Supro Black Magick Reverb Combo Amp

[Mark Schmieder]

As many of you know, after six months of COVID-induced unemployment in CA, I had to uproot myself for a job in NC that began on 1 OCT, but couldn't fit much in my tiny car for the coast-to-coast drive so have no guitars or amps with me here in Durham.

 

I don't like duplicating stuff or getting anything redundant, but decided a long time ago that I have all the electric guitars and amps that I need (including bass amps). I bought a Fender Rumble solid state bass combo amp that can also give me something more portable for casuals once back in CA, but was stumped regarding guitars and guitar amps until today, when I remembered that Supro has been back in business for a while now.

 

So I plan to save up for the Johnny Marr Jaguar as it corrects all the things I hate playability-wise and sound-wise about that model (and as I otherwise have as much coverage as I want for solid body electric guitars), and most importantly came to the conclusion this afternoon that the Supro Black Magick Reverb Combo Amp is different enough from my various Fenders, my Vox AC15 Hand Wired and my Mesa Royal Atlantic head (with 1x12 Rectifier cabinet) that it's worth considering as my amp for my time in NC while not being redundant once back in CA.

 

I really love the tremolo circuit on this amp, and its overall sound, and was surprised to learn that its power tubes are a different model than what other amps use, plus the Supro was used by Jimmy Page and other 60's/70's top-name guitarists on any number of major recordings. Not sure how I was ignorant of this fact for so many years, but I guess when a brand dies they eventually are forgotten (until revived).

[KuruPrionz]

As many of you know, after six months of COVID-induced unemployment in CA, I had to uproot myself for a job in NC that began on 1 OCT, but couldn't fit much in my tiny car for the coast-to-coast drive so have no guitars or amps with me here in Durham.

 

Quite the change but it's excellent that you've landed on your feet.

 

I don't like duplicating stuff or getting anything redundant, but decided a long time ago that I have all the electric guitars and amps that I need (including bass amps). I bought a Fender Rumble solid state bass combo amp that can also give me something more portable for casuals once back in CA, but was stumped regarding guitars and guitar amps until today, when I remembered that Supro has been back in business for a while now.

 

I too avoid redundant guitars and amps although I still have a couple of holes to fill in the Guitarsenal. All critical options for me are covered or soon will be. I LOVE the Rumbles, the 100 watt with 1-12 is amazingly good for how light and small it is.

Yep, Supro. A friend of mine in Fresno CA owned the rights to the name at one point. Cliff Archer owned Archer's Music in the hip part of town and when he purchased the name he ordered bodies and necks that paid tribute to the vintage Supro guitars while essentially being sort of Fender Hotrod-0-casters. I was hired to assemble and set up a few of those guitars. He sold locally, never got it together to go national with it. The internet was a cult thing still at that point, not wide-spread as it is today. I guess he sold the name at some point, it's good to see somebody go with it.

 

So I plan to save up for the Johnny Marr Jaguar as it corrects all the things I hate playability-wise and sound-wise about that model (and as I otherwise have as much coverage as I want for solid body electric guitars), and most importantly came to the conclusion this afternoon that the Supro Black Magick Reverb Combo Amp is different enough from my various Fenders, my Vox AC15 Hand Wired and my Mesa Royal Atlantic head (with 1x12 Rectifier cabinet) that it's worth considering as my amp for my time in NC while not being redundant once back in CA.

 

This is entirely sensible. You know what you are buying and why. I had a "thing" for Jazzmasters long ago, owned 3 pre CBS ones at one point or another. I'd have fun with one or a Jag now but it would be a sideline item for me at this point.

Once in a while but not all the time. Still, it's a sound, a look and a feel all it's own. I haven't played or heard a new Supro amp yet but they get good reviews from credible sources. If you like it, it is good.

 

I really love the tremolo circuit on this amp, and its overall sound, and was surprised to learn that its power tubes are a different model than what other amps use, plus the Supro was used by Jimmy Page and other 60's/70's top-name guitarists on any number of major recordings. Not sure how I was ignorant of this fact for so many years, but I guess when a brand dies they eventually are forgotten (until revived).

 

The power tube thing is probably originally based on practical considerations like availability. I remember well into the 60's there being large "Army Surplus" stores including electronic warehouses scattered about. Tubes, jacks, pots and other essential parts for building guitar amps were also used for communications and our military was well budgeted for a long time.

 

I used to go in m teens to a gigantic basement warehouse downtown in sleepy backwater Fresno and there was surplus military communications gear stacked to the ceiling everywhere. This was a HUGE place, you never took the time to see all of it on one visit. I have no idea what all he had down there but there were tube based electronics by the ton - literally. Imagine Los Angeles (Fender), Chicago (Valco = Supro, National etc.) and back east (Ampeg and Danelectro).

 

The buyers for these companies were probably (at least at the start) going out to military surplus outlets, auctions, etc. and swooping up crates of tubes, jacks, switches. Then you design your amp to use the tubes you got for dimes on the dollar and when you run out, you order new tubes with the same designation as long as they are available. EVERYBODY used Switchcraft 1/4" jacks, I still do - way better than the current import jacks.

 

The bits about who used what way back when make great marketing bling but everything is nothing to a sidewalk, that's how it seems. There is much variance in construction and layout in the old hand-wired tube amps. Randall Smitth - founder of Mesa Engineering and creator of the Boogie, wrote an article on the frustrations of trying to get one Fender amp to sound like another back when he worked as an amp tech. That experience is the primary reason for Mesa amps having circuit boards that engender precise location for all components - making it possible to produce a consistent product. I've owned and played a variety of vintage guitar amps and some of them where clearly different than others of the same model and year.

Could just be a tube, could be the location of some critical parts or substitutions that happened when stock ran out and demands needed to be met. "This one will work." Bam! different tone.

 

We know that Jimmy Page's Supro was repaired in Britain by a tech and a few years back there was a limited re-issue of an exact duplicate of Jimmy's amp including the changes the tech made when it was repaired.

Those amps cost as much as a nice car or a solid down payment on an house. And they sold out quickly. Doesn't matter to me, I don't play or sound like Jimmy Page.

 

And it is doubtful that the new Supro amps sound like Jimmy's amp either. It doesn't matter at all, if it's a good sound (and I'm sure it is) then it's good.

 

Here's a fun one - the lead solo on Moonage Daydream from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album is Mick Ronson pummeling a dimed Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Les Paul.

You never hear anybody talking about getting a Deluxe Reverb to get that "Mick Ronson Tone", at least I never have!!! Lol. Cheers, Kuru

[CEB]

Three years ago I was looking for 15-25 watt combo. Supro brought out the Neptune and Saturn Reverbs. I liked the sound of the amps a lot but in the end I decided against it and got another Mesa.

 

My concern was how I was going to find replacement 6973s if EHX should go out of business again. The Neptune was nice how it hits sweet spot at a good manageable volume level.

 

I eventually went with a Rectoverb 25. It"s a EL84 amp that is ultra versatile. It does everything from George Jones to Foo Fighters. Pretty much a homer decision. My local shop is a Mesa Dealer and service center. I"ve played Boogies since 91 with no failures. But I liked the sound of the Supros.

 

Shop is also a Fender and Vox service shop so I didn"t want a new Fender or Vox. I see everything that comes in. ð. I would consider a real Silverface Deluxe if I could find one worth the money. The old hand wired amps are easily rebuilt. They are immortal.

[Larryz]

Cool amp! Here's a demo:

 

 

 

 

[Mark Schmieder]

Some amazing historical lessons in there!

 

BTW after I wrote my post last night, I found out that D'angelico bought Supro earlier this year during COVID lockdown, which is why it didn't get much press.

 

I have a D'angelico EXL-1 L5-style arch-top jazz guitar that I love. The two companies have been close since their respective re-launches.

[p90jr]

Glad you had a work opportunity though sorry for the general circumstances... and Durham and NC have some extremely cool musicians. I got to play guitar once with one of my musical and songwriting heroes, Peter Holsapple - from The dB's, who was also keys/auxililary guy for R.E.M. and Hootie & The Blowfish - and he returned to NC after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans and lives in Durham now, I believe. Wonderful guy.

 

The Black Magick is awesome! I see good condition used non-reverb models starting to pop up for $600-700, so I have a feeling I will succumb someday to either one of those or the new 1 x 12" AC30. You will love that vibe... as a Johnny Marr devoté who actually plays in a Smiths Tribute band (on my old MIJ Jazzmaster, mostly) that guitar is a magnet for me, too.

 

I will piggyback on this thread to say that on Black Friday I saw late in the day people in facebook guitar and amp groups buzzing about the fact the Sweetwater and Amazon were both blowing out the Supro Blues King 12 (15-watt) amps for $299... half price, and well below dealer wholesale (a friend here became a dealer after I played by two Supro Supremes for gigs at his venue/store a few times and he loved them). By that late, they were sold out, of course, but Sweetwater had a "reserve this item at this price in case anymore become available" option, so I did... and Tuesday it appeared on my doorstep. I checked my email to see if they'd notified me it was on the way and they hadn't in those specific terms, really, just an "if the item becomes available.." Thanks, Ed, for looking out for me and doing me this solid! I thanked my daughter for the new Christmas present! (She's only 8 so I had to explain the joke).

 

It's cool. I needed a small, light grab and go/plug right in combo for jams or low key collaborations, etc. My AC15 is not particularly light and can be too loud... I have a Blackstar Club 40 that isn't really small... the Supro Supremes are great and small but need a pedal for overdrive. My little solid-state 15-watt Vox Pathfinder with an 8" speaker had been filling that role and is great but if there was drums involved that speaker could be pushed beyond sounding pleasant (and a collaborator has borrowed that amp for recording/gigging at the moment)... at least this is the reason I've convinced myself I need yet another amp around so just let me run with it!

 

The Blues King seems to have the Supro drive/boost pedal circuitry built-in as a footswitchable/toogle switches thing... when both are engaged it can get that old Chicago tubby thub and stinging overdrive sound, like Hubert Sumlin on Howlin' Wolf records. playing with the Master Volume and Volume gives a range of tones, plugging in a humbucker guitar I could get some modern-ish gainy sounds. It can be loud and clear, and jazzy. The headroom is just right for me, not too low, not too high (again, I didn't want to have bring dirt pedals along when I grab this and a guitar and head off somewhere)... I see people complaining that the headroom isn't high enough... but these seem to be the folks who play Hot Rod Deluxes totally as pedal platforms. I am a pedal-holic, but I want the amp to be at the point of having a little bit of edge at a practical volume on its own... different stroke for different peoples. I also guess I've "matured" to the point of being volume conscious... I hate wearing earplugs while playing and think it's hypocritical and sadistic to punish the audience while sparing yourself, especially with the quality of PA sound reinforcement these days. I was talking with a couple of guys about how it took all of us decades to figure out it's better to be in the 15-30 watt range than the 50-100 watt range... so we've all worked ourselves right back to the wattage of our first amps, while actually not even playing as loud with that as we did once.

[p90jr]

Some amazing historical lessons in there!

 

BTW after I wrote my post last night, I found out that D'angelico bought Supro earlier this year during COVID lockdown, which is why it didn't get much press.

 

I have a D'angelico EXL-1 L5-style arch-top jazz guitar that I love. The two companies have been close since their respective re-launches.

 

WOW! I did notice that there were D'Angelico guitars (instead of Supro guitars) on the Supro website the other day... also that the amp range has been way paired down...

[Mark Schmieder]

Yeah, the amp range seems RECENTLY pared down, as I was expecting to see more choices as well as the guitars. They do say that the product line will be reformulated next year -- possibly at the NAMM Show? So maybe it pays to see what their next act is, but I doubt they'd come out with something I'd like better than the Black Magick reverb model. On the other hand, they did come out with a more pro-level version of the D'angelico EXL-1 a few years after I bought mine.

 

Coo info about transplants to Durham. It's sort of a moot point during COVID; I am very careful to limit who I am in contact with, and especially avoid anyone who is close to my age or older. I am only willing to hang out with people under 40 years old, as I figure I could be a silent carrier and inadvertently kill anyone who is older. At any rate, I was a huge dB's fan and am glad to know of the Durham connection, for later on.

[p90jr]

It seems that Supro manufactures a model once in a big lot and then lets that sell out in inventory... Fender seems to be doing this with some of its guitars, too. It might not be a bad way to go about things, really, in this climate, since the used inventory doesn't really depreciate the new stock. Also, there's too many companies cranking out music gear in this current environment and it is unsustainable (especially if GC reduces its wholesale purchases due to closing stores and bankruptcy). The Black Magick must be their big steady seller.

[Mark Schmieder]

I think I'm going to hold off a bit to see what D'angelico does with the product line-up.

 

For now, I'll get an Orange Micro Terror and probably their 2x12 vertical cab with the creambacks.

 

The total package is about 60% of the cost, but probably a closer match for a Jaguar guitar and the sounds I'll be focusing on during my time in NC, as well as being non-redundant with my CA collection.

 

I have the Mesa Rectifier 2x12 cabinet back home, and their Royal Atlantic head. All my other guitar amps are combos (Vox hand-wired AC15, Fender 65 Deluxe, 59 Bassman LTD, and 57 Custom Champ).

[Mark Schmieder]

The Micro Terror doesn't have a DI so I can't use it for recording placeholder tracks while in NC, but it does have a headphone jack, so I could use that for a much superior experience to using AmpliTube (I wish I hadn't spent the upgrade price now for V5) as I had to do yesterday (though sending it through a pair of 4" monitors didn't help). Anyway, the headphone jack would mitigate the frustration level while waiting for back-ordered cabs to arrive (the entire Orange catalogue is on back-order unless buying used, but I've decided on the vertical 2x12 model as it has G12 Neo Creambacks and thus it wouldn't at all redundant with my V30-stocked Mesa Rectifier 2x12 in CA).

[Mark Schmieder]

I just placed an order on the Orange PPC212VBK Vertical Open Back 2x12 Guitar Cabinet in Black, with two Celestion G12 Neo Creambacks, and am about to order a used Micro Terror hybrid amp head, as a super-cheap placeholder until getting a Dual Terror all-tube amp head later on -- the cost is so low for the Micro Terror that there's no real need to get the Dual Terror until I am reunited with my mics and other gear in California. Not sure I'd like the cheaper Rocker Terror as much as the Dual Terror.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens with Supro in the 2021 line-up, as it remains a unique voice when it comes specifically to the Black Magick models. Also, I now have the flexibility of just going for their head and using it with the Orange cabinet -- probably a good match with the G12's in the vertical model, which likewise comes closer to approximating a 4x12 sound than a horizontal 2x12 configuration does (and is better for ear height).

 

Of course sometimes there is a specific mojo with the lesser quality speakers in combos, which is why I never go for the custom "upgrade" speakers in my Fender combo amps.

[Mark Schmieder]

I'm going straight to the Dual Terror vs. the Micro Terror. The combination of this head and the vertical 2x12 cab with G12 creambacks will give me something a bit in the VOX AC30 territory; whereas I have the AC15 covered with my hand-wired edition and blue alnico's in place of greenbacks. Thus nothing duplicative in NC of the CA setup, yet something new that is very versatile across genres.

 

The Supro will likely still get added further down the road, but I'm not convinced it's a good match for the Jaguar. If I get bored with my choices here though, I may go for the newest version of the Eric Johnson Strat -- the previous rev was what I wanted originally but it was hard to get and the one I wanted sold overnight while I pondered that choice vs. the Select Strat that I bought instead (but which has similar revisions to the switching). Strat + Supro is a good combination.