Thanks to the help and counsel of others in my Brown Super v 63 Vibroverb thread, and after A/B’ing the Supers against the VV, I pretty quickly came down on the side of the Supers. All subjective, of course, but that’s how it landed.
Now, it’s a question of which of the two Supers I’m auditioning. One is an earlier ’62 with oxblood cloth, the other a later ’62 wheat. Both are player’s amps—not for the collector of pristine stuff—as they each have their own flaws, delineated below. On both, the flaws are with the cabs.
The chassis are virtually indistinguishable. Both are stock, except for filter caps (cord, of course). The wheat has a pair of alnico 10K5’s from a Concert with what appear to be original cones. The oxblood has a set of Oxfords from ’65, reconed at Orange County. I can have either pair of speakers in whichever amp I choose, which seems a no- brainer.
Using a speaker cable with a female plug at one end, I played both through both through the same speakers in an endeavor to level the playing field as much as possible. I was surprised to find that they’re nearly indistinguishable to my ear. Volume, headroom, gain spot on at every volume eq I tried. There are extremely subtle differences in high end glisten, etc., but they’re negligible. I suspect that’s largely due to tubes—both are filled with old tubes, no new ones.
As they are both the same electronically and sound the same for all practical purposes, it comes down to the cab flaws:
The Oxblood
Now, it’s a question of which of the two Supers I’m auditioning. One is an earlier ’62 with oxblood cloth, the other a later ’62 wheat. Both are player’s amps—not for the collector of pristine stuff—as they each have their own flaws, delineated below. On both, the flaws are with the cabs.
The chassis are virtually indistinguishable. Both are stock, except for filter caps (cord, of course). The wheat has a pair of alnico 10K5’s from a Concert with what appear to be original cones. The oxblood has a set of Oxfords from ’65, reconed at Orange County. I can have either pair of speakers in whichever amp I choose, which seems a no- brainer.
Using a speaker cable with a female plug at one end, I played both through both through the same speakers in an endeavor to level the playing field as much as possible. I was surprised to find that they’re nearly indistinguishable to my ear. Volume, headroom, gain spot on at every volume eq I tried. There are extremely subtle differences in high end glisten, etc., but they’re negligible. I suspect that’s largely due to tubes—both are filled with old tubes, no new ones.
As they are both the same electronically and sound the same for all practical purposes, it comes down to the cab flaws:
The Oxblood
- 2 small holes in the top on the back two corners (pic 3) My tech speculates they were for some sort of corners, as they’re quite small and shallow. Less than desirable, but not a deal killer for me.
- The bottom 4” of on of the trim strips on the inside of the cab was missing. You’ll see where my tech installed a 4” strip to fill the gap (pic 4) What possessed someone to do that is beyond my capacity for speculation and his. I don’t like it but it is what it is.
- The original baffle board had been cut out to house a 15” speaker. So, my tech replaced it with a baffle from another (and hopeless) Super of the same vintage.
- The bottom board was gouged-out to accommodate the 15” speaker. Pic 5
- Bottom rear panel has two quarter-sized holes drilled in it (pic 6)My tech believe these likely housed jack plates to deploy extension speakers. Options here are keep the original panel with the holes, or, as I choose, substitute a panel from another Super my tech has on hand. Downside there, of course, is that’s one less original part, though it would look better than those holes.
