Does a 60 watt blackface amp exist?

fendermadlewis

I'm having a little trouble getting a blackface amp that does what I want. I play in a blues/rock trio and we play a fair volume. I also need a quite a lot of clean headroom to sit about the mix for some clean solos. The super reverb is my favourite amp I've ever had but it ran out of headroom at the gigs i used it for. It broke up just a little to early so when I engaged a clean boost for solos it just compressed. I'm currently using a twin reverb, which is absolutely insane. I've never had it past 2. I need something that has the big lush, scooped blackface cleans of a super but a little more power and headroom. 

I've tried the following at gigs and they are either to loud/quiet or don't have the tone I'm after, so are not options;

Fender Super Sonic 22, 60, 100 
Fender Vibroverb 63 RI
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender Custom Vibrasonic Reverb
Fender Hot Rod or Blues series

Any ideas? 

I await the obligatory 'I've never had my deluxe past 3, if that doesn't work, you must be to loud' comments with baited breath 

monquixote

Well I was going to say the Supersonic 60, but you've ruled that out.

How come?

Blues Devillie, Pro Sonic and Pro Reverb are all options 

If it doesn't have to be Fender then a Peavey Classic 50 is a great overlooked amp and my personal favourite is the H&K Puretone which is amazing and costs bugger all.

I don't really get the too loud thing because Fenders are generally controllable unless you need the blackface with power amp distortion sex pistols type sound in which case get a Jettenuator?

rossyamaha

Grab yourself a boogie. 

fendermadlewis

@monquixote ;

The super sonic 60 is a great amp! Giggled one for an long time. Unfortunately the circuit comes with a high pass filter so it rolls off all the low end on the 'vibrolux' setting. Even with the bass up full it's missing bottom end. I haven't tried pro sonic or pro reverbs yet, both doable options!

R.e to loud, when I twin is on 2 the power valves are barely doing anything and the amp sounds sterile. An amp that is to loud in my mind is one that I cant turn up loud enough to get the, compression, dynamics, sustain and goodness of tubes that are working hard. Different to distortion!

ICBM

Put a solid-state rectifier in the Super Reverb. (Direct plug-in diode type, not valve emulating.) That will give it a bit more volume and headroom with less compression but without changing the basic tone or character of the amp. It's a plug-and-play mod, although you should check and probably may need to adjust the bias.

If you don't have the Super any more, try the Twin running on two power valves. That will produce about 50-60W. Technically you should reset the impedance, but that can't be done without changing the speakers, so I wouldn't worry about it - the result of the mismatch will be slightly more compression anyway, which may help.

newi123

There is a hotrod deville ml in the classifieds currently - different beast to the regular deville!

fendermadlewis

@ICBM Solid advice, and both things I plan to try. Thank you! 

roberty

Blackface Bassman was 50 I think

cbakay

More efficient speakers. I put cannabis Rex vs the stock Jensen in my drri65 - much later breakup

KKJale

Ever tried the 60W 3x10 Vibro-King? I've only played the '90s original, not the reissue, but that was a combo to be reckoned with. Lovely reverb, too. 

fendermadlewis

KKJale said:

Ever tried the 60W 3x10 Vibro-King? I've only played the '90s original, not the reissue, but that was a combo to be reckoned with. Lovely reverb, too. 

I have an its something I'm considering. A lot of folk say it breaks up early on the forums... thatd the only thing stopping me!

Kebabkid

rossyamaha said:

Grab yourself a boogie. 

Yep, that will do it. Don't get too fixated on that wattage as there are plenty of lower wattage amps with decent speakers and transformers that have the headroom and will deliver live and hold up against a loud drummer.

The Fender 75 was regarded as 'Fender's Boogie'. It's heavy, loud but has great spanky, Fendery cleans and the overdrive is ok and was a cascading type. It also takes pedals really well and It's from the 80s but WAS NOT a
Rivera-designed one. I thought there was one for sale on here and they come in cheap (under £500)

Alex335's Divided by 13 9/15 JRT combo on here is excellent and there are others like a Dr Z and Carr's should not be discounted.

Ossyrocks

Like ICBM said, SS rectifier. Then JAN Philips 7581A’s. Then consider speakers. If yours is an original vintage super, it may have CTS Alnico’s, which whilst considered lovely sounding speakers, they are not very efficient and do tend to give up early. I ran Weber C10 N’s in one of mine, it absolutely killed.

robinbowes

@fendermadlewis I've got a couple of Traynor you're welcome to try - a YRM-1 and a YGL-3. I have combo and head versions of both.

I'm not far from you (Huby, nr. Easingwold)

R.

koss59

rossyamaha said:

Grab yourself a boogie. 

Ross speaks the truth! Come try my Lonestar Classic any time you want mate.

musteatbrain

Ossyrocks said:

Like ICBM said, SS rectifier. Then JAN Philips 7581A’s. Then consider speakers. If yours is an original vintage super, it may have CTS Alnico’s, which whilst considered lovely sounding speakers, they are not very efficient and do tend to give up early. I ran Weber C10 N’s in one of mine, it absolutely killed.

@Ossyrocks your old super still sounds great. I was at a rehearsal the other month and the other guitar player that bought it from you still has it as his only amp

bbill335

Ossyrocks said:

Like ICBM said, SS rectifier. Then JAN Philips 7581A’s. Then consider speakers. If yours is an original vintage super, it may have CTS Alnico’s, which whilst considered lovely sounding speakers, they are not very efficient and do tend to give up early. I ran Weber C10 N’s in one of mine, it absolutely killed.

I have gone from some tired CTS alnicos to the ceramic GASC64 in my vibrolux. Still sounds very, very nice. It's bolder, more commanding and at least a little bit louder. Also, weightier! If nothing else, more powerful speakers might enable you to back off the volume *and* bass, giving you noticeably more headroom.

hywelg

DrZ EZG.  Quite a bit louder than a Super I believe especially through my 2x12 (Red Fang and EV). If you need more then a solid state rectifier in there also( Matt Schofield did in his).

Failing that then a Blackface Twin. 

Alternately some of the 100w Dumble clones will get you close (TR, Redplate,  Fuchs, Bludotone, Ceriatone). Might need a pedal in front that will scoop the mids a little. 

JezWynd

Might be worth looking out for a Fender 75. Came in Head (though I've never seen one), and a couple of combo configs inc 1x15. I think there was one listed here a short time ago.
http://ampwares.com/amplifiers/fender-75/

Wazmeister

Carr Slant 6v

Or for the win - A Redplate. Job done.

BintyTwanger77

1994 Twin. If I didn’t have neighbours/housemates, I’d have one in a heartbeat. Brilliant amp and I love the gain channel on it. Can easily get one for c.£500-£600.