Modern Supro Amps build quality question

[blaskaj]

Ive found a used Supro Royal Reverb 1650RT for 500 dollars however I have heard that there have been a little criticism around the reliability and build quality of these "reissues". Flimsy pcbs, sensitive components in places where they shouldnt be etc.
Some say this has become more apparent after the 2020 acquisition and this example seems to have been built before that.
I am not unfamiliar with repairing electronics and have serviced/recapped amps in the past however I would still prefer to avoid a complete turd. Do any of you have any experience with owning or repairing modern Supros or even this specific model in particular?

(It was made by Absara Audio in Port Jefferson and the serial number is 00582 if that is any help)

 

[Solarflares]

One to avoid.
The level-dependent tremelo is trouble. Big trouble.
Reverb circuit is a disaster.
Save up for a Magnatone.

 

[blaskaj]

One to avoid.
The level-dependent tremelo is trouble. Big trouble.
Reverb circuit is a disaster.
Save up for a Magnatone.

Ouch, that bad? What in the tremolo and reverb tend to fail?
Also the Twilighter is my grail amp, will happen sometime

 

[Solarflares]

Tremelo - different responses at different levels. Bad design.
Reverb - wayward valve-driver voltages.
Simply not dependable.

Is an amp worth $4,299? Only you can decide that.
But you could have a pair of Hot Rod Blues Deluxes, and modify a stereo auto-panner rack to accept a sine-wave modulation voltage…. In fact a Digitech TSR24 might give both triangle autopanner and cycling detune, which could get you close.
But if you want ethereal, then it’s a sine-wave or nothing.

 

[blaskaj]

Tremelo - different responses at different levels. Bad design.
Reverb - wayward valve-driver voltages.
Simply not dependable.

Is an amp worth $4,299? Only you can decide that.
But you could have a pair of Hot Rod Blues Deluxes, and modify a stereo auto-panner rack to accept a sine-wave modulation voltage…. In fact a Digitech TSR24 might give both triangle autopanner and cycling detune, which could get you close.
But if you want ethereal, then it’s a sine-wave or nothing.
View attachment 454181

Regarding the dynamics-sensitive tremolo, isnt that just a stylistic choice (I kinda like it) and a result of the cathode bias 35w mode rather than a necessarily bad design or is genuinely a unreliable circuit in this case?

The reverb however does sounds a little disconcerting

That Hotrod/Blues deluxe business does sound interesting. And wasnt the twilighter A LOT cheaper some years back? 4300 really is a number

 

[Solarflares]

Best circuit would be something like the Seymour Duncan Convertible’s power scaling.
A pair of current-dumping 12AU7’s feeding the power valves in parallel.
No reason why you couldn’t adapt that circuit to modulate between one or the other.
Magnatone’s uniqueness comes from the pitch shift too though, creating a true Doppler effect in stereo.
Closest thing to two ice-cream vans going past your house in different directions - something that me and Allan Holdsworth agreed on as being the ideal chorus effect.

 

[70 Mach 1]

You get what you pay for
Theres a YT vid on this.
From what i remember those are Asian made and checked out in port jeff

The upper level models like the delegate and ambassador are made in port jeff ny

 

[blaskaj]

You get what you pay for
Theres a YT vid on this.
From what i remember those are Asian made and checked out in port jeff

The upper level models like the delegate and ambassador are made in port jeff ny

But what do I get? I understand it isnt a diamond but could it still be worth it for 500?

Also beautiful ride, 351?

 

[70 Mach 1]

But what do I get? I understand it isnt a diamond but could it still be worth it for 500?

Also beautiful ride, 351?

Definitely worth the price but if anything goes wrong repairs will be high

2V Cleveland