Unveiling the Fender '62 Super Amp: A Vintage Reissue with a Modern Twist
When it comes to Fender amps, the sounds they produce can be as diverse as the guitarists who play them. Some seek the super clean, mid-scooped tones, while others crave the ragged overdrive or the big, open sound. The Fender '62 Super Amp, a reissue of the Brown Panel Super, offers a unique blend of these tropes, bridging the gap between the woolly overdriven Tweed era and the mid-scooped cleans of the Black Panel era.
This amp has the correct vintage vibes. At first glance, one could easily mistake it for an original with its period-correct construction of a solid pine cabinet, which has a half-opened back, brown Nubtex covering, and aged wheat grill cloth. Fender has lovingly recreated the '62 Super alongside some necessary modern appointments, such as a modern IEC power outlet and safety standards.
The '62 Super boasts one of the most responsive and surgical tone stacks of any amp, with two 6L6 output tubes, six 12AX7 preamp tubes, and a 5AR4 rectifier tube. The Celestion-designed 10" speakers with an impedance rating of 4 ohms deliver a rich, full-bodied sound.
The Normal channel provides everything one needs from an amp of this nature, with plenty of clean headroom for recording and a range of tone-shaping possibilities. But where this channel shines is on ten and using the guitar's volume to control dynamics – everything from pristine clean to moderately overdriven can be achieved through this method.
What makes the '62 Super so special and exciting is its Vibrato channel, which features phase-shifting harmonic tremolo. Unlike a traditional tremolo, which modulates the amplitude of a signal, a harmonic tremolo splits the signal into low and high frequencies and modulates them out of phase, creating a unique sound that varies in amplitude and phase.
The tremolo can be cancelled/engaged via the provided footswitch. While historically accurate, the hardwired footswitch will work best for players without extensive pedalboards, and its smooth base may benefit from some grip tape on polished floors.
With the feature set and price point of the '62 Super, this amp isn't necessarily aimed at beginners or players who want sounds and modern features like an effects loop or cab sim output from their amps. It's aimed at Fender amp enthusiasts, people chasing real specific tones or seasoned musicians who just want to plug straight into an amp that has great clean and slightly overdriven sounds, as well as the best harmonic tremolo circuit.
Head to Fender (https://au.fender.com/products/62-super-amp) for more.
