Supro Royal Reverb

This amp was made in the 60's. For it's time I would say it has all the features it ever needed. It has 2 channels, each with treble and bass inputs, Channel 2 has tremolo and reverb capability, and two 10" speakers. At first it was kind of tame, until I figured out why (see below). Now that it's a firebreather at anything above half volume on Channel 2, it can fulfill any request from mellow to overdrive. Channel 1 is pretty mellow, with only slight overdrive at max volume, using a Tele on the bridge pickup. On channel 2 it is plenty loud to go into feedback at close proximity if you don't mute your strings. You won't even think about using an overdrive pedal on channel 2!

When I got the amp it was marginally louder on channel 2, but still pretty tame. I've been working on my Supro 6973 amps lately so I had lots of fresh notes on outputs at each stage. What was conspicuous was the puny 40VPP drive to the 6973 power tube grids, compared to the 1600 and 24 series amps (at least 65VPP). The configuration of the the internal stages (resistor values, capacitor values) definitely remind you of these other amps. I found that my amp had a 3.3Kohm resistor to ground on the grid of the reverb tube, vs. a 68K as shown on the schematic of the Gretsch 6162 (pretty much the same amplifier), here's a link http://www.schematicheaven.com/bargainbin/gretsch6162.pdf. I also noticed on a schematic submitted by Jeff Jourard that his amp had a 33K in this spot. 3.3K seemed to be pretty low, allowing a lot of signal to go to ground. So I replaced the 3.3K with a 33K, and the amp (specifically channel 2) CAME ALIVE! So now the amplifier has greater flexiblity, a warm but only slightly overdriven Chan 1 (using a Tele bridge pickup), and a firebreather Channel 2! You only need to turn Chan 2 volume to about 11 o'clock (5 o'clock is max clockwise) for serious beginnings of overdrive, and at this setting it will easily keep up with the 1600 and the 24. No surprise here: Channel 2 of this amp has 3 gain stages vs. 2 for the 1600/24! So there's no need to put a pedal in the front of the
amp, it already screams! Channel 1 doesn't have the same insane gain, but with a hard attack it will overdrive, so seems the Supro engineers scored a winner here.

When I got the amp it needed the usual replacement of drifted resistors and dried out electrolytic capacitors. This thing has two high voltage sections, so has double the electrolytics compared to most amplfiers. Also, the stock 5U4 (or a 5AR4) is probably a bit high on the voltage, it enables 385VDC to the 6973 power tubes, which is very close to their max voltage. I replaced it with a 5V4, which brought the voltages down to a more sane 360, which will probably help these expensive tubes survive. I don't think I would try using the much cheaper 6CZ5 tubes, which are only rated to 350VDC. Even with the lower 5V4 voltages, it's still a bit high for the 300-volt rated 6973 screens (320VDC vs. 345 with the 5U4). Plus the 5V4 has a slow turn on to help preserve the electrolytics. By the way, the standby switch does not function like a typical standby switch (removing B+)...it only grounds the signal input to the inverter tube!

Yeah right! Well these amps seem to be well built and I'm especially amazed how the chrome holds up after 50 years!

I've goofed around with guitars for 25 years. Got into working on amps around 6 years ago, at the end of my USAF ground radio maintenance career. I had this amp on my list of amps to sell, since it was kind of large and had a disposition of a docile golden retriever instead of a mellow pit bull. Now that I found the key to making it scream, it came off the list! It easily holds it's own against a 1600 or a 24, which are considered the creme de la creme of killer Supro amps (Jimmy Page???). These amps are still affordable, seems many people (including myself, until recently) don't realize that they can be easily transformed into a screamer!

This amp is covered in light blue vinyl with same colored diamond embossed vinyl stripe seperated by white piping. The 7 giant chrome centered knobs which are located on the face, are mounted on a chrome and blue face plate. There are 2 front jacks for tremelo and reverb foot switches and 3 toggle switches for stand-by, line reverse, and on/off. It really looks like a 58' Buick. It has a deep reverb tank that is up to the job as is the tremelo. I got mine second hand for $300.00 and it came with two fender ten inch speakers. If a power quest is what your on, you'd better keep on looking. It will disturb the neighbors though. I just play the thing in my apartment but I would not hesitate to take it to a gig, just make the sound man put it through the PA. Hey Jimmy Page used Supro's!! As for versitility, let's just say that you will only find the versitility from within as these amps were made before that was even a word.

I play second class early vintage guitars with single coil pick-ups and this combo sounds so nice together. When the tubes warm up it really comes to life with that ever present 60 cycle hum that I just love. The more volume is added the warmer the sound, and it will snarl. The reverb is out of this world. It has all the depth and weight you'll ever need. The tremelo comes on softly and is fully variable from severe to soft. But also remember it does not have digital clarity.

The only thing that went wrong with it since I bought it (10 years ago) was one of the tubes wiggled loose and I had to plug it in securely.It's been good to go ever since then. They should have the dust blown out of them before using, after all they are 40+ years old and have been gathering a lot of dust.

The Valco company that was located in Chicago has been closed for many years. That would never stop me from buying another as it's electronics are all point to point. I've even seen the schematics online. If she were to break down I'd take it to an old TV repair shop and flip the guy a twenty. If I wasn't so happy with the power output I'd take it to a competent local wiz and have him hot-rod it. Basically you are the customer support.

I've been playing for thirty years. I always choose vintage equipment because it compliments my old school tastebuds. Modern equipment, while reliable, tends to try to capture the old tones and personalities vintage gear has so I just skip the middle man. I would encourage any younger players to find this old equipment and skip all the effects pedals and other accessories. Get the sound you want from the style you play, the guitar you own, and the amp you choose. You may be surprised.

Don't know what year it was made in, probably early 60s. It had the silver tolex covering with silver grille cloth and the controls mounted at the back like a Vox AC-30. Two channels, normal & tremelo/reverb, volume/tone on each channel, reverb depth & tremelo speed and depth on the reverb channel. Two footswitch jacks for reverb and tremelo. Original speakers replaced by 10" Fenders. Don't remember what tubes it had. It might not have even been a Royal Reverb, but the features I remember seem to match the other reviews.

When I got this amp someone had wired two 20 watt resistors across the speaker terminals, sort of a poor man's power brake. I'm not sure why, since I don't think this thing put out more than about 25 watts to start with. Once those were gone it sounded fine. It still wasn't loud enough to play with my band, though, so I used it to practice at my apartment. It had a real nice tube tone, but the reverb and tremelo weren't as good as the ones on the Gibson Falcon amp I got now. It was great amp for blues and low volume rock 'n roll, but it was too quiet for heavier stuff.

I left it at my brother's house and he took the chassis and mounted it in a homemade Marshall-style head covered with that green astro-turf material you see on porches in trailer parks. I don't why he did that, but I eventually put the amp back together and it worked the same as before. I don't think you could get any more durable than that. You could gig with this if you were playing the right kind of music.

I cleaned the pots on it. It was a basic tube amp, any good tech could have fixed it.

I've been playing about 17 years, mostly bass. I bought this amp at a store in 1989 back when everyone was into rack effects, locking vibratos, poodle hair and spandex. You could pick up old tube amps like this pretty cheap. I recently saw a similar amp on Ebay for about $375. Times have changed. When I sold this amp in 1991 I was able to get $125 for it, but sometimes I wish I hadn't got rid of it. It took me long time to find a small tube amp that sounded as good as this one.

Let me first say this little amp KICKS ASS. I believe this amp is a 1961 or 1962. I've also read somewhere that it's rated at 18 watts. Not much on features-two channels. Each channel has one volume, one tone knob. The second channel has tremelo and reverb. When you use the tremelo or reverb (or both) you lose volume, I believe because it's using a tube for either feature. I usually play the first channel, because of the slightly better tone. Let's get some perspective here-this thing is roughly 40 years old-I ain't expecting much on features, anyway.

I play this amp with an Angus Young Signature Model SG. The pickups on the guitar are very hot, and are a perfect match for this amp. I play with the volume all the way up, with the tone cranked as well. I use it play indie/experimental/post rock. I can get a very wet early Zep sound out of this little amp. The distortion is warm and twangy, and I can use my volume knob for dynamics-the amp is very responsive to feel as well.

So far so good. I've had the amp four about 4 months now with no problems. Recently recorded with it and had zero problems-sounded absolutely AWESOME in the studio.

N/A Valco, who originally made this amp, is long out of business.

This was a great little find. I was looking for a small amp that I could crank in the studio for a very wet sound. This amp has a very original twang. It's not the most versatile amp-basically, it just gives you one sound, but it's one of the best sounds I've heard in an amp. I have heard amps priced at hundreds of dollars didn't hold a candle to the Royale Reverb.

two channels:each w/2 inputs. 2nd channel has trem. and reverb. three springs, very loose; excellent loose splash of a reverb when it works.

a few yrs ago i'd have given it a 10. but right now it's tempermental.
it's all clean channel but very easy to distort. great for percussive rhythm playing, reggae skanks and surf. also nice warm mellow lower string lead lines. play a mustang through it with a billlawrence humbucker in the bridge. had friends play jazzmaster, also old casiotone keyboard through it. it's handled most applications well. at peak performance it can be quite loud.

right now the reverb howls occcaisionally, the volume pots crackle. probably from neglect, sad to say. my other amp a peavey classic has given me almost no probbies, and i've had it much longer.

been playing 13 yrs. had the supro for 7. couldn't pass up a $5 garage sale amp w/2 10-speakers. had thick dust coating over all it's innards. was amazed when i plugged it in and it sounded all warm and fuzzy. spent $40 to get verb working, and i'll spend more to get it fixed again. love thick tone (even with a fender), and regal name. wish it was as reliable as my classic.