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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink What do you know about Fender Supersonic amp?

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laramie
They are pretty loud. Just ask the Finksville 5!

I will definetly attest to that. Loudest amp I've ever heard. You'll be getting a bill from my ear doctor soon, Laramie! Laughing

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Just back from the Surfer Joe Festival 2011 and I would really like to mention how much I liked this amp! I don't have one myself but I am considering to buy me one of those. Everyone who played through this amp on stage sounded a lot better, compared to the other amps(Twin Reverb etc.)

The Psycho Surfers sounded nearly like Dick Dale with the Super Sonic 60.

I also had some great impression done by The Bradipos IV. They played through some Vibrolux Amps and sounded fantastic to me! The Drip Award for this Band!

So with the Supersonic 60 you could switch between Bassman and Vibrolux. This sounds really perfect for me! Do you have some more experiences so far?

I also checked out the Beastman Amp(Brownface Bassman) from Tantrum Amps which was promoted at the Festival. And I really really loved this sound! I don't know which way to go. Beastman or Supersonic? Ahhh!
The Supersonic seemed louder too me. I didn't have much time too compare each other.

http://www.reverbnation.com/bangmustang
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Last edited: Jun 21, 2011 15:43:43

Yes, you can switch between Vibrolux and Bassman models. However, there is a volume change and eq change between them that isn't the best for on the spot switching. I have read that there are circuit mods that can be done to fix this.

I noticed that Fender recently released the Supersonic Twin Combo which has Twin Reverb and Bassman circuits built in and is 100 watts but has a switch to take it down to 25 watts. I am VERY curious about this model.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

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I think the volume drop is just normal because this are two different circuits. And of course they are rated in two different Watts: 40 on the Vibrolux and 50 on the Bassman. Its perfect for smaller venues or if the stage manager asks to turn down the amp. The Twin Version is no option for me, cause I really don't like the Twin Reverb sounds. They are not any good for surf in my opinion. Of course the are clean but you don't get "that sound"

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Last edited: Jun 22, 2011 04:13:45

LaFleur wrote:

I think the volume drop is just normal because this are
two different circuits. And of course they are rated in
two different Watts: 40 on the Vibrolux and 50 on the
Bassman. Its perfect for smaller venues or if the stage
manager asks to turn down the amp. The Twin Version is
no option for me, cause I really don't like the Twin
Reverb sounds. They are not any good for surf in my
opinion. Of course the are clean but you don't get
"that sound"

This is where I am confused. The Twin Reverb is basically a Showman with reverb added. I have always been under the impression that the Showman was pretty much the end-all-be-all of surf tone.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

The Twin Reverb is not a Showman at all. They are two completely different circuits. Also the Twin Reverb is usually open back and the Showman is a head combined with a closed back cab. And they are lot different in sound.

At the Surfer Joe Festival you could really hear the big difference beetween the Twin Reverb and the Super Sonic.

http://www.reverbnation.com/bangmustang
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I see they had the new Supersonic 60 head for Surfer Joe. See it (and hear it) on the Unsteady Freddie video of the Kilaueas playing 'Surf Party'. Alex is playing through it. There was a blonde combo on Ralf's side of the stage but couldn't tell if it was a SS60 or possibly the new Supersonic Twin 100.
Fender touts the clean side of the SS Twin as being a Showman/Twin circuit. I don't know about the accuracy of their claim, but it sounds reasonable. Also, they claim by switching to the 25 watt setting you can crank it and get the "pushed Showman/Twin" sound without the excessive volume.

My mistake...you are correct. The Showman originally used the Twin chassis and that is where my confusion came in. However, I am curious about this amp. I am well versed in the Supersonic 60 but not this Supersonic Twin 100. The Fender page claims it to have Twin Reverb - Showman and Bassman circuits. I am assuming the Bassman circuit is exclusive to the burn channel on this particular model, rather than being used on both the clean and burn channels on the Supersonic 60.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

I think the Bassman is also on the clean channel (along with the Showman/Twin voicing), and Fender describes it as a 1960s Blackface bassman.

So 3 models in one...I am even more curious...

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

LaFleur wrote:

The Twin Reverb is not a Showman at all. They are two
completely different circuits.

Well.. not really. The Twin Reverb uses the AB763 circuit, same as the Showman. Of course the major difference is the reverb.

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Brian, that was the impression I got when reading the specs on the new amp. However, i am not as well versed in Fender specs as many on this site.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

Brian is right about the blackface TR and Showman being the same circuit (though, with not an insignificant difference of the reverb circuit, of course). I think the brownface Showman and Twin were basically the same amp, too. Sven, don't forget that Alex recorded most of the Los Twang! Marvels stuff through a Twin Reverb - and he sure as heck makes it sound good! Frankie Blandino, the lead guitarist of the Fathoms, only used a vintage blackface TR for all his amazing Fathoms recordings. Many other good surf guitar sounds were done with a TR, mostly in the revival era - though I do agree that it's often overrated as a surf amp.

The new Supersonic 100 sounds very intriguing. You can read about it here: http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=2162100000

I didn't previously realize the clean channel is based on the blackface Showman/TR and the brownface Bassman. It looks like Fender is finally making a head that will deliver more or less exactly what surf guitarists want. Given that it's very unlikely they will be reissuing a Showman head any time in the future, this is probably as good as it's going to get. The one problem is that ít's VERY expensive - $2500 list. Ouch. Of course, Showmans were very expensive in the '60s, and this price is probably quite comparable, but what we have now is all the vintage amps that still work great AND can be gotten for a lot less money than this. Still, I'm happy to see that Fender is making this amp. I very much hope it's a success for them and that it sticks around for a while. I'll have to try one out soon.

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
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The Madeira on Facebook
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The Madeira Channel on YouTube

Last edited: Jun 22, 2011 10:48:09

May I make a correction on my above post concerning the video of The Kilaueas playing 'Surf Party' It has been pointed out in another thread that Alex is playing bass, not guitar. Sorry. Perhaps I should reference it correctly: the gentleman playing the Jazzmaster is playing through a new style Supersonic 60.
It would be interesting to hear what some of the players who used the Supersonics at Surfer Joe '11 have to say about them.

In the Combo "Super Sonic Twin" it seems to be a switch between
Twin Reverb/Bassman and in the Head "Super Sonic 100" it seems to be a switch between Showman/Bassman. Would be interesting to see if there is a difference? The price difference is not too much in europe. 1200 Euro for Super Sonic 60 and 1375 Euro for the Supersonic 100.

Ivan, for shure Alex did a marvelous Big Grin sound with it. But he also used
3 amps and effects for recording. Live he nearly always plays with the Boss CS-3 and the Boss RE-20 Space Echo. And of course he is a brilliant player. I think that is the main difference... Big Grin

But for the feeling on stage and the sound in front of the stage, the Supersonic is the way to go. You don't need any effects, it sounds perfect just right out of the box.

http://www.reverbnation.com/bangmustang
http://www.facebook.com/bangmustang
https://soundcloud.com/bang-mustang

Last edited: Jun 22, 2011 14:25:57

Strat-o-rama wrote:

I see they had the new Supersonic 60 head for Surfer
Joe. See it (and hear it) on the Unsteady Freddie video
of the Kilaueas playing 'Surf Party'. Alex is playing
through it. There was a blonde combo on Ralf's side of
the stage but couldn't tell if it was a SS60 or
possibly the new Supersonic Twin 100.
Fender touts the clean side of the SS Twin as being a
Showman/Twin circuit. I don't know about the accuracy
of their claim, but it sounds reasonable. Also, they
claim by switching to the 25 watt setting you can crank
it and get the "pushed Showman/Twin" sound without the
excessive volume.

The blonde amp at Surfer Joe was a Twin Reverb with 15 inch speaker, I believe. By the Sunday it wasn't being used, I thnk because there was some problem with it. I was certainly told on the Saturday that one of the channels wasn't working, which is why I used the black one, because I use both channels.

Los Fantasticos

Hi dear all,
Nice, interesting thread...there are probably close to 3.000.000 different tastes and nuances out there, speakers, connection cables, small components, it all adds...but still THE sound is gonna be actually produced by YOUR hands and fingers. Tone developing remains always a responsability of the player, and is a mystery. I have seen & heard people playing over 30 years, really going for it, practising and all...nothing, niente, zero tone...also I´ve seen young people just pick up the axe, and BANG! there you go, nice beautiful ringing tones coming out of the instrument, either electric or acousitically...there seems to be an advantage on this when you work with acoustic, the production of tone is not being governed by electricity on one...this if a fine study.

You can help an "refine" it, as if it were a topping on a salad, or dressing up to go out on a hot date, with using different amps for different purposes...

Vibes to all!

Last edited: Jun 28, 2011 23:09:46

IvanP wrote:

Frankie
Blandino, the lead guitarist of the Fathoms, only used
a vintage blackface TR for all his amazing Fathoms
recordings.

I think he used silverface twin. I think I remembered it correctly cause I was using it as a proof that 80% of sound comes from guitar player and not the amp:)
BTW Supersonic 60 is a nice amp. I just don't think it is reliable (PCB instead of point to point) but this is true to most new Fender amps

Last edited: Jun 29, 2011 02:01:14

El-Salvaje wrote:

...but still THE sound is gonna be actually
produced by YOUR hands and fingers.

Amen.

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

Last edited: Jun 29, 2011 11:14:11

Dalibor wrote:

IvanP wrote:

Frankie Blandino, the lead guitarist of the Fathoms, only used
a vintage blackface TR for all his amazing Fathoms recordings.

I think he used silverface twin. I think I remembered
it correctly cause I was using it as a proof that 80%
of sound comes from guitar player and not the amp:)

Hmmm, you might be right. The Cossacks played with the Fathoms on three occasions, and my memory is that he used a blackface Twin Reverb all three times, not a silverface - but my memory is far from 100% reliable! He also used a reissue reverb, blonde with oxblood, I do remember that. He actually had a footswitch for it (wow, somebody that uses a reverb unit footswitch!) as well as for the amp, and on some songs he'd switch the unit off and turn on the onboard reverb, which obviously wasn't nearly as wet.

BTW Supersonic 60 is a nice amp. I just don't think it
is reliable (PCB instead of point to point) but this is
true to most new Fender amps

Dalibor, I really don't think that's true of most modern PCB amps. I think most amp manufacturers have really refined this technology, and I very much doubt that it creates any more problems than a handwired amp. Of course, if something does go wrong, a handwired amp in general should be easier to fix - but the tradeoff is that most handwired amps are very expensive, at least new. I would bet that the Supersonic would hold up just fine.

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

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