Dating an early 70s silver face?

Cliff Swanson · Post by **Cliff Swanson** » 2 Dec 2000 2:57 pm

Amp gurus:

I need to determine the manufacture year of a silver face Fender Super Reverb amp. It's a non-master volume which I think means it predates 1972, but it does not have the aluminum strip around the grill cloth which I think means it's later than 1968. The tube chart is in place, but there isn't a date code that I can find. Anyone know how I can determine the date?

Thanks in advance,

Cat

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 3 Dec 2000 2:28 am

Hey cliff I don't have that particular website handy(I think Jon Light knows it); but you can check the number on that big transformer back there; and can date the thing dang good from that.
Ricky

Cliff Swanson · Post by **Cliff Swanson** » 3 Dec 2000 6:14 am

Thanks Ricky... I found a couple of helpful websites after reading your post. I didn't think to try looking for some web info earlier

.

The speakers and pots are CTS and date to '73, as does the transformer. I thought Fender started making master volume Supers in '73, but it must've been '74 or later.

Cat

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 3 Dec 2000 9:19 am

Ya know, actually Master Volume Fender amps
can be great for getting a full rich overdrive! Of course NOT the way they're wired from the factory though.
They went & stuck the master control too
far back in the preamp circuit. If it is
unhooked from that section & moved up<u> AFTER</u> the 12AT7 driver/phase inverter
tube, the overdrive will sound excellent &
at a<u> managable</u> volume level.
More like a Mesa-Boogie overdrive.

Cliff Swanson · Post by **Cliff Swanson** » 3 Dec 2000 9:54 am

Interesting Jay.... Although this Super is a non-master, at some point in it's life someone wired in a master volume control. It's neatly done including cable stays, and the master volume pot stem exits at the back of the chasis so there has been no mod of the face plate.

The leads from the pot originate from a point in the circuit that is between the preamp tubes and the power tubes. Kind of opposing the transformers mounted on the other side of the chassis. Would this mod be as you suggest? Truthfully, when I bought the amp I thought I'd take the master out and revert everything to original specs. But tone wise it doesn't really affect anything (!) so once I saw that the job was well done cosmetically I decided to just leave it alone.

Cat

Bobby Boggs · Post by **Bobby Boggs** » 3 Dec 2000 11:20 am

My silver face Super has the aluminum strip around the grill cloth.Does this make it a 68 for sure,or does anybody know? Thanks in advance

Matt Farrow · Post by **Matt Farrow** » 3 Dec 2000 11:44 am

I'm a part of a forum like this one, but for amp guys at http://www.ampage.org The best sounding master volume circuits are generally held to be the post-PI MV's, which is to say they are after the PI (phase inverter, the one tube by itself in there between the preamp tubes on the right and the power tubes on the left when looking at the amp from the rear.) YMMV, but if you want overdrive at lower levels this is one way to get it.

For anyone else interested in the Fender amp dating info, please see http://www.ampwares.com/ffg - the Fender Field Guide.

Also, anybody needing repairs done on their amps in the Raleigh, Durham, NC area can get in touch with me - I'm quick and reasonably-priced!

Matt Farrow

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 3 Dec 2000 11:54 am

Bobby;
To answer your question both the Fender
1968 & 1969 Silveface amps had the aluminum
trim strip around the grille..It is definetly '68 or '69 if it is all original..You will need to get some codes from other parts(speakers;transformers & maybe pots) inside to narrow it down further.
It is still a very good amp.Have fun..Ron

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 3 Dec 2000 5:10 pm

Right now,I'm dating an early '70's silver HAIR!!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 4 Dec 2000 8:59 am

Hey Cat,

Yeah, might be...sounds like it's in that
general vicinity. I did this to a guy's old
master volume Twin-Reverb awhile back, &
he flipped. You just set the master on
2 or 3 & crank up the regular volume control
and wail. It's a nice full & rich sounding overdrive!

Cliff Swanson · Post by **Cliff Swanson** » 4 Dec 2000 11:10 am

Thanks Jay and Matt for the comments about the add-on MV circuit. I definitely learned something new!

Smiley.... Has she seen your t-shirt collection??

Cat