Dual Showman Reverb / Super Reverb Heads

[8bit Barry]

Hi there,

I have a 100w Dual Showman Reverb, its a master volume from the late seventies and I am thinking about a Super Reverb at some point next year.

Before I go any further, how different are the circuits and will there be a notable difference in the sound?

The Showman is a monster. Other than a reissue Princeton, its my only Fender. It is surrounded by Marshall's, but I love the sound of it so much I am thinking about selling some of my Marshall gear and getting a Super Reverb.

I am running my Showman through a vintage Marshall cab and although I would love the 2x15" its just not practical in my house, or indeed many other people's houses!

So a Super Reverb head seems like the way to go?

Ok I am stalling here - any advice very welcome

[phantomman]

Given identical speaker systems, there likely won't be a gnat's ass of difference in volume between those two amps. Both are monster tone machines because they were designed that way. If you want traditional Fender tone at less-than-seismic volume levels I recommend a Deluxe Reverb, either as a combo or a head. You'll thank yourself every day of ownership.

[8bit Barry]

I?m not bothered about the volume as I?m totally deaf - haha, no I use an Ironman II attenuator, which has given me access to excellent tones from many 100w heads.

I?m more interested in the tone and sound.

[phantomman]

Then the world is your open-air bazaar.

Have a ball

[8bit Barry]

"Before I go any further, how different are the circuits and will there be a notable difference in the sound? "

Can anyone answer my initial question please

[Offshore Angler]

Wow, I can't think of a single venue that I would use a SR for in this day and age. They were designed for the days when we used "PA Systems" for sound reinforcement. In today's world even a DR is overly loud for most applications. As in McIntosh MC2300 loud. And yes, the old MC2300's sounded totally awesome but weighed 150 pounds.

I mean, yeah, the whole attenuator thing, but they kill off so much of an amp's personality. Now with a SR which was made to stay clean at Super Bowl volumes, yeah, might be OK. Certainly not going to be in tweed territory!

Since you have SR, I'm assuming you're not using it to play out, or have roadies if you do.

Chuck

[8bit Barry]

I mean, yeah, the whole attenuator thing, but they kill off so much of an amp's personality

With respect that?s not right at all. If you haven?t used an Ironman II or similar calibre reactive load transformer based attenuators, then you?ll be grouping them with a Weber or a Hotplate resistance based attenuators which are agreeably inferior.

I run many 50 and 100w heads, Marshall / Selmer / Simms Watt and they provide exceptional sound, preserving all of the amps response and playing characteristics and reduced volume.

I?m the owner of a Dual Showman wanting to purchase a Super Reverb not the other way round.

does anyone own both?

[Offshore Angler]

That's cool. A bit of a hint here, if you run a SR onstage have the soundman duck the low end off the kick drum. It will keep the mix cleaner. The SR's tend to overpower the mains on lower freqs. Great amps but the dynamic response is so varied across the frequency range they can be hard to mix.

Chuck