Fender Super Reverb

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1964 Fender Super Reverb (blackface)

File:1972 Fender Super Reverb (silver face).jpg

1972 Fender Super Reverb (silverface)

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'65 Reissue Super Reverb Amps (on left)

The Fender Super Reverb was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1963 and was discontinued in 1982. This was essentially a Fender Super amplifier with built-in reverb and "vibrato" (actually tremolo). The original Super Reverb amplifiers were all-tube designs and featured spring reverb. There were two different designs, distinguishable by the color of the "face" or front control panel. Super Reverbs from 1963 through 1967 had "blackface" panels. From 1968 until its discontinuation in 1982, the Super Reverb had "silverface" cosmetics and circuitry. Early models in 1968, while cosmetically "silverface", did contain "blackface" circuitry. Fender introduced a reissue '65 Super Reverb in 2001 featuring a printed circuit board design rather than the hand-wired circuitry original '65 Super Reverb.

The Super Reverb is commonly used by blues guitarists due to its ability to deliver loud, warm tube distortion through its four 10" speakers. It is also known as having a scooped mids tonality, meaning that there is less midrange and an emphasis of sparkly treble and full, round bass frequencies.

Specifications

Tube (valve) complement:

• 4 × 12AX7,
• 2 × 12AT7,
• 2 × 6L6,
• 1 × 5AR4/GZ34 RectifierTube for blackface amps and 5U4GB for silver face amps

Two channels: Normal and Vibrato, with Bright Switch

Dimensions:

• Height: 24⅞" (63.2 cm)
• Width: 25⅛" (63.8 cm)
• Depth: 10½" (26.7 cm)
• Weight: approx. 65 lbs.
• 40 watts into 4×10" 8-Ohm Jensen, Oxford, or JBL, or CTS speakers (wired in parallel for 2 Ohms)
• Silverface models: 45 watts (power increased to 70 watts in 1977 and a solid state rectifier added. There are known as the "ultralinear" models with different transformers. Master volume was added after 1972, and pull-out boost circuit added in 1975. Line Out jack socket and a 3-band equalization for the Normal Channel added in 1978.) Silverface amps made between '68 and '72 were emblazoned with "Super Reverb-Amp". After 1972 this was changed to just "Super Reverb". There was only minor adjustments made to the 1969 to 1975 Silverfaced amp. Today after market kits are sold for models that do not have the master volume allowing silverface models to be taken back to the more desired blackface specs.
• A master volume was added in 1972.
• A "Boost" control added in 1975.
• A Mid control for the Normal channel and a Line Out jack socket were added in 1978.
• Super Reverbs produced between late 1980 and 1981 have blackface cosmetics and a silver sparkle grille cloth but the same circuitry as prior years.
• Master volume has a pull-out pot for distortion added in 1977.

Some early Super Reverb amplifiers came with the option of factory equipped JBL speakers instead of the Jensen, Oxford or Utah speakers widely used in the majority of Fender amplifiers. The JBL speakers had aluminum dust caps with larger magnets and voice coils, this gives a fuller response range and handles more power reducing the risk of "blowing a speaker". These models also add to the overall weight of the amp, making casters (wheels) a very good option.

Super Six Reverb

The Super Six Reverb is essentially a master volume Twin Reverb or Dual Showman Reverb equipped with six Oxford 10L6 (or CTS 10" AlNiCo) speakers featuring 10"/5.2 ohms (8 ohms each in series-parallel) and 100 watts RMS (changed to 135W in 1977). Introduced in 1972, this silverface combo amplifier was discontinued in 1979.

Notable users

• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Johnny Marr
• Robben Ford
• Derek Trucks

See also

• Fender Super