❌SOLD❌ Fender Super Amp Brownface, 1962

Originally introduced as the Dual Professional in late 1946 and renamed in 1947, the Fender Super Amp started as a 20 watt, 2×10 combo, rising to a whopping 40 watts by 1962, and was discontinued in 1963.

Here we’re looking at a Fender Super Brownface amp, with the ‘brownface’ trim putting it directly between the ‘Blonde’ and ‘Blackface’ eras. (In the vintage amplifier world, the terms ‘Brownface and’ ‘Blackface’ – referring to the amp’s white lettering on a brown or black control panel – have no relation to what those terms mean in current political or cultural contexts). ‘Brownface’ amps appeared in 1959 and were built until 1963, followed by ‘Blackface’ amps in late 1963 to 1967, and then superseded by ‘Silverface’ models.

This amp dates to 1962 and is in overally good, original and almost complete condition – the preamp tube covers are missing. Preamp tubes are 7025, with a pair of 6L6GC or 5881 tubes depending on circuit. The rectifier tube is a GZ34, allowing tube saturation at lower volume levels (though not quite enough for typical bedroom use).

At this point, the Fender Super Amp was a 40 watt amp using the 6G4-A circuit and 5881 tubes, with a pair of ten inch Jensen speakers. Weight is around 47 pounds or 21 kg, so it is still portable, loud, and highly effective, but not as bulky as the 4×10 Super Reverb that followed it. And they sound just great.

These amps were quite popular with professional players, including the incredible Tommy Tedesco on his uncountable sessions as part of The Wrecking Crew – a loose group of Los Angeles studio players who played on an extremely wide range of material. That is a fascinating story, with both a movie and a book examining it, well worth investigating.