My dad (God bless his hard working soul) bought me a Princeton Reverb and anew telecaster in 1978. I think he got tired of me blowing up the stereo speakers on his hi-fi. lol
Even the Silverface and the Pull-volume boost (when not using the boost) Princetons have the same tone circuit as the Blackface AA1164. It's the one amp CBS didn't really mess with. I have a 79 pull-boost and it's amazing. Keep your 78 my friend.
You are 100% correct. Played the same one professionally for twenty years without and issue. Freshened up the tubes with stock tubes periodically and had to change one speaker. Great amp! I retired it to the house for a 57 twin.
I bought an almost mint 1968 Super Reverb about 5 years ago for less than what a reissue was going for at the time. It was a no brainer. Same speakers as yours. Needed some minor work as expected. It's one of the best amps I've played. Heavy and loud. No regrets.
My first professional amp was a 68 band master with the tall cabinet with 2x12 JBL’s…, plugged in my new 69 SG standard through an EH LPB1 and later a big muff pi! Rolled all the knobs to 10!!! Man what a sound! Lost it in a flood in 6/72, bought a Dual Showman silverface with 2x15” JBL’s!
I have an early 70's Super....Still going strong and gigged regularly. With a good dirt box, it's a Marshall stack in a box. HUGE bottom end, and the highs sparkle. When the caps leak, they have a drip pan, instead of making a mess inside the amp. They designed them to last and they do. Totally agree, best amp ever.
I have only one thing to say: its only forty watts.They should have used a twin 80 watt power amp or 100 watt dual showman power amp and they would have ruled the world...
Because of the high sparkles a dirt box sounds terrible because of the high frequencies the amp has . The amp only sounds good with the volume at least at 8 ( because than you get a little dirt in your sound ) , but that is so loud that it is only working on festival stages .
I played guitar in a Blues band from 78 to 89 and used only 2 amps, one an Ampeg Vt-40 a four ten tube monster that would take your head off in a small club and a 68 Super Reverb exactly like yours and would love to have it back again. Man, I loved that amp!
@@stevencancel1727 Goofy story but I got the Ampeg from a newspaper ad from a guy that thought it was going bad. Turns out the reverb tank had a switch that locked the reverb spring to stop it from bouncing around and the seller didn't know it was locked. I got the amp for $75.00. The speakers had even been changed out to JBL K110's.
I have a 1971 with original speakers, honestly the most perfect tone I've ever heard straight into the amp. Incredibly loud but for recording, outdoor gigs, or an amazing clean sound it can't be beat. Hopefully people keep them cheap for a while!
I have and love my ‘68 SFSR, just like this. It really is the best amp ever. The alnicos are the right speakers and really the weight isn’t that bad. Imagine it loaded with JBLs or some other ceramic speakers and that would be a killer. I have mine wired so the normal channel is in phase and has reverb as well. I run a 501 tape echo into that channel parallel mono wet/dry style and it’s just unbelievably good sounding. Best. Amp. Ever!
I bought my 68 Super Reverb in 74. I did have it serviced twice over all these years. I have experimented with different power tubes over the years. I still have the original cover. It’s been repaired several times.
I used a Super reverb and a Fender Dual Showman, The Pudin Basin Group were a Florida band. We opened for The Mccoys and other big bands and they all used our back line, because it was so good. Rick Derringer and many other great players loved the setup! ! Best amp I ever owned...
Not all Blackline Dripedge Fender's from 1968 are AB763. My 1968 Blackline Dripedge Bassman is clearly AC568 (the hybrid fixed/cathode bias circuit). If this were my amp, I would replace the 220k balancing resistors and possibly the dropping resistors with something other than carbon comp. It will be interesting to see this amp in future videos as the work progresses. Assuming the bias is in a reasonable range, the amp looks safe to power up, it would be nice to see a before and after playing test. Also, there is no reason not to replace the bias diode with a modern 1N4007. I can't remember which of my old Fenders had a 1N4002 from the factory, but I swapped it out when rebuilding the bias board.
Indeed, it's more indicative on some models than others. All evidence pointed pretty squarely to this being blackface inside so I was confident before opening her up. If you haven't yet check out the follow up video I posted this afternoon 🤙
I traded my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's straight across for a 1967 Super Reverb and don't regret that at all. Took it straight away to my local amp tech and he took care of several items for me and I got it back with a clean bill of health. It is exactly what I hoped it would be.
I think perhaps, the inside of a Fender amp is one of the best video shots there is. I look at other amps and I just shake my head and wonder how in the world they actually work in the first place.
I have a super reverb tone master, I use it to gig , record and play at church! Paired with a vintage strat and tube screamer boy it howls and barks like nobody’s business! I’ve owned many amps both fender and others, but yeah the super is the best amp I’ve played that’s for sure 😅
The “NSC” at the beginning of the part number on the choke stands for “New Sensor Corp”, which means it’s a replacement made by New Sensor (Sovtek/EH).
I bought mine in 1972 for a cool $200.00. I was told it’s around a 1967. It has one odd speaker which is a Utah speaker, the other 3 look factory. You are spot on about the sound and power if this amp. I absolutely love this amp and nothing compares to it. Have used it for more than a few shows and will never part with it. My son currently has it and loves it as well so it’s becoming a family air loom. I had it reworked about 25 years ago and I’m not sure if any of the tubes were replaced or updated.
I have that exact same amp. I just started playing it with my Les Paul and it might be the best tone I have found in many years. And really I'm a strat guy. But it almost makes it half Strat half Les Paul vibe.
My first amp was a Super Reverb but I sold it not knowing what I had at the time which was right around 1994-1995. I've been playing a 1990 Fender Bassman Reissue for a couple years now and it's far and away the best amp I've ever played through. My second favourite amp would be my 68 Princeton Reissue followed by my Marshall SV20! Cheers!
In the words of Ricky from Trailer Park Boys - “Atodaso” Out of all the amps ever made on the face of earth, the 1964 to 1968 AA/AB763 Super Reverb is my favorite. I’ve played some great Tweeds, all kinds of Marshalls, a Trainwreck…Matchless…even a Dumble modded Fender Bassman head. Sure, they’re great amps, but still…they can‘t hang imo.
Has always been the TRUE holy grail can't be beat go to amp..at least for me...could never afford one back in the day...could never find a good one once I had the $$.....congrats on your aquisition.
Had a 67 blackface super and I played jazz in the style of Wes Montgomery. Had to sell it when I moved to Tokyo but that amp was awesome. I still miss it. Next purchase would be a super reverb head matched with a 15” speaker cabinet. It’s a heavy amp so this would solve the problem. Wonderful amplifier.
I came across a deal that was too good to pass up: $900 for a '74 Fender Twin in amazing condition. I didn't need another amp but I knew I would kick myself for not jumping on it. If I came across a deal on one of these Supers I would go for it. They are *GREAT* amps and sound so good.
Hey love your video my friend I gave up a 68 drip edge back in the 90s it just wasn't what I was looking for and it needed so much work as in a complete overhaul read tubing and all new 10-inch speakers as they had been replaced by car stereo speakers which is why I got it for $100 These days I'm over 50, Stages are too quiet now, and my shoulder still hurts from working years in the trades
I have a twin reverb fender amp and it will run you out of the house add bites and barks with such power and clarity but now the super reverb I used to listen to this blind man that used to play in a group when I was a teenage boy and he had a super reverb and it was a very popular amp back in the seventies and it is a super super super good am p, is Crystal clear like the twin Reverb😮
Put the 0.047s in as the phase inverter couplers. It'll help with the subsonic bass and keep the 4x10 cab from getting too boomy. It'll be a subtle change, it'll look original at first glance, and it'll sound better than others that conform directly to the schematic.
hi, great find! ive retubed a super reverb from 1966 with an old ge at v2 for cleans with humbuckers and my secret weapon a mullard i63 at v1 for a bassman like tone at the normal channel for strats and drive. enjoy!
Great video! I've got a late '67 drip edge Deluxe Reverb with the black lines. Such a great amp. I would LOVE to have a super but they're SO heavy. And I've had many a sound men tell me to turn the Deluxe down anyways lol
So many awesome Fenders. In my case, among my collection, I have a '68 drip-edge SF Super Reverb, but also have the Tonesmaster Deluxe Reverb. Truthfully, with the adjustable power of the TM DR, it's what I use about 90% of the time during the week at home studio.
Super Reverbs are my favorite Fender amp...which is why I have 2 (a totally stock '65 and slightly modded '72). I can't believe that you lifted your SR onto the workbench so easily!
I had a decision to make. I owned a 1973 Super and a 1975 Vibrolux and had to decide which one I was going to keep, and which one I was selling. The Super was the amp of SRV, while the Vibro was the amp of choice for a guy named Roy Buchanan. So both are great amps. I kept the Vibro. I know I made the right choice for me. The older you get, the more you appreciate smaller amps.
My 1976 Super Reverb is the best sounding amp I’ve ever played at any price. Scored it at a local store for under $500, after bringing it home I haven’t shopped for another amp since.
`I still own a 1968 Fender Super Reverb that I bought new in 1968. I also have the 1968 Fender custom Telecaster to go with it. The amp also has the rare tilt back rolling side stands. It is completely original. I mean nothing has been replaced. You would need Mr. Peabody, Sherman and the way back machine to find one this nice (giving away my age here). Great amps.
That's amazing!!! How has the tone held up, having not been worked on yet? I've got an all original princeton 5f2a that still sounds great despite never being touched.
@@YeatzeeGuitar gives me hope to find a diamond some day in a Fender amp, which now makes me wish the one vintage fender I have owned(a 70s Silverface Twin) I had held onto, as it was all original....
@@YeatzeeGuitar I don't do public gigs anymore. Mostly around the house, so it does not get used as much as before. Still sounds good though. Also, I've always been careful about warming it up. It's so loud, it hardly ever got turned way up. An example of buying more amp than I probably needed. I also use a blues junior some of the time (an early USA model). Princeton's are cool amps.
@@gao1258 My father was a guitar player. He got me into this. He grew up poor and always taught me to work hard and save money and buy quality and hang on to it and take care of it. It saves money in the long run.
@@bobbydill6388 so true I just went thru 3 Epiphones, brand new, the last 3 month’s returned em all , today got a used Les Paul studio for a couple hundred more than the first Epi, Quality counts!
I had that same amp for about 15 years. 68 Super Drip. Loved it so much but had to sell it when I moved across country. Still kick myself. IMO, the Blue molded caps were nothing to write home about and I have never noticed any ill effect from replacing with high quality Orange or other. If it is an aesthetic/vintage faithful thing, have at it, but I would definitely just listen to it first and see if it sounds great. If it does, I wouldn't do anything but Electrolytics and components that are def bad. I'm a minimalist though. Man, I gotta get another Super Reverb ASAP. Best Fender ever/ only amp I really ever need.
BTW, I'm enjoying your videos, except that now after seeing the care that you put into your work, I'm going to have go back into a few of my projects and do some clean-up😮
The "Hot Dog" resistors, as you call them, look to be Dale model RN, non-magnetic metal film, and are probably the best resistors in that amp. They usually have a very tight tolerance and last forever. They are commonly used in a lot of high-end hifi power amplifiers.
Had one of these! Great amp. Ended up keeping my blackface twin instead, just had that "something" that I couldn't get out of the Super. People rip on the Twins as being "too heavy, too loud etc" but I swear my Super was more of a pain to haul around cause of the size and my Twin is 64lbs not much more than that Super
Wow, your amplifier is in excellent condition and looks brand new! Congratulations and kind regards from Mexico. I have the smallest brother, the Vibrolux Reverb black face.
I've always preferred the sound of four 10" speakers. If you think about it you have 40 inches of air displacement where's a Twin only has 24. Pro, Deluxe and Princeton even less. The Vibroverb is only 15" of air displacement. The Super just sounds better to me and I've owned everything Fender made and multiple copies of each. The Silver face and drip edge years are fairly easy to black face the components if you so desire. Had some of them too.
Fender Drip Edge Super Reverb 1968-1969 prices ranging from $1,800 - $2,700 AUS (plus shipping) on Reverb for me. I wouldnt call that super cheap. it would probably need a re-cap and have a tech look over it on top of that. great amp, but for mine an AC30C2X is still the best value amp on the market. really well made, sound amazing and are around $1,000 - $1,200
I can't speak for Australia, but supers are plentiful where I live in southern California and can easily be had for under $1800 usd. I paid 1.2 for this amp, there's a blackface for 1.8 that's been sitting for a month, all original too. I see several on reverb for local pickup under 1.5, and that's on reverb. I'm a big ac30 fan, but I'd take a vintage super over c2/x personally 🙂
A clean SF drip edge is one of the best looking amps out there. Getting your SR back to spec with better components and better work will be a fun project.
I found a killer deal on a '74 Twin Reverb that I could not pass up. It's a great amp, but it stays put where it is. I don't want to haul the amp for gigging. I'll take it out on special occasions where I can crank it up but otherwise I'll go with a more practical solution.
Glad the tube directors put your video up on my home screen. What a pleasure to have a young skilled knowledgeable music man❤ I heard that sigh with the mixed bag on the reveal. I hope you get this iconic amp straigtened out and I hear more about it. This is my first video with you so I will be on the lookout.🇬🇧☕️🎃🎸🥃
Probably somebody way down there has already brought this up, but in the Fender catalog that introduced the four-speaker Super, it said that they made it for people who liked the four-speaker Bassman, which had been discontinued.
Old technology, original circuit designed by Bell Labs. Soldano type circuits are MUCH improved and almost all modern tube amps are some variation of the original Soldano circuits.
I love Supers but the three negatives that you mentioned are the major contributers to why these amps are still affordable! Big, heavy, and loud make these difficult for many bands to gig, but you're not wrong about these being great deals for great sounding amps! Anyone looking at these could do worse than also looking at vintage Peavey and Traynor amps!
If you're recording with it, yes. If you're a gigging musician that transports his/her own equipment, no. It's a wonderful amp that you will never want to move once you find a place for it.
Clicked cause it was a Super! You are so correct. Super circuit in the preamp is a little different from the others. Why would anyone not tune that beauty with JJ’s????? It wants NOS GE’s :)
Back in early 2000s, I got my '68 in a trade. About a year later, I added a 2x12 Pro Reverb for $400. So, so stupidly sold it to get a Rivera Fandango, that I returned in about two weeks. Of course, the Pro was long gone. So, so, so stupid!
@@IL2TXGunslinger well made amps for sure, but too complicated for me. As though every knob had a push- pull and I just wanted like two solid channels. Not for me in the end.
In the mid 70's , when I started learning to play guitar, my teacher had a Super reverb and a Ampeg stack. And to learn to play I used his Rickenbacker 360. Not bad wsy to start learning. I ended up a Twin fan owing my current Pro Tube Twiw since 96. But its still not my fav. These days it ends up being a Hotone Mojo Diamond (Fender Tweed) head on a 1-12 Celesion equipped cabinet. Loud enough clean enough and paid a grand total of $ 60 for the whole thing. Enough for on stage volume and just run my sound through my pedalboard and D I through F O H. Lets this 64 yr old carrying a 20lb cab w/ head stuck in back on cab. Leave the 100 lb Twin or Boogie in a road case back in storage. Both on wheels but who cares they are still too heavy. But its what I grew up with then. Now don't need all that any more.
I use mine ('68 SF, drip-edge) by itself, and with my' 68 Leslie model 10. Can't think of a better amp to power it with. Since the Leslie preamp takes just the mids from the SR, I crank them and the Leslie punches through better, while the 4x10s get everything else.
I have one. It’s a 70 and there is no doubt it has a unique mojo. Folks think, I surmise, it’s to heavy and big to gig (as they play in their basements and garages). So I have an Imperial (which is a deluxe) a vibrolux and the super. Bigger, yes! Heavier? Well mine is 9lbs heavier than the vibroluxe. So I have casters. How about hum and snap? Yeah a bit more noise until I had the folks at Victoria amps replace some caps and tubes. The ability to feel an amp from clean to overdriven is special about these and Derek Trucks is a devotee. So right now if you find a bargain consider adding one..
My bud has a (I think) Drip Edge AA764 1968 Princeton Reverb that he’ll sell me for $800. It’s in rough shape but everything works and sounds incredible. Is it worth it?
I firmly believe that "the best" of any musical instrument, be it a guitar or amp depends on the music you intend to play and where you intend to play it. What works best for me would probably be sadly lacking for 99% of those watching this video.
My Rivera Clubster Royale is basically a custom version of this amp with SIlent Recording features, etc. Killer amp! Of course, there are many, many woes that people go through with vintage amps, if you can even get one. I wouldn't say around 2k is 'Cheap' either. I'd take my modern version of the amp, with its reliability and cost as compared to one of these, unless I got it for around $800, because I'll have to replace filter caps, capacitors, etc.
I beg to differ. My tiny Blackstar ID Core stereo 40 is a great small amp and when i plug it into my full surround sound receiver I get all the tones the Fender has and a few more with my guitar that has a hand made custom made extended pick guard loaded with 3 quad rail humbuckers wires like a 50's Les Paul with coil splits. and With the P/P 500k ohm Vol and tone pots .047 orange drop tone caps the bridge tone pot also P/P for activating the bridge and neck P/U's together regardless of the 5-way switch Position. I can get many more tones that any other rig without any pedals Eat your heart out as this is my very first build/mod of a guitar. lol.
Good Day. Excellent. However, someone personally did actually build this amp, long , long ago. History. About a year ago, I bought a New '65 Reissue Super Reverb. I've always loved these amps and I don't know why I never bought one before. Good, bad, or otherwise. I'm completely satisfied with mine. I'm primarily a drummer since 1963, so what do I know? I wish that I hadn't sold my Marshall JCM-900 12x2 100W/50W combo amp that I bought new in 1994, I think it was. I broke my rule. When you buy something, Keep It! There's a reason why you bought it. Anyway, thank you. Very well presented. I just subscribed. Best Regards.
Big Fender amps are super cheap right now, and they are incredibly good amps suited to a variety of genres. They are built like tanks, and they love pedals, too. Great vid.
I have the exact same 68 Super with the black drip edge, same Alnicos, bought it in 1980 from a preacher whose church bought it new, they used it to deliver sermons 😂
@@YeatzeeGuitar I have played in hard since high school.but I have taken very good care of it. I finally quit gigging in back in the 90s. It has the original vinyl cover, speakers, and no tears in the Rolex of grill cloth. It was recapped and re-tubed once and probably needs new caps now. Cleanest blackface I have ever seen.
while have going full on roland gk style for what i do i have to say my old 72 super reverb was the best tube amp i have owned it takes to effect pedals amazingly as the "clean" tone is to die for and the trem and verb are lush as can be ..... the tone pairs with well with psychedelic's ;)
There is a 71 for sale locally by me, priced right too. Ive read that those Schumacher transformers can't be reproduced, materials that went into making them are no longer available. Best ever in the world for guitar amplifiers, period.
Ya man these things are the best, the main reason I don't gig with my super reverb is because that thing is heavy. The only times a use it is at private parties where we are playing multiple sets.
BTW, You also may want to check out the high drifted values on the phase inverter versus the "correct values". The highest resistance should make for a bit more gain going into the output tubes. Might make for another cool before and after video
Yeah I thought about it, the values were just so off it made me a bit uncomfortable. I kept the resistors just in case so you're right maybe a test once she's healthy.
Although I do agree, it’s an absolutely fantastic amplifier, and for a loud pedal platform there is nothing better. But what gets me is the size and weight. For me nothing beats the blackface deluxe or Princeton.
Size and weight are definitely a factor... but so is price. A BF PR / DR is going to cost quite a bit more. Hearing them side by side as well, a super will always sound much bigger regardless of volume. BUT those amps are great too, but IMO not as great 😉
Hi....It is nice to know that theres still someone out there that cares enough to see things done right. Im a 73yr. old guitar player from Portland who was a Michael Bloomfield biographer. I play an Eastman LP and a Reverend Eastsider. Is it possible that I could send you a Champ, Princeton, or Ampeg Jet2 (all just hypothetical examples that I own or want -- I also have an excellent Mesa Single Rectifier Id like to sell for $1000) and have you upgrade shoddy workmanship? Just as a guide, how much would you charge for the work on the Super you featured in this video? Thank you! This was most interesting even for a largely non-technical person like myself.
Hear the amp CRANKED: th-cam.com/video/STLkMa9v_Es/w-d-xo.html
An excellent demo of just playing and listening for a good while.
My dad (God bless his hard working soul) bought me a Princeton Reverb and anew telecaster in 1978. I think he got tired of me blowing up the stereo speakers on his hi-fi. lol
Sounds like your dad was a good guy.
@@jimdep6542 he sure was. Thd longer I live the more I see it.
god bless him!
Even the Silverface and the Pull-volume boost (when not using the boost) Princetons have the same tone circuit as the Blackface AA1164. It's the one amp CBS didn't really mess with. I have a 79 pull-boost and it's amazing. Keep your 78 my friend.
Good Dad.. my dad bought me a 73 tele for all of MY hard work.
You are 100% correct. Played the same one professionally for twenty years without and issue. Freshened up the tubes with stock tubes periodically and had to change one speaker. Great amp! I retired it to the house for a 57 twin.
I’ve had an AB763 ‘68 Super Reverb since ‘73. After countless rivals have come & gone since it’s still the best amp I’ve ever played.
I bought an almost mint 1968 Super Reverb about 5 years ago for less than what a reissue was going for at the time. It was a no brainer. Same speakers as yours. Needed some minor work as expected. It's one of the best amps I've played. Heavy and loud. No regrets.
Hell yeah! Same here, this one cost me $1200. I just looked, and a new reissue BEFORE TAX is $1k more... 😳
My first professional amp was a 68 band master with the tall cabinet with 2x12 JBL’s…, plugged in my new 69 SG standard through an EH LPB1 and later a big muff pi! Rolled all the knobs to 10!!! Man what a sound! Lost it in a flood in 6/72, bought a Dual Showman silverface with 2x15” JBL’s!
I have an early 70's Super....Still going strong and gigged regularly. With a good dirt box, it's a Marshall stack in a box. HUGE bottom end, and the highs sparkle. When the caps leak, they have a drip pan, instead of making a mess inside the amp. They designed them to last and they do. Totally agree, best amp ever.
I have only one thing to say: its only forty watts.They should have used a twin 80 watt power amp or 100 watt dual showman power amp and they would have ruled the world...
@@johnnybradin5112its just not neccesary. But I guess they could've just done a head amp
Because of the high sparkles a dirt box sounds terrible because of the high frequencies the amp has .
The amp only sounds good with the volume at least at 8 ( because than you get a little dirt in your sound ) , but that is so loud that it is only working on festival stages .
I played guitar in a Blues band from 78 to 89 and used only 2 amps, one an Ampeg Vt-40 a four ten tube monster that would take your head off in a small club and a 68 Super Reverb exactly like yours and would love to have it back again. Man, I loved that amp!
VT-40 7027As !!!!!
I have both as well, and they are awesome
@@stevencancel1727 Goofy story but I got the Ampeg from a newspaper ad from a guy that thought it was going bad. Turns out the reverb tank had a switch that locked the reverb spring to stop it from bouncing around and the seller didn't know it was locked. I got the amp for $75.00. The speakers had even been changed out to JBL K110's.
I have a 1971 with original speakers, honestly the most perfect tone I've ever heard straight into the amp. Incredibly loud but for recording, outdoor gigs, or an amazing clean sound it can't be beat. Hopefully people keep them cheap for a while!
I have and love my ‘68 SFSR, just like this. It really is the best amp ever. The alnicos are the right speakers and really the weight isn’t that bad. Imagine it loaded with JBLs or some other ceramic speakers and that would be a killer. I have mine wired so the normal channel is in phase and has reverb as well. I run a 501 tape echo into that channel parallel mono wet/dry style and it’s just unbelievably good sounding. Best. Amp. Ever!
Wow what a cool rig! Dang would love to hear that!
I’m servicing the tape echo but will do some recordings when I’m done and I’ll share the link. Keep up the good work!
@@kevinafflack Right on!
I bought my 68 Super Reverb in 74. I did have it serviced twice over all these years. I have experimented with different power tubes over the years.
I still have the original cover. It’s been repaired several times.
I have one. Ink stamped 51st week ‘67. Awesome amp!
Rad! What speakers are in yours?
I used a Super reverb and a Fender Dual Showman, The Pudin Basin Group were a Florida band. We opened for The Mccoys and other big bands and they all used our back line, because it was so good. Rick Derringer and many other great players loved the setup! ! Best amp I ever owned...
Nice!
Not all Blackline Dripedge Fender's from 1968 are AB763. My 1968 Blackline Dripedge Bassman is clearly AC568 (the hybrid fixed/cathode bias circuit). If this were my amp, I would replace the 220k balancing resistors and possibly the dropping resistors with something other than carbon comp. It will be interesting to see this amp in future videos as the work progresses. Assuming the bias is in a reasonable range, the amp looks safe to power up, it would be nice to see a before and after playing test. Also, there is no reason not to replace the bias diode with a modern 1N4007. I can't remember which of my old Fenders had a 1N4002 from the factory, but I swapped it out when rebuilding the bias board.
Indeed, it's more indicative on some models than others. All evidence pointed pretty squarely to this being blackface inside so I was confident before opening her up.
If you haven't yet check out the follow up video I posted this afternoon 🤙
Best damn amp Fender ever built for lead. Nice surviving example….dont ever sell it. Leave it to your grandson…
Super Reverbs are holy grail amps in my opinion.
Holy grail performance for low pricing, amazing!
What about Fender 1966 Vibrolux Reverb with two 10s?????
I have a 65. Great amp, but infinitely harder to come by and when you do see one, the price is 3x that of a super.
I traded my 2020 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's straight across for a 1967 Super Reverb and don't regret that at all. Took it straight away to my local amp tech and he took care of several items for me and I got it back with a clean bill of health. It is exactly what I hoped it would be.
Wow! You got screwed and I hate Gibsons.
@@Panic42000 thanks for stoppin by to practice your comedy routine.
@@Panic42000 you managed to squeeze two inane comments into one.
I think perhaps, the inside of a Fender amp is one of the best video shots there is. I look at other amps and I just shake my head and wonder how in the world they actually work in the first place.
I have a super reverb tone master, I use it to gig , record and play at church! Paired with a vintage strat and tube screamer boy it howls and barks like nobody’s business! I’ve owned many amps both fender and others, but yeah the super is the best amp I’ve played that’s for sure 😅
The “NSC” at the beginning of the part number on the choke stands for “New Sensor Corp”, which means it’s a replacement made by New Sensor (Sovtek/EH).
Good to know!
I bought mine in 1972 for a cool $200.00. I was told it’s around a 1967. It has one odd speaker which is a Utah speaker, the other 3 look factory. You are spot on about the sound and power if this amp. I absolutely love this amp and nothing compares to it. Have used it for more than a few shows and will never part with it. My son currently has it and loves it as well so it’s becoming a family air loom. I had it reworked about 25 years ago and I’m not sure if any of the tubes were replaced or updated.
That's amazing!
I have that exact same amp. I just started playing it with my Les Paul and it might be the best tone I have found in many years. And really I'm a strat guy. But it almost makes it half Strat half Les Paul vibe.
I'm a big fan of these,played them over 50 years,no amp is the "Best" this model was great for what I needed. 67,and still playing.Cheers
My first amp was a Super Reverb but I sold it not knowing what I had at the time which was right around 1994-1995. I've been playing a 1990 Fender Bassman Reissue for a couple years now and it's far and away the best amp I've ever played through. My second favourite amp would be my 68 Princeton Reissue followed by my Marshall SV20! Cheers!
In the words of Ricky from Trailer Park Boys - “Atodaso”
Out of all the amps ever made on the face of earth, the 1964 to 1968 AA/AB763 Super Reverb is my favorite. I’ve played some great Tweeds, all kinds of Marshalls, a Trainwreck…Matchless…even a Dumble modded Fender Bassman head. Sure, they’re great amps, but still…they can‘t hang imo.
Excited to finally own one!
Has always been the TRUE holy grail can't be beat go to amp..at least for me...could never afford one back in the day...could never find a good one once I had the $$.....congrats on your aquisition.
Had a 67 blackface super and I played jazz in the style of Wes Montgomery. Had to sell it when I moved to Tokyo but that amp was awesome. I still miss it. Next purchase would be a super reverb head matched with a 15” speaker cabinet. It’s a heavy amp so this would solve the problem. Wonderful amplifier.
I came across a deal that was too good to pass up: $900 for a '74 Fender Twin in amazing condition. I didn't need another amp but I knew I would kick myself for not jumping on it. If I came across a deal on one of these Supers I would go for it. They are *GREAT* amps and sound so good.
Hey love your video my friend I gave up a 68 drip edge back in the 90s it just wasn't what I was looking for and it needed so much work as in a complete overhaul read tubing and all new 10-inch speakers as they had been replaced by car stereo speakers which is why I got it for $100
These days I'm over 50,
Stages are too quiet now, and my shoulder still hurts from working years in the trades
I have a twin reverb fender amp and it will run you out of the house add bites and barks with such power and clarity but now the super reverb I used to listen to this blind man that used to play in a group when I was a teenage boy and he had a super reverb and it was a very popular amp back in the seventies and it is a super super super good am p, is Crystal clear like the twin Reverb😮
Put the 0.047s in as the phase inverter couplers. It'll help with the subsonic bass and keep the 4x10 cab from getting too boomy. It'll be a subtle change, it'll look original at first glance, and it'll sound better than others that conform directly to the schematic.
Don't mind that idea one bit!
hi, great find! ive retubed a super reverb from 1966 with an old ge at v2 for cleans with humbuckers and my secret weapon a mullard i63 at v1 for a bassman like tone at the normal channel for strats and drive. enjoy!
Nice!!
Great video! I've got a late '67 drip edge Deluxe Reverb with the black lines. Such a great amp. I would LOVE to have a super but they're SO heavy. And I've had many a sound men tell me to turn the Deluxe down anyways lol
So many awesome Fenders. In my case, among my collection, I have a '68 drip-edge SF Super Reverb, but also have the Tonesmaster Deluxe Reverb.
Truthfully, with the adjustable power of the TM DR, it's what I use about 90% of the time during the week at home studio.
Cool video man. Always interesting to see the guts of these amps. They sure are darn heavy too
Super Reverbs are my favorite Fender amp...which is why I have 2 (a totally stock '65 and slightly modded '72). I can't believe that you lifted your SR onto the workbench so easily!
Awesome!! Haha it's definitely not the easiest amp to get on the workbench!
I had a decision to make. I owned a 1973 Super and a 1975 Vibrolux and had to decide which one I was going to keep, and which one I was selling. The Super was the amp of SRV, while the Vibro was the amp of choice for a guy named Roy Buchanan. So both are great amps. I kept the Vibro. I know I made the right choice for me. The older you get, the more you appreciate smaller amps.
My 1976 Super Reverb is the best sounding amp I’ve ever played at any price. Scored it at a local store for under $500, after bringing it home I haven’t shopped for another amp since.
`I still own a 1968 Fender Super Reverb that I bought new in 1968. I also have the 1968 Fender custom Telecaster to go with it. The amp also has the rare tilt back rolling side stands. It is completely original. I mean nothing has been replaced. You would need Mr. Peabody, Sherman and the way back machine to find one this nice (giving away my age here). Great amps.
That's amazing!!! How has the tone held up, having not been worked on yet? I've got an all original princeton 5f2a that still sounds great despite never being touched.
@@YeatzeeGuitar gives me hope to find a diamond some day in a Fender amp, which now makes me wish the one vintage fender I have owned(a 70s Silverface Twin) I had held onto, as it was all original....
@@YeatzeeGuitar I don't do public gigs anymore. Mostly around the house, so it does not get used as much as before. Still sounds good though. Also, I've always been careful about warming it up. It's so loud, it hardly ever got turned way up. An example of buying more amp than I probably needed. I also use a blues junior some of the time (an early USA model). Princeton's are cool amps.
@@gao1258 My father was a guitar player. He got me into this. He grew up poor and always taught me to work hard and save money and buy quality and hang on to it and take care of it. It saves money in the long run.
@@bobbydill6388 so true I just went thru 3 Epiphones, brand new, the last 3 month’s returned em all , today got a used Les Paul studio for a couple hundred more than the first Epi, Quality counts!
I had that same amp for about 15 years. 68 Super Drip. Loved it so much but had to sell it when I moved across country. Still kick myself. IMO, the Blue molded caps were nothing to write home about and I have never noticed any ill effect from replacing with high quality Orange or other. If it is an aesthetic/vintage faithful thing, have at it, but I would definitely just listen to it first and see if it sounds great. If it does, I wouldn't do anything but Electrolytics and components that are def bad. I'm a minimalist though. Man, I gotta get another Super Reverb ASAP. Best Fender ever/ only amp I really ever need.
I got a 64 Super with the same speakers as yours (67). Killer amp.
BTW, I'm enjoying your videos, except that now after seeing the care that you put into your work, I'm going to have go back into a few of my projects and do some clean-up😮
😆🤙
Had one in the late 60s, wish I still had it.
I only play Roland cubes just to irritate people that tell me which amp to buy
Please tell me you run two in stereo...
@@MrGibsn1960 I run three ,,"TREREO"!
I like your style. Bold move!!
Me too!! And they sound great!
Justin Johnson often plays through one, no complaints about his tone! There is something about two speakers singing together - four even better?
The "Hot Dog" resistors, as you call them, look to be Dale model RN, non-magnetic metal film, and are probably the best resistors in that amp. They usually have a very tight tolerance and last forever. They are commonly used in a lot of high-end hifi power amplifiers.
Had one of these! Great amp. Ended up keeping my blackface twin instead, just had that "something" that I couldn't get out of the Super. People rip on the Twins as being "too heavy, too loud etc" but I swear my Super was more of a pain to haul around cause of the size and my Twin is 64lbs not much more than that Super
It's the height that makes the super a bit goofy to carry I think
Wow, your amplifier is in excellent condition and looks brand new!
Congratulations and kind regards from Mexico.
I have the smallest brother, the Vibrolux Reverb black face.
Vibrolux Reverbs are amazing amps! Love mine
I've always preferred the sound of four 10" speakers. If you think about it you have 40 inches of air displacement where's a Twin only has 24. Pro, Deluxe and Princeton even less. The Vibroverb is only 15" of air displacement. The Super just sounds better to me and I've owned everything Fender made and multiple copies of each. The Silver face and drip edge years are fairly easy to black face the components if you so desire. Had some of them too.
WoW this amps sounded AMAZING
@@CrazyKnkb th-cam.com/video/STLkMa9v_Es/w-d-xo.htmlsi=tyfvuCmqltS63CuQ
I have a black line 68 as well and you are 100% correct my man…I play mine all the time at small bars on 4 … no problem wish I could go to 6
😂
Fender Drip Edge Super Reverb 1968-1969 prices ranging from $1,800 - $2,700 AUS (plus shipping) on Reverb for me. I wouldnt call that super cheap. it would probably need a re-cap and have a tech look over it on top of that. great amp, but for mine an AC30C2X is still the best value amp on the market. really well made, sound amazing and are around $1,000 - $1,200
I can't speak for Australia, but supers are plentiful where I live in southern California and can easily be had for under $1800 usd. I paid 1.2 for this amp, there's a blackface for 1.8 that's been sitting for a month, all original too. I see several on reverb for local pickup under 1.5, and that's on reverb. I'm a big ac30 fan, but I'd take a vintage super over c2/x personally 🙂
65-66' Marshall JTM 45 IS the amp that is the benchmark of all things rock...
Totally agree
Derek Trucks sent Duane Betts one of his Super Reverbs because Duane loved the way it sounded. Duane has been using it on the road ever since.
A clean SF drip edge is one of the best looking amps out there. Getting your SR back to spec with better components and better work will be a fun project.
Check out the other videos in the series if you get a chance :)
I found a killer deal on a '74 Twin Reverb that I could not pass up. It's a great amp, but it stays put where it is. I don't want to haul the amp for gigging. I'll take it out on special occasions where I can crank it up but otherwise I'll go with a more practical solution.
Watching this video was very nice and I learned something new.
What????
Yeahh Lol I had one too, but then I swaped for the 1964 blackface, both are amazing!
Glad the tube directors put your video up on my home screen. What a pleasure to have a young skilled knowledgeable music man❤ I heard that sigh with the mixed bag on the reveal. I hope you get this iconic amp straigtened out and I hear more about it. This is my first video with you so I will be on the lookout.🇬🇧☕️🎃🎸🥃
🙏Thanks!
Probably somebody way down there has already brought this up, but in the Fender catalog that introduced the four-speaker Super, it said that they made it for people who liked the four-speaker Bassman, which had been discontinued.
Old technology, original circuit designed by Bell Labs.
Soldano type circuits are MUCH improved and almost all modern tube amps are some variation of the original Soldano circuits.
I love Supers but the three negatives that you mentioned are the major contributers to why these amps are still affordable! Big, heavy, and loud make these difficult for many bands to gig, but you're not wrong about these being great deals for great sounding amps! Anyone looking at these could do worse than also looking at vintage Peavey and Traynor amps!
Peavey Classic 30 you mean????
I just picked one up for $200 on offerup!!!!!!!! Yah brother.
Blackface Super and a Strat, a match made in heaven. Love my '63. Inexpensive ? Not that I've seen
63 super? Brownface? They're super plentiful here in SoCal, any given day there's at least a few under 2k sitting for a month +. I paid 1.2
If you're recording with it, yes. If you're a gigging musician that transports his/her own equipment, no. It's a wonderful amp that you will never want to move once you find a place for it.
Really dig mine, it kicks ass ! Also my 59 bassman
Clicked cause it was a Super! You are so correct. Super circuit in the preamp is a little different from the others.
Why would anyone not tune that beauty with JJ’s????? It wants NOS GE’s :)
Yeah a bit sad to see all JJ's
Back in early 2000s, I got my '68 in a trade. About a year later, I added a 2x12 Pro Reverb for $400. So, so stupidly sold it to get a Rivera Fandango, that I returned in about two weeks. Of course, the Pro was long gone. So, so, so stupid!
@@PaulSter If you've been around long enough - it'll happen to everyone.; Rivera's were hot then.
@@IL2TXGunslinger well made amps for sure, but too complicated for me. As though every knob had a push- pull and I just wanted like two solid channels. Not for me in the end.
@@IL2TXGunslinger thanks. Yep, good point, Riveras were all over.
got my super reverb last year, (a 77 Ultralinear), and it freakin rules, always wanted one since seeing yo la tengo live years ago.
In the mid 70's , when I started learning to play guitar, my teacher had a Super reverb and a Ampeg stack. And to learn to play I used his Rickenbacker 360. Not bad wsy to start learning. I ended up a Twin fan owing my current Pro Tube Twiw since 96. But its still not my fav. These days it ends up being a Hotone Mojo Diamond (Fender Tweed) head on a 1-12 Celesion equipped cabinet. Loud enough clean enough and paid a grand total of $ 60 for the whole thing. Enough for on stage volume and just run my sound through my pedalboard and D I through F O H. Lets this 64 yr old carrying a 20lb cab w/ head stuck in back on cab. Leave the 100 lb Twin or Boogie in a road case back in storage. Both on wheels but who cares they are still too heavy. But its what I grew up with then. Now don't need all that any more.
I use mine ('68 SF, drip-edge) by itself, and with my' 68 Leslie model 10. Can't think of a better amp to power it with. Since the Leslie preamp takes just the mids from the SR, I crank them and the Leslie punches through better, while the 4x10s get everything else.
I have one. It’s a 70 and there is no doubt it has a unique mojo. Folks think, I surmise, it’s to heavy and big to gig (as they play in their basements and garages). So I have an Imperial (which is a deluxe) a vibrolux and the super. Bigger, yes! Heavier? Well mine is 9lbs heavier than the vibroluxe.
So I have casters.
How about hum and snap? Yeah a bit more noise until I had the folks at Victoria amps replace some caps and tubes.
The ability to feel an amp from clean to overdriven is special about these and Derek Trucks is a devotee.
So right now if you find a bargain consider adding one..
My bud has a (I think) Drip Edge AA764 1968 Princeton Reverb that he’ll sell me for $800. It’s in rough shape but everything works and sounds incredible. Is it worth it?
Uhhh YES!
I had a 66 Super Reverb...
Absolutely loved it!!
Unfortunately l left it plugged in during a thunderstorm!
Lightning got it and fried it to a crisp!!
That's insane! Wow how sad
I firmly believe that "the best" of any musical instrument, be it a guitar or amp depends on the music you intend to play and where you intend to play it.
What works best for me would probably be sadly lacking for 99% of those watching this video.
My Rivera Clubster Royale is basically a custom version of this amp with SIlent Recording features, etc. Killer amp! Of course, there are many, many woes that people go through with vintage amps, if you can even get one. I wouldn't say around 2k is 'Cheap' either. I'd take my modern version of the amp, with its reliability and cost as compared to one of these, unless I got it for around $800, because I'll have to replace filter caps, capacitors, etc.
Never heard of that amp, I'll look it up!
23:48 I hoped this was 2 yr old I found on my feed, but it's 2 days old so I have to wait now on live for the next video.
Subscribed.
😂 We're in real time, filming the next vid in the series tonight after work!
Refetencing to 5:50, it's good to have a "blackline" in your backline! 😉
Oh how I wish I never sold all my pro stuff I was wise enough to keep a 1974 Martin D 28 S and it’ sounds amazing ❤
Fender AMPLIFIERS ARE GREAT MY FIRST AMP WAS A FENDER WITH A 4 12 BOTTOM 1976 I BOUGHT IT ! I WISH I STILL HAD THAT AMP it was a late 60,s amp
I have the Super Twin Reverb.
Had it gone through by Torres Engineering.
180 Watts.
JJ's Tubes.
Yep, we both o.k.
If I remember correctly, the Fleet Foxes use a Super Reverb and their guitars sound truly GREAT.
Vintage Twin Reverbs are also very cheap. The Super and Twin are great amps if you can deal with the size, weight and volume.
I beg to differ. My tiny Blackstar ID Core stereo 40 is a great small amp and when i plug it into my full surround sound receiver I get all the tones the Fender has and a few more with my guitar that has a hand made custom made extended pick guard loaded with 3 quad rail humbuckers wires like a 50's Les Paul with coil splits. and With the P/P 500k ohm Vol and tone pots .047 orange drop tone caps the bridge tone pot also P/P for activating the bridge and neck P/U's together regardless of the 5-way switch Position. I can get many more tones that any other rig without any pedals Eat your heart out as this is my very first build/mod of a guitar. lol.
Man, what a nice rig 👍🏽 i bet she’s tone for days and that being with plenty of volume!
There's a Twin on Poulsbo's CL for relatively cheap that's tempting me.
(Also a Bantam Bass)...thanks for the dive into the Super.
I came so close to buying a twin the other day as well, also super cheap but the seller sold it out from under me after we planned out a meeting.
All my favorite players, Jimmie Vaughn, Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl play a super reverb. I want one also.
I remember this amp, awesome!
Good Day. Excellent. However, someone personally did actually build this amp, long , long ago. History. About a year ago, I bought a New '65 Reissue Super Reverb. I've always loved these amps and I don't know why I never bought one before. Good, bad, or otherwise. I'm completely satisfied with mine. I'm primarily a drummer since 1963, so what do I know? I wish that I hadn't sold my Marshall JCM-900 12x2 100W/50W combo amp that I bought new in 1994, I think it was. I broke my rule. When you buy something, Keep It! There's a reason why you bought it. Anyway, thank you. Very well presented. I just subscribed.
Best Regards.
Cheers thanks!
@@YeatzeeGuitar Thank You. Really enjoy your videos.
Big Fender amps are super cheap right now, and they are incredibly good amps suited to a variety of genres. They are built like tanks, and they love pedals, too. Great vid.
Well said!
Super cheap???
I don't know where you're shopping but let me know I'd like to get my hands on one. Oh my god .
They're a dime a dozen under 2k. I paid 1.2k and I don't even consider that an amazing deal
I have the exact same 68 Super with the black drip edge, same Alnicos, bought it in 1980 from a preacher whose church bought it new, they used it to deliver sermons 😂
Amazing!
I have a 1967 blackface bought from high school classmate for $125. My touchstone for guitar amps.
😯
@@YeatzeeGuitar I have played in hard since high school.but I have taken very good care of it. I finally quit gigging in back in the 90s. It has the original vinyl cover, speakers, and no tears in the Rolex of grill cloth. It was recapped and re-tubed once and probably needs new caps now. Cleanest blackface I have ever seen.
while have going full on roland gk style for what i do i have to say my old 72 super reverb was the best tube amp i have owned
it takes to effect pedals amazingly as the "clean" tone is to die for and the trem and verb are lush as can be .....
the tone pairs with well with psychedelic's ;)
That's my holy grail. Hell, even the tonemaster version.
There is a 71 for sale locally by me, priced right too. Ive read that those Schumacher transformers can't be reproduced, materials that went into making them are no longer available. Best ever in the world for guitar amplifiers, period.
Yep, something special about those original OT's
Ya man these things are the best, the main reason I don't gig with my super reverb is because that thing is heavy. The only times a use it is at private parties where we are playing multiple sets.
BTW, You also may want to check out the high drifted values on the phase inverter versus the "correct values". The highest resistance should make for a bit more gain going into the output tubes. Might make for another cool before and after video
Yeah I thought about it, the values were just so off it made me a bit uncomfortable. I kept the resistors just in case so you're right maybe a test once she's healthy.
The older Vox valvetronix hybrid amps with the real 12x7A tubes in them unbeatable plain and simple
shout out for SF Twins of the same age :). even cheaper then the Supers
Also cool amps, but I prefer the super. Something about those 4x10's and a less output
I had its latter day clone …. A deville and I got rid it it because it sounded solid state
Thought you might play it.......I have a 64 and I love it!
Check out the series playlist in the description, I play the amp in a follow up video :)
Although I do agree, it’s an absolutely fantastic amplifier, and for a loud pedal platform there is nothing better. But what gets me is the size and weight. For me nothing beats the blackface deluxe or Princeton.
Size and weight are definitely a factor... but so is price. A BF PR / DR is going to cost quite a bit more. Hearing them side by side as well, a super will always sound much bigger regardless of volume. BUT those amps are great too, but IMO not as great 😉
Hi....It is nice to know that theres still someone out there that cares enough to see things done right. Im a 73yr. old guitar player from Portland who was a Michael Bloomfield biographer. I play an Eastman LP and a Reverend Eastsider. Is it possible that I could send you a Champ, Princeton, or Ampeg Jet2 (all just hypothetical examples that I own or want -- I also have an excellent Mesa Single Rectifier Id like to sell for $1000) and have you upgrade shoddy workmanship? Just as a guide, how much would you charge for the work on the Super you featured in this video? Thank you! This was most interesting even for a largely non-technical person like myself.
Thanks! It's say most repairs like this would run in the ~$250 range, parts included.
Whoever stole the BM caps may have stolen the RCA tubes too.
🫤
Love it!!! Good Job Yeatzee
🙏🙏