele......the amp is great for blues gigs...breaks up when I need it....jazz wise, w an archtop,it rocks... ( as for the guy recommending a twin,I had one....too heavy,too loud,too clean, no tone...just loud-n-clear....boring).

so far its a rugged workhorse and you can spill beer on it,unlike a underground 30 or vero...lol

fender GAVE me a warranty even though i bought it used....i dont know what the fuss over Fender is...I think if you know how to contact them, youd agree...(I dont work for Fender)

I give it an 8,good deal for the money ....only vintage fenders get a 9 and anything better gets the 10....like a vibroking or old vibroverb,or an underground 30 bruno or vero...theyre the last amps youd ever need

The Super Reverb has everything I want in a tube amp...good tools for shaping my sound and nothing I won't use or wish I had. Any kind of bells and whistles I prefer to get from my stomp boxes. I bought the Super for what it is, not what I wish it was.

Absolute beautiful tone. More than ample bass and reverb. Despite what "anonymous" submitted on 7/09 below, it has alot of clean headroom. With my Tele, I have tested it clean most of the way through the power, depending on how aggressive my pick attack is. With my Les Paul, it gets a little growl if I attack it hard at around 4-1/2 to 5. It responds nicely to your picking nuances once you are past 3 or 4. Volume on 3-4 for small clubs, 4-6 for medium stages. Large stages and concert halls? Well, if you really play them, then you know enough to realize you will have to mic any amp or amp rig...it is called mix.
A different animal than the Twin Reverb, Deluxe Reverb, etc., this is a beautifully powerful clean amp with absolute top-notch tone.

Just got it, but it survived UPS shipping without an incident. For electonics, that in itself says something! Prior Fenders have been reliable, and I'm sure this one will do fine. Personally, I feel quite comfortable without a backup amp, though I may look into the tube replacement thing recommended by so many on this site and others.

5-year warranty. I haven't dealt directly with Fender often, so in fairness I will not rate them.

I've been playing quite awhile, and do surf, hard rock, original material, alternative rock, classic rock, oldies rock, a little blues...and this amp shines for all of them. I would definitely buy this again, no question about it. Almost bought a Twin Reverb RI, liked the Vibro-King as well; Mesa had features, but lacked the personality of the Super; already have a JCM800; sold a JC120(loved it, but...) to buy this. This is a great amp.

45 Watt combo tube amp weighing in at approx 65 pounds. Typical Fender blackface RCA circuit utilising 6L6s, 12AX7, 12AT7-Phase inverter/power tube driver.GZ34 tube rectifier.Spring reverb.
4x10 inch alnico speakers.
Versitile tone and output.Very suitable for jazz,R&B and roots music and also rock if using a good O/Drive pedal.
A great combination of features making this amp a legend.

Best guitars suited to this amp:
Gibson 335s and all other good quality thinline semis match up just beautifully.
Larry Carlton uses this combination while touring out of the USA because he knows what works well when not plugged into his expensive Dumble amp.
Full bodied jazz guitars with H/Buckers, for a beautifully balanced rich and deep tone with both body and clarity.
The Stratocaster!!! Also a marrige made in heaven when paired up with this tone generator.
P90 loaded Gibson guitars for rock.
Crisp and warm,clean and deep are some words to sum up the sonic qaulities of this amp.
It will produce good overdrive if cranked, but a good O/Drive pedal like a HotCake makes her sing beautifully and lower volumes.
Reverb is rather deep if maxed,so if you aren`t a surfer, you`d probably sit that reverb dial around 3 up to 5 or 6.
Vibrato effect is good fun if used in slightly overdriven rhythms.
All In all this amp is a winner if you want a roots style amp or relatively clean sound which is both toneful and classic sounding.

Overall package is just fantastic if you appreciate classic and legendary electric guitar tones.
I can pull Steve Cropper tones easily with the right Telecaster and the tone control rolled back some.If you cannot appreciate Mr Cropper and his classic rhythm guitar style, then probably classic vintage reissue amps are not your thang.
There are so many great players that have used or relied on this amp that the list would go on and on.The biggest thing to consider is the tone, the vibe,and feel of the amp and the legend that it reissues.
Try one for yourself and maybe you too will see what many a great player has experienced using this amp.
Final note, 95% of folks on this page have thrashed to death the S.R.Vaughan theme.All due credit to an amazing 6 stringer, but there is more to this amp than one amazing man and his thang.
Try visiting the Tone Lounge web site and you will read for yourself that Fender amps really ROCK when paired with a P90 loaded guitar.
I was curious so i plugged in a Gibson Lespaul Junior and put this through a Crowther Audio HOTCAKE, then straight into the Super Reverb.
The results were sonically amazing.......This combo rocked beyond belief and i found yet another side to this amp that made it so versitile it is not funny.

Not much on features ... but it is a copy of a '65 amp, so no rating here.

Sounds great at lower volume ... the breakup is nice ... reverb is nice ... however, if I am going to lug around a 65 pound amp, I expect MORE CLEAN HEADROOM!! This amp breaks up way too early to be such a heavy load. It sounds great at bedroom volumes though ... and I don't play little rooms when I gig.

Never bought the thing ... too little headroom for such an overly heavy ton of Fender waste.

Fender? HAH!

Love Fender amps ... but buy a Twin reissue is you want to be heard with clean tones. For you players who don't really play clean but pretend to, this amp suits you fine. The weight is 65 pounds, like a Twin reissue, but the Twin gives you 85 watts and tons of splendid clean shimmer. Screw this 40 watt tub of lard amp!!!

I'm revising my 1/16/03 review now that I've had time to really listen..........

I've detected a particularly harsh crackling sound when playing blues nine chords and dominant seven chords which has to be speaker breakup. It doesn't happen with major or minor chords. --strange-- I've tried various other speakers and this annoying disturbance diminishes or goes away altogether.

I mentioned earlier about switching to the Eminence 50W Legends. That was sort of a mistake. A few years ago I bought two 50 W Eminence 10"'s to put in my Vibroverb RI. They were very loud and sounded pretty good, just a little brittle on the top when pushed hard. The new Eminence Legend 105 is not the same speaker . I bought two of these and stuffed the four Eminences into the SR RI. They don't break up but they don't sound very good either. Otherwise, the Jensens sound magnificent.

I also tried 2 blue Fender jensen replicas and 2 Fender ceramic magnet 10's (made by Eminence). This setup sounds really good with just slight crackly breakup.

I can't even find an email addy to customer support to bitch about the P10R breakup issue.

find the right speakers and tubes and this thing will be awesome.

anyone else out there have this crackling breakup issue or did I just get the only FU'd Jensens?