Fender Super Reverb

1974 Silver Face Super Reverb. This amp has the original alnico speakers - not ceramic. Push/Pull master volume. 40 watts.

If it doesn't sound good through a Super Reverb, I don't play it. Thick jazz, blues, country/gospel - that's for me. It does get noisy at higher volume, but new caps and biasing would probably help - mines all original. Personally, I think it adds to the mystique of playing live to here amps hissing and stuff. I've never had the honor of playing a Black Face Super Reverb, or even a non-master volume Silver Face. So I can't say how those sounds differ. One thing I do know: good tubes make a difference, especially the primary power tubes. Forget Sovteks or other "cheap" tubes. Get the best you can afford. (I play vintage RCA blackplates.) They make a HUGE difference in these amps!!!

I'm always worried about breaking a tube, but haven't yet. I've dropped, knocked over, kicked, banged, spilled and all that - it keeps coming back for more. I only have this amp and I NEVER worry about it not working. However, if I had the money, I would invest in a smaller (Twin or Pro Reverb) just in case lightning did strike.

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I've been playing for 23 years. I've only had three amps in my life, and two were Super Reverbs. I had an old cheasy amp when I was 10 but my Mom and Dad scripmed and saved to buy me a "real" amp: a 1976 Super Reverb. I played that amp without changing a thing until I was nearly 28, when I sold it to help move my family to Texas. But I never forgot that amp. The first one I found here in Texas I bought. And now things are alright again.

This review is for both a 70's silverface and a 60's blackface. I'm writing this because of all the glowing reviews of these "remarkable" vintage amplifiers which I almost bought (I rented it).

First the seventies- noisy, dirty,ratty, reverb hisses like mad after 3, which is still too much reverb on this amp. It still sounds kind of cool though, you definitely get that classic sound, but the noise made me hate it, this amp gets a 5. Now the 60's- sweet tone, not as noisy, good growl, nice dirty distortion, made me smile, this one gets an 8.
Now I play mainly rock blues, and some jazz. Anything from srv, grant green, pink floyd, hendrix, etc. The blackface was great for these, the silverface needs some major work done on it.

I can't even begin to imagine how often the silverface will break down, the black face was in much better condition though.

I've played 9 years and have gotten to a point to where I can fairly rate products and not be biased. I am a tone freak, and am always looking to upgrade if possible. I own a mesa nomad 100 2x12 combo, and though many vintage people will laugh, it sounds better than either the black or silver face. Here's my reasoning, I had them set up next to one another, and played each for awhile, the nomad has hardly any noise and is clearer than either one. Now admittingly, the black face has it alittle over the mesa in the clean department, but not enough to make me want to trade in such a versatile amp that costs 1400.00 for an amp that costs 1600.00, is noisier, and can only sound good when "cranked". For anybody checking out a vintage fender, you might want to look at the mesa nomad and maverick series, these are some remarkable amps, that are built alot more solidly. My mesa shines loud or low and has intelligent features to add to your tone. The sr's sound like warmer fender hotrods (which are good amps as well)IMHO. If you have any questions or comments other than "you must be deaf", feel free to write.

If you don't know the features on this one, why are you here?

BLues, and country live and breathe this amp. For that nostalgic, tube sound, this is it. True reverb comes from this unit like no other. The sounds are deep and mellow, and any pedal sounds good through it. I've had (2) early 70's silverface models, and of course, they were awesome. And heavy. And they don't roll well. And I'm getting older. And I sold them. I can get that sound, beleive it or not, through my Roland VG8ex, combined with my Peavey Profex, combined with my PA System. I wish that I had kept this amp for the sake of having one sitting in my studio. It is certainly a keeper from the value of collecting and great sound.

Well, 30 year old amps do have breakdowns, but these don't have many.

For a combo amp the clean sounds of this are what others are measured by. IT IS THE ULTIMATE CLEAN COMBO.

This is a 1970 silverface Super reverb. It was converted to blackface and was very well worth it. You know the controls. in 1, in 2, volume, treb, bass, mid//////in 1, in 2, volume, treb, bass, mid, reverb, speed, intensity. 2 channels. Can't switch between the two but there is a foot switch for reverb and tremelo. I play blues, jazz, and classic rock and this amp kicks for all of them. I like all the features and i don't really want anything else. It's powertful enough. 40W tube will blow u away.

Im using a strat, through a dunlop wah, ross compressor TS-808, amp. It wroks nicely, very smooth warm tone. It isn't noisy but can be a little with the pedals.the clean breakups up very nicely at higher volumes and sounds great. no distortion channel. this amp is to die for.

It's reliable to me. 30 years old and not a problem

unlikely

Ive been playing for 3 years and this amp is one of the best ive heard. Most old fender tubes will do u good. There's always mesa bogie which sound wonderful, but i seemed to like this better and wasn't at a bad price at all.

Mine is a '66 Blacface Super Reverb. It does one thing; and it does it better than any other amp on the planet. It simply oozes tone. All you have to do is look at it and you can here the tone. Flicking the swtich to standby sounds phenomental. You can shake the reverb tank and it sounds good. No, it is not overloaded with features and does not need to be. The reverb and tremelo are all you need.

I have used all manner of guitars with this amp; strats, PRS Custom, Les Paul, big hollow body jazz guitars, hamers, high-end Ibanez, and everything sounds great. With the volume on 3 its a jazz players dream amp...crystal warm, and transparent. On 4-6 it a blues player's wet dream. Think Stevie Ray. 7-10 it's late 60's Stones...it's a gas gas gas!

Never a problem. Most 35 year old wish they were in such good shape!

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If somebody stole this amp, I would track them down, and stab them with my guitar until dead.

Same spec as below... Made in June of 1964. ALL original.. WOW this is a blues amp all the way... (and rock and roll too!)..
4 Jensen C10R's - love them much better than any CTS or Oxford speaker.. and love them better than any ALNICO speakers.. the best..

Use a Custom Shop 57 Strat with little or no pedals.. from 1-4, fairly clean for 5-7, getting very thick and nasty, form 8-10 you can cut the sound with a knife... just like everyone says, enough bass to knock you over and enought treble to take your head off, and all at the same time.. very cream sound, nothing like it.. My sons has a 67 Fender Pro Reverb and what a pair these amps make! No one can replace this amp... the new curcuit board models don't even come close to this baby.. and oh the smell of an old tube amp.. this thing has been running for 36 years with only one cap job!

can I say, very dependable.. again 35 years with nothing mod'ed or changed (other than the caps), lets see a Peavey do that..

won't go here..

Don't think I could find one as clean as this one and if I could, the price would be out of this world..

1964 Super Reverb Amp.
I own actualy three guitars. A 82 Squier Strat, 62 Custom Tele an a amazing Heritage 575 Custom. I play Jazz, Rock n Roll, Alternative, Soul, Pop and all the Styles between theese.
Two channels, no switching, a reverb to die for and a fantastic tremolo. 40 watts, i use it for practice with tha band, at home i play a 22 watt Deluxe reissue, thats perfect for use at home.
The Super is an all tube amp with a tube rectifier.
ok, there's no channel switching.....try a H&K Tube Factor for sophisticated distortion at home, crank up the Super in your practice room. Most versatile amp, i've ever heard. I'll never give it away !
I own the one with ceramic speakers and they're perfect for this amp.
I payed $2500 for this amp, whats very cheap.........in Germany vintage gear is hard to get......they pay up to $3500 for an amp in good condition like mine !! Looks like an about 10 years old amp !

Amazing sound ....for every musical style. OK, metal shredderz wouldnt like this amp, but for all other styles it fits. No modern amp i know can duplicate the surf sound this amp offers. You know the music they produced for thr Italo western movies? Thats it and a lot more. It's been SRV's favorite amp and i know why.......i was never before that impressed on an amp.
Smooth, crispy, cleeeeeeaaaaaaaaan, warm distorted its always sounds great.....its a perfect amp, very dynamic, this amp leads you to profession......can't say enough good things about it !

N/A never used it on stage or on tour......

I'm from Germany and the customer support is excellent. Write an E-mail and Fender will answer in about two hours.

I'm playing guitar for 16 years and i used a lot off stuff. When i was younger, other things have been more important than a good basic sound. The more knobs, the better the amp must be, i thought.....i was a very foolish guy....if this amp would be damaged or stolen, i would cry....no other amp is close to this one. Yeah, i like other Fenders too and i own an Engl Classic Tube 50, also a fine amp and i like my 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, but the Super is my favotite amp. I miss nothing on it. I think the Super ist the worlds best amp. Thats all i like to say........no, its not.....sorry for my bad Englisch !

'65 Blackface. I won't elaborate on what others have said.

All I wanted to do here is recommend a speaker replacement option if you need to replace your speakers. My CTS speakers were getting very tired and I wanted to replace them. I put them in a box and called Ampwares. Mark has a SR also and he made a recommendation after trying many different speakers in his. I settled on some Jensen P10R re-issues. They're made in the same factory in Italy as the originals. I had a Deluxe with a P12R so I wanted to go with the Jensens anyway but his encouragement helped my decision. These speakers improved the already great sound of my SR sooo much I strongly recommend them too. Ampwares had the best price I could find(I don't work for them but their service, responses, advice, and cummunication made them my first choice).

Excellent. I use it on gigs without backup. I recapped and retubed it.

Been playing for 34 years. Our band plays original Blues/Rock. I have a '53 Tweed Deluxe I use for small clubs. I have various Fender(Tele, Strat, Jaguar, Jazz Bass), Rickenbacher, Dan-Electro, and Gibson guitars. I use a tube screamer, a Daddy-O, a few different delays(analog and digital), and a Cry Baby Wah. I gig weekly and have come to depend on my Deluxe and Super Reverb even though I have other amps. I have various bass and rack gear also.

It's around a 68 because it has an aluminum trim around the grill cloth.

Some Stevie Ray Vaugnabie stuck a 15 inch speaker in it.The dummy used a car audio Piledriver? I'm putting a new baffle board in it and goin back to 4 tens.Probably the Eminence reissues cause they sound ok and they're cheap.Take out the last 12ax7 on the right looking at the back..You lose the first channel but the second sounds great.

Sounds great .I had to put in a new reverb tank.

Nobody takes anything used to Fender unless you are EC or famous.

I have been fulltime 29 years and owned every vintage thing around.I always go back to a twin or super.Nothing beats a Deluxe though!

I mostly play blues, but like rock and a little jazz. Just take a little time to tweak the knobs and I can get pretty much any sound I want.

I play a Fender SRV strat and a 52 reissue Tele. This amp is a 1971 Silverface but I had the insides changed to Blackface specs. For clean and loud sounds this amp is just the King. The reverb is great but the tremelo on this particular amp is a little weak. I have several other Fender amps. A Deluxe Reverb and a Champ and a Kendrick Texa Crude but this is my favorite amp.

This amp is 30 years old, I've had it for 10 years and have not had any problems with it.

I've been playing for 31 years and this is the best amp I've ever had. While it may or may not be true that a Black face Super Reverb might sound better. It makes more sense to get a silverface and just have the insides changed to blackface specs because the difference in price is quite a bit. For clean, loud and fat tone this amp is just perfect for me.