Supro 1616T Tube Amplifier (1966)
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Supro 1616T Model Tube Amplifier (1966), made in Chicago, serial # 1-61390, grey fabric cover finish.
This is a particularly attractive small combo offering from Supro, Chicago-based Valco's in-house "open" line. This meant it was not franchised and any jobber/dealer could sell them, unlike the franchised premium "National" brand. While many Supro-branded products were generally considered budget-oriented, their amplifiers were the same build quality level as those sold under the National brand, as well as subcontracted models made for other resellers such as Gretsch.
This Model 1616T was the smallest entry-level amp with an onboard tremolo effect in the line-up, not dissimilar from a Fender Vibro Champ in this era. It listed at $74.50 in 1964, just slightly cheaper than Fender's offering. This example is clad in the classic dark "Rhino Hide" vinyl covering complimented by the black plastic logo on the typical silver grille cloth.
The amp features two inputs, one labeled "standard' and one "treble" with master controls for volume, tone and a tremolo speed control with a fixed intensity. A single-ended 6V6-driven power section yields around 5 watts of power into a single 6x9" oval Rola speaker. As with most small Supro amps this one rolls into cranked overdrive fairly quickly in the classic Valco manner.
Height is 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.), 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm.) width, and 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically this amp is in wonderful shape especially considering its age. The vinyl "Rhino Hide" covering is in excellent condition and shows mostly only minor wear, save for a couple more significant wear marks around the lower front and rear edge. The grille cloth is beautifully clean with no notable tearing or fraying, retaining the black plastic Supro logo (often lost or broken) in perfect shape. The chrome control panel is nice and shiny with only minor signs of wear and all of the stenciled lettering is nicely intact. Many amps we've seen have the stenciled model designation reading 16T instead of 1616T. The knobs appear original and the original handle is still intact and its hardware only shows minor signs of corrosion. The amp also comes with its original footswitch.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The original 8" Jensen speaker bears the code 220-605, dating it to the 5th week of 1966. The speaker retains its original cone and sounds and tests great. The power and output transformers are original and bear the codes 524-65-37 and 524-65-39, dating them to the 37th and 39th week of 1965, respectively. The amp has otherwise seen typical maintenance and servicing including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks, a grounded 3-prong power cord and output tubes biased to spec. It has a powerful and clear sound at lower volumes and roars nicely when cranked. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a particularly attractive small combo offering from Supro, Chicago-based Valco's in-house "open" line. This meant it was not franchised and any jobber/dealer could sell them, unlike the franchised premium "National" brand. While many Supro-branded products were generally considered budget-oriented, their amplifiers were the same build quality level as those sold under the National brand, as well as subcontracted models made for other resellers such as Gretsch.
This Model 1616T was the smallest entry-level amp with an onboard tremolo effect in the line-up, not dissimilar from a Fender Vibro Champ in this era. It listed at $74.50 in 1964, just slightly cheaper than Fender's offering. This example is clad in the classic dark "Rhino Hide" vinyl covering complimented by the black plastic logo on the typical silver grille cloth.
The amp features two inputs, one labeled "standard' and one "treble" with master controls for volume, tone and a tremolo speed control with a fixed intensity. A single-ended 6V6-driven power section yields around 5 watts of power into a single 6x9" oval Rola speaker. As with most small Supro amps this one rolls into cranked overdrive fairly quickly in the classic Valco manner.
Height is 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.), 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm.) width, and 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) deep.
Cosmetically this amp is in wonderful shape especially considering its age. The vinyl "Rhino Hide" covering is in excellent condition and shows mostly only minor wear, save for a couple more significant wear marks around the lower front and rear edge. The grille cloth is beautifully clean with no notable tearing or fraying, retaining the black plastic Supro logo (often lost or broken) in perfect shape. The chrome control panel is nice and shiny with only minor signs of wear and all of the stenciled lettering is nicely intact. Many amps we've seen have the stenciled model designation reading 16T instead of 1616T. The knobs appear original and the original handle is still intact and its hardware only shows minor signs of corrosion. The amp also comes with its original footswitch.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original. The original 8" Jensen speaker bears the code 220-605, dating it to the 5th week of 1966. The speaker retains its original cone and sounds and tests great. The power and output transformers are original and bear the codes 524-65-37 and 524-65-39, dating them to the 37th and 39th week of 1965, respectively. The amp has otherwise seen typical maintenance and servicing including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks, a grounded 3-prong power cord and output tubes biased to spec. It has a powerful and clear sound at lower volumes and roars nicely when cranked. Overall Excellent Condition.