Any Strat players here that use a Fender Super Sonic 22 Combo? I'm considering buying one of these but I haven't been able to find one in a store to try out. It generally gets really good reviews.

I already have a Hot Rod Deluxe but the Super Sonic combo seems to be, according to the literature I've read on it, a much more versatile amp. Any opinions?

If you ask me, the step forward would be more distortion.
I heard (without personal experience with this amp) that the Super Sonic high gain channel sounds compressed and somehow artificial.

Keep your amp and get yourself a "Dirty Rat" pedal and you're there!

Best pedal I've ever used!! It's about 100 bucks!! Everything else can be done much better with a Hot Rod!
No need to buy a second amp!!

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

The supersonic 22 is an awesome amp
I needed a little more juice so i went with
the twin, but have played a couple of the
22's in fact it is what made me order the
twin . It can go rom as clean as a deluxe
reverb one of the best small amps fender
ever made to a really good crunch and with
the fat switch you can also cover some
tweedish type tones, and with a strat it
is perfect. You will notice quite a difference
in how the supersonic reacts alot more
organic than a Hot Rod . Check 1 out .

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1956 Gibson CS Lemon Les Paul
1957 Fender CS Aged Cherry Strat
1958 Gibson CS Pg 85 Les Paul
1960 Fender CS 3tsb Strat
1961 Gibson SG Wildwood Pelham blue
1966 Fender CS Firemist Metallic Silver Strat

Well I used a Blues Deluxe from 1994 through to 2011, and liked it a lot but it was basically a one-tone amp and wasn't really taking me anywhere any more. I've played HRDx's and felt similarly about them.

The SS22 I replaced it with is a significant step *UP*, in sound and build quality. It has glassy cleans that the other amp did not, and yes I can get that same tweedy ballpark as the BDx by using the 'FAT' channel for a rounder chewier tone. The drive channel is in a world all of it's own on the SS22, though I do tame it slightly with 5751 tubes in the first two spots, and can start with some nice warm, barely overdriven levels. The drive channel allows you to re-voice from mild open Fendery overdrives through to thicker more compressed drives, through a continuous spectrum .. .the double gain controls balancing stage 1 basic gain against stage 2 compression gain, for want of a better description, work brilliantly.... I find that this amp has many tones to take you more places in your playing, and they just sound better .. I have some nice boutiquey drive pedals I use, but often find the amps gain channel just gives me more natural feel and drive.

It's a very versatile, touchy feely amp, with more clarity, that made me realise how much I had stagnated on the very nice, but limited, Blues Deluxe, and allows me to stretch my playing 'feel' more. Expensive, but a worthwhile investment for me.

As ever, play one, do some A/B ing ... and see what you think

Oh... and my Strat's never before really quacked and clucked like they do now with the SS22 .. it finally opened up my ears to how a Strat should sound as per what I hear on the records

This looks cool.

Super-Sonic 22 V-Custom

There's also some used on ebay. It'll save you a few hundred.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

I have both the Super Sonic 60w 1x12 with Spring Reverb combo amp,
and just sold the Super Sonic 60w amp head.
Great amps. Lots of flexibility. Installed tones.

Two channels = Vintage Channel with 10(+) Tubes
Preamp Tubes: 6 x 12AX7, 2 x 12AT7
Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6

and the

Burn Channel with Solid State electronics and several high gain options.
Gain 1, Gain 2, Treble, Bass, Middle, Volume, Master Reverb,
Rear-Panel Effects Send/Return Level Controls

Plus, a 4ohm/8ohm switch for extension stereo speakers.

I have not played the Supersonic 22, but it is only $300 less
than the SuperSonic 60w 1x12 Combo.

The SS22 has only seven tubes, solid state reverb, 22watts, less powerful speaker

IMHO, the 60w combo is so much more for the $300.
Plus, will 22watts always be strong enought or loud enough?
And, the 60w comb can get high gain at lower volumes, anyway.

Hope this helps. Toppscore

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Ok, considering these posts out of the practical use of those amps, they might be worth a look!
Thank you, guys!!

_________________
Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Thanks for the replies........

If I were on the road all the time playing decent sized venues, I'd probably go with the 60w version but I'm not. 22 watts will probably be plenty enough for me. I have a Peavey Classic 50 410 for those occasions when I need more but I haven't had the need to use it live in the couple years I've owned in. I generally like to go with a smaller combo and mic it.

I never use extremely high gain anyway. I play mainly blues based music and I like a good warm tube overdrive but not saturated distortion.