My first Reverberocket 2 was stolen in the early 80's. Very bad day. So, fast forward about ten years. I was driving down a street near my Dad's house and out of the corner of my eye saw the narrow side of a black cab sitting on a curb with someone's trash. Out of curiosity, took a look and there sat a Reverberocket 2 - which I still have.
I have the exact amp, you reminded me to play it later.. probably not turned on in over a year.. I have about a dozen new pedals to see how it takes them. Yes, I agree the accordion side is awesome for some guitars.
I own the same amp. Best silky clean overtones of any amp I’ve ever played. The tremolo and reverb are mind bendingly good. It’s like anything you play sounds magical. Push it to the edge of breakup and your jaw just might drop. Seriously. Also, fwiw, my amp tech told me the guitar input has some sort of resister in it. Lastly, my Reverberocket 2 was converted to 6L6 power tubes before I got it. It is definitely capable of some breakup, but it never goes full punk rock distorted. It’s magic spot, imho, is at the top of its clean headroom. It’s real magic trick is producing bell like chime without getting harsh, like fender amps can.
That is a cool amp. I would love to hear your thoughts on some modern solid state stuff, like a quilter aviator cub or orange super crush. I think that would be a nice angle for new videos.
From Leo: Jack, you come up with some great things to demo, Thanks for your work. They were great amps. I never had the money for one in the early 70's. I did work on a number of them over the years. They were one of the amps I spent a lot of extra time "testing" with my own guitar before giving it back to the customer. I don't remember if it was in the amp model you have, but some of them had a GE 6C-10 Compactron vacuum tube. Even 10 years ago those tubes were pretty scarce. (and pricey) No other tube can be substituted.
The last "top loaded" Reverberocket, the R12R-T, had a 6BK11 and 6U10. The 6C10 can replace the 6BK11 but they are also a bit hard to find and have shot up in price.
I always thought they looked like they were made of carbon fiber (long before carbon fiber was a common material). I dislike the aesthetics, but for tone to dollar they're a sweet bargain! I've never seen the inside of one, would be curious how well they're wired up.
I owned one briefly in the 90s. Loved the sound of it. But back before I understood grounding schemes, I kept getting shocked by the lack of a proper Earth ground whenever I used a mic. So it got moved along, when all it needed was a grounded plug and a chassis tie. One that got away.
My first-ever therapist gave me an Ampeg mini-stack. It had a halfsize cab, a dolly and a head that switched down inside the cab for transit. I probably should’ve kept it, but I didn’t think I could maintain it. Additionally, I didn’t have a ground wire, so I kept getting shocked every time I helped whatever I plugged into it and touched a microphone stand.
Just the ad I did use a Gibson humbucker type guitar I don't recommend it for the Stratocaster guitar players single-coil you know definitely better for darker sound guitars with less mid-range
I had one of the original reverberockets with the 6v6's and it was incredible, they're a great alternative to fender...ended up trading it for a fender lol
The only problem with Reverborocket some of the older Ampeg combo amps... is that they use tubes such as a Zenith 6U10 Triple Triode Compactron in a small 12-pin package. These are absolutely impossible to replace and to keep the amplifier going. As said previously, there are no substitues.
Actually the 6U10 is very easy to find and usually cheap. It's the 6BK11 (almost impossible to find) and 6C10 that have become expensive, but so have RCA 12ax7a's.
Yes.. I have had one these for over 15 yrs. and gig with it. Takes pedals very well. Germanium fuzzes run the gamut in their sound profile, but yeah, it'll do fine. Amp stays clean up to about 11 o'clock and gets quite loud for 15ish watts. These amps are over 60 yrs old, so if you find one, get a good tech to go thru it and it will serve you well.
Hands down this is the best amplifier I've ever played just plug in whatever pedals you want before and forget about it the tone will be out of this...imho
Kind of a cool amp but very hard and glassey sounding which might appeal to some but maybe not so much to others. I had one for many years but moved it along as the sound wasn't what I was after as I prefer an amp with a more raw sound and very low wattage so it can be cranked.
Ya ok...except at 0:08, 0:17, 0:30, 0:57, 1:08, 1:40, a full description of tones at 1:48, more shots at 2:55, 3:26, 4:41 and video of settings corresponding with tone descriptions at 8:51, 9:22, 9:45, 10:00, 10:21, 10:39, 11:26, 11:45, 11:58, 12:27, 12:46 and 13:01.
Jack is one of the most honest and unpretentious guitar & guitar gear RUclipsrs. What you hear & what you see is what you get. I saw and heard plenty of the amp. Plenty.
I have a 1966, mine breaks up when pushed...got a Jensen C12N in it....I'm not a heavy distortion guy. I see you know how to get a bit of crunch out of it....how much dirt do you really want before it sounds like mud? Mine never sounds like mud and yours doesn't either.
My first Reverberocket 2 was stolen in the early 80's. Very bad day. So, fast forward about ten years. I was driving down a street near my Dad's house and out of the corner of my eye saw the narrow side of a black cab sitting on a curb with someone's trash. Out of curiosity, took a look and there sat a Reverberocket 2 - which I still have.
I have the exact amp, you reminded me to play it later.. probably not turned on in over a year.. I have about a dozen new pedals to see how it takes them. Yes, I agree the accordion side is awesome for some guitars.
I own the same amp. Best silky clean overtones of any amp I’ve ever played. The tremolo and reverb are mind bendingly good. It’s like anything you play sounds magical. Push it to the edge of breakup and your jaw just might drop. Seriously.
Also, fwiw, my amp tech told me the guitar input has some sort of resister in it.
Lastly, my Reverberocket 2 was converted to 6L6 power tubes before I got it. It is definitely capable of some breakup, but it never goes full punk rock distorted. It’s magic spot, imho, is at the top of its clean headroom.
It’s real magic trick is producing bell like chime without getting harsh, like fender amps can.
That is a cool amp. I would love to hear your thoughts on some modern solid state stuff, like a quilter aviator cub or orange super crush. I think that would be a nice angle for new videos.
Wooow. I had heard about those, but it seems you can't listen to anything of decent quality on RUclips! Thanks, Jack!
I have a 67.
The reverb is luscious isn't it?
Great video
I got recommend this amp at a guitar store when I said I was looking for a "super reverb but smaller" and I am not disappointed.
Wow. That midrange! Love it. Bright and punchy.
My first amp was a Kent 1965 or so. Then I got the Ampeg Gemini 1. Thanks for reminding me. 🎶🎸🎼
Thanks so much. I am considering buying this amp for $900 in a local shop. Very very mint.
From Leo: Jack, you come up with some great things to demo, Thanks for your work. They were great amps. I never had the money for one in the early 70's. I did work on a number of them over the years. They were one of the amps I spent a lot of extra time "testing" with my own guitar before giving it back to the customer. I don't remember if it was in the amp model you have, but some of them had a GE 6C-10 Compactron vacuum tube. Even 10 years ago those tubes were pretty scarce. (and pricey) No other tube can be substituted.
The last "top loaded" Reverberocket, the R12R-T, had a 6BK11 and 6U10. The 6C10 can replace the 6BK11 but they are also a bit hard to find and have shot up in price.
Yep, see these all the time on local craigslist ads. Never jumped at one because I'm deep in vintage fender land atm, but it sounds great!
I always thought they looked like they were made of carbon fiber (long before carbon fiber was a common material). I dislike the aesthetics, but for tone to dollar they're a sweet bargain! I've never seen the inside of one, would be curious how well they're wired up.
I owned one briefly in the 90s. Loved the sound of it. But back before I understood grounding schemes, I kept getting shocked by the lack of a proper Earth ground whenever I used a mic. So it got moved along, when all it needed was a grounded plug and a chassis tie. One that got away.
We all have one that got away.
My first-ever therapist gave me an Ampeg mini-stack. It had a halfsize cab, a dolly and a head that switched down inside the cab for transit. I probably should’ve kept it, but I didn’t think I could maintain it. Additionally, I didn’t have a ground wire, so I kept getting shocked every time I helped whatever I plugged into it and touched a microphone stand.
Just the ad I did use a Gibson humbucker type guitar I don't recommend it for the Stratocaster guitar players single-coil you know definitely better for darker sound guitars with less mid-range
I had one of the original reverberockets with the 6v6's and it was incredible, they're a great alternative to fender...ended up trading it for a fender lol
The only problem with Reverborocket some of the older Ampeg combo amps... is that they use tubes such as a Zenith 6U10 Triple Triode Compactron in a small 12-pin package. These are absolutely impossible to replace and to keep the amplifier going. As said previously, there are no substitues.
Actually the 6U10 is very easy to find and usually cheap. It's the 6BK11 (almost impossible to find) and 6C10 that have become expensive, but so have RCA 12ax7a's.
Not true, plentiful on ebay for ~$5.
Hi. Great video! One question: what about with germanium fuzz pedal? Do you think it will sound good? Thank you.
Yes.. I have had one these for over 15 yrs. and gig with it. Takes pedals very well. Germanium fuzzes run the gamut in their sound profile, but yeah, it'll do fine. Amp stays clean up to about 11 o'clock and gets quite loud for 15ish watts.
These amps are over 60 yrs old, so if you find one, get a good tech to go thru it and it will serve you well.
It's a very kind of you! Thank for your answer. Have a nice day.
Wow, very bright amp.
Hands down this is the best amplifier I've ever played just plug in whatever pedals you want before and forget about it the tone will be out of this...imho
Kind of a cool amp but very hard and glassey sounding which might appeal to some but maybe not so much to others. I had one for many years but moved it along as the sound wasn't what I was after as I prefer an amp with a more raw sound and very low wattage so it can be cranked.
Buddy you showed us all YOU and not the AMP!! You won't grow the channel like this..
Ya ok...except at 0:08, 0:17, 0:30, 0:57, 1:08, 1:40, a full description of tones at 1:48, more shots at 2:55, 3:26, 4:41 and video of settings corresponding with tone descriptions at 8:51, 9:22, 9:45, 10:00, 10:21, 10:39, 11:26, 11:45, 11:58, 12:27, 12:46 and 13:01.
Jack is one of the most honest and unpretentious guitar & guitar gear RUclipsrs. What you hear & what you see is what you get. I saw and heard plenty of the amp. Plenty.
I have a 1966, mine breaks up when pushed...got a Jensen C12N in it....I'm not a heavy distortion guy. I see you know how to get a bit of crunch out of it....how much dirt do you really want before it sounds like mud? Mine never sounds like mud and yours doesn't either.