Supro Amps has added another all-tube model to its range, this time launching the 1660 Supreme based on the sound of Rolling Stones icon, Keith Richards.
Available in the UK through distributor JHS, the Supro 1600 Supreme (£1049 RRP) is an historic “Classic Series” replica of the Chicago-made 1×10 amplifier used extensively by the Rolling Stones guitarist.
The original 1959 version of the 1600 Supreme amplifier was sold bearing either the famous Supro lightning bolt or the logo of the Oahu brand which, at the time, was also manufactured and owned by parent company Valco. Although mechanically similar to the 6973-powered Supro version, the Oahu used a pair of 6V6 power tubes in its Class-A output stage.
“With ample headroom for use with pedals and plenty of volume on tap for playing live, the new Supro 1600 Supreme carries on this legacy as the the no-frills, grab-and-go amplifier. From warm jazz and clean country twang to dirty blues and hard rock, the Supreme projects loud, clear, punchy tone, with unrivalled clarity, touch dynamics and low noise floor – even when pushed into glorious 6V6 power-tube overdrive,” said the firm.
The 1600 Supreme features a pair of parallel gain stages fed into a shared tone knob. The dual-input preamp allows two instruments to share the same combo amplifier, as well as providing the option of plugging a single instrument into input 1+2, for double the gain. The two inputs can also be used with an A/B or A/B/Y switch to accomplish channel switching for both clean and dirty tones with one guitar.
The power section found in the 1600 Supreme provides the distinctive attack, touch sensitivity and natural tube compression that has become known as the hallmark of vintage Class-A 6V6 tone. The output stage pushes a custom, high-power 10″ driver that utilises the same voice coil,large magnet and high-end suspension found in the award-winning BD12 speaker found in the Black Magick amplifier. True to the construction of the vintage Oahu, there is no beam blocker in front of the 1600 speaker, facilitating maximum throw and crystal-clear treble response from this vintage inspired tube amplifier.
