Fender Super 60

Small, 60-watt all-tube amp that can single-handedly deliver more power into its speaker than many other amp heads with higher ratings. Despite the year of production, you can be sure it's made in the US, with a quality hardly seen today. You have an EQ, a spring reverb, a stand-by for the tubes, a master volume and a rather nice overdrive. On the back you have an effects loops, which is nice. No headphones output, which is normal on an all-tube amp.

UTILIZATION

The key word is use. You turn the red knobs, the brand's trademark, and you can easily find YOUR sound. Thank God Fender does things right, mamma mia! It's awesome! Half way up, the clean channel starts to crunch heavily, but the sound remains crystalline and pure. It's an amp that can make even the worst guitars sound good.

SOUNDS

I won't beat around the bush. I had never been a Fender fan. Until the day my dad gave me his "old" amp saying: Here you have something to enjoy yourself. And he was not mistaken. I've tried everything on top of it, from the grimy metal zone to the digitechrp2000 multieffects and the floor pod plus. Once you have found the right settings, this amp can deliver any sound in any style. I helped out a buddy of mine during a good death metal concert since the tubes had burned out. With the right settings and some good effects, it saved his day. And my small combo left more than one dumb founded. The only con is that the distortion/overdrive sounds really dirty for my taste, and the spring reverb isn't very impressing.

OVERALL OPINION

This small combo is 25 years old, according to the warranty card. The tubes had to be changed once during this period. The knobs make no noise after several years and the sound is still amazing. What warmth and tone. When I play stairway to heaven with my gibson les paul custom, I come close to the sound of jimmy page.

If I could find this type of amp at a modest price today, I don't think I'd hesitate. But vintage gear is pretty popular and it's impossible to find it for less than $600-$700 unless it's in pretty bad shape. So, I don't want to sell mine. It's...priceless!!!

60w tube amp manufactured back in the '80s with 12" speaker. 60w with tubes, so the sound is huge. Footswitachble clean and distortion modes. EQ and two inputs, FX loop and the possibility to add another speaker to the combo.

UTILIZATION

Easy setup. It's pretty easy to get a good combination with the treble, middle, bass, and presence controls.

SOUNDS

You can play any style. I use it with an ibanez as 200 hollowbody and a fender amrican standard. It's the fabulous Fender sound revisited by Paul Rivera. I modified it with jj tesla tubes, which are very warm and full of harmonics.l. I have played with many marshall, musicman, polytone, ampeg, mesa, and peavey tube amps.. And my pick is the super60, which unfortunately is not manufactured anymore.

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for 11 years and bought it secondhand. Unbeatable value for money. It's great for all styles. Do not hesitate if you find one.

Tube amp (2x 6L6GC + 2x 12AX7 + 1x 12AT7)

60w (which means a big sound)

An effects loop on the rear panel without control

2 channels and 1 equalizer

UTILIZATION

Ultra-simple

SOUNDS

I play funk, blues, jazz, and rock, and this amp is perfect for all these styles.

I have an Epiphone dot ES335. I can get a warm and round sound or a twangy one.
Otherwise, I have a BD2, a DS1, a cry baby wahwah and a jamman. The BD2 sounds really well with this fender.

You can use this amp to play at home, for rehearsals or live, its power is perfect.

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for a year. Bought it secondhand for $520, it was a great deal.
I love the warmth and roundness I get with this amp/guitar combination.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

On the other hand, it's quite heavy...You need to work out.

See other reviews.

UTILIZATION

Easy setup, the EQ controls are very effective and, it seems to me, that they interact with each other (like some Mesa, if I understand correctly).

SOUNDS

Clean channel: very Fender, a good sound always, pretty flattering, very rich, with lots of deep lows and crystalline highs.
Drive channel: Drier sound, not many lows, good crunch, but it distorts very quickly, the middle setting affects a lot the output level. A sound that stands out easily in a mix.
I think there's a lot of imbalance between both channels.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it after reading very positive reviews, and resold it after only two months:
A good amp, sturdy but (in my opinion): annoying imbalance between both channels, and the sound is not vintage enough.
And don't forget the weight! It's a real hell when your rehearse in an upper floor without elevator!