OffsetGuitars.com

After digging around for a bit, I am shocked -- SHOCKED, I tell you -- that more folks either don't own or else haven't talked about their Supros here. So, out with it!

Those of you who own(ed) one, share your experiences (and pics and soundclips if you've got them)!

Those of you who consciously and deliberately chose not to get one, why?

Got questions about em, ask here!

As for my own experiences, I just recently bought a Saturn Reverb MKII. It's a 25w class A/AB combo with 6V6 power tubes, 1x12" proprietary BD12 speaker (built by Eminence), tube trem and reverb, no master volume, no fx loop, treble and bass pots, birch ply cab. This is, admittedly, a fairly unique Supro and one you probably won't come across very often as they only built 200 of them. According to a Supro rep, it is essentially their take on a Deluxe Reverb. In comparison, this thing has more girth and a beefier OD. Supros tend to have a reputation for have a great raunchy, vintage rock sound, and while you can get there on the class A side, the class AB has more headroom and a more Fendery sort of sound while still doing its own thing. I could go on and on, but long story short, this amp is absolutely killer. If you ever happen to see a used one pop up, it's definitely worth checked out.

I played a Thunderbolt (??) at a local shop in Albuquerque when I was out there and it played very well. I've never owned one though.

I owned a beautiful 1624t some years ago. 1x12, 6973 tubes, tube trem, no verb. Amazing sounding amp. Lightweight too. Supposedly the one all the Zepplin freaks want. Sold it on here over 5 or 6 years ago. To be honest it was cool but I liked my brown Princetons more at the time and let go to help fund my first vintage JM. Cool to see more proper Supros being reissued these days, though I never played one.

Not my photo but mine was exactly like this guy.

Every single *new* Supro combo I’ve tried has had an ugly rattle. Considering how goddamn heavy they are that’s unacceptable in my book.

Bummer! My old rattled and got super HOT! So maybe they're trying to recreate that M@j@??

marqueemoon wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:14 pm

Every single *new* Supro combo I’ve tried has had an ugly rattle. Considering how goddamn heavy they are that’s unacceptable in my book.

Interesting, I've honestly never heard about any Supros rattling. I will say, the ONLY time I've ever heard any sort of buzz from my Saturn is when I've cranked the bass up to an unusable level and palm muted an A on the low E string. Which Supros specifically were you playing?

As for weight, I don't think my Saturn is unreasonably hefty. It does have a massive 56oz magnet on the BD12 but it's never bothered me.

I don't know how I feel about them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAJ03e6Su0I

I think it's kind of telling that a lot of demo channels on YouTube are using them. I'm always seeing them pop up in CME videos, and I think a few Reverb videos as well. A couple specific builders I watch have had custom Supros made for themselves.

I was eyeing the Supro Black Magick head or whatever it’s called, with trem and verb before I bought my Benson Chimera. It has so many great features and sounds incredible. Plus I dig that 60s space age look. But something drew me away.

I have had Supro amps for many years now -- original T-Bolts and a Dual-Tone. I have never had any issues with rattling in any of them. The wiring on the old ones is a little ratty, however, and sometimes there were issues with that.

I also play Jazzmasters, almost exclusively with the odd strat or tele from time to time. ATM I have a modern Thunderbolt, and a modern Dual-Tone. To my ears none of them sound remotely like a Fender. They have a round, warm vibe, but then again I don't push them too much past mid-point on the volume. The Dual-Tone is probably a little more toward the Fender sound, but that's a stretch. They are wonderful pedal platforms, too. I gave up my original Supros for these because they seemed to be much more road-worthy, and so far they have proved to be after a couple of hundred gigs.

They are well constructed, but I don't find them heavy -- even the Thunderbolt. I alternate between using that and an AC15 HW (massively heavy). It depends upon the club we're playing in as to which I choose. If it has a lot of reflections or is long and narrow I will use the AC15. In most other normal circumstances I bring the Thunderbolt. It has a big sound that projects the reverbs and delays that we use.

I hope that offers a little insight.

This is all good info.

I’m a vintage Ampeg guy (old Reverberocket and Gemini’s), but I occasionally ask myself if gigging with a 50+ year old amp makes sense, especially when we’re a long way from home.

I checked out a Tremoverb when they first came out and found them to be very close to the old school Ampeg guitar tone. Big and warm, defined but not ice picky.

So yeah, I should buy one!

I have a 1622RT and love it. It's my primary gig amp.
The build is great. The first one I got had a damaged reverb tank, though. I'm not sure if that was Supro or Musician's Friend. Either way it was replaced free of charge, and the second one is great. Sounds great with a JM. Better than my '62 Princeton.

Here's some sloppy country-ish noodling with my JM (SD Antiquity IIs) and my dimed Saturn MKII.

Listen to Supro Saturn MKII cranked w/ Jazzmaster (SD Antiquity IIs) by User 931279055 on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/user-931279055/s ... iquity-iis

Definitely sloppy (metronome?), but it sounds really good. What are the volume/tone settings on the JM itself?

j mascis wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:55 am

Definitely sloppy (metronome?), but it sounds really good. What are the volume/tone settings on the JM itself?

Yeah, definitely wasn't playing to impress anyone. I've been working on more country-style licks and stuff ever since I got back into electric guitar after a 12ish year hiatus last year. This is an improvement, lol.

500k volume wide open, 1M treble wide open, 1M bass roll-off wide open (PTB mod).