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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/02/08 at 07:15
(Originally written by pmilani/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Belongs to the famous Pro Tube Series:
It's exactly the same amp as the Fender Super Sonic 112 Combo Blonde/Oxblood but with a black pepper finish.
All-tube amp
60-watt output power (8 ohms or 4 ohms with an additional speaker cabinet)
12" Celestion® Vintage 30 speaker (8 ohms)
- Two clean channels (Vintage) for two different and switchable clean sounds
- One lead channel (Burn) with dual gain stages
Spring reverb
Adjustable FX loop
Preamp output allowing you to link a second amp
Power amp input allowing the amp to be linked
3-function footswitch
Two speaker outputs (one for the internal speaker and one for an external cabinet)
On/off switch and standby switch
3/4" maple/birch multi-ply cabinet
Front panel settings:
Vintage channel: Volume, treble, bass and Vibrolux® /
Bassman® switch
Burn channel: Gain 1, gain 2, treble, bass, middle, volume, reverb
Rear panel:
Send level and return level
Vinyl black pepper or blond oxblood covering
Weight 54 lb.
Dimensions: Height 17.36"
Width 25.4"
Depth 10.2"
Tubes: two 6L6-GC, (P/N 0053980000)
six 12AX7 (P/N 0013341000)
two 12AT7 (P/N 0023531000)
Accessories: 3-function footswitch (P/N 0069285000) and black Fender® cover (P/N 0071206000)
Everything is provided to make it a high-quality amp!
UTILIZATION
Ultra easy setting, the amp is very easy to use especially with the footswitch for channel selection and effects.
The 3-channel (two clean channels) design provides a wide sound range. You'll surely find the sound you're looking for.
It allowed me to put away most of my effects pedals: I simply plug in and play, it's a dream come true!
I play almost everything with this amp. The included documentation provides setting examples but they are not necessary because the amp is very easy to use and sounds well with every setting.
The amp is not too heavy (53 lb.) for a 60-watt tube amp. In that sense it's very convenient (especially if you compare it with my Twin Amp) considering it's a combo so you don't need a van to transport the head plus the speaker cabinets.
SOUNDS
When it comes to the sound, this amp is the most versatile I know:
- The clean channels provide the whole Fender sound range thanks to the Bassman and Vibrolux modes. It's unbeatable and you can play any music style you like. I tested the amp with other tube types (change at least V1 and V2, and even V3) and I got a wonderful sound with Electro-Harmonix 12AX7EH tubes. I also tested Jan Philips 5751 tubes, which I actually ended up keeping for good because they provide the brilliant sound I was looking for.
- Distortion sound: Finally Fender excels at distortion!
I was surprised to see that Nono (Trust's guitarist) plays with this amp live because Fender isn't exactly famous for its distortion sound, but now I know why he does...
Thanks to the dual gain stages in the lead channel I can finally put all my distortion pedals away (I like plugging the guitar directly into the amp). The dual gain stages don't alter the sound character of the amp but produce different distortion colors. The EQ section adds additional sound shaping possibilities to provide an almost endless sound range.
Add the spring reverb and you get a fully comprehensive package.
The amp has only 60 watts of power, which is average for this amp type (Twin amp = 100 watts, Marshall even more, etc.).
I personally play at home and set the volume control between 2 and 3 and the sound is really nice.
Like with every tube amp it's very interesting to overdrive the power stage with higher volume settings, but I don't know many tube amps that won't disturb your entire neighborhood if you do. Even the Deluxe 65 with its 22 watts gets really loud if you want to overdrive it to get a crunch sound.
But thanks to the distortion range provided by the dual gain stages of the Supersonic, you can get an overdriven sound without having to increase the volume. The lead channel provides a wonderful light overdrive I use to play blues (it's a breeze with my Gibson ES335). (Those who want to overdrive the power stage of their tube amp can always turn to a power attenuator like the Koch LoadBox LB120).
OVERALL OPINION
I've been owning it for two years and it's the first amp I haven't had to bring to a technician for repair: I've never had a single problem, not even with a fuse (not true: the small blue power LED burned out and I had to buy a new lightbulb!).
I own three other amps (two Fender and a Roland Jazz Chorus). Each has its own style but they sound nice but are not very versatile. On the contrary, the Supersonic is unsurpassed when it comes to versatility.
It's true that it's quite expensive but it offers huge sound possibilities and makes effect pedals needless.
Belongs to the famous Pro Tube Series:
It's exactly the same amp as the Fender Super Sonic 112 Combo Blonde/Oxblood but with a black pepper finish.
All-tube amp
60-watt output power (8 ohms or 4 ohms with an additional speaker cabinet)
12" Celestion® Vintage 30 speaker (8 ohms)
- Two clean channels (Vintage) for two different and switchable clean sounds
- One lead channel (Burn) with dual gain stages
Spring reverb
Adjustable FX loop
Preamp output allowing you to link a second amp
Power amp input allowing the amp to be linked
3-function footswitch
Two speaker outputs (one for the internal speaker and one for an external cabinet)
On/off switch and standby switch
3/4" maple/birch multi-ply cabinet
Front panel settings:
Vintage channel: Volume, treble, bass and Vibrolux® /
Bassman® switch
Burn channel: Gain 1, gain 2, treble, bass, middle, volume, reverb
Rear panel:
Send level and return level
Vinyl black pepper or blond oxblood covering
Weight 54 lb.
Dimensions: Height 17.36"
Width 25.4"
Depth 10.2"
Tubes: two 6L6-GC, (P/N 0053980000)
six 12AX7 (P/N 0013341000)
two 12AT7 (P/N 0023531000)
Accessories: 3-function footswitch (P/N 0069285000) and black Fender® cover (P/N 0071206000)
Everything is provided to make it a high-quality amp!
UTILIZATION
Ultra easy setting, the amp is very easy to use especially with the footswitch for channel selection and effects.
The 3-channel (two clean channels) design provides a wide sound range. You'll surely find the sound you're looking for.
It allowed me to put away most of my effects pedals: I simply plug in and play, it's a dream come true!
I play almost everything with this amp. The included documentation provides setting examples but they are not necessary because the amp is very easy to use and sounds well with every setting.
The amp is not too heavy (53 lb.) for a 60-watt tube amp. In that sense it's very convenient (especially if you compare it with my Twin Amp) considering it's a combo so you don't need a van to transport the head plus the speaker cabinets.
SOUNDS
When it comes to the sound, this amp is the most versatile I know:
- The clean channels provide the whole Fender sound range thanks to the Bassman and Vibrolux modes. It's unbeatable and you can play any music style you like. I tested the amp with other tube types (change at least V1 and V2, and even V3) and I got a wonderful sound with Electro-Harmonix 12AX7EH tubes. I also tested Jan Philips 5751 tubes, which I actually ended up keeping for good because they provide the brilliant sound I was looking for.
- Distortion sound: Finally Fender excels at distortion!
I was surprised to see that Nono (Trust's guitarist) plays with this amp live because Fender isn't exactly famous for its distortion sound, but now I know why he does...
Thanks to the dual gain stages in the lead channel I can finally put all my distortion pedals away (I like plugging the guitar directly into the amp). The dual gain stages don't alter the sound character of the amp but produce different distortion colors. The EQ section adds additional sound shaping possibilities to provide an almost endless sound range.
Add the spring reverb and you get a fully comprehensive package.
The amp has only 60 watts of power, which is average for this amp type (Twin amp = 100 watts, Marshall even more, etc.).
I personally play at home and set the volume control between 2 and 3 and the sound is really nice.
Like with every tube amp it's very interesting to overdrive the power stage with higher volume settings, but I don't know many tube amps that won't disturb your entire neighborhood if you do. Even the Deluxe 65 with its 22 watts gets really loud if you want to overdrive it to get a crunch sound.
But thanks to the distortion range provided by the dual gain stages of the Supersonic, you can get an overdriven sound without having to increase the volume. The lead channel provides a wonderful light overdrive I use to play blues (it's a breeze with my Gibson ES335). (Those who want to overdrive the power stage of their tube amp can always turn to a power attenuator like the Koch LoadBox LB120).
OVERALL OPINION
I've been owning it for two years and it's the first amp I haven't had to bring to a technician for repair: I've never had a single problem, not even with a fuse (not true: the small blue power LED burned out and I had to buy a new lightbulb!).
I own three other amps (two Fender and a Roland Jazz Chorus). Each has its own style but they sound nice but are not very versatile. On the contrary, the Supersonic is unsurpassed when it comes to versatility.
It's true that it's quite expensive but it offers huge sound possibilities and makes effect pedals needless.