Supro launches Statesman Head and Combo amps

Supro is continuing its busy summer launch programme, following up the arrival of its Black Magick head with the Statesman head and combo.

The 1699R Statesman is a two-channel, 50W amplifier that unites vintage Supro tone with modern channel switching functionality, tube-driven reverb and a multi-purpose, all-tube effects loop.

 

The red channel found in the Statesman uses the two-knob preamp from the Supro Thunderbolt amplifier for high-headroom rock & roll power. The Statesman’s blue channel contains the high-gain preamp, 2-band EQ and all-tube reverb section of the Comet model. The Statesman provides A/B/Both channel switching operation, allowing the two channels to be run in parallel, creating a massive, dual-preamp sound where each channel contributes part of the overall texture.

 

In addition to the tube-driven spring reverb, the Statesman’s blue channel contains an all-tube, switchable effects loop that provides a set of useful functions—including “wet only” reverb effects, which can be independently dialed in and blended with the dry sound from the red channel. The variable send and return levels allow the effects loop to function as a level and/or gain boost when engaged, even when nothing is plugged into the loop. The effects loop can also act as a master volume for the blue channel when bedroom levels are desired. As a final touch, both the effects loop and the reverb on the Statesman feature a relay-controlled “spill-over” effect, allowing reverb and delay trails to decay naturally when switching between channels.

 

The Statesman’s 50-watt power amp is switchable between Class A and Class AB operation. The Class-A (cathode bias) setting provides midrange growl while the Class AB (grid bias) configuration presents less compression along with additional headroom, more punch and faster attack. The Statesman is powered by Sovtek power tubes that are precision-matched at the Supro factory in Port Jefferson, NY.