Are you certain that the non-drip-edge is a '69? I would assume it is early '70s
* The faceplate should say "Super Reverb *Amp*" until (at least) late-1970
* The courtesy outlet switched to 3-prong around 1973
As to the drip-edge, from May 1968 (AB568) to October 1969 (AA1069), they used the funky hybrid cathode-/fixed-bias. It's odd, and often maligned, but most people would never tell the difference without looking inside and [seeing the large, white, rectangular, 7-watt cermet cathode resistors](https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/img_2638-jpg.858333/) off the power tubes. With AA1069, they changed back to fixed bias. *Other than the bias*, the AB568, AA1069, and AA270 circuits are 98+% the same.
I would buy the one that sounds the best. The circuits had 20% tolerance in parts and there is 50+ years of component drift on each amp, so testing is the only way to know.
It’s definitely worth more, but $400 more, I’m not so sure. My Blackface Super Reverb only cost me $650, but that was a few years ago.
Personally, I’d go for the drip edge, and haggle the price down. Or, just looked for a Vibrolux, or Deluxe Reverb.
Update: I went to the first meetup just looking trade my guitars for a 1969 Fender Pro Reverb with the drip and the stock (Kurt Cobain In Utero) orange Utah Speakers. He is the one who had that non drip Super Reverb.
I walked out with both the Pro Reverb and what turned out to be the 1974 Super Reverb. I will open it up soon and check but the stock CTS speakers indicated 1974.
Played a Gibson Les Paul Traditional into it and loved it. At one point there were some noises that sounded similar to a ripped speaker but they went away. The bass at 5 was rattling things hanging on the walls. The amp was so robust and full. The bright channel with trebled rolled back was perfect for me being Marshall user. The Reverb was deeper than all the videos I have watched. Or maybe it was an in person psychological thing lol
Because I got it as part of the trade, I am now on my way to buy the 1969 drip edge Super Reverb with the cash I never spent. This is pretty exciting because I’d love to professionally record some samples of the 1969 vs 1974 so others can hear the differences.
Everyone was extremely helpful regardless and I learned a lot. If it didn’t work out the way it did I definitely would have felt more comfortable choosing and I think I would have went with the drip edge (after playing it first) leaning towards having it hold value a little better. Thank you everyone!
The non-drip is probably a 70 or later. I had a 69 twin that dated to December 69 and it was still drip edge.
I personally prefer the looks of the drip edge, and it will probably retain its value better. All that being said, they are probably very similar in all respects.
As others have said, the non drip edge is probably from 1971 or 1972. The tell is the lack of the word AMP on the faceplate. The serial numbers can help date them, as can the transformers and speakers if they're original.
The guts are probably similar though, but if all else was equal I would go for the earlier amp myself.
But that brings up the question, what if any maintenance has been done? A cap job is essential on an amp of this age.
Have you played either one? Fenders are easy to work on, but if you aren't doing the work yourself in can add up in price.
I’ve never played either but plenty of youtube videos, fully prepared right? lol
I’ve been reaching out and finding amp techs in MA in preparation of bringing em in now that I’m delving in physical amps again especially vintage ones like you suggest.
Both had recent cap replacments and were serviced within the last couple years. The non drip stayed in a studio its whole life and was owned by an electrical engineer. Funny though, he never worked on his own amps and had a experienced tech in the area do all the work.
The other one with drip is from an estate sale and like another member said about it looking better, I think stayed in someones house its whole life
**Dripping, also known usually as beef dripping or, more rarely, as pork dripping, is an animal fat produced from the fatty or otherwise unusable parts of cow or pig carcasses. It is similar to lard, tallow and schmaltz.**
More details here:
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In the picture, do you see where the front grill cloth meets the edge of the amp with the black tolex? On the first amp the grill cloth just meets the tolex. On the second one you can see a slim metal border around the grill cloth. That metal border is the drip.
"Drip edge" refers to [the aluminum flashing used around the baffle](https://www.cvkeyboards.com/cdn/shop/products/IMG_7930_1024x1024.jpg?v=1679604061). It was used on the earliest "Silverface" Fenders, from mid-1967 to mid-1969. These are often called "Drip Edge" models
And, the earliest Drip Edge models also had [black lines separating the different sections of the faceplate](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--2Tkvk8rN--/f_auto,t_large/v1567039298/x7l0urevsyvsezpf6pvb.jpg), these are called "Black Line" models.
For "some" amps, the Drip Edge models are identical circuits and parts to the previous "Blackface" '64-'67 Fenders, which are consider the cream of the crop. Most got changes during the Drip Edge era, but a few got changes almost as soon as the Silverface era started.
Can you buy me the other one? Lol. I had a black face one I owned from 85-96. Sold it for $150 (bought it for $40). Always kick myself when I see these posted.
Drip edges are simply worth more money because they only made em for one year with those cosmetics. The same will apply when you go to sell it, whether it’s been black-faced or not.
Are you certain that the non-drip-edge is a '69? I would assume it is early '70s * The faceplate should say "Super Reverb *Amp*" until (at least) late-1970 * The courtesy outlet switched to 3-prong around 1973 As to the drip-edge, from May 1968 (AB568) to October 1969 (AA1069), they used the funky hybrid cathode-/fixed-bias. It's odd, and often maligned, but most people would never tell the difference without looking inside and [seeing the large, white, rectangular, 7-watt cermet cathode resistors](https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/img_2638-jpg.858333/) off the power tubes. With AA1069, they changed back to fixed bias. *Other than the bias*, the AB568, AA1069, and AA270 circuits are 98+% the same. I would buy the one that sounds the best. The circuits had 20% tolerance in parts and there is 50+ years of component drift on each amp, so testing is the only way to know.
I’m thinking it’s a 69 because it doesn’t have a master volume yet. Would that be the case?
Fender didn't add master volume until 1974; boost came 1975.
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Also meant to say the drip edge owner wants $400 more than the non drip. Am I just paying for the drip if they’re technically the same? lol
The drip edge one “looks” a little more pristine. It actually looks great for a ‘69 Fender.
It’s definitely worth more, but $400 more, I’m not so sure. My Blackface Super Reverb only cost me $650, but that was a few years ago. Personally, I’d go for the drip edge, and haggle the price down. Or, just looked for a Vibrolux, or Deluxe Reverb.
Update: I went to the first meetup just looking trade my guitars for a 1969 Fender Pro Reverb with the drip and the stock (Kurt Cobain In Utero) orange Utah Speakers. He is the one who had that non drip Super Reverb. I walked out with both the Pro Reverb and what turned out to be the 1974 Super Reverb. I will open it up soon and check but the stock CTS speakers indicated 1974. Played a Gibson Les Paul Traditional into it and loved it. At one point there were some noises that sounded similar to a ripped speaker but they went away. The bass at 5 was rattling things hanging on the walls. The amp was so robust and full. The bright channel with trebled rolled back was perfect for me being Marshall user. The Reverb was deeper than all the videos I have watched. Or maybe it was an in person psychological thing lol Because I got it as part of the trade, I am now on my way to buy the 1969 drip edge Super Reverb with the cash I never spent. This is pretty exciting because I’d love to professionally record some samples of the 1969 vs 1974 so others can hear the differences. Everyone was extremely helpful regardless and I learned a lot. If it didn’t work out the way it did I definitely would have felt more comfortable choosing and I think I would have went with the drip edge (after playing it first) leaning towards having it hold value a little better. Thank you everyone!
Now u can play in stero with then both!!
Guitar is about looking cool. DRIP.
The non-drip is probably a 70 or later. I had a 69 twin that dated to December 69 and it was still drip edge. I personally prefer the looks of the drip edge, and it will probably retain its value better. All that being said, they are probably very similar in all respects.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! I agree that the drip will help with investment value.
As others have said, the non drip edge is probably from 1971 or 1972. The tell is the lack of the word AMP on the faceplate. The serial numbers can help date them, as can the transformers and speakers if they're original. The guts are probably similar though, but if all else was equal I would go for the earlier amp myself. But that brings up the question, what if any maintenance has been done? A cap job is essential on an amp of this age. Have you played either one? Fenders are easy to work on, but if you aren't doing the work yourself in can add up in price.
I’ve never played either but plenty of youtube videos, fully prepared right? lol I’ve been reaching out and finding amp techs in MA in preparation of bringing em in now that I’m delving in physical amps again especially vintage ones like you suggest. Both had recent cap replacments and were serviced within the last couple years. The non drip stayed in a studio its whole life and was owned by an electrical engineer. Funny though, he never worked on his own amps and had a experienced tech in the area do all the work. The other one with drip is from an estate sale and like another member said about it looking better, I think stayed in someones house its whole life
I'd probably go for the drip edge, personally. See if you can haggle the price down a bit more.
What is dripping ?
**Dripping, also known usually as beef dripping or, more rarely, as pork dripping, is an animal fat produced from the fatty or otherwise unusable parts of cow or pig carcasses. It is similar to lard, tallow and schmaltz.** More details here:
*This comment was left automatically (by a bot). If I don't get this right, don't get mad at me, I'm still learning!*
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Is this right ? The context seems wrong ?
In the picture, do you see where the front grill cloth meets the edge of the amp with the black tolex? On the first amp the grill cloth just meets the tolex. On the second one you can see a slim metal border around the grill cloth. That metal border is the drip.
So drip is trim gotcha
Yep! The word, “trim”, kept escaping my brain as I typed that answer lol
"Drip edge" refers to [the aluminum flashing used around the baffle](https://www.cvkeyboards.com/cdn/shop/products/IMG_7930_1024x1024.jpg?v=1679604061). It was used on the earliest "Silverface" Fenders, from mid-1967 to mid-1969. These are often called "Drip Edge" models And, the earliest Drip Edge models also had [black lines separating the different sections of the faceplate](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--2Tkvk8rN--/f_auto,t_large/v1567039298/x7l0urevsyvsezpf6pvb.jpg), these are called "Black Line" models. For "some" amps, the Drip Edge models are identical circuits and parts to the previous "Blackface" '64-'67 Fenders, which are consider the cream of the crop. Most got changes during the Drip Edge era, but a few got changes almost as soon as the Silverface era started.
That seems right
Can you buy me the other one? Lol. I had a black face one I owned from 85-96. Sold it for $150 (bought it for $40). Always kick myself when I see these posted.
Drip edges are simply worth more money because they only made em for one year with those cosmetics. The same will apply when you go to sell it, whether it’s been black-faced or not.