The amp is dialed into be crunchy so there is emphasis with frequencies above 2khz sure, but the tone is thick.After all the amp has a 15 inch speaker.
Thin to me is a Fender tweed where you have a small speaker and a tone circuit that emphazises highs.
if you look at the comments here do you see many people with the same opinion as yours?
In otherwords your comment is quite odd.Just sayin'
I just can't get into Thunderbolts. It's the whole 15" speaker thing. I like 10" or 12" for guitar. My Supro 88T is basically a 2X12 version of the more well known Thunderbolt. But speakers aside, these amps have AMAZING sounding tremolo. Even better than my blackface Twin Reverb.
@damedoodie Hey! I have an 88T also and the clean sound is so 3-D and sparkling but even at 10, there is virtually no breakup with my Tele...why is this Thunderbolt breaking up so much more if they are basically the same amp?? What does yours sound like?? BTW, I agree that the trem is quite nice...different from blackface Fenders but similar to early 60's Brown circuits I find.
Wattage means nothing, i have a 5w Blackstar amp and that amp is FUCKING loud :P but i think the (well i think its the fender twin) fender 50 watt amp is actually painful to listen to at full volume!
Bassman schamassman! The Thunderbolt is the sound of rock & roll! These should be as expensive and sought after as a fawn AC15! Not my cup of tea, but that is THE sound most rockers are chasing.
the bend at 2:18 scared the shit out of me. Your phrasing was starting to peter out and get noodly, and then you just rip out eardrums with that sweet beast!
@greenfish88 Don Mare S-Telly neck pickup, and the broadcaster 0038 model in the bridge. The Fender Tele has an alder body with maple & rosewood neck.
There is one at our local Guitar Center that just came in . . same as this. They are asking $899.0 and at this point the amp needs a LOT of work . . sounds terrible. Crackling sounds and squeals when you turn the volume up. But we all know the potential that is there. I am planning on buying it and replacing the caps and parts myself. I am thinking that if I were to ever sell it. . once it is cleaned up and sounding like this one . . it might bring around $1,500 or so?
@skilback The Victoria amps are too expensive. The Fender amp sucks. And other than that there is nothing I have seen. Although, Fender had a Custome Shop 15" designed by SRV's tech that was good. But, again, big dollars.
Dude that amp screams british blues. When you broke out into train kept a rollin that sold me on this amp, now I got to find one for a reasonable price.
Take this video down! (or at least until i get a hold of a thunderbolt myself) sounds too damn good and these amps are hard enough to find as it is. Great playin! good fingers certainly help get that tone, but man is that amp dead on.
I used to play through an older Supro that my dad owned and sorry I do not have it today. The amp was unique for sure. It was black, baby blue and that same silver speaker cloth.
@VlastaStevanovich The Supro was only used for the first album and the "Stairway..." solo and not the second album. The second album was Vox UL series and Marshalls...
The paraphase 6L6 circuit isn't very efficient, but that is a big part of the sound package of the bulk of most bigger Valco amps.
The Thunderbolt is a wonderful sounding amp, but is not as loud as one would think a 30 Watt 2x6L6 amp would or should be. At full volume it sounds just like this demo, but it is very manageable.
I have played many 2xEL84 amps that are louder, but they sure won't sound like the Thunderbolt.
This was my setup for a year or so. Although there are two 6L6's in the power stage, they only really deliver around 9 watts each, for a total of 18 watts. This is due to the circuit design. Great for recording. Live however, the amp gets lost really quickly. Not a 30 watt amp.
Great for recording! Is a surprise they aren't that loud though. It's just the tone. Unmistakable.... "Train Kept a Rolling" stuff is what I grew up on with the Yardbirds. Also the first Zep album of course. I'm still looking for the "Honey Bee" pedal. I'm not going to shell out for something like this puppy. Shit had a small supro and let it go.. How sounds in our heads change. Best regards.
@tearcircus IMHO these are way overpriced and none are capable of producing any of the tones of the first Zep album-but they do get great sounds with Les Pauls...very much like a Beano album sound,particularly on the bridge pick-up.These amps sound identical to my Sears Silvertone 1482 amp-those sound the same or better and they are a hell of a lot cheaper...or were until Vintage Guitar magazine did an article about how great they are:)
I'm not sure I agree with you there... the 1482 I had didn't sound anything like the Thunderbolt... we're talking (2) 6V6 output tubes with a wimpy 12" speaker in a small cab, vs (2) 6L6 and a larger cab with a 15" Jensen. Huge differences in sound, headroom, volume, and response - in my opinion.
@skilback Maybe your 1482 sounds different, but mine sounds basically the same.Here is a link to something I recorded with my Les Paul and the 1482...
@garbeaj i agree,i had a alamo 2x10 w/ trem,rev,it sounded better,got it for 125 that was the early 90,s tho. this does have nice blues dist. but mine would smoke it on 3.i sold it when i went 9mnths w/out a job & it kills me i cant find anothr 1 even lookin 4it on the web in alamo descripts...if u,ve heard the model im talkin about let me know,im tellin u tho i cant find a pic or descript. of anywhere. i think it was 1970 possibly 69.peacedude
@MrGodam29 alamo was much more versatile&LOUDER,but didnt have the nice jangly blues dist. of alot of these old non fender amps.i admit but 40w. was would ratle the windows on 3or4.& sounded verygood w/tube effects&delay thru it. i wish i could find another, got it in roanoke va. from jim...if u see this & still haveit pls. let me know dude i would love2 have it back.........peace guitardudes
@garbeaj WHAT?? Supro Thunderbolts can't produce any of the sounds from Zep's first album?? They ARE the amp used on the first album. Jimmy had neither his Marshalls NOR his Les Pauls when recording the first album. All those great sounds were recorded with a Telecaster, a custom fuzz pedal, and a Supro amp.
@danakerman There has been no confirmed proof of which Supro amp Page used and what if any modifications wered done to it. I have tried at least 10 different Supro amps over the last 30 years personally and I have never heard one that comes close. The amp in this demo and all the others I have heard on youtube sound nothing like the tone of this first album in my opinion.
@ironpirites Not true at all. Page has said many times that he used distance mic'ing to capture the ambient sounds of the room in the studio. But I have never even heard a rumour about what you mentioned in 30 years of researching this amp and the tones on the first album.
@garbeaj Well if you can't get the Telecaster/Supro combo to create the right tones, there is a very obvious reason. He ran his guitar through a custom fuzz-pedal before hitting the amp. The pickups on a Tele weren't hot enough to get the dirty, crunchy sound that Page was after, so he ran almost everything through the fuzz box on the first album. And of course, there is the genius of his recording techniques, the mics, recording equipment, and of course, Page himself.
@danakerman I am well aware of the Tonebender.I have been researching the components of Page's first album tones for over 20 years.I can tell the difference between the sound of the guitar through the amp and the studio effects and ambient recording techniques that surround the main sound.The main tone of the guitar is not from the fuzz.The Tonebender was only used for leads (not rhythm) on "You Shook Me", "Dazed..." and "How Many More Times". Otherwise the tones are straight guitar and amp...
@danakerman except for the lead in "Communication..." which was the grey Vox wah depressed fully, the Leslie on the leads of "Good Times...", the Octavia on "You Shook Me". To hear the unadulterated sound of the Tele and Supro, listen to the rhythm on "Communication..." and the entire track of "I Can't Quit You Baby" which achieves its tones strictly through changing from bridge to neck pickup. It is easy to remove the atmospherics from the recordings and listen to the pure guitar amp tone...
@danakerman The fact is, I have never heard anyone do a convincing demo of a Tele and Supro amp of any model that comes even close to the guitar straight to amp tone of the first album. Its not that I have a problem achieving the tones with a Supro, its that everyone has a problem achieving those tones with a Supro. If you can do it, prove it with a clip.
@garbeaj This is a late reply but the answer to your problem is that he didn't go straight to the amp in the first album for a lot of those tones. He had a modified Tonebender MKII that helped out a lot. Add to that the signal chain to record, with eq, compressors, and an old 60s desk, and you start to get a little different sound.
@danakerman There is no evidence to suggest that he used the fuzz for anything other than the leads and overdubs in certain tracks. Tracks like "Communication Breakdown" and "I Can't Quit You Baby" are straight guitar to amp, except for the solo on "CB" which features the grey wah depressed...The basic sound of the rhythm on "CB" and the entire track of "ICQYB" is the sound of the guitar straight into the amp-studio embellishments were there, but the basic sound is obvious in these two songs...
@garbeaj Thunderbolts and Model 24-style Supros really don't sound like Silvertone 1482's at all if you ask me. And I absolutely disagree that you can't get Zeppelin I tones out of them.
@mgearvideos OK...everybody has their own opinion. My opinion is that no one has ever made a demo of any Supro amp that sounds even remotely like the tones on the first album, which was recorded with a an undetermined model Supro. People often claim that they can get the first album tones with a Supro, yet no one has actually demonstrated this...
@mgearvideos This demo sounds exactly like my Silvertone 1482 or any number of Ampeg Reverberocket amps to me. Are you saying that this amp sounds like the first album to you?
@garbeaj I have a Reverberocket, I've had a Silvertone 1482, and I have a1483 and 1484. And no, I am not saying it sounds exactly like the first Zeppelin album: He's not Jimmy Page, and he doesn't have a recording studio. I am saying that if you take a telecaster and a nice germanium overdrive pedal and plug into a Thunderbolt, you can get tones awfully close to those on Zeppelin I. Personally I think the 6973-based Supros sound closer, but the Thunderbolt already sounds very close.
@mgearvideos I guess that's your experience.I have several variations of original Sola Tonebenders and Marshall SupaFuzzes as well as D*A*M repros-the pedals themselves basically have their tone regardless of the amp. To me the "recording" techniques of distance mic'ing,ambience etc. add a great deal to the guitar sound of the first album and "Stairway..." but the meat of the tone is from the guitar to the amp-I'm just saying that I've never heard any Supro that comes close in life or on youtube
@garbeaj And FWIW, I agree that they are overpriced, due largely to the Page hype. You can still find off-brand Valco-built, 6793-based amps with similar circuits in the same price range as a 1482 now and then, though.
@mgearvideos i disagree too and think that when you kicked into Heartbreaker right there is sounded like zep and made me wanna go listen to the original because it sounded like it. i too have a supro thunderbolt and instantly thought wow this sounds like early zeppelin so i got a 1624 and thought wow this sounds like zeppelin even more...so then i stacked them on top of each other and plugged em both in and thought wow this is amazing...total zep...maybe too much like em that i cant get away !!!
If your tv speakers are way louder, then there is something wrong with your amp. My Thunderbolt would practically blow my eardrums out when I cranked it. We're talking nearly 30 watts.
No I'm not kidding...I have played through a Thunderbolt full up and no it is not loud to me. Obviously your experience and frame of reference for the amp is different than mine...I am not faulting you for any opinion you have. I'm just saying that there are many amps that sound,to my ears exactly like this one and to me they are in no way worth the inflated prices that they now carry because of the association with Page...I'm glad for you that you are happy with it-it is just not for me...
When you played Heartbreaker I couldn't believe how much it sounded like Page. That amp is definitely unlike a Marshall or Fender. It truly has a different sound to it.
Thunderbolts do not have an "overdrive" control... the drive tones you hear are just from turning the amp up LOUD. The only controls are Volume and Tone.
what a great sounding amp! My Supro 1741 sounds more like Pagey to me, but I'm not going for that anyway.. I like the cleantone on yours better, and your playing is great!
This video convinced me to get the Wolfetone Marshallhead set. I just got them and have yet to install them. I'm really excited! From what I heard they sound great. I also saw them doing Metallica. That's pretty versatile!
Point taken...there is some consensus on THE amp,but it is probably never going to be proven conclusively...And you indeed have a point,I should shut up and buy a Supro and demo it myself. It just seems that very few people would pay exorbitant sums for any Supro amp if it wasn't for Page.The only consensus I have heard about Supro amps is that no one has found one that sounds like what ever Page used,so I would probably never buy one. Thanks for demoing to help us learn more about these amps:)
Everyone always demos these amps by playing material we all know was NOT recorded with a Supro...Jimmy has said categorically and repeatedly that it was only used on the first album-"Communication Breakdown" or anything else from the first album should be played to get an idea of whether this is THE amp which is why these things are so sought after in the first place-this one sounds like a Ampeg or Silvertone...nothing special.
That's funny. Well, it sounds like a Supro Thunderbolt to me... and that's what it IS so no surprise there. Actually, the general consensus these days is that Page didn't use a Thunderbolt at all, but rather a Supro model 1624TN or 1690TN Coronado. Personally, I don't really care... I just intended to demo this amp. Why not go buy a Thunderbolt yourself and do the demo you'd really like to see.... I'm sure lots of players would watch to see it.
it cant be compared to marshall or orange, the supro sound is a pretty distinctly american tone.kinda warm like a bassman, not so bass heavy though--but its got the bassman snarl
There is no uniform 'Supro' tone...every single model sounds different from one another. It's very well known that the Thunderbolt has an Orange/Marshall tone when cranked. Another example, the little Supro 'Super' is voiced like a Plexi, believe it or not. The Supro Supreme has a Fender Tweed Champ kind of sound to it. It's funny that mention the Bassman when talking about the Thunderbolt since it's well known that the first Marshalls were heavily influenced by the Bassman circuit.
The train kept a-rollin'!!!!
slowmonkey156 2 weeks ago
My god that sounds good
ZeppelinRules 1 month ago
Finally !!! Someone who dares play with overdrive !!!! Love ya !!!!
Duroduro666 2 months ago
1:57 is a very tasty riff
nbrothergtr 2 months ago
nice playing!
caesarcerf 2 months ago
God that sounds good!!
tabletop77 3 months ago
The amp is dialed into be crunchy so there is emphasis with frequencies above 2khz sure, but the tone is thick.After all the amp has a 15 inch speaker.
Thin to me is a Fender tweed where you have a small speaker and a tone circuit that emphazises highs.
if you look at the comments here do you see many people with the same opinion as yours?
In otherwords your comment is quite odd.Just sayin'
bornburied 3 months ago
I just can't get into Thunderbolts. It's the whole 15" speaker thing. I like 10" or 12" for guitar. My Supro 88T is basically a 2X12 version of the more well known Thunderbolt. But speakers aside, these amps have AMAZING sounding tremolo. Even better than my blackface Twin Reverb.
damedoodie 3 months ago
@damedoodie Hey! I have an 88T also and the clean sound is so 3-D and sparkling but even at 10, there is virtually no breakup with my Tele...why is this Thunderbolt breaking up so much more if they are basically the same amp?? What does yours sound like?? BTW, I agree that the trem is quite nice...different from blackface Fenders but similar to early 60's Brown circuits I find.
PeterPug007 1 month ago
bastard!! i want this amp!! LOL!
kurt72 3 months ago
I came here cuz i found out the "stairway" solo was done thru a supro amp so I'm just listening, and yea i actualy hear that sound. very cool
gtrstdave 4 months ago
Sweet demo!
TheBluesyPea 4 months ago
They still can't make amps that sound as good as the one's from 46 years ago! That's insane!
1971SuperLead 5 months ago
Does it sound this thin in real life?
lighteningboy 5 months ago
@lighteningboy You think that sounds thin? GTFO
bornburied 3 months ago
@bornburied Kind of, and I have good quality monitors...youtube never tells the true story, but yeah...
lighteningboy 3 months ago
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wisesatyr72 6 months ago
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gewerh44 7 months ago
Wattage means nothing, i have a 5w Blackstar amp and that amp is FUCKING loud :P but i think the (well i think its the fender twin) fender 50 watt amp is actually painful to listen to at full volume!
JamesWaton 7 months ago
Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin I...win!
PBANDSNOW 7 months ago
0:23. Hell yes. Amazing tone.
SimAlex20000 8 months ago
Excellent tone, and some nice playing thanks for the demo! Very cool!!
starsighter13 8 months ago
what speaker does this thing have in it
PhysicalGraffiti10 9 months ago
@PhysicalGraffiti10 The speaker was the stock ceramic 1965 Jensen C15PS.
skilback 9 months ago
Wow, sounds great.
1Doz 9 months ago
ufff wtha a sound Nice vid
abdielguitar7 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Michael Moody at Magic Amps makes a model Z-1 which is a Supro with 6973 Tubes and KILLER.
LabelBob 11 months ago
Michael Moody at Magic Amps makes a model Z-1 which is a Supro with 6973 Tubes
LabelBob 11 months ago
A Junior is killer through one of these, the solid state rectifier version is better than any 18 watt Marshall I've every played.
LabelBob 11 months ago 2
I like the tone of the Les Paul! Do you think the pickups make a big difference???
Slavuernes 11 months ago
Bassman schamassman! The Thunderbolt is the sound of rock & roll! These should be as expensive and sought after as a fawn AC15! Not my cup of tea, but that is THE sound most rockers are chasing.
ebeep 1 year ago
excellent tone. These amps are full of awesomeness
1952Telecaster 1 year ago
That amp is so amasing that I almost don't like watching this video because it depresses me. xD Good playing, great amp, consider yourself lucky. :)
citizenpetroff 1 year ago
the bend at 2:18 scared the shit out of me. Your phrasing was starting to peter out and get noodly, and then you just rip out eardrums with that sweet beast!
LimboShrimp 1 year ago
A very good demo indeed. And great tone. Did you recap the amp and what brand tubes did you end up using? Thanks...
Archer993 1 year ago
@Archer993 Stock caps, I think the tubes were Philips 6L6WGB output tubes and probably Tung-Sol RI 12AX7. The rectifier was the stock RCA 5U4GB.
skilback 1 year ago
Put a tonebender mkII in front of that thing and you'll have the real zeppelin I-II tone...
Gaetano1185 1 year ago
I never realized until just now how much a Peavey Classic 30 sounds like a Supro. I wonder if they based it on this amp?
sthugh 1 year ago
hell yea
MrSkeff 1 year ago
With the Les Paul that amp sounds incredible.
weirdotis 1 year ago
what Mare pups and what Tele are you using?
greenfish88 1 year ago
@greenfish88 Don Mare S-Telly neck pickup, and the broadcaster 0038 model in the bridge. The Fender Tele has an alder body with maple & rosewood neck.
skilback 1 year ago
@skilback
There is one at our local Guitar Center that just came in . . same as this. They are asking $899.0 and at this point the amp needs a LOT of work . . sounds terrible. Crackling sounds and squeals when you turn the volume up. But we all know the potential that is there. I am planning on buying it and replacing the caps and parts myself. I am thinking that if I were to ever sell it. . once it is cleaned up and sounding like this one . . it might bring around $1,500 or so?
74LesPaul 1 year ago
Heartbreakah!
FlippityFlopFlop 1 year ago
I love my '65 too!
hofnersinla 1 year ago
this definately has the honky tone page has on the first zep record
stratmaniac 1 year ago
sounds WAY better with the Paul.
greenfish88 1 year ago
Gorgeous sounding amp.
danakerman 1 year ago
KILLER.
craptastic74 1 year ago
I want one. I love that smelly old amp. Why doesn't anyone make 15 " combos anymore? They sound so much better than the stuff out today.
tothatextent 1 year ago
@tothatextent There are a few current 15" combos in production... Victoria Regal II, Fender Vibroverb RI, and lots of others.
skilback 1 year ago
@skilback The Victoria amps are too expensive. The Fender amp sucks. And other than that there is nothing I have seen. Although, Fender had a Custome Shop 15" designed by SRV's tech that was good. But, again, big dollars.
tothatextent 1 year ago
@tothatextent Peavey makes a good one too. Delta Blues brutha.
furcifur3 10 months ago
You guys are all forgetting that Page was a genius recording engineer too. Not just anyone could take the gear he had and get the same sounds.
EdPolepsy 1 year ago
@EdPolepsy Page was about as close to a genius as Glen Beck.
sthugh 1 year ago
@sthugh HAHAH
MrGodam29 1 year ago
Wow thats a great sounding amp!!
bornburied 1 year ago
No ground? You might want to get that retro fitted. I would. Nice tone.
jthread 1 year ago
This is the amp Page used for the stairway solo
Taygoo15 1 year ago
Great Amp!....i just scored 1959 supro 1633 5 watt w/8 " alnico all orig......tone..tone..tone!!
toymaster63 1 year ago
So these and the Silvertone 1482 sound similar
Taygoo15 1 year ago
sounds awesome
mandaltby 1 year ago
Dude that amp screams british blues. When you broke out into train kept a rollin that sold me on this amp, now I got to find one for a reasonable price.
1960sBluesFan 1 year ago
they are all the same come on
overban888 1 year ago
Take this video down! (or at least until i get a hold of a thunderbolt myself) sounds too damn good and these amps are hard enough to find as it is. Great playin! good fingers certainly help get that tone, but man is that amp dead on.
HillBone85 1 year ago
thanks for posting skilback!
i will build one of these...it sounds too good to pass...
tubetwang 1 year ago
I heard Supro were cheap amps sold at Sears. This one sounds amazing :-)
1963Pure 1 year ago
Lovely tone!
Guitar5986 1 year ago
I used to play through an older Supro that my dad owned and sorry I do not have it today. The amp was unique for sure. It was black, baby blue and that same silver speaker cloth.
PeterL524 1 year ago
yes but not this one. It was the model 24 6973s.
computercurtis 1 year ago
Do you know that Jimmy Page recorded the solo of "Starway to Heaven" with a Supro and a Telecaster?
LesCrapio 2 years ago
No only that. He recorded first two albums on a Supro amp.
VlastaStevanovich 2 years ago
@VlastaStevanovich The Supro was only used for the first album and the "Stairway..." solo and not the second album. The second album was Vox UL series and Marshalls...
garbeaj 1 year ago
The paraphase 6L6 circuit isn't very efficient, but that is a big part of the sound package of the bulk of most bigger Valco amps.
The Thunderbolt is a wonderful sounding amp, but is not as loud as one would think a 30 Watt 2x6L6 amp would or should be. At full volume it sounds just like this demo, but it is very manageable.
I have played many 2xEL84 amps that are louder, but they sure won't sound like the Thunderbolt.
topbrent 2 years ago
This was my setup for a year or so. Although there are two 6L6's in the power stage, they only really deliver around 9 watts each, for a total of 18 watts. This is due to the circuit design. Great for recording. Live however, the amp gets lost really quickly. Not a 30 watt amp.
boppinguitar 2 years ago
SSSSSSSSUPER !!!!
javiceres 2 years ago
great tone! is this guitar straight into amp or is there a dirt pedal in between?
1654inE 2 years ago
guitar >> amp.... no pedals
skilback 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@skilback
That is a fucking lie. You are a liar.
foryourlifeagain 1 year ago
so cool... get me one. Sounds like old James Gang.
I know Jimmy Page used one or close on the first Led Zep album. And I mean album.
Very rad.
Hey, what do your neighbors seem like? Sure you got to meet them:-)
tearcircus 2 years ago
@tearcircus I have one and they are not very loud at all...My TV speakers are way louder:)
garbeaj 2 years ago
Great for recording! Is a surprise they aren't that loud though. It's just the tone. Unmistakable.... "Train Kept a Rolling" stuff is what I grew up on with the Yardbirds. Also the first Zep album of course. I'm still looking for the "Honey Bee" pedal. I'm not going to shell out for something like this puppy. Shit had a small supro and let it go.. How sounds in our heads change. Best regards.
tearcircus 2 years ago
@tearcircus IMHO these are way overpriced and none are capable of producing any of the tones of the first Zep album-but they do get great sounds with Les Pauls...very much like a Beano album sound,particularly on the bridge pick-up.These amps sound identical to my Sears Silvertone 1482 amp-those sound the same or better and they are a hell of a lot cheaper...or were until Vintage Guitar magazine did an article about how great they are:)
garbeaj 2 years ago
I'm not sure I agree with you there... the 1482 I had didn't sound anything like the Thunderbolt... we're talking (2) 6V6 output tubes with a wimpy 12" speaker in a small cab, vs (2) 6L6 and a larger cab with a 15" Jensen. Huge differences in sound, headroom, volume, and response - in my opinion.
skilback 2 years ago 14
@skilback Check out a silvertone 1433 from around 1959-60. There is your thunderbolt!
majorbacon1 1 year ago
@skilback Maybe your 1482 sounds different, but mine sounds basically the same.Here is a link to something I recorded with my Les Paul and the 1482...
garbeaj 1 year ago
@skilback Do you think the super sport sounds similar to the tweed monster pickup
Taygoo15 1 year ago
@garbeaj i agree,i had a alamo 2x10 w/ trem,rev,it sounded better,got it for 125 that was the early 90,s tho. this does have nice blues dist. but mine would smoke it on 3.i sold it when i went 9mnths w/out a job & it kills me i cant find anothr 1 even lookin 4it on the web in alamo descripts...if u,ve heard the model im talkin about let me know,im tellin u tho i cant find a pic or descript. of anywhere. i think it was 1970 possibly 69.peacedude
MrGodam29 1 year ago
@MrGodam29 alamo was much more versatile&LOUDER,but didnt have the nice jangly blues dist. of alot of these old non fender amps.i admit but 40w. was would ratle the windows on 3or4.& sounded verygood w/tube effects&delay thru it. i wish i could find another, got it in roanoke va. from jim...if u see this & still haveit pls. let me know dude i would love2 have it back.........peace guitardudes
MrGodam29 1 year ago
@garbeaj WHAT?? Supro Thunderbolts can't produce any of the sounds from Zep's first album?? They ARE the amp used on the first album. Jimmy had neither his Marshalls NOR his Les Pauls when recording the first album. All those great sounds were recorded with a Telecaster, a custom fuzz pedal, and a Supro amp.
danakerman 1 year ago
@danakerman There has been no confirmed proof of which Supro amp Page used and what if any modifications wered done to it. I have tried at least 10 different Supro amps over the last 30 years personally and I have never heard one that comes close. The amp in this demo and all the others I have heard on youtube sound nothing like the tone of this first album in my opinion.
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj I thought I had read somewhere that they wound up putting the amp in a shower stall and recording it there.
ironpirites 1 year ago
@ironpirites Not true at all. Page has said many times that he used distance mic'ing to capture the ambient sounds of the room in the studio. But I have never even heard a rumour about what you mentioned in 30 years of researching this amp and the tones on the first album.
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj Probably just me getting mixed up. I might be thinking of Keith Richards and one of the Stones albums.
ironpirites 1 year ago
@garbeaj Well if you can't get the Telecaster/Supro combo to create the right tones, there is a very obvious reason. He ran his guitar through a custom fuzz-pedal before hitting the amp. The pickups on a Tele weren't hot enough to get the dirty, crunchy sound that Page was after, so he ran almost everything through the fuzz box on the first album. And of course, there is the genius of his recording techniques, the mics, recording equipment, and of course, Page himself.
danakerman 1 year ago
@danakerman I am well aware of the Tonebender.I have been researching the components of Page's first album tones for over 20 years.I can tell the difference between the sound of the guitar through the amp and the studio effects and ambient recording techniques that surround the main sound.The main tone of the guitar is not from the fuzz.The Tonebender was only used for leads (not rhythm) on "You Shook Me", "Dazed..." and "How Many More Times". Otherwise the tones are straight guitar and amp...
garbeaj 1 year ago
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garbeaj 1 year ago
@danakerman except for the lead in "Communication..." which was the grey Vox wah depressed fully, the Leslie on the leads of "Good Times...", the Octavia on "You Shook Me". To hear the unadulterated sound of the Tele and Supro, listen to the rhythm on "Communication..." and the entire track of "I Can't Quit You Baby" which achieves its tones strictly through changing from bridge to neck pickup. It is easy to remove the atmospherics from the recordings and listen to the pure guitar amp tone...
garbeaj 1 year ago
@danakerman The fact is, I have never heard anyone do a convincing demo of a Tele and Supro amp of any model that comes even close to the guitar straight to amp tone of the first album. Its not that I have a problem achieving the tones with a Supro, its that everyone has a problem achieving those tones with a Supro. If you can do it, prove it with a clip.
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj This is a late reply but the answer to your problem is that he didn't go straight to the amp in the first album for a lot of those tones. He had a modified Tonebender MKII that helped out a lot. Add to that the signal chain to record, with eq, compressors, and an old 60s desk, and you start to get a little different sound.
danakerman 1 year ago
@danakerman There is no evidence to suggest that he used the fuzz for anything other than the leads and overdubs in certain tracks. Tracks like "Communication Breakdown" and "I Can't Quit You Baby" are straight guitar to amp, except for the solo on "CB" which features the grey wah depressed...The basic sound of the rhythm on "CB" and the entire track of "ICQYB" is the sound of the guitar straight into the amp-studio embellishments were there, but the basic sound is obvious in these two songs...
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj Thunderbolts and Model 24-style Supros really don't sound like Silvertone 1482's at all if you ask me. And I absolutely disagree that you can't get Zeppelin I tones out of them.
mgearvideos 1 year ago
@mgearvideos OK...everybody has their own opinion. My opinion is that no one has ever made a demo of any Supro amp that sounds even remotely like the tones on the first album, which was recorded with a an undetermined model Supro. People often claim that they can get the first album tones with a Supro, yet no one has actually demonstrated this...
garbeaj 1 year ago
@mgearvideos This demo sounds exactly like my Silvertone 1482 or any number of Ampeg Reverberocket amps to me. Are you saying that this amp sounds like the first album to you?
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj I have a Reverberocket, I've had a Silvertone 1482, and I have a1483 and 1484. And no, I am not saying it sounds exactly like the first Zeppelin album: He's not Jimmy Page, and he doesn't have a recording studio. I am saying that if you take a telecaster and a nice germanium overdrive pedal and plug into a Thunderbolt, you can get tones awfully close to those on Zeppelin I. Personally I think the 6973-based Supros sound closer, but the Thunderbolt already sounds very close.
mgearvideos 1 year ago
@mgearvideos I guess that's your experience.I have several variations of original Sola Tonebenders and Marshall SupaFuzzes as well as D*A*M repros-the pedals themselves basically have their tone regardless of the amp. To me the "recording" techniques of distance mic'ing,ambience etc. add a great deal to the guitar sound of the first album and "Stairway..." but the meat of the tone is from the guitar to the amp-I'm just saying that I've never heard any Supro that comes close in life or on youtube
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj And FWIW, I agree that they are overpriced, due largely to the Page hype. You can still find off-brand Valco-built, 6793-based amps with similar circuits in the same price range as a 1482 now and then, though.
mgearvideos 1 year ago
@mgearvideos what is an amp that sounds like a thunderbolt.
Taygoo15 1 year ago
@mgearvideos i disagree too and think that when you kicked into Heartbreaker right there is sounded like zep and made me wanna go listen to the original because it sounded like it. i too have a supro thunderbolt and instantly thought wow this sounds like early zeppelin so i got a 1624 and thought wow this sounds like zeppelin even more...so then i stacked them on top of each other and plugged em both in and thought wow this is amazing...total zep...maybe too much like em that i cant get away !!!
coolguy4sho 11 months ago
100 % wrong
hofnersinla 1 year ago
If your tv speakers are way louder, then there is something wrong with your amp. My Thunderbolt would practically blow my eardrums out when I cranked it. We're talking nearly 30 watts.
LordSupro 2 years ago
Not very loud,but I suppose it's all relative...
garbeaj 2 years ago
30 watts isn't loud? What are you, a fuckin' comedian?
LordSupro 2 years ago 29
No I'm not kidding...I have played through a Thunderbolt full up and no it is not loud to me. Obviously your experience and frame of reference for the amp is different than mine...I am not faulting you for any opinion you have. I'm just saying that there are many amps that sound,to my ears exactly like this one and to me they are in no way worth the inflated prices that they now carry because of the association with Page...I'm glad for you that you are happy with it-it is just not for me...
garbeaj 2 years ago
@garbeaj What are some other amps that sound like this one
Taygoo15 1 year ago
@Taygoo15 As I said, the Silvertone 1482, the Ampeg Reverberocket or any number of old small combo Ampeg amps...
garbeaj 1 year ago
@garbeaj Are the tele pickups alnico 3 or alnico 5 and do you know the difference.
Taygoo15 1 year ago
best sounding amp ive ever heard
lsdman14 2 years ago
glad you like it!
skilback 2 years ago
@lsdman, Soldano makes one thats very similar, can't think of the model though...
shotgunwalter 2 years ago
The Les Paul sounds glorious with this amp.
gophertele 2 years ago
use to have a supro bantam. The thing took pedals horribly... Almost made my crybaby 535 sound like a volume pedal.
c32linder 2 years ago
sounds like bluesbreaker very cool
jks2 2 years ago
Gorgeous sound.
fiftyfiveseventy 2 years ago
word on the street is Jimmy Page played an amp like this..
777jordan 2 years ago
jimmy page had an supro 1690T coronado
jks2 2 years ago
know any modern amps on the market that might sound like this?
lsdman14 2 years ago
This thing sounds amazing., Question, is there anybody out there making a clone of this amp?
myway43 2 years ago
How much did you pay for the amp? And where can I get one?
tothatextent 2 years ago
Seek and yee shall find, brother...
They are available out there for ~ $800 or more... upwards to $2000, depending on condition, etc.
skilback 2 years ago
When you played Heartbreaker I couldn't believe how much it sounded like Page. That amp is definitely unlike a Marshall or Fender. It truly has a different sound to it.
tothatextent 2 years ago
page had a amp like this in the early days!
jks2 2 years ago
I heard it has a 15" speaker, is that true?
tothatextent 2 years ago
@skilback does this amp have 6L6's in it
taygoo13 2 years ago
yes two
strawwoodclaw 2 years ago
does this amp have and overdrive on it.
taygoo13 2 years ago
Thunderbolts do not have an "overdrive" control... the drive tones you hear are just from turning the amp up LOUD. The only controls are Volume and Tone.
skilback 2 years ago
what kind of power tubes does this have
taygoo13 2 years ago
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taygoo13 2 years ago
man, i am sooooo happy you played some zeppelin. that amp flat out sounds amazing. but when you played zeppelin...that just made my day. :)
citizenpetroff 2 years ago
what a great sounding amp! My Supro 1741 sounds more like Pagey to me, but I'm not going for that anyway.. I like the cleantone on yours better, and your playing is great!
tonyfrancostl 2 years ago
Wow, it does have that Jimmy Page sound!!!!!! (nice playing too, thanks for posting!)
theartist124 2 years ago
Wow, Holy Grail!
striperfreakazoid 2 years ago
This video convinced me to get the Wolfetone Marshallhead set. I just got them and have yet to install them. I'm really excited! From what I heard they sound great. I also saw them doing Metallica. That's pretty versatile!
Cwassicwock 2 years ago
Les Paul through a Thunderbolt is amazing.
cramster99 2 years ago
Orgasmic tone
jacobtheguitarfreak 2 years ago
Sounds fantastic!
If you don't mind me asking, which set of Don Mare pups are you using? I'm ordering a set soon, and those sounded great!
kyates33 2 years ago
S-Telly (6K) and 0038 Broadcaster (11.5K).
skilback 2 years ago
Point taken...there is some consensus on THE amp,but it is probably never going to be proven conclusively...And you indeed have a point,I should shut up and buy a Supro and demo it myself. It just seems that very few people would pay exorbitant sums for any Supro amp if it wasn't for Page.The only consensus I have heard about Supro amps is that no one has found one that sounds like what ever Page used,so I would probably never buy one. Thanks for demoing to help us learn more about these amps:)
garbeaj 2 years ago
Rock on!
skilback 2 years ago
Everyone always demos these amps by playing material we all know was NOT recorded with a Supro...Jimmy has said categorically and repeatedly that it was only used on the first album-"Communication Breakdown" or anything else from the first album should be played to get an idea of whether this is THE amp which is why these things are so sought after in the first place-this one sounds like a Ampeg or Silvertone...nothing special.
garbeaj 2 years ago
That's funny. Well, it sounds like a Supro Thunderbolt to me... and that's what it IS so no surprise there. Actually, the general consensus these days is that Page didn't use a Thunderbolt at all, but rather a Supro model 1624TN or 1690TN Coronado. Personally, I don't really care... I just intended to demo this amp. Why not go buy a Thunderbolt yourself and do the demo you'd really like to see.... I'm sure lots of players would watch to see it.
skilback 2 years ago
how do you like thsoe Marshallheads?
Al112987 2 years ago
They are fantastic... strong vintage-sounding pickups.
skilback 2 years ago
fucking amazing tone my friend...
props for holding on to it!!
dima2244 2 years ago
good tone. reminds me of someone taking two rocks and rubbing them together...great playing.
TheFamousWaffle 2 years ago
Hi!
JUST FANTASTIC!!!
Is it gold label ceramic jensen 15" speaker?
223217456 2 years ago
Yes, it's the original C15PS.
skilback 2 years ago
GREAT TONE!
JessieBolt 2 years ago
Beautiful tone brotha!! Great playing!!
lespaul10 2 years ago
Tear the mother Down
GROOVEYRECORDS 2 years ago
God that sounds great. Terrific playing too.
TorontoLarrivee 2 years ago
Gritty
gslopez30 2 years ago
Yep - you nailed it there!!!
BlackhawkBluesBand 2 years ago
perfect!
buttsechs91 2 years ago
Excellent tone and playing!
Noitpure 2 years ago
Sweet tone, dude! Best sounding Thunderbolt I've ever heard...very Marhsall/Orange souding, actually.
KnockYouOutCold 2 years ago
except 2000 billion times more creamy than any marshall or orange
minibikedude04 2 years ago
That's not a tone I'd refer to as 'creamy'. It's pretty raw, actually, which is good in its own way. It's all about what you want.
KnockYouOutCold 2 years ago
it cant be compared to marshall or orange, the supro sound is a pretty distinctly american tone.kinda warm like a bassman, not so bass heavy though--but its got the bassman snarl
RNRDOLL 2 years ago
There is no uniform 'Supro' tone...every single model sounds different from one another. It's very well known that the Thunderbolt has an Orange/Marshall tone when cranked. Another example, the little Supro 'Super' is voiced like a Plexi, believe it or not. The Supro Supreme has a Fender Tweed Champ kind of sound to it. It's funny that mention the Bassman when talking about the Thunderbolt since it's well known that the first Marshalls were heavily influenced by the Bassman circuit.
LordSupro 2 years ago
wow! that's about all there is to say about that!
thanks for posting it
grev21 2 years ago
That's sounds frickin' GREAT....I see the smoke coming out of it!!!
skydog46 2 years ago