Super Reverb Sound in a Small Package

telel6s · January 16th, 2004, 06:06 PM

Recommendations/suggestions appreciated.....

I've got a SFSR that I love dearly. But I played a gig last night and due to a long day at work, I didn't have time to pick it up. So instead I used my 15w Vox Cambridge hybrid with an 8" speaker. I wouldn't want to make a habit of it, but it did the job in a pinch. One of the best things is that I just stuck it on a barstool and it left me more room to stand (very small place for the band).

So, it got me wondering if there is a good small amp (physical size) that gets more of the Super Reverb sound. The 15w Vox had plenty of volume without miking (both vol and gain at half way). But, I'd prefer more head room. I'm also sure that a 10" or 12" speaker would do better than the 8".

What I like about the SR is that at almost any volume level (2 - 8) I can get clean to just a little dirt by adjusting guitar volume or a boost pedal. I use a Marshall BBII for heavier drive. And the SR is friendly to just about anything I plug into it (Tele, Gibson, funky late '60s Yamaha).

Style of playing is mostly rhythm with leads here & there. A blues band that does lots of rock covers to keep people amused and drinking at the bar. A little country/folk once in a while.

The only two things I've played recently have been a Pro Jr. and Blues Jr. Cool little amps but not what I'm looking for (two quick to overdrive). At this point in the process, price is not an issue -- although less money is always better. I have no brand preference.

Thanks!

stantheman · January 16th, 2004, 07:58 PM

and a Holy Grail.

Tele295 · January 16th, 2004, 09:01 PM

A Princeton doesn't have a lot of headroom, though. Maybe a DRRI with 2x10 speakers (new baffle) and 6L6 power tubes (rebias)

Anonymous · January 16th, 2004, 09:26 PM

IMO, Miles has the formula: 6L6s and 2x10s – but you don't have to modify a Deluxe Reverb. The amp already exists and it's called a "Vibrolux Reverb." ;-) The big difference is going to be the transformer, though: a VR doesn't have nearly the projection power and punch of a Super Reverb. – CS

Wayne Alexander · January 16th, 2004, 11:11 PM

Allen Old Flame

Ringo · January 16th, 2004, 11:30 PM

I have a SF PR in a new cab with a 12" Alltone speaker, it has a LOT of headroom.
And I've read posts that say a real good 10" speaker like a Weber CA is good for clean too.
My PR actually stays clean much longer than my 68 DR, almost all the way up it's clean, and amazingly loud for the size.

JDO · January 17th, 2004, 02:09 PM

i'm pretty sure the princeton that stan was talking about was the non verb princeton - which is nothing but head room. they don't hardly break up. and you could do the pi and paul c mod, and a 12" speaker and be set.

Pierce · January 17th, 2004, 06:41 PM

with a pair of four ohm tens..BINGO

Bill · January 18th, 2004, 01:07 AM

A Super Champ comes to mind, perhaps with a speaker upgrade from Weber. The 10" cuts and carries, the box is small enough to fit on top of a bar stool (I set mine on top of a small speaker next to my stereo), has reverb, and responds to the volume knob on a Tele.

telel6s · January 18th, 2004, 12:55 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the things like "get this amp but put in this speaker".

Due to work travel, I won't be doing anything for about a month so keep the ideas coming if you have them. This will definitely make it easier to check out 3 or 4 amps instead of trying to filter down 20 or 30.

To Pierce re: moving the SR chasis into a new cabinet.
Over my dead body!!!!
OK, but seriously, I understand the idea and maybe if I could find a second SR that would be an option. But I love my Super; I just want to find something a little smaller to free up some stage space when the band is squeezed into a tight space in a small bar.

Thanks again.

Bluesbob · January 18th, 2004, 01:15 PM

Hey telel6s, you won't be doing anything to your super except making it lighter and more usable with Pierce's recommendation. Call Ampwares and see what they've got. It would probably cost around $350.00 for a cab with Logo and reverb tank. (Just a guess, but I can't see it being any more than this.) Speakers from Weber might be another $100.00. Remove the back plate, unscrew 4 bolts, unplug the speakers and reverb, slide it into the new cab and, Voila!, you've got your beloved Super Reverb in a smaller, more club friendly package! I think it's a great idea. You get to play through your favorite amp in a "small package", for the price of a tune-up on a SFVR or one of the other vintage alternatives. When you play outdoors, the change to your original cab should take all of 10 minutes, or about the time it takes to work up the fortitude to lug the Super out of the trunk after a late-night gig. Of course that's JMHO.

Dacious · January 20th, 2004, 06:51 PM

A good Princeton Reverb will give you almost exactly what you want.

Ben Harmless · January 20th, 2004, 08:06 PM

I've been shying away from reccomending the Reverend Hellhound since I got my Marshall and rarely fire up the Reverend anymore.

That being said, when I do fire up the Reverend, it's for the clean tones that it prodices. It can be very round and still somewhat sparkley. I usually describe it as between Deluxe cleans and Bassman cleans of the BF variety.

It's got a 12" speaker that's very good, 2 6L6s, switchable between 30 and 60 watts, and onboard 'verb that's good for adding subtle "space" to the tone. It's even got a "UK" mode that might come in handy for some of those rock covers.

Now, it's not a real Fender, but I genuinely reccomend it for this purpose. It's also cheaper, but not made anymore. I would expect to find a used one for about $500 max.

buglecorps · January 28th, 2004, 06:45 PM

of any thing as small as a P15 If you like the sound..perhaps put a Weber "blue pup"in ..this should give you a bit more chime..and being pretty efficent, a bit more head room, stick some sort of small 'verb pedal in front (a plastic dano would do the trick ) and there ya go..

Also the Various 1x10 Fender SS (Champ 30, Frontman 25 ect. have a good "Fender Clean" and 'Verb, get pretty loud, and are small & light..with a bit of luck you could find a clean used one for under $100. Heck a new one is under 150...

A Champ 12 would be OK, as would a "Super Champ" but those are getting to be silly$$

The ultimate small gig amp (IMHO) would be one of the Music Man 50 watt 1x10 combos..'Verb, channel switching..HTF :(

marshallmelloman · January 29th, 2004, 11:12 AM

3 cool amps come to mind, 1 was mentioned already.

Winfield Thomas Elizabeth-great indie builder, hand made, good bang for buck and exactly how you want it, head, combo, color,speakers, knobs etc. Also is switchable between 6ls and 6vs for deluxe to super territory.

Talos- Bill Kirchens amp. Great blackface tone in a 1x12. Seemed to have a lot of clean headroom when I saw him use it. Nice tight bass.

Allen old flame- I haven't heard this one personally, but lot's of people rave about them and you can find them used occasionally.

Happy hunting.

e-merlin · January 29th, 2004, 01:02 PM

IF you can find one, snag a Peavey Bravo 112. Don't let the looks fool you. It's 25 watts, 3 12AX7s 2 EL84s two channels with a boost on the dirty channel. Good clean channel that gets real bluesy when you push it. It has Reverb and an effects loop (not switchable) if you need it. It weighs in at around 40 lbs. With the right tubes you can get just about any tone you're aiming for. Throw in a Celestion V30 and you'll be able to get as loud as some 50 watt amps. I'm going to stick an Eminence Redcoat Red Fang in my clean Bravo when they come out. It should be plenty loud and clean then.

Sometimes you can pick them up for a hundred bucks because most store owners don't realize that they are tube amps. The tubes are hidden behind a panel on the amp. One drawback is the cooling fan can be a little loud if you mike it.

telel6s · February 2nd, 2004, 10:49 AM

Hmmmm, sounds like I should be hunting for a Princeton/Princeton Reverb but keep my eyes open for a few other options.

Thanks to all the ideas. Feel free to add more if you think of them. I'm traveling for two more weeks before I'll have time to start trying things out.

warchol · February 12th, 2004, 03:25 PM

If you like the sound of your SR, it seems to me you'd
be happiest with a Fender dual 6L6 amp in a smaller box.
Possible suggestions:

As mentioned before, SR chassis in a 2x10 combo

SF Bandmaster Reverb TFL in a 2x10 combo box.
(I wish I hadn't sold mine!)

Cheap: SF Bassman head in 1x12 or 2x10 combo ("You don't need reverb if you turn it up"-Danny Gatton)

January 16th, 2004, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,176 80 Photos	Super Reverb Sound in a Small Package Recommendations/suggestions appreciated..... I've got a SFSR that I love dearly. But I played a gig last night and due to a long day at work, I didn't have time to pick it up. So instead I used my 15w Vox Cambridge hybrid with an 8" speaker. I wouldn't want to make a habit of it, but it did the job in a pinch. One of the best things is that I just stuck it on a barstool and it left me more room to stand (very small place for the band). So, it got me wondering if there is a good small amp (physical size) that gets more of the Super Reverb sound. The 15w Vox had plenty of volume without miking (both vol and gain at half way). But, I'd prefer more head room. I'm also sure that a 10" or 12" speaker would do better than the 8". What I like about the SR is that at almost any volume level (2 - 8) I can get clean to just a little dirt by adjusting guitar volume or a boost pedal. I use a Marshall BBII for heavier drive. And the SR is friendly to just about anything I plug into it (Tele, Gibson, funky late '60s Yamaha). Style of playing is mostly rhythm with leads here & there. A blues band that does lots of rock covers to keep people amused and drinking at the bar. A little country/folk once in a while. The only two things I've played recently have been a Pro Jr. and Blues Jr. Cool little amps but not what I'm looking for (two quick to overdrive). At this point in the process, price is not an issue -- although less money is always better. I have no brand preference. Thanks! __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

January 16th, 2004, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,021	Get a Princeton (dry) and a Holy Grail. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

January 16th, 2004, 09:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,403 14 Photos	A Princeton doesn't have a lot of headroom, though. Maybe a DRRI with 2x10 speakers (new baffle) and 6L6 power tubes (rebias) __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

January 16th, 2004, 09:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Anonymous Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 0	That's the right idea. IMO, Miles has the formula: 6L6s and 2x10s – but you don't have to modify a Deluxe Reverb. The amp already exists and it's called a "Vibrolux Reverb." ;-) The big difference is going to be the transformer, though: a VR doesn't have nearly the projection power and punch of a Super Reverb. – CS

January 16th, 2004, 11:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,914	PR & headroom I have a SF PR in a new cab with a 12" Alltone speaker, it has a LOT of headroom. And I've read posts that say a real good 10" speaker like a Weber CA is good for clean too. My PR actually stays clean much longer than my 68 DR, almost all the way up it's clean, and amazingly loud for the size.

January 16th, 2004, 11:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,062	Allen Old Flame

January 17th, 2004, 02:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
JDO Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pittsboro, NC Posts: 601	i'm pretty sure the princeton that stan was talking about was the non verb princeton - which is nothing but head room. they don't hardly break up. and you could do the pi and paul c mod, and a 12" speaker and be set. __________________ clean as a whistle

January 17th, 2004, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pierce Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: skull island Posts: 471	slide the SR chassis in a 2x10 combo box with a pair of four ohm tens..BINGO

January 18th, 2004, 01:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,668 59 Photos	A Super Champ comes to mind, perhaps with a speaker upgrade from Weber. The 10" cuts and carries, the box is small enough to fit on top of a bar stool (I set mine on top of a small speaker next to my stereo), has reverb, and responds to the volume knob on a Tele. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

January 18th, 2004, 12:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,176 80 Photos	Thanks and keep 'em coming Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the things like "get this amp but put in this speaker". Due to work travel, I won't be doing anything for about a month so keep the ideas coming if you have them. This will definitely make it easier to check out 3 or 4 amps instead of trying to filter down 20 or 30. To Pierce re: moving the SR chasis into a new cabinet. Over my dead body!!!! OK, but seriously, I understand the idea and maybe if I could find a second SR that would be an option. But I love my Super; I just want to find something a little smaller to free up some stage space when the band is squeezed into a tight space in a small bar. Thanks again. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

January 18th, 2004, 01:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bluesbob Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East Suffolk L.I. Posts: 1,054 20 Photos	Think of it as a convertible Hey telel6s, you won't be doing anything to your super except making it lighter and more usable with Pierce's recommendation. Call Ampwares and see what they've got. It would probably cost around $350.00 for a cab with Logo and reverb tank. (Just a guess, but I can't see it being any more than this.) Speakers from Weber might be another $100.00. Remove the back plate, unscrew 4 bolts, unplug the speakers and reverb, slide it into the new cab and, Voila!, you've got your beloved Super Reverb in a smaller, more club friendly package! I think it's a great idea. You get to play through your favorite amp in a "small package", for the price of a tune-up on a SFVR or one of the other vintage alternatives. When you play outdoors, the change to your original cab should take all of 10 minutes, or about the time it takes to work up the fortitude to lug the Super out of the trunk after a late-night gig. Of course that's JMHO. __________________ What, me worry?

January 20th, 2004, 06:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	Easy Peasy A good Princeton Reverb will give you almost exactly what you want. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

January 20th, 2004, 08:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,284 6 Photos	I've been shying away from reccomending the Reverend Hellhound since I got my Marshall and rarely fire up the Reverend anymore. That being said, when I do fire up the Reverend, it's for the clean tones that it prodices. It can be very round and still somewhat sparkley. I usually describe it as between Deluxe cleans and Bassman cleans of the BF variety. It's got a 12" speaker that's very good, 2 6L6s, switchable between 30 and 60 watts, and onboard 'verb that's good for adding subtle "space" to the tone. It's even got a "UK" mode that might come in handy for some of those rock covers. Now, it's not a real Fender, but I genuinely reccomend it for this purpose. It's also cheaper, but not made anymore. I would expect to find a used one for about $500 max. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

January 28th, 2004, 06:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
buglecorps Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Suburban Twang Town Posts: 753	I can't think.. of any thing as small as a P15 If you like the sound..perhaps put a Weber "blue pup"in ..this should give you a bit more chime..and being pretty efficent, a bit more head room, stick some sort of small 'verb pedal in front (a plastic dano would do the trick ) and there ya go.. Also the Various 1x10 Fender SS (Champ 30, Frontman 25 ect. have a good "Fender Clean" and 'Verb, get pretty loud, and are small & light..with a bit of luck you could find a clean used one for under $100. Heck a new one is under 150... A Champ 12 would be OK, as would a "Super Champ" but those are getting to be silly$$ The ultimate small gig amp (IMHO) would be one of the Music Man 50 watt 1x10 combos..'Verb, channel switching..HTF :( __________________ Loud is Good...

January 29th, 2004, 11:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
marshallmelloman Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 547	3 cool amps come to mind, 1 was mentioned already. Winfield Thomas Elizabeth-great indie builder, hand made, good bang for buck and exactly how you want it, head, combo, color,speakers, knobs etc. Also is switchable between 6ls and 6vs for deluxe to super territory. Talos- Bill Kirchens amp. Great blackface tone in a 1x12. Seemed to have a lot of clean headroom when I saw him use it. Nice tight bass. Allen old flame- I haven't heard this one personally, but lot's of people rave about them and you can find them used occasionally. Happy hunting.

February 2nd, 2004, 10:49 AM	#17 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,176 80 Photos	Thanks to all Hmmmm, sounds like I should be hunting for a Princeton/Princeton Reverb but keep my eyes open for a few other options. Thanks to all the ideas. Feel free to add more if you think of them. I'm traveling for two more weeks before I'll have time to start trying things out. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

February 12th, 2004, 03:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
warchol TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 10	Stick a dual 6L6 Fender amp in a smaller box If you like the sound of your SR, it seems to me you'd be happiest with a Fender dual 6L6 amp in a smaller box. Possible suggestions: As mentioned before, SR chassis in a 2x10 combo SF Bandmaster Reverb TFL in a 2x10 combo box. (I wish I hadn't sold mine!) Cheap: SF Bassman head in 1x12 or 2x10 combo ("You don't need reverb if you turn it up"-Danny Gatton)