Fender Supersonic

JohnnyGuitar

JohnnyGuitar

New member
Anyone has experience with them?
How do they compare to the Fender Hot Rods in terms of tone? I know they have more output but are they better all around?

I like the Hot Rod Deluxe and thought about buying it in a few month when my band start gigging regularly - the 1X12 looks like a more interesting option with the Celestion speaker and 60 watts...

Opinions?
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Pro Sonic

Re: Fender Pro Sonic

They're not really like the Hot Rods at all IMO. The Prosonic has tons of gain, and it's actually a fairly meaty tone. It sounds more like a Mesa than a Fender IMO, especially with the switchable rectifier. That said, it's not really the same as a Mesa either. It's quite a unique amp, and it's definitely not for everyone.

Basically, it was Fender's answer to the Dual Rectifier. I don't think it sold very well, which is why it is no longer made. It was eventually replaced by the Supersonic, which is a much better and more versatile amp IMO.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

jazzerlbn said:
Anyone has experience with them?
How do they compare to the Fender Hot Rods in terms of tone? I know they have more output but are they better all around?

I like the Hot Rod Deluxe and thought about buying it in a few month when my band start gigging regularly - the 1X12 looks like a more interesting option with the Celestion speaker and 60 watts...

Opinions?
Click to expand...

I own a Prosonic and have owned a Blues Deluxe.
IMO the Prosonic is the best rocking amp Fender has ever done.
That said I have thought about snagging a tamer Super Sonic several times myself.
I have played MANY of the Supersonics and they are LIGHT YEARS ahead of the Hot Rod Deluxe in build quality and tonal versitility.
While the SuperSonic is not a flame throwing Boogie and Marshall killing BEAST like the Prosonic ( and that is what many of the Fender guys expected it to be), it is still a GREAT rig none the less. Resonably priced and well built with a solid clean and a nice thick crunch. The SuperSonic IMO is a MUCH MUCH better overall amp than the Hot Rod Deluxe.
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Supersonic

I have a hot rod deluxe and i do like it but i played the supersonic at GC a while back and it smoked the HRD. My only complaints are that the bassman setting is slightly louder than the vibrolux setting and that the combo has reverb while the head doesn't. I have also heard some things that the taper on the volume is horrible: either it is quiet or real loud, no inbetween. Althouh i didn't notice it when i was playing it so i'll have to try it out again. Sounded great though and it can't be a bad amp because i saw Jeff Beck live and he was playing these up on stage!
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

Guitar Guy said:
I have a hot rod deluxe and i do like it but i played the supersonic at GC a while back and it smoked the HRD. My only complaints are that the bassman setting is slightly louder than the vibrolux setting and that the combo has reverb while the head doesn't. I have also heard some things that the taper on the volume is horrible: either it is quiet or real loud, no inbetween. Althouh i didn't notice it when i was playing it so i'll have to try it out again. Sounded great though and it can't be a bad amp because i saw Jeff Beck live and he was playing these up on stage!
Click to expand...

Jeff Beck's using a supersonic? -sure it wasn't an old blonde showman or bassman head?

-edit: just seen the idol footage. that's a supersonic.

-The supersonic is pretty cool, though the vibrolux channel is a bit bright. I found it had really good low-medium gain overdrive tones, but the high gain sounds were a little too mark-era boogie for my liking, which is what you'd expect from a 6l6 amp with cascading gain stages.
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Supersonic

Hot _Grits said:
Jeff Beck's using a supersonic? -sure it wasn't an old blonde showman or bassman head?

-edit: just seen the idol footage. that's a supersonic.

-The supersonic is pretty cool, though the vibrolux channel is a bit bright. I found it had really good low-medium gain overdrive tones, but the high gain sounds were a little too mark-era boogie for my liking, which is what you'd expect from a 6l6 amp with cascading gain stages.
Click to expand...

hmmm... Mesa mark era - are we talking about Santana tones? because I do like him... although I'm not sure it is what I'm going for.

I need to check if we have those amps in Israel already.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

I love Super Sonic amps...if I didn't already have a 68 Bassman I'd have a blonde Supersonic.

And I might just get the blonde Supersonic anyway...but I think I'd rather get an EL34 amp.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

jazzerlbn said:
hmmm... Mesa mark era - are we talking about Santana tones? because I do like him... although I'm not sure it is what I'm going for.

I need to check if we have those amps in Israel already.
Click to expand...

yeah, it'd be a pretty good choice for Santana tone.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

I'm really confused by this amp.. the bassman model is on the "clean" side and there is no master volume.. I thought the bassmans were more notorious for their crunchy overdrive than their warm cleans
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

rainsong86 said:
I'm really confused by this amp.. the bassman model is on the "clean" side and there is no master volume.. I thought the bassmans were more notorious for their crunchy overdrive than their warm cleans
Click to expand...

certain ones are, like the tweeds, blondes, and ab165

but the bassman circuit they used is known for cleans & light OD
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

rainsong86 said:
I'm really confused by this amp.. the bassman model is on the "clean" side and there is no master volume.. I thought the bassmans were more notorious for their crunchy overdrive than their warm cleans
Click to expand...

The various early bassmans (through to silverface) are known as good clean AND overdrive amps, but being vintage designs, there were no master volumes. So there's overdrive, but you need to crank the volume to get it. So the supersonic's bassman channel is pretty close to a blackface bassman circuit in that respect.

If you need heavy overdrive or simply overdrive at low volumes, then the burn channel is where you'll find it.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

I'm really confused by this amp.. the bassman model is on the "clean" side and there is no master volume.. I thought the bassmans were more notorious for their crunchy overdrive than their warm cleans
Click to expand...
Tweeds are more known for dirtier sounds then blackface amps but this was all power amp distortion not preamp so I think its correct to have no master volume so to get crunch you crank it like a real bassman.

edit:
The various early bassmans (through to silverface) are known as good clean AND overdrive amps, but being vintage designs, there were no master volumes. So there's overdrive, but you need to crank the volume to get it. So the supersonic's bassman channel is pretty close to a blackface bassman circuit in that respect.

If you need heavy overdrive or simply overdrive at low volumes, then the burn channel is where you'll find it.
Click to expand...
A better version of what I meant that was posted while i was typing.
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Supersonic

James Rock said:
Tweeds are more known for dirtier sounds then blackface amps but this was all power amp distortion not preamp so I think its correct to have no master volume so to get crunch you crank it like a real bassman.

edit:
A better version of what I meant that was posted while i was typing.
Click to expand...

Thing is, the bassman circuit that is emulated in the supersonic is blackface-era. But the same rule applies: crank the power section.
 
Re: Fender Supersonic

The Hot Rod Deluxe may be the best bang for the buck amp Fender makes. It is very loud, has great cleans, but its drive channel is only fair, although it works great with pedals.

The Super-Sonic is a better amp, but it costs twice as much, so it should be. When I was looking for an amp to replace my Twin, I looked carefully at the Super-Sonic, but chose the Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 instead.
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Supersonic

wilerty said:
The Hot Rod Deluxe may be the best bang for the buck amp Fender makes. It is very loud, has great cleans, but its drive channel is only fair, although it works great with pedals.

The Super-Sonic is a better amp, but it costs twice as much, so it should be. When I was look for an amp to replace my Twin, I looked carefully at the Super-Sonic, but chose the Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 instead.
Click to expand...

The express is a cool amp, too. I'd like to compare the two directly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SirJackdeFuzz II
Fender Blues Deluxe, vs Hot Rod Deluxe.
2
Replies
20
Views
726
Sam SG
S
Butch Snyder
New Blues Junior v4 Limited Edition
2
Replies
22
Views
390
Mincer
Mincer
Butch Snyder
PRS DGT-15 vs Peavey Classic 20 MH Guitar Mini Amp Head
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
Sam SG
S
A
Hi-fi yet soft Strat neck pickup - Vintage Rails?
Replies
16
Views
798
GuitarStv
GuitarStv
FuseG4
Anyone else get themselves an amp for holidays?
Replies
9
Views
600
Bill Dennis
B
Back
Top