Fender Super-Sonic 22 head & 2 x 12 cabinet for surf sound?

MelodiousThunk

Joined: Feb 11, 2023
Posts: 10

Posted on Feb 11 2023 02:54 PM

When I was a teenager, I was really into listening to surf music. Now, in my forties, I have been bitten by the surf bug again. I am looking to purchase a decent amp for surf guitar sometime in the next year or so. I was wondering if the Fender Super-Sonic 22 and its matching 2 x 12 cabinet might be a good choice? I have read that the Fender Super-Sonic 60 had a fairly convincing surf sound. But, I haven’t been able to find anything on the Fender Super-Sonic 22. Any input on the Fender Super-Sonic 22 as a surf amp would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Tqi

Joined: Dec 07, 2014
Posts: 1222
2 Security Pins

Posted on Feb 11 2023 03:37 PM

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Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:59:25

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MelodiousThunk

Joined: Feb 11, 2023
Posts: 10

Posted on Feb 11 2023 04:24 PM

I was thinking that the 22 might be a viable option as it is a tube amp with a closed back speaker cabinet (I prefer the closed back sound). And, the amp seems to be a bit of a “Swiss Army Knife” in that it is able to cover a lot of different sonic ground. I am just wondering if it has a lot of clean headroom? And, if its clean sound sounds good for surf? I would be sticking a Fender tube reverb in front of the amp.

Last edited: Feb 11, 2023 18:17:32

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4542
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2023 12:25 AM

Unless you are playing very large venues, 22 watts should do the trick. The only caveat would be it the negative feedback loop has too large of a resistor value, which would lower headroom. I have a ‘68 Custom Deluxe Reverb which had deliberately lowered headroom, but by adding a second negative feedback resistor, of the same value, in parallel, the headroom was restored.

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The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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MelodiousThunk

Joined: Feb 11, 2023
Posts: 10

Posted on Feb 12 2023 01:05 AM

Thanks for the info. If I played a large venue, I would just mic the cab.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4542
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2023 01:16 AM

MelodiousThunk wrote:

Thanks for the info. If I played a large venue, I would just mic the cab.

A man after my own heart. I tend to use amps in the 5 - 15 watt range, and let the PA do the rest.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 532
Central VA
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2023 04:06 PM

If you haven't played through one yet, be sure to do so before buying it. I had one - albeit a 1x12 combo - and found it overly bright no matter what guitar I used or what pickups it had in it. Like running the treble on 2 bright. I had it modded to change out some caps and let more of the bass frequencies through, and that helped, but I was still regularly running the treble controls on 3-4 to control the tone.

IMO you'd do better to look for any other amp. I really hated the one I had. A lot. In the last 25-30 years, it's the only amp I ever sold, and I practically gave it away just to get it out of my sight.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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MelodiousThunk

Joined: Feb 11, 2023
Posts: 10

Posted on Feb 12 2023 08:25 PM

I don’t know of any 22’s that are local. So, I would make sure that I would be able to return it. I most likely won’t be pulling the trigger on anything for quite some time. I have also been toying with the idea of another Quilter. I have owned two Mach 2 combos in the past. I am thinking that the new Mach 3 or the Steelaire might be good options.

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futureboy

Joined: Aug 28, 2008
Posts: 115
East Coast
United States

Posted on Feb 12 2023 09:10 PM

I think Surfer Joe uses a Quilter Tone Block 202 for touring. If I had the scratch that would be my next amp.

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 532
Central VA
United States

Posted on Feb 13 2023 10:23 AM

I'm not sure what model he had when I saw him in October in Nashville, but it was definitely a Quilter.

futureboy wrote:

I think Surfer Joe uses a Quilter Tone Block 202 for touring. If I had the scratch that would be my next amp.

—

--
Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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MelodiousThunk

Joined: Feb 11, 2023
Posts: 10

Posted on Feb 14 2023 12:54 PM

I could a 202 being used as a surf amp. They get stay very clean, and sound good at high volumes. The Mach 3 just seems like it would be a better deal.

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MayTheFuzzBeWithYou

Joined: May 03, 2020
Posts: 49
Austria

Posted on Feb 21 2023 05:40 PM

The Supersonic 22 would even come with built in Reverb… maybe a Surfy Pan fits it - in case the stock one isn‘t drippy enough?
I can only really commment on the old 60 Watt version of it (no Reverb but great punchy Bassman tones - and the Vibrolux sounds are sooo lush (if only there wasn‘t such a nasty volume drop between the two modes) - oh and these cabs are great indeed! At least I was very happy with it for the last 14 years… (if you should end up with… let‘s say a handbuilt Bassman clone - these cabs are still worth pursuing!)

so the 22 might be the Deluxe Reverb version of it) - clean headroom might be an issue indeed. Another version to increase it - is changing the preamp tube for a 12AY7 - this really helped mine to get the volumes under control.

…I really wished Fender would come along with the 63 Custom Reverb - Blonde/Oxblood version at this year‘s NAMM - basically like the Supersonic - but with two clean channels, a surfy reverb and the harmonic trem (no high gain channel) - and in a few different „sizes“.

—

TENTACULA: Garage-Psych-Heavy-Surf-Rock
Tentacula @ Bandcamp Tentacula @ Instagram Tentacula @ Facebook my gear collection @ instagram

Neigungsgruppe Federhall
Neigungsgruppe Federhall @ Instagram

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MelodiousThunk Joined: Feb 11, 2023 Posts: 10	Posted on Feb 11 2023 02:54 PM When I was a teenager, I was really into listening to surf music. Now, in my forties, I have been bitten by the surf bug again. I am looking to purchase a decent amp for surf guitar sometime in the next year or so. I was wondering if the Fender Super-Sonic 22 and its matching 2 x 12 cabinet might be a good choice? I have read that the Fender Super-Sonic 60 had a fairly convincing surf sound. But, I haven’t been able to find anything on the Fender Super-Sonic 22. Any input on the Fender Super-Sonic 22 as a surf amp would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Top
Tqi Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222	Posted on Feb 11 2023 03:37 PM - Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:59:25 Top
MelodiousThunk Joined: Feb 11, 2023 Posts: 10	Posted on Feb 11 2023 04:24 PM I was thinking that the 22 might be a viable option as it is a tube amp with a closed back speaker cabinet (I prefer the closed back sound). And, the amp seems to be a bit of a “Swiss Army Knife” in that it is able to cover a lot of different sonic ground. I am just wondering if it has a lot of clean headroom? And, if its clean sound sounds good for surf? I would be sticking a Fender tube reverb in front of the amp. Last edited: Feb 11, 2023 18:17:32 Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4542 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Feb 12 2023 12:25 AM Unless you are playing very large venues, 22 watts should do the trick. The only caveat would be it the negative feedback loop has too large of a resistor value, which would lower headroom. I have a ‘68 Custom Deluxe Reverb which had deliberately lowered headroom, but by adding a second negative feedback resistor, of the same value, in parallel, the headroom was restored. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
MelodiousThunk Joined: Feb 11, 2023 Posts: 10	Posted on Feb 12 2023 01:05 AM Thanks for the info. If I played a large venue, I would just mic the cab. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4542 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Feb 12 2023 01:16 AM MelodiousThunk wrote: Thanks for the info. If I played a large venue, I would just mic the cab. A man after my own heart. I tend to use amps in the 5 - 15 watt range, and let the PA do the rest. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 532 Central VA	Posted on Feb 12 2023 04:06 PM If you haven't played through one yet, be sure to do so before buying it. I had one - albeit a 1x12 combo - and found it overly bright no matter what guitar I used or what pickups it had in it. Like running the treble on 2 bright. I had it modded to change out some caps and let more of the bass frequencies through, and that helped, but I was still regularly running the treble controls on 3-4 to control the tone. IMO you'd do better to look for any other amp. I really hated the one I had. A lot. In the last 25-30 years, it's the only amp I ever sold, and I practically gave it away just to get it out of my sight. — -- Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
MelodiousThunk Joined: Feb 11, 2023 Posts: 10	Posted on Feb 12 2023 08:25 PM I don’t know of any 22’s that are local. So, I would make sure that I would be able to return it. I most likely won’t be pulling the trigger on anything for quite some time. I have also been toying with the idea of another Quilter. I have owned two Mach 2 combos in the past. I am thinking that the new Mach 3 or the Steelaire might be good options. Top
futureboy Joined: Aug 28, 2008 Posts: 115 East Coast	Posted on Feb 12 2023 09:10 PM I think Surfer Joe uses a Quilter Tone Block 202 for touring. If I had the scratch that would be my next amp. Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 532 Central VA	Posted on Feb 13 2023 10:23 AM I'm not sure what model he had when I saw him in October in Nashville, but it was definitely a Quilter. futureboy wrote: I think Surfer Joe uses a Quilter Tone Block 202 for touring. If I had the scratch that would be my next amp. — -- Project: MAYHEM -and- Moonbase Surficalus by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
MelodiousThunk Joined: Feb 11, 2023 Posts: 10	Posted on Feb 14 2023 12:54 PM I could a 202 being used as a surf amp. They get stay very clean, and sound good at high volumes. The Mach 3 just seems like it would be a better deal. Top
MayTheFuzzBeWithYou Joined: May 03, 2020 Posts: 49	Posted on Feb 21 2023 05:40 PM The Supersonic 22 would even come with built in Reverb… maybe a Surfy Pan fits it - in case the stock one isn‘t drippy enough? I can only really commment on the old 60 Watt version of it (no Reverb but great punchy Bassman tones - and the Vibrolux sounds are sooo lush (if only there wasn‘t such a nasty volume drop between the two modes) - oh and these cabs are great indeed! At least I was very happy with it for the last 14 years… (if you should end up with… let‘s say a handbuilt Bassman clone - these cabs are still worth pursuing!) so the 22 might be the Deluxe Reverb version of it) - clean headroom might be an issue indeed. Another version to increase it - is changing the preamp tube for a 12AY7 - this really helped mine to get the volumes under control. …I really wished Fender would come along with the 63 Custom Reverb - Blonde/Oxblood version at this year‘s NAMM - basically like the Supersonic - but with two clean channels, a surfy reverb and the harmonic trem (no high gain channel) - and in a few different „sizes“. — TENTACULA: Garage-Psych-Heavy-Surf-Rock Tentacula @ Bandcamp Tentacula @ Instagram Tentacula @ Facebook my gear collection @ instagram Neigungsgruppe Federhall Neigungsgruppe Federhall @ Instagram Top

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Fender Super-Sonic 22 head & 2 x 12 cabinet for surf sound?