Pro Reverb Advice

[westex93]

Hey, guys, I have the opportunity to look at a Silverface Pro Reverb locally on Craigslist. I don't see a lot of traffic on this site regarding these amps, and I was wondering if it would be worth looking at. Where does this amp fall in the Fender lineup? Is it just a variation on a Twin? I play country and am looking for a move into Fender territory. I have been playing through a modded Classic 30.

Here's the link:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/msg/1424765031.html

Yeah, I know the obvious answer is "go play it and see if it speaks to you", but I was just hoping for some general feedback on what to expect and whether it would be worth my time. The owner is asking $800.

[ecsong187]

I played one while shopping for my fender amp. I was deciding between a deluxe reverb, twin reverb, and a blackface pro reverb. The pro reverb is an awesome amp and had great clean tones. Pretty similar to the twin reverb to my ears, but I'm not an expert.
I bought a silver face twin instead because it was $550 and the pro reverb was an all original blackface so way out of my price range.
I think the silverface fenders are extremely underrated. Go play it and and you will like it a lot for country. Keep us updated.

[varakeef]

That one seems to be those great non mater volume versions. Fine amp, loud, breaks up nicely.

I wonder what has happened to that foot switch. It looks like a chunk of it is missing...

[Singin' Dave]

Wonderful amps and that looks to be a pretty fine example. Price seems about right, perhaps $50-$100 high based on completed eBay auctions (http://codekinesis.mine.nu:3000/price/list_history). For $800, I'd want to have some assurance that the amp has been recently serviced, recapped, 3 prong power cord etc. If so, and if you don;t mind it's heft, that's a wail of an amp. Hard to find a better hand-wired 2x12 for less!

[backline]

Those are very nice amps. If his is original, it is very possible it will need caps, and at least a partial black facing. The original speakers will be questionable at best. But what you have there is a hand wired, easy to work on/repair, high quality platform that will last another 40 years after it has been maintained/upgraded. It could very easily need 150-300 bux worth of work, then a consideration for new speakers. But in my book it would be worth every penny. Like I said, get that amp running the way it should and you will have quality tone for the next 40 years.
This guy is a Pro Reverb devotee. Tomo knows his way around a Pro real well. He is a great player, human being, and teacher. You can catch him at The Gear Page, on faculty at Berklee, and at the link below. Yes I like the Pro. It is one of the amp worlds best kept secrets.
Good Luck
http://www.tomofujita.com/us/index.html

[milocj]

Ditto on what everybody else has said. It may be a little bit on the high side if it needs to be serviced and if it needs better speakers (that's up to your ears) but you can't get a real nice hand wired amp of that size for $800 anywhere else. I wouldn't worry about blackfacing it at all, unless it has the really funky bias setup and I think that was only in place during '68-69.

To answer your other question(s), it's not really a variation of the Twin because it is half the power with a pair of 6L6 tubes instead of a quad. It will sound pretty similar to a Twin Reverb due to the preamp section and the 2x12's, but it will break up earlier since it has half the power. It can still do loud and clean pretty well if that is what you're looking for. It will be almost as heavy as a Twin because of it's size, maybe 10 pounds lighter.

If you play country and want to "move into Fender territory" it's probably worth the trip just to get a feel for what these sound like. At least you'll know whether an older Fender can get you the sound you're looking for even if you pass on it and look for one of the other models.

[E5RSY]

Here's a little fuel for the fire from Teagle & Sprung's FENDER AMPS: The First Fifty Years, assuming the amp in question is an early silverface Pro Reverb:

"If you happen to use a Fender guitar or other brand with single-coil pickups, the author recommends these amps as the best all-around amp ever made--by anyone. Use a humbucker? See Vibrolux.)"

I'd buy it.

Scott

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by westex93

Where does this amp fall in the Fender lineup? Is it just a variation on a Twin? I play country and am looking for a move into Fender territory.

For reference, I own a blackface Pro, a silverface Twin, and a Twin reissue.

The 3 amps listed above sound radically different, to my ears. There's a Fender-y quality to all of them, but you'd probably pick each of them out, in a blindfold test.

I've played silverface Pros, and they don't sound anything like a blackface Pro. If anything, a silverface Pro reminds me a little of a silverface Twin.

$800 seems high to me, unless you've been shopping specifically for a silverface Pro. As others have suggested, with an amp that old, $800 might only be the start of what you'll put into it.

[tazzboy]

Yeah 66 Blackface Fender Pro Reverb are the expensive ones, but I've heard they have good tone.

[mikiedreb]

Throw a pair of Weber 12F150s into that bad boy, have it serviced and tweek with tubes of your choice......tone heaven !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Yeah 66 Blackface Fender Pro Reverb are the expensive ones, but I've heard they have good tone.

It's unique and I love it, but it's not the only thing I love. My Tele Custom through my AC30 is a thing of wonder!

[westex93]

Thanks for everybody's input so far. I'm still talking to the guy, but it doesn't look like he'll come down off the $800. The amp's value aside, I just don't think I can swing that right now without selling some gear myself. Unemployment will do that do ya..... Wish he'd work in a trade or partial trade, but he's unemployed, too, and needs the cash.

I ran the serial number on it and came up with a '72 model.

[stagefright]

I have a 1970 Pro Rev. being serviced right now and it's no beauty prize cosmetically but man does it sound good! Even before a tune up I could tell it was great. I paid $550 and traded a Valco champ style amp that needed service and had some non original stuff on it.So, I probably have $800 into it already and whatever the tune up will cost but I still think it's a bargain. 70-72 SF's are mighty good amps and I'll usually pay a bit more for them over post 72 SF's.

[charlie chitlin]

A 40 watt Pro Reverb is a BEAUTIFUL thing.
I'd as soon have one as any of the more expensive amps...Vibrolux, Deluxe...

[Donnie55]

Thats a great amp. And it will work just fine country music. Like someone above said. You may need to service it , but once thats done you will have an amp for life. I would rather have that amp over a Twin any day. Its kind of like an old Twin any way. Remember the really old Twins were 45 watts ( tweed ).

www.myspace.com/redtele

[eddiewagner]

Originally Posted by mikiedreb

Throw a pair of Weber 12F150s into that bad boy, have it serviced and tweek with tubes of your choice......tone heaven !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah!!!!!
i outfitted mine with weber signature speakers and jj-tubes. now it is pretty "light" and sounds great.

Originally Posted by beep.click

$800 seems high to me,

you have to think of 250-300 more to get it going really good. but i have seen one offered here in germany for 2.500 euros. don´t know if anybody payed that much.

[blue metalflake]

Great amp - I've been using one since 1975.

Sounds v similar to a Twin - bit less power & a bit lighter. Lots of clean.

Buy it.

[westex93]

Man, y'all aren't helping any. Somebody hurry up and tell me how much this amp sucks so I won't feel so bad about having to pass on it.

I dunno. Maybe if I start finding some stuff to sell off myself.....anybody need an extra kidney?

[Staggered Mag]

I think the Pro Reverb is one of if not the best amp Fender ever made. I've read that Leo also thought this was one of the finest amps Fender produced. I have played through a few and was always impressed. I often wondered why more praise was not given to the Pro Reverb.

[Dave Hopping]

Think of it as a combo Bandmaster Reverb.