Fender Super Six Reverb (sort of)

[Michael Smith]

A friend of mine had a lead on a Super Six Reverb locally, and I was toying with the idea of buying it. I decided against it as I have amps that fit that purpose, but still wanted to see how one might sound. I hooked up a 2 x 10 and a 4 x 10 cabinet to the parallel speaker jacks on my 1969 Super Reverb. Each speaker cab is 4 ohms, so using the parallel speaker jacks yields a 2 ohm load, which the amp is designed for.

I will say the speakers sound glorious, loud and clean. I didn't get the volume up above 3 and had a touch of reverb. The mix of alnico and ceramic speakers was nice. Both cabinets are semi-open back.

Not a very practical setup to move out of the house, but I guess it could be done using the Bandmaster Reverb head. The 2 x 10 cabinet usually houses my Vibro Champ, but I currently have the chassis out trying to find a resistor that will give me the correct bias.

 

[Wally]

The 2 x 10 cabinet usually houses my Vibro Champ, but I currently have the chassis out trying to find a resistor that will give me the correct bias.

and for what bias point are you shooting?

 

[Michael Smith]

and for what bias point are you shooting?

I would like it around 100% idle dissipation. It still has the original 5Y3 and 6V6 (from 1979) and it was idling at around 130% with the stock resistor. With a new (old stock) rectifier it was even higher. I currently have a 1K Ohm bias resistor and it's at 70%. Sounds good, and the 6V6 may last forever, but probably on the cool side.

 

[corliss1]

130% is fine in a Champ as long as the tube can handle is (aka isn't redplating)

 

[Michael Smith]

130% is fine in a Champ as long as the tube can handle is (aka isn't redplating)

Probably true, it spent the first 40 years of it's life that way. The 470 Ohm resistor had drifted up to about 531 Ohms.

Uncle Doug referred me to a YT video entitled "Black Face Vibro Champ Repair and Bias Discussion" a year or so ago, where the guy suggests changing the 1K and 10K dropping resistors (go to about the 16:00 mark). I didn't fully understand his reasoning at the time. I may go back and watch it again, as I think I have a better understanding now.

 

[Michael Smith]

Same speakers, different

amp. This time I tried the 2 x 10 and 4 x 10 cabinets with a small amp in triode (5 watt) mode. It's still quite loud, but the Carvin amp has "soak" and volume controls, effectively preamp and power amp controls, so I can get some good distortion at lower levels. The Carvin only has an 8 ohm output, so I connected my two 4 ohm cabinets thru my home made series box to match the impedance.