Fender Supersonic Buzz

[shogunlegend]

has anyone tried this amp? i bought one and it sounds really great, but the thing makes so much noise. even without the cable plugged in, it still makes a kind of buzzing sound. everything works fine except that it produces this sound that gets louder with the volume. i don't know if there is something wrong with it or if that's the way it was designed. does anybody know about this?

 

[Gamera]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

Check out this thread that discusses the same thing and apparently chalks it up to lousy stock tubes:

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=540339&lastpost=2007-08-1900:49:26&offset=449

So tell us more about the SS. This is one amp that's sort of flew under the radar. Many of the reviews I've read so far have been less than favorable but I get the distinct impression these folks are reviewing a Fender amp based on what previous Fender amps have sounded like and what they expect it to sound like. But the idea of a Fender amp that contains two classic flavors plus is capable of more modern hi gain tones sounds too good to be true.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

Check out this thread that discusses the same thing and apparently chalks it up to lousy stock tubes:

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=540339&lastpost=2007-08-1900:49:26&offset=449

So tell us more about the SS. This is one amp that's sort of flew under the radar. Many of the reviews I've read so far have been less than favorable but I get the distinct impression these folks are reviewing a Fender amp based on what previous Fender amps have sounded like and what they expect it to sound like. But the idea of a Fender amp that contains two classic flavors plus is capable of more modern hi gain tones sounds too good to be true.

thanks, i've read a similar comments about this amp before. the thing is that this is not a squealing sound, it's more of a channel buzz that increases with volume. it sounds something like it would sound if you had a single coil strat switch on the 1st position where it's not hum-cancelling or something. can't record with something like that going on.

as far as the reviews, i think you're right, many reviews do seem to be comparing other fender amps against this one. they seem to have certain expectations about the amp rather than just accepting it for what it is. fender said that this is a different amp with higher gain and made for harder rock.

there are some things that are true about the amp though. the bassman channel is terrific, but doesn't have that much fender jangle or sparkle. the vibrolux channel is great too, has plenty of the fender jangle and sparkle, but it is a little thin.

the gain channel is great and you can acheive several different tones with a combination of the gain stages and EQs. to me, the gain channel sounds better with the gain cranked up. although i try not to used too much gain, this amp seems to lean towards more gain. put a stomp box in front of this amp and it will sound really awesome. it's got that signature fender tone that you can probably pick out in a mix.

the only problem is that it's got like 8 preamp tubes and 2 power tubes. that's pretty expensive to replace. the reverb is typical fender quality reverb, so it sounds really good and more like part of the sound than and added effect.

i really like this amp, and if i can get rid of the noise, i'll keep it.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

When I tested one in the music store I had exactly the same problem . . . tons of buzz coming out at low volumes. It sounded OK otherwise, but that constant hum would have driven me nuts . . .

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

I have the head version. There's a little 60 cycle hum when it's running. It doesn't seem to loud to me.

The tones are great. The Bassman tone is fat, smooth and warm. The Vibrolux tone sound thin at first, but if you're listening to it right after hearing the Bassman setting, and suddenly all that low mid drops out and all this high end comes in, it'll give that impression. Play with it a little while, and you find out it's a clean, detailed tone, but still warm. Vintage bridge humbuckers still sound sweet and warm through it, even with all that high end. A guitar with a JB will sound a bit ice-pick shrill.

The burn channel is wonderful. Each of the two gain controls add a different flavor of gain. One adds a warm, smooth classic crunch and drive, while the other adds a more aggresive, metally distortion with plenty of fur. They can be blended to taste. You can get anything from a smooth vintage crunch to a scooped metal tone, and blend the two to get the right balance of Marshally crunch and modern distortion. And either way, you never get harsh, icepick distortion. It always sounds smooth and pleasing, even with a scooped sound with the treble control maxed.

I agree that it sounds great with the gain cranked. Even with the gain maxed, it still sounds tight and defined. But I love the medium gain tones the amp produces too. For the money, the amp does a great job of letting you set it so you get some crunch when you play hard or have your guitar volume up all the way, and cleaning up when you play softer or roll back the volume. That's something that's important to me because a lot of the tunes I've written have rhythm guitar parts that have dynamics created by playing softer or harder. The Super Sonic does a fine job in that dept.

The tone controls are a masterpiece. There is not a bad tone to be had. Turning the treble all the way up does not add harsh, earpiercing shrillness, with the possible exception of the Vibrolux channel if you play a guitar with a very edgy bridge pickup through it. The bass/mid/treble controls on the burn channel produce really nice tones no matter where they're set.

The two voicings on the clean channel contrast each other nicely and together offer all the variety of cleans you could want, and the two gain knobs on the burn channel, each of which sound different, offer the means to get a great variety of overdrive/distorted tones, all of which sound good!

I'd really be interested in how the SuperSonic head measures up against the 5150 III!!

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

if this is from trying in music stores it is most probably the effect the fluorescents lights have on the pickups of the guitar. Happens with pretty much every amp near the lights if you crank the gain/volume.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

na, it's in my home with nothing to cause it. i heard that a little grey plug that doesn't have a ground on it can help because noise can come from the ground plug. i don't know this to be true because i have a mesa sitting right next to it and it's quiet as a mouse. i also have this thing plugged into a power conditioner, so i don't think that's it.

the funny thing is that i took it back to the store and it worked just fine. there was a slight hiss, but nothing that would even be a problem recording. it worked perfectly normal. i wonder if a voltage regulator would help. hmm.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

the funny thing is that i took it back to the store and it worked just fine.

Maybe the ground at the store, or the ground in your home isn't connected. Amps used to come with a ground lift switch so if there was a ground loop causing hum, the ground could be disconnected.

The little gray plug with no ground connection would accomplish the same thing. Although that's not really recommended these days.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

If it bothers you that much, and yours happens to be the blonde head, I will trade you for my 68 Bassman straight up.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

na, i like the supersonic. it's obviously a problem at my house somewhere. the supersonic is a great and versatile amp that i'll be keeping for a long time. it's actually the blonde combo by the way.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

Cool amp! -So you've tried it outside your house and the problem disappears? -I'd get a tech to look at it. if you dig the tone, it's worthwhile getting someone to check it over.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

Well that's a bummer that your's isn't the head i love that supersonic somethin fierce.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

The tech who works on my Strat has the Super Sonic combo at his house. It's as quiet as the majority of tube amps; I didn't notice any unusual buzzing. I love the option of having two differently voiced clean sounds and a wide range of distortion sounds on the burn channel.

His amp is like-new, and he offered to sell it to me for $750. That's a great deal, but I'm afraid that 60 watts is more than I need. Also, I'm getting older and the amp isn't exactly light! I need a grab-and-go type of amp and the SS is a bit too big for that. If I wouldn't have to move it around at all I'd buy it.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Fender Supersonic Buzz

The tech who works on my Strat has the Super Sonic combo at his house. It's as quiet as the majority of tube amps; I didn't notice any unusual buzzing. I love the option of having two differently voiced clean sounds and a wide range of distortion sounds on the burn channel.

His amp is like-new, and he offered to sell it to me for $750. That's a great deal, but I'm afraid that 60 watts is more than I need. Also, I'm getting older and the amp isn't exactly light! I need a grab-and-go type of amp and the SS is a bit too big for that. If I wouldn't have to move it around at all I'd buy it.

the supersonic has some serious tone man. i'm definitely going to gig and record with it. i don't use a whole lot of volume in practice, but it's nice to have it there if you need it. even if you don't like the rather thin vibrolux channel, you've gotta like hte bassman channel. i'll try to post some clips this weekend because people should know what a great amp this is. it's too bad fender doesn't give resellers much margin to work with because these amps could sell so much more. i don't know why there aren't already any threads about this amp here.

one of the great things about this amp is that, unlike a lot of other fender amps, you don't need an overdrive/distortion pedal for high gain. then again, with a stomp box, this thing sounds really good too.