Super Reverb

[GG3]

How loud is the super reverb? Is it as loud as a bassman? I played a twin the other day at low volume and it seemed alright how does the super compare?

[marshman]

If memory serves, it's nearly a draw--the Twin has an extra pair of power tubes, making it a (typically) 85 watter, BUT the super has 4x10 speakers, making the difference nearly moot...almost as important--is it new, original BF/SF, age?

Might not matter too much, I hear they're both muthas in the volume stakes...

[telenerd]

Loudness is the subjective quality of sound of great intensity. So loud to me may not be loud to you. All things considered, I defy anyone to say a super on 10 isn't loud. My main gigging amp is a 68 super, and it's sweet spot is between 4 and 6 on the volume. Unless i'm playing an outside gig or i'm in a venue with a smarter than average sound guy, I can't get it up to 4 without someone *****ing about it. I turn it up anyway.

Which bassman are you talking about? A tweed bassman is also a 40 watt 410 amp. So they are going to have a similar perceived volume. I believe all bassman heads up until the 70's were rated at 50 watts, but it will matter what speaker configuration you are playing through.

Twin's are loud. Assuming you are talking about a twin reverb. They were effin loud in the 60's and they got louder in the 70's. Good pedal platform I would say. I personally wouldn't have a use for one.

[tazzboy]

The reason why a Super Reverb and Bassman are loud is because the Output Transformer is a 2 ohms.

[hockey_head]

supers rule! clean, dirty anything in between, that's the real deal man.

[mr_hankey]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

The reason why a Super Reverb and Bassman are loud is because the Output Transformer is a 2 ohms.

What does that have to do with loudness?

[tazzboy]

Plenty. It's making the output transformer work really hard. I don't have good technical why of explaining it but I do know it makes the output really loud.

[TeeBird]

I always thought they were loud because they had a big OT compared to the Pro and Vibrolux (and higher plate voltages).

I doubt the two ohm speaker load has much to do with it. The primary impedance is still supposed to be the right value for two 6L6s.

[franchelB]

My guitar player has both the "Super" and the Bassman, and the "Super" is definitely louder!

[Ricky D.]

My BF Super Reverb was rated 50 watts, same as the Bassman from the same time (mid 60's). They would be roughly the same loudness. A Twin from that time was 85 watts and much louder. MUCH louder.

[GG3]

So the the reissue tweed bassman and the super reverb reissue are about the same in loudness and the Twin reverb reissue is much louder than both?

[mr_hankey]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Plenty. It's making the output transformer work really hard. I don't have good technical why of explaining it but I do know it makes the output really loud.

Too bad, I was hoping for a technical explanation. I've never experienced an amp being louder at 4 ohm than at 16 ohm, for example.

[PhatTele]

They are all loud. However, what they sound like when they're turned up varies from amp to amp. The Twin is going to be loud, warm, and clean. The Tweed Bassman (which you mentioned) is going to be loud, warm, and crunchy (but you can dial in clean). The Super Reverb is going to be loud, bright (but you can dial in warmth), and clean (but you can dial in crunchy).

If you're looking for something to play around the house or at a jam, forget it. All of these amps are much too loud. In fact, they're too loud for most small club gigs too. You really have to know what you're doing if you want to avoid killing your audience (especially if you're expecting to drive the amp). However, if you're going to be playing outdoors or at a big show or really clean (where low volume and headroom are the key...say surf or clean country), then these large amps can work fine. I've seen Dale Watson and his band play in a small 150 person club using three Twin Reverbs (fiddle, guitar, steel) and a big bass amp and they sounded fantastic...but it was all about clean.

[stantheman]

They're both loud enough to NOT get asked back.
Always watch where the band is going with the volume, the people may love it BUT ultimately it's the people who work there that determine who plays there. When the workers go home and can still hear cymbals in their ears when The Sun's risin' they get pissed off. I've seen great bands not get asked back until the owner is desperate for a big gate because his employees hate the volume.

[Tremo]

Originally Posted by mr_hankey

What does that have to do with loudness?

Nothing. the OT is just for impedance matching.

[Tremo]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Plenty. It's making the output transformer work really hard. I don't have good technical why of explaining it but I do know it makes the output really loud.

Nonsense.