Fender Super Reverb

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Flames

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I'm currently looking into buying a Super Reverb amp.

I've been reading some of the user reviews at www.harmony-central.com.
It seems like people are prefering the blackface over the silverface models but it also seems that many prefer the early 70's silverface SR without the Master vol. over the later 70's silverface SR with master, how come that's so?

Among the user reviews I also read that many are converting their silverface SR back to blackface spec, what does that really mean, is it that you change a few components or is it a more drastic modification.
I've reasently seen an add on a silverface SR from 1977 for a decent price, should I maybe stay away from those Master vol. SR's and spend my money on a early 70's SR without the Master vol.
What is the diffrens in sound between the early and later 70's SR?

I'm a bit comfused.
 
The silverface SR seems to have a bit "wetter" sound and a little more slur, great for blusey and classic rock sounds, while the blackface appears more geared for use with stomp boxes and effect pedals to get it's tone. I'm not saying either is better than the other, it just depends on your preferences and the style of music you are into. The main advantage to the master volume is it allows you to turn up the peramp so it can scream and back off on the master so you don't blow your eardrums. I'm not sure what is involved in installing a master volume on the silverface, but i am sure someone else can advise you on that.
 
My first year silverface I bought new in '68 served me well but I sold it about a year ago. As far as I remember there's not much difference internally from '66 to '71 or so.

Any modifcations to these amps such as installing a master volume will greatly reduce it's value. For lower volume situations I used the number 2 inputs and it always sounded fine.
 
While I own a Blackfaced Super, I haven't played a Silverface SuperReverb.....I have however played a Silverfaced Pro Reverb and a Blackfaced ProReverb.

The Siverface you will hear is supposed to be overly sterile sounding...........and it is completely true. I didn't like it one bit. Part of the "fender" sound is the rich sparkle you get from the clean channel starting to break up........well CBS decided to up the size of the power transformers for more volume and a cleaner sound.
 
The master volume thing just lets you overdrive the pre amp tubes and keeps power from the power tubes. The power amp tubes (with the preamp) is where the sound is at......no matter the volume (the louder it gets, the speaker is a big part too). I have found that is you want a MasterVolume amp to work like a Non-MasterVolume, just crank the Master to 10, and adjust the quote un-quote Gain Knob accordingly.
 
Then whats the case about the increase form 45 watt to 70 watt, and if I'm not misstaking they also replaced the rectifire tube with a diod in the late 70's, but this am I not certain of.
What about the silverface to blackface mod haven't nobody heared of it, and is the diffrens really more than subtle when comparing a blackface with a silverface?
 
The early silver-faced Supers are virtually identical to the black-faced models. Only a few minor components were changed to "clean up" the sound. Fender actually changed back to the original design when sales started to drop. Very few of the dreaded "CBS" models were actually produced. Those that were are easily converted to black-face specs by any competent tech.

The later master-volume models are much different (I own one- a '76) as was mentioned above, the key difference being in the iron (trannies). These are still very good sounding amps though as long as you keep the master full-up. A slightly different flavor from the earlier models (a bit tighter and cleaner) but still very much a Fender sound.
 
I had a Super Reverb when I was a kid, a silverface probably a '69 or '70, that amp was so loud and big sounding - I sold it when I was about 17 (1972) and have regretted it ever since. A couple years ago I bought a Hot Rod Deville 4x10 - it is very much like a SR in the clean channnel, with some added saturation/gain available in the Drive channel, cheaper for a new one, and lots of used ones available - have you checked them out?
 
Flames said:
Then whats the case about the increase form 45 watt to 70 watt, and if I'm not misstaking they also replaced the rectifire tube with a diod in the late 70's, but this am I not certain of.
What about the silverface to blackface mod haven't nobody heared of it, and is the diffrens really more than subtle when comparing a blackface with a silverface?
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The power increase may be from the change to a SS rectifier, although 70 watts RMS seems a bit optimistic for a pair of 6L6. A tube rectifier will "sag" under high load and the amp will have a softer tone with a "loose" bottom end.

My '76 says 45 watts under the speaker jacks, and has a tube rectifier. It has a warm clean tone until about 3/4 volume where it begins to break up and take on more mids. It never gets really dirty though unless you smack it in the face with a hotter signal from another preamp or dist. box. I did run a SS rectifier in it for a while driving 4 Celestion vintage 30's and it sounded very similar to an early Boogie. It's back to stock since I bought my MKIII Boogie head.;)
 
I would say find a used RI and save yourself the head ache of the CBS disaster.
 
LocusLarsen said:
I would say find a used RI and save yourself the head ache of the CBS disaster.
Click to expand...

What do you mean, "used RI"? and whats the fuzz about the "CBS disaster"?
 
RI is Reissue. The ones that where made early 90's and on. CBS is responsible for the SILVERFACE.
 
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