how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

[fusion101]

I have a reissue of a 65' fender super reverb and just have gotten sort of bored with and sick of the overly bright sound that comes out the amp no matter what guitar i plug into it. Is it possible to really warm up the sound(should i change tubes or speakers) and whats the cheapest way of doing it.

 

[rspst14]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

You could mod it to get an overall warmer sound. I did that with my amp, and it added a little more warmth. If the amp is drastically brighter than you like, you may be better off selling it and getting something else though.

Ryan

 

[aleclee]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

I ... have gotten sort of bored with and sick of the overly bright sound that comes out the amp

Sounds like it's time for a new amp. Rather than spend more money on tubes or speakers, sell the Fender and apply the money budgeted for those tubes and speakers towards another amp with a voicing that you find more pleasing.

 

[kaknight]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

what tubes does that use? I switched to kt66hp tubes in my Twin and it added HUGE bottom end to the amp! It's so warm now I use it to roast hot dogs!

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

check out the hot rods & bassmans, they're a bit warmer, and have a bright switch, well, more of a button

 

[fusion101]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

well with the bassman's(bassmen) i'm worried about the amp breaking up too quickly , you see i'm trying to get a warmer smoother all around sound for jazz and such. And by the way if i was going to sell it how much could i get it for.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Different pre-amp tubes can change an amp's tone pretty radically. It's probably worth a try because pre-amp tubes are relatively cheap, and easy to change in and out. I don't know much about Fender amps and what tubes are best suited - putting JJ 12ax7s in my Jubilee warmed it up a lot compared with the Sovteks that were in it when I got it.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Both tubes and speakers are a good try...some pre-amp tubes seem to be real "toppy" as well as power tubes...If you wanted to stay with 6L6/5881 powe tubes, try the new Electro Harmonix...they are made just like the opl RCA "Blackplates" and sound great...that said, I think the Speakers are the worst part of reissue Fender amps...they have the strange edginess that can't be eq'ed out no matter what guitar is used and I for hate it...I changed speakers to reissue Jensons and it was gone! That is what I would do first, just keep the old ones and if you ever wannt sell it...you have options.

 

[Curly]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

the first thing I'd check would be the bias point on the tubes

Fenders often come biased a little cold from the factory, in order to extend tube life.
as with any troubleshooting, I'd start with the simplest things first

a simple rebias

maybe upgrade the preamp tubes ... the most effective one is the first one for the channel you use most, which is most likely V2

next is upgrading the power tubes

next is speakers

FWIW, I haven't played the Super Rev RI, but I've heard they're decent, so there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get it sounding great

for some more specific tube recommendations, you might try asking Myles over on the Expert Forums

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

the first thing I'd check would be the bias point on the tubes

Fenders often come biased a little cold from the factory, in order to extend tube life.
as with any troubleshooting, I'd start with the simplest things first

a simple rebias

maybe upgrade the preamp tubes ... the most effective one is the first one for the channel you use most, which is most likely V2

next is upgrading the power tubes

next is speakers

FWIW, I haven't played the Super Rev RI, but I've heard they're decent, so there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get it sounding great

for some more specific tube recommendations, you might try asking Myles over on the Expert Forums

Curly is right...you should NEVER change anything in an amp, until it is in top running condition !!!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

But, once you check all the free things first, go to the Fender DIscussion Pages and do a search on the modern amp board for "bright cap mod". If this circuit is anywhere near the same as the Deluxe Reverb in design (and it probably is), there was a bright cap on the board near the tone pots that could be clipped. We did this on a DRRI I had a long time ago. Definitely tamed it down.

Or, you could just turn the treble way way down.

A set of KT66HP's might be the trick for power tubes. They are fuller tubes, less focused.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

The Super Reverbs tend to be naturally bright by design until you really push them. I know my Deluxe Reverb really needs to be opened up before it mellows out a bit. But when it get to that certain point it almost turns into another amp tonally; nice and warm and very much Duane Allman sounding.

Perhaps you just need to go with a smaller amp with that same general sound that you can really crank up and get the fabled Blackface tone.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Yes, there are alot of inexpensive mods you could do as long as you can solder very neatly and know what you are doing inside the amp.

Like the guys said, start by making certain your output tubes are properly biased and everything is working perfectly.

But I highly recommend purchasing Gerald Weber's "A Desktop Referance to Hip Vintage Guitar Amps",

http://www.firebottle.com/apf/apf_b...archIndex=Books&Author=Gerald+Weber&locale=us

There's great info on all of the mods you are looking for and an entire chapter dedicated to modding the Super Reverb for better tone.

In my Super Reverb I:

1. Put reverb & vibtrato on both channels (makes the normal channel as ballsy as the vibrato channel) and then modded each channel to compliment either Strat or Tele single coils or humbuckers.

2. Replaced the .1 & .047 capacitors in the tone stack to the "Marshall Plexi/tweed Bassman" values of a pair of .02 caps. I've done this to all of my blackface Fender amps. Much more bass and mids and much pluckier, punchier tone.

3. I also replaced all of the coupling caps and tone caps in the preamp with Mallory 150's to smooth the tone and make it less bright and snappy.

4. I increased the midrange tone control from a 10K pot to a 25K for alot more mids when I want them.

5. I doubled the size of the negative feedback resistor so the amp now has much less negative feedback and a thicker, ballsier, more touch responsive tone.

6. I replaced the speakers with Weber VST's 30 watt P10Q speaker for alot more bass and a clearer, fuller tone.

There are many, many things you can do...get the Weber book I recommended.

Lew

 

[Falstaff]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Before you plunge in, try searching (if you haven't already) as many forums as you can and you'll find some threads on how to improve the sound of the DR and SR reissues. Most of the stuff is relatively easy, IIRC, and might do the trick for you.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

I've been playing Super Reverb amps for over 30 years and before I learned to mod them I always ended up selling them because they were to bright and hard sounding.

They can be improved tremendously with NOS RCA pre-amp tubes...but that's just a start.

The values of certain capacitors, resistors and the midrange pot have to be changed to really make the diff in tone that I prefer....

http://www.firebottle.com/apf/apf_b...archIndex=Books&Author=Gerald+Weber&locale=us

 

[Scott_F]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Lew, he's talking about a 65 Reissue Super Reverb. Circuit board amp. Webers book wont' help him much on that one.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Lew, he's talking about a 65 Reissue Super Reverb. Circuit board amp. Webers book wont' help him much on that one.

Why would you say that Scott? It's the same amp. It's a little more difficult modding a printed circuit board than a hand wired one, but the circuit itself is nearly identical and the componants and values are the same.

I wouldn't hesitate to mod an amp like that...it can be tweaked and modded and improved like any other.

A simple improvement would be to remove one of the top two speakers and replace it with a Weber C10N speaker. That'll put a speaker with stronger, fuller, deeper, warmer tone closer to your ears.

Another simple mod would be to pull out the 12ax7 pre-amp tube nearest to the right side of the cab as you look at it from the back. The normal channel will no longer function (while the tube is out) but the tone will be alot ballsier and overdrive more easily achieved from the vibrato/reverb channel.

Lew

 

[rhmcfarland]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Try some KT66HP tubes instead of the 6L6. That would be another cost effective way to warm it up.

 

[jeremy]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

will pulling v1 work ok in the ri? a buddy of mine was looking for more gain so i told him to pull the tube and he said "you cant do that on the reissue"
he didnt have any good reason why, but swore up and down that you couldnt do it. i think he reads too much hc crap

if you jump the channels you can get a fatter sound as well

 

[seafoamer]

Re: how do u really warm up a bright tube amp

Yeah, like Scott said, Get that bright cap off! Did a lot for my DRRI.