Supro Amps

JamesDean · October 8th, 2006, 11:08 PM

I really like the sound that Jimmy Page got out of his Supro amp. What amp did he use? Also, what do you think the best Supro amp is that Supro currently makes. Finally what are the prices for their amps? Thanks.

hal · October 8th, 2006, 11:24 PM

I think somebody bought the Supro name and is making new stuff. They have been out of business since the late 60's. Best one? The Thunderbolt is bringing good prices, but I'm looking for a Gretsch combo that came with two 10's(Gretsch, Valco, National, Supro--all the same company). Anybody got one they want to sell?

Dacious · October 8th, 2006, 11:50 PM

No one knows - Page himself won't confirm, and many people suspect he doesn't know what amp he used to record what on. He was known to use lots of different amps in the studio and own more then one Supro, and also had it/them modified.

Supros pretty much a low-end amp. No-one can tell you which is 'best' - like any range of amps they would have varied in sound with different circuits, tubes and speakers.

Scott V · October 9th, 2006, 11:49 AM

I think there's a good chance he used the Thunderbolt, but as stated above he kept details on his gear a secret, I read he used to put many of his amps in different cabinets in the studio to disguise what they were, he was also a gear-head, it's doubtfull much of his equipment was unmodified.
Another thing to consider is that his recording techniques had as much to do with the sound as the equipment. Just my .02 cents, but I think you'd do as well to couple a good Sola Sound MK2 fuzz (copy) with a decent late model low watt amp, perhaps something like a Peavey Classic 20.
I'd like to get close to his early tone, haven't yet figured out which Fuzz to go with, fortunately there are several Sola Sound copies to choose from. Good luck.

Uriah T. · October 9th, 2006, 07:28 PM

The best lead I've seen is this thread, about halfway down:

Tonequest Thread

However, only Jimmy page knows for sure. I will say that having been a huge Valco amp fan, many of the amps will get you into Page territory when cranked with a tele. The simpler circuits sound best to my ears, and the reverb generally stank, until the later years, when they adopted long-pan reverb. Valco made amps for National, Oahu, Gretsch, Supro, and, in later years, Airline and Wards.

What you will get with any Valco made amp is a cathode biased amp in a solid ply cab (not pressboard like Danelectros), with a lot more loading/capacitance on the input than a comparable Fender. Therefore, they sound best to my ears with something boosting the input (I use a Phoenix Class A boost with my Gretsch 6150 and 6159). The tone is unlike any other manufacturer out there, and some people love them, some don't.

If you want to gig with them, only the 1x15 and 2x12 combos will get the job done. (Although I saw Cheetah Chrome playing one of the 5watt combos miked up live, and it sounded amazing-)

Uriah T. · October 9th, 2006, 07:34 PM

Just a quick note to answer another of your questions:

The new "Supro" brand has nothing to do with the old amps, except the name.

Run by the same people who make Zinky amps, so they're bound to be high quality, and probably beautiful sounding. They're a lot more pricey, however, and it's doubtful the circuits resemble the old amps in any way.

getbent · October 9th, 2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uriah T.

Just a quick note to answer another of your questions:

The new "Supro" brand has nothing to do with the old amps, except the name.

Run by the same people who make Zinky amps, so they're bound to be high quality, and probably beautiful sounding. They're a lot more pricey, however, and it's doubtful the circuits resemble the old amps in any way.

Tried one at Keith Holland's guitars about 2-3 months ago... it didn't speak to me... I wasn't crazy about it... but I do like the old funky ones... and I think you are absolutely correct that they just have the name... nothing else...

One other thing, you can order really cool supro and valco tshirts on ebay if you do a search for them... they have airline and every old funky brand...pretty fun... and reasonably priced. If you want a 'real' supro and don't want to buy it... there are supro kits now...

68tele · October 12th, 2006, 10:15 AM

Getbent - who's making the supro kits?

detuned · October 12th, 2006, 12:02 PM

Isn't Bruce Zinky behind the "new" Supro?

getbent · October 12th, 2006, 12:56 PM

I believe Bruce Zinky is the owner of the supro name now.

the kits I referenced are here

I believe Johnny Crash has had good luck with the turretboards folks and I've read good things.... have not bought one yet myself, but plan to probably next spring when I've got some time.

sidneystreet · October 12th, 2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

Tried one at Keith Holland's guitars about 2-3 months ago... it didn't speak to me... I wasn't crazy about it...

My reaction was similar. The Zinky Supro amps I've played were just kind of blah, for lack of a better term. The sound was very good, but not inspiring "to me." On the other hand, when I plugged into the Savage Macht 6 sitting next to it, I knew almost immediately I was taking it home with me.

Oh yeah, and the Zinky Supro amps are exceptionally well-made, but not hand wired. They have high-quality circuit boards, but appear to have board mounted tube sockets, which was a turn off. He warrants his amps for life, regardless of resale. That is pretty impressive.

newrider1969 · October 12th, 2006, 01:37 PM

I have a 1967 valco made Gretch twin reverb and I love it. Good sounding tremolo and reverb and it is pretty loud. My hwy 1 texas tele through a daddy-o overdrive into it rocks!

FMA · October 12th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Another Supro owner here. I'm not sure what model it is, but it's old and weird. The controls are on the top. The pre-amp tubes are on the top but the power tubes -- two 6l6s -- and transformers on mounted on the bottom. No reverb, but the sickest tremolo you've ever heard. One 15-inch speaker, looks like a Jensen...
The sound? Well, it's low-fi, for sure. And it sounds great, in that low-fi kind of way...Bought it years ago, cheap, from a kid who didn't like it because it didn't sound like a Marshall stack...
Don't know anything about the re-issues. But the old ones are very cool amps.

Uriah T. · October 12th, 2006, 03:38 PM

Hey FMA, I think you've got a Supro 1696TN; basically a Thunderbolt with tremelo added. The tremelo on Valco amps is thick and swampy, unlike any Fenders. Try goosing it with a boost in the front end, you'll realize that kid was way off- the gain is thick and throaty when pushed. I think it was Doug Roccaforte of Roccaforte amps who said Thunderbolts and Teles were a perfect combo.

It was a common thing back in the early days of tube radio technology to mount the power amp chassis away from the pre-amp, to cut down on interference and noise. The only people who kept doing it into the '60s were Valco and Standel, from what I've seen. Not that they're particularly quiet (sometimes the wiring is a rats nest), but it just goes to show how liberally all the amp makers just borrowed from their RCA handbooks.

FMA · October 12th, 2006, 04:37 PM

Uriah, you're right. I could never figure out what that kid was talking about. Cranked, this thing sounds incredible. With a Tele, you can get that whole Joe Walsh, James Gang thing happening...
And by sick tremolo, I meant that in a good way. Very cool sounding and very useful for spaghetti western kind of vibes...

frank4001 · October 15th, 2006, 01:05 AM

Hey FMA, I have one of those too..I bridge the channels. Really sounds cool(you kind of lose the temelo though)...I a/b'd with a T-bolt and they sounded almost exactly alike. A bit thicker with the channles bridged. Great tone with my ASAT Classic.

The Amazing Phil · October 15th, 2006, 03:42 AM

Regarding Jimmy Page's sounds on Led Zeppelin I, it wouldn't suprise me if some tracks were recorded after diving in and rewiring the tele a little. Some parts sound like it's both pickups out of phase, and if some stuff was recorded with both pickups in series it'd suprise me not one bit.

October 8th, 2006, 11:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
JamesDean Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Martelle, Iowa Posts: 56	Supro Amps I really like the sound that Jimmy Page got out of his Supro amp. What amp did he use? Also, what do you think the best Supro amp is that Supro currently makes. Finally what are the prices for their amps? Thanks.

October 8th, 2006, 11:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
hal Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 859	I think somebody bought the Supro name and is making new stuff. They have been out of business since the late 60's. Best one? The Thunderbolt is bringing good prices, but I'm looking for a Gretsch combo that came with two 10's(Gretsch, Valco, National, Supro--all the same company). Anybody got one they want to sell? __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

October 8th, 2006, 11:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,623 35 Photos	No one knows - Page himself won't confirm, and many people suspect he doesn't know what amp he used to record what on. He was known to use lots of different amps in the studio and own more then one Supro, and also had it/them modified. Supros pretty much a low-end amp. No-one can tell you which is 'best' - like any range of amps they would have varied in sound with different circuits, tubes and speakers. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

October 12th, 2006, 12:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
detuned Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Halloweentown, MA Posts: 444	Isn't Bruce Zinky behind the "new" Supro? __________________ Master of Disaster on the Stratocaster

October 12th, 2006, 12:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 10,587 37 Photos	I believe Bruce Zinky is the owner of the supro name now. the kits I referenced are here I believe Johnny Crash has had good luck with the turretboards folks and I've read good things.... have not bought one yet myself, but plan to probably next spring when I've got some time. __________________ 'never pet a burning dog'

October 9th, 2006, 11:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scott V Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle Age: 43 Posts: 501	I think there's a good chance he used the Thunderbolt, but as stated above he kept details on his gear a secret, I read he used to put many of his amps in different cabinets in the studio to disguise what they were, he was also a gear-head, it's doubtfull much of his equipment was unmodified. Another thing to consider is that his recording techniques had as much to do with the sound as the equipment. Just my .02 cents, but I think you'd do as well to couple a good Sola Sound MK2 fuzz (copy) with a decent late model low watt amp, perhaps something like a Peavey Classic 20. I'd like to get close to his early tone, haven't yet figured out which Fuzz to go with, fortunately there are several Sola Sound copies to choose from. Good luck.

October 9th, 2006, 07:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Uriah T. Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine in the Braine Posts: 179 8 Photos	The best lead I've seen is this thread, about halfway down: Tonequest Thread However, only Jimmy page knows for sure. I will say that having been a huge Valco amp fan, many of the amps will get you into Page territory when cranked with a tele. The simpler circuits sound best to my ears, and the reverb generally stank, until the later years, when they adopted long-pan reverb. Valco made amps for National, Oahu, Gretsch, Supro, and, in later years, Airline and Wards. What you will get with any Valco made amp is a cathode biased amp in a solid ply cab (not pressboard like Danelectros), with a lot more loading/capacitance on the input than a comparable Fender. Therefore, they sound best to my ears with something boosting the input (I use a Phoenix Class A boost with my Gretsch 6150 and 6159). The tone is unlike any other manufacturer out there, and some people love them, some don't. If you want to gig with them, only the 1x15 and 2x12 combos will get the job done. (Although I saw Cheetah Chrome playing one of the 5watt combos miked up live, and it sounded amazing-)

October 9th, 2006, 07:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Uriah T. Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine in the Braine Posts: 179 8 Photos	Just a quick note to answer another of your questions: The new "Supro" brand has nothing to do with the old amps, except the name. Run by the same people who make Zinky amps, so they're bound to be high quality, and probably beautiful sounding. They're a lot more pricey, however, and it's doubtful the circuits resemble the old amps in any way.

October 12th, 2006, 10:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
68tele Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northport LI Posts: 670	Getbent - who's making the supro kits?

October 12th, 2006, 01:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
newrider1969 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: st david il Age: 39 Posts: 295 3 Photos	I have a 1967 valco made Gretch twin reverb and I love it. Good sounding tremolo and reverb and it is pretty loud. My hwy 1 texas tele through a daddy-o overdrive into it rocks!

October 12th, 2006, 01:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,174	Another Supro owner here. I'm not sure what model it is, but it's old and weird. The controls are on the top. The pre-amp tubes are on the top but the power tubes -- two 6l6s -- and transformers on mounted on the bottom. No reverb, but the sickest tremolo you've ever heard. One 15-inch speaker, looks like a Jensen... The sound? Well, it's low-fi, for sure. And it sounds great, in that low-fi kind of way...Bought it years ago, cheap, from a kid who didn't like it because it didn't sound like a Marshall stack... Don't know anything about the re-issues. But the old ones are very cool amps.

October 12th, 2006, 03:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
Uriah T. Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine in the Braine Posts: 179 8 Photos	Hey FMA, I think you've got a Supro 1696TN; basically a Thunderbolt with tremelo added. The tremelo on Valco amps is thick and swampy, unlike any Fenders. Try goosing it with a boost in the front end, you'll realize that kid was way off- the gain is thick and throaty when pushed. I think it was Doug Roccaforte of Roccaforte amps who said Thunderbolts and Teles were a perfect combo. It was a common thing back in the early days of tube radio technology to mount the power amp chassis away from the pre-amp, to cut down on interference and noise. The only people who kept doing it into the '60s were Valco and Standel, from what I've seen. Not that they're particularly quiet (sometimes the wiring is a rats nest), but it just goes to show how liberally all the amp makers just borrowed from their RCA handbooks.

October 12th, 2006, 04:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,174	Uriah, you're right. I could never figure out what that kid was talking about. Cranked, this thing sounds incredible. With a Tele, you can get that whole Joe Walsh, James Gang thing happening... And by sick tremolo, I meant that in a good way. Very cool sounding and very useful for spaghetti western kind of vibes...

October 15th, 2006, 01:05 AM	#16 (permalink)
frank4001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 131	Hey FMA, I have one of those too..I bridge the channels. Really sounds cool(you kind of lose the temelo though)...I a/b'd with a T-bolt and they sounded almost exactly alike. A bit thicker with the channles bridged. Great tone with my ASAT Classic.

October 15th, 2006, 03:42 AM	#17 (permalink)
The Amazing Phil Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Luton, England Age: 23 Posts: 558	Regarding Jimmy Page's sounds on Led Zeppelin I, it wouldn't suprise me if some tracks were recorded after diving in and rewiring the tele a little. Some parts sound like it's both pickups out of phase, and if some stuff was recorded with both pickups in series it'd suprise me not one bit.