10" speaker replacement in Fender Super Reverb

Peter Leavenworth · Post by **Peter Leavenworth** » 15 Apr 2022 2:40 pm

Has anyone here experimented with replacing the 4-10s in a Super Reverb for PS? Particularly with neodymium magnets? I know that would be an expensive test but that's why I'm' asking. Or even installing a neo 15" speaker instead of 4-10s?

John Ducsai · Post by **John Ducsai** » 15 Apr 2022 2:57 pm

Peter,
PM sent

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 16 Apr 2022 3:59 am

I have my SR loaded with four JBL's because they work for me and nothing else does. Of course the amp now weighs over 80 pounds so I don't take it out much, but when I do it is such a fine thing.

I hear the Telonics neo is modeled to sound like a JBL, but at reduced efficiency, meaning at high SPL the amp is working harder and not as clean. I would be curious to see how they sound in the SR but as you say, an expensive experiment.

Don't mess around with speaker loads on the Super Reverb, the output transformer wants to see a 2 ohm load, and no good can come of trying to run a single 8 ohm driver with it regardless of size or efficiency. Once you let the magic smoke out it's impossible to put it back in.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 16 Apr 2022 4:29 am

Dave -- I think I saved some magic smoke in this Mullard and Bugle Boy. You or Peter can borrow them any time to infuse into your amp.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 16 Apr 2022 4:46 am

Cool you managed to save some but the hard part is still in putting it back where it belongs

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 16 Apr 2022 9:19 am

Peter Leavenworth wrote:Has anyone here experimented with replacing the 4-10s in a Super Reverb for PS? Particularly with neodymium magnets? I know that would be an expensive test but that's why I'm' asking. Or even installing a neo 15" speaker instead of 4-10s?

in case you or others dont know.....

the super reverb output transformer is 2 ohms. whatever you put in, be aware of that.

you would not have a lot of headroom with a SR using a pedal steel, but if you are into the blues or rock, it would sound fine.

if you have access to an old 70s silverface twin, that might be a better tube amp platform for pedal steel. you can reduce the power if needed and you can replace the speakers with some neo types to reduce the weight. you can also buy a cab for just the head to make it even easier to carry.

Peter Leavenworth · Post by **Peter Leavenworth** » 16 Apr 2022 4:46 pm

Thank you Dave and Bill for reminding me of the 2 ohm load factor in speaker replacement. This isn’t something I’m planning to do next week, I just wanted to see if any other SR users had tried changing speakers and Dave’s comment about the improvement - for pedal steel - by switching to JBLs is what I was looking for. There is a subset of PS players who love older Super Reverbs with their distinctive mid-scoop and tube characteristics no matter how impractical for gigging. I also have a Dual Showman head, essentially a Twin amp, which sounds terrific with a Telonics neo 15 in an open back cab that is somewhat more practical for playing out.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 16 Apr 2022 5:08 pm

Celestion makes a 4 ohm 12" Neo. A pair of them wired parallel would give you a 2 ohm load. Expensive, though.

www.americanmusical.com/celestion-neo-2 ... EL-N250CB4

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 17 Apr 2022 11:42 am

If you're considering neo speakers for the reduced weight, keep in mind that most 10" speakers are not very heavy. Replacing them with 10" neo speakers may not reduce the overall weight much.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 18 Apr 2022 3:35 am

Bruce Derr wrote:If you're considering neo speakers for the reduced weight, keep in mind that most 10" speakers are not very heavy. Replacing them with 10" neo speakers may not reduce the overall weight much.

For a Super Reverb multiply any weight difference by four, and remember even a few pounds matters when you're herking that thing into the back of the car or onto the stage.

Also, for most pedal steel applications higher speaker efficiency is the most effective way to keep amp distortion down, so switching from Jensen, Eminence, or Celestion to high-output neo or JBL drivers can be the difference between an amp being excellent or sadly unusable.

Peter Leavenworth · Post by **Peter Leavenworth** » 18 Apr 2022 6:33 am

Hi Bruce, you're absolutely right that the expense of the speakers and the difference in weight make it impractical for most of us but I agree with Dave that, if you still have the stamina for lugging around an 80 lb. amp occasionally the pleasure of hearing it "outweighs" the struggle.
However I no longer have a choice and my two SRs will remain in stationary rehearsal spaces. Thanks everyone for the responses.

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 18 Apr 2022 3:00 pm

Pete, they are heavy but I do love a Super Reverb for steel. I got great sounds out of the one I borrowed when playing with the Say Zuzu guys occasionally back in the day. One of the great Fender amps in my opinion.

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 18 Apr 2022 3:51 pm

Fender Tonemaster Super Reverb , 36 pounds , has four Jensen P10r speakers . Might be something to consider .

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