In this Supro Delta King 10 review, I’ll tell you what makes this 5 Watt Class A all-tube amp so special and how it compares to the Supro Delta King 8 and Delta King 12 models. The Delta King 10 is essentially a modern version of the early Supros made in Chicago from 1935 to 1968.
Supro amps were used by bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to record some of the most iconic albums in blues and rock and roll history!
If you are looking for the classic vintage ’50s to ’60’s sound in an amp that is versatile enough to handle all genres of music, then check out the information in this article!
A Brief History Of Supro Amplifiers
Supro amplifiers were first made in Chicago as a subsidiary of Valco. The company closed in 1968 and was reformed in 2013 by Bond Audio. The amps are currently produced out of New York.
Supro was the first company to make a combo amp with built-in reverb. The original vintage amps are highly prized for their unique sound. Jimmy Page recorded the entire Led Zeppelin I album using a 1959 Supro Coronado amp and a 1958 Telecaster.
What Is The Supro Delta King 10?
The Supro Delta King 10 is a 5 Watt Class A amp with an all-tube signal path and a 10-inch speaker. This low-wattage combo unit offers excellent headroom and touch sensitivity.
A few adjustments to its control knobs and switches will give you various classic vintage rock tones.
The amp is available in 1950s-era tweed with black stripes or black Tolex with cream stripes for a more ’60s look. I love the look of them both, but the ’50s tweed is wicked cool!
It is one of three Delta King models and the medium-powered-output amp of the series. The Delta King 10 sits between the 1 Watt Delta King 8 and the 15 Watt Delta King 12.
Each of the three amps has an all-analog design. The technical specs are listed in the tables below.
Who Is The Delta King 10 Amp For?
The Supro Delta King 10 is for players who want a reasonably-priced amp covering any musical genre. However, don’t be fooled by the amp’s 5 Watt output. This baby is loud and really boogies!
It has master-volume, boost, and gain controls that can provide everything from vintage chime to sweet overdrive and very musical-sounding distortion.
This amp will give you amazing tones at subdued bedroom volumes, but you could easily use it for band practice and play small to medium club-type venues without miking it.
How The Delta King 10 Works
The Delta King 10 amp provides touch-sensitive compression and generous headroom by way of an all-tube signal path. It is a Class A single-ended power amp that uses one 12Ax7 (ECC83) preamp tube and one 6V6 power tube.
Front Panel Controls
The front (top) panel controls of the Delta King 10 are straightforward and logically arranged.
There is a single guitar input jack, volume and master volume controls, a two-band (treble and bass) EQ, and reverb control.
The “Boost” switch kicks the amp into overdrive, and the “Drive” switch gets you nicely-voiced distortion. Engage both these effects at once, and you’re in for a real treat (more about this later)!
There is an on-off switch with a power indicator light and a standby switch, which helps extend tube life.
The Footswitch And Line-Out Jacks
Rear Amp Design
The rear of the amp features an open-cabinet design, which allows the tubes to cool and helps give it a natural sound that is more “open” and resonant.
I tend to favor the rich sound of open-back combos over closed-back cabinets, like the typical Marshall 4X12 configuration, which tends to give you a tighter and more bass-heavy tone.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the tone and all the air a Marshall stack can move!
On the back of the Delta King 10, there is a Boost/Drive footswitch jack and Line Out jack, which gives the amp expandability options.
The Boost/Drive TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) jack allows you to engage the boost and drive circuits with an optional footswitch.
Delta King 10 Specifications
Here are the specs for this amp.
| Item | Delta King 10 Specification |
|---|---|
| Power | 5 Watts |
| Speaker | Supro DK10 10-inch speaker |
| Control Knobs | Volume, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master |
| Effects | Boost & Drive |
| Footswitch Jack | TRS Double Footswitch Jack For Boost & Drive |
| Output | Line Out (Line Level) |
| Preamp Tube | 12Ax7 (ECC83) |
| Power Tube | 6V6 |
| Cabinet | Poplar |
| Enclosure Covering | Tweed With Black Stripes or Black Tolex With Cream Stripes |
| Dimensions | 16” x 7” x 15” (41 x 18 x 38 cm) |
| Weight | 23 lbs (10.5 kg) |
Delta King 10 Demo
Here is a great video where Tony Bruno demos the Delta King 10 amp. You won’t believe your ears, so check it out! Also, be sure to tell me which “Tone Map” you like best in the comment section.
Features And Benefits
Here are some of the highlights that make this incredible amp a must-have.
Custom-Made Analog Spring Reverb
The spring reverb is warm and dispersive sounding and works great with the 6V6 tetrode power amp. It was custom-made to work with the Delta King amps and fills the room with a vintage vibe.
Boost And Drive Switches
A “Boost” switch kicks in a FET (field effect transistor) circuit in the amp’s front-end for extra gain and a thicker sounding midrange. This boost switch is featured in all three Delta King amps.
The “Drive” switch engages a Pigtronix FAT overdrive circuit that pushes the amp into high-gain mode.
Using the Boost and Drive together gives you an exceptional range of tonal options. The overdrive cleans up really nice to give you a clean and punchy sound. Even the high-gain distorted tones are very volume knob and pick dynamics responsive.
The Boost and Drive functions can be used as an “effects unit” via the Line-Out jack.
Custom DK 10 Speaker
The 10-inch speaker is specially voiced for the amp, and it really makes the Delta King 10 come to life, especially with the Boost and Drive units engaged simultaneously.
Wood (Poplar) Cabinet
The Delta King 10 has a high-quality poplar cabinet that was specially tuned for the amp. It is built to last for years and looks great in both the vintage tweed and black Tolex cabinet coverings.
Line Out Jack
The line-out circuit lets you use the amp as an “analog drive module” and can go directly into a house PA system, drive another amp, or connect to the digital audio workstation (DAW) in your recording studio.
What I like About About The Delta King 10
There is so much to like about the sound and design of this amp that it is ridiculous, but here are some of the highlights.
Flexible Sound
This amp can do anything from squeaky clean to overdrive and all the various high-gain sounds. It always sounds articulate, even when playing rhythm while the amp is breaking up. You could easily use this amp to play in any professional situation.
Great Touch Sensitivity
Notes explode from your pick, and guitar-slide parts sound fabulous! The touch sensitivity of this amp is on par with my Mesa Boogie Dual-Rectifier Blue Angel. It’s everything you expect from a Class A circuit and more.
Power To Spare
At just 5 Watts RMS, this amp really sings and screams! It sounds great at any volume level, and it’s loud enough to use for most small to medium venue applications.
Equivalent output power is typically a lot louder in tube amps than in solid-state amps. So a 5 Watt solid-state amp would probably pale in comparison.
Handles Pedals Well
The Delta King 10 does not have an effects loop, but it handles front-end pedals exceptionally well, including delay and modulation units.
For more info, see What Is A Guitar Stomp Box – Attractive, Little, Tantalizing.
Best Of Both Worlds
As stated above, the Delta King 10 has specifications that sit between the Delta King 8 and 12 amps, giving you the best of both worlds.
To my ears, the amp breakup is less gritty than the Delta King 8 and more complex-sounding than the Delta King 12, although this is obviously a matter of individual perception and taste.
Diming the volume and master volume with the Boost and Drive engaged gives you a “fire-breathing” sound that won’t blow the windows out the house.
Portable, Lightweight, And Sharp-Looking
At 16” x 7” x 15” and 23 pounds, it’s easy to take the Delta King 10 anywhere. Both the tweed with black stripes and black Tolex with cream stripes cabinet coverings look great and will be sure to get noticed before you even play your first note.
These two cover options are available in all three Delta King amp models.
What I Don’t Like About The Delta King 10
This is a great amp in every sense of the word; however, here are some minor issues that you should be aware of.
No Footswitch
The Boost/Drive footswitch is not included with the amp. Instead, you can use any two-button footswitch with a TSR ¼ inch jack or buy the Supro SF2 2-button footswitch separately, which will set you back about $55 plus the cost of a TRS connector cable.
To be fair, the amp is priced very nicely at $549, and adding the footswitch controller is a must because it gives you seamless access to a whole different tonal palate for rhythm and lead sounds.
No Midrange EQ Control
The amp can get a little “thin” sounding with certain settings. A dedicated midrange EQ would have been nice but if you really need it, then get Delta King 12 amp (see the Supro Delta King 10 Vs. 12 comparison chart below).
Can Get A Little Noisy
The Delta King 10 can get a little noisy when you crank the amp, especially with single-coil pickups, but I have to say that this is a characteristic common to all Class A circuits. The dynamic touch sensitivity more than makes up for it.
Supro Delta King 8 Vs 10
Here are the main differences between the Delta King 8 and the Delta King 10 amps.
| Specification | Delta King 8 | Delta King 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 1 Watt | 5 Watts |
| Speaker Size | 8 Inch | 10 Inch |
| Control Knobs | Vol, Tone, Master | Vol, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master |
| Preamp Tube | 12AX7 | 12AX7 |
| Amp Tube | 12AU7 | 6V6 |
| Effects | Boost | Boost and Drive |
| Footswitch Jack | Boost | Boost and Drive |
| Output | Line Out (Line Level) | Line Out (Line Level) |
| Dimensions | 13” x 7” x 13” (33 x 17 x 33 cm) | 16” x 7” x 15” (41 x 18 x 38 cm) |
| Weight | 15 lbs (7 kg) | 23 lbs (10.5 kg) |
| Price | $449 | $549 |
Supro Delta King 10 Vs 12
This table compares the Delta King 10 amp to the Delta King 12.
| Specification | Delta King 10 | Delta King 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 5 Watts | 15 Watts |
| Speaker Size | 10 Inch | 12 Inch |
| Control Knobs | Vol, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Master | Vol, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb, Master |
| Preamp Tube | 12AX7 | 12AX7 |
| Amp Tube | 6V6 | 6L6 |
| Effects | Boost and Drive | Boost and Drive |
| FootswitchJack | Boost and Drive | Boost and Drive |
| Output | Line Out (Line Level) | Line Out (Line Level) |
| Dimensions | 16” x 7” x 15” (41 x 18 x 38 cm) | 17” x 7.5” x 16” (43 x 19 x 41 cm) |
| Weight | 23 lbs (10.5 kg) | 28 lbs (13 kg) |
| Price | $549 | $649 |
Final Thoughts About The Supro Delta King 10 Review
Supro amps have helped shape the sound of American and British blues and rock and roll of the ’50s and ’60s. The Supro Delta 10 is a 100% analog all-tube signal path throwback to this era with modern design features.
This amp can cover any style and genre of music. Onboard Boost and Drive effects can easily take the amp into overdrive and distortion territory that is articulate and musical at every control setting.
It works great with pedals and any pickup configuration. Humbucker pickups sound full but not dark or muddy. Single-coils sound fat with lots of “bite” without being too bright.
The open combo design fills the room to create a warm ambient sound. In addition, the Line Out feature lets you use the amp as an “analog pedal” to drive another amp or send the signal into your digital audio workstation (DAW).
If you want the authentic 6V6-powered tone of ’50s combo amps with a host of modern features, then you should give the Delta King 10 a try!
For more info on combo tube amps Click Here –> Best Combo Guitar Amps For Any Budget: 5 All-Tube Beauties!
Tell Me What You Think
Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this Supro Delta King 10 Review, have any questions about this product, or want to leave your own personal review. I will be happy to help you.
- Have you played through the Delta King 10 amp? What did you think?
- What kind of guitar do you think would sound best with this amp?
- How do you think the Supro Delta King amps compare to the Supro Blues King amps?
- Do you own a Supro amp? Which one? What do you like best about it? Any issues with the amp?
- Would you buy a Delta King amp after reading this review?
Wow! what a great review. I have never actually heard of the Supro Delta King but I love the idea of this vintage sound. I’ve been playing for around 40 years and when I started I had a Roland tube amp and it was awesome but very heavy. Sadly, I sold it not knowing that it would become a classic tube amp. Lol. But that was a long time ago. I’ve since downsized to a much smaller Epiphone amp which I love but it doesn’t have the character of these amps with their build-in reverb. I wonder if my PRS would sound warmer through a Supro Delta King?
Hi, Lily
Thanks so much for your comments!
I agree that you can’t beat the older tube amps, although some newer models can give them a run for their money! The oldest ones were all point-to-point wiring. Now you have to buy an expensive boutique amp to get it hand-wired.
A PRS guitar will sound great through pretty much anything.
If you get the chance, try plugging your PRS into a Delta King, especially the Delta King 10, which has the classic 6V6 sound. It should give you the warm & round sound you’re looking for.
I like playing my PRS guitars through my Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Blue Angel Class A 4X10 amp and my Mesa Boogie 2X12 Heartbreaker. The distinctive mid-range sound of these amps works really well with the PRS pickups.
I do have a Roland Blues Cube that I used as my “bedroom amp” for years.
Of course, now PRS makes their own amps, which are truly awesome!
Keep on playing!
Frank
Hi Frank. Thank you for another interesting review. Its not easy to choose good amp with so many options on market but looking on your post Delta King 10 seems as a perfect choice. I love idea of classic blues sound and the design is really great. And what’s also important its portable and price is quite reasonable. Looking forward to test it in practice.
Hi, Cogito
Thank You for your comments!
If you can find the Supro Delta King 10 amp or one of the other two models in the series, then definitely plug in and give it a try. I think you’ll be impressed at the sound quality and how loud they are for their power rating!
Keep On Playing!
Frank
Is the boost/drive thing the same as putting a clean-boost/overdrive pedal in front of a Fender Champion 600, but with a slightly bigger speaker and reverb? (I’m a great fan of the 600, it has the same valves, similar looks, and I guess they are still far cheaper – like a quarter of the price). There are a variety of little 6V6 amps, all with the same very basic amplification circuit that you would find in a 1950’s radio. The Gretch and Fender ones are exactly the same. Not too sure why they range from cheap to very expensive.
Hi, Neil
Thank You for your comments!
That’s a really great question. I would think both setups would be similar but the Supro amps definitely have a sound and feel under the fingers of their own, just like the Fender amps do. I personally really like the sound of the Delta King 10. The best thing to do is to bring your guitar to a Supro dealer and put the amp through its paces. If you really love it then it might be worth the extra money.
Supro is trying to set itself up as more of a lower-end “boutique” amp company. There’s also the whole “Jimmy Page recorded Led Zeppelin I on a Supro” marketing appeal. Check out the limited-edition Jimmy Page Supros and see how much those go for!
It really all comes down to personal taste. One thing’s for sure, you can never have too many amps!?
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Please come back and visit my website again.
Take Care, Keep On Playing and Have a Great weekend!
Frank
great review thank you
You’re Welcome, Roberto!
My pleasure & I’m thrilled you enjoyed the article.
Please come back often. I have lots of great topics planned for guitar amplifier reviews and many other things.
Frank
Hi Frank,
Great review, it helped me decide to give this amp a try and I bought one about a month ago. What a fantastic little amp! My Marshall dsl20 has taken a backseat since this arrived, it’s fantastic at bedroom levels and it does get very loud if you crank it! I’m gonna take it to band practice this week to see if it holds up in the rehearsal room.
I mostly use my cort m600 with it (prs copy , humbuckers with a coil split) but have found that my tele with iron gear single coil pickups sounds amazing through this with the overdrive on. I also have a squier classic vibe strat which I use for a clean sound which also sounds fantastic.
I have run it through my Marshall too just to have a mess about and it sounds great. Was considering the bigger 15 watt version but being able to plug it into another amp convinced stick to the delta king 10.
Anyway thanks again, the review really helped and I am very happy with the delta king 10 so far!
Dave
Hi Dave,
Thank You for your comments!
Congrats on taking the plunge and getting yourself a Delta King 10! It is just perfect for the bedroom and any other small space. You should be ok for band practice if everyone turns down a little, but you’ll have to mic it for larger venues. Jimmy Page recorded the entire Led Zeppelin I album with a Telecaster plugged into a Supro Coronado amp, so you are in great company!
Using it as a preamp to power other amps is one of its best features, which is why I like the 10 Watt best!
The DSL20 is also a great little amp! I see you’re building yourself quite the awesome amp collection. I love low-wattage tube amps because they are so versatile.
Let me know how you make out with band rehearsal, and I wicked appreciate you coming to my website!
Frank
Hi!
Great review!
If price isn’t a matter; would you go for the 12 or is it something you like more in the 10? I am looking for a new amp and likes the sounds like Stones, Black Keys, QOTSA and in that ballpark 🙂
//Peter
Hi, Peter
Thank You for your comments!
You pose an excellent question. What it really comes down to is personal taste in sound and playability. All three amps will give you the ability to do decent covers of the bands you mentioned. The Delta King 10 sits between the other two amps in terms of overall tone, which offers the most flexibility.
If you’re looking more for that single-tone-control sound of a tweed Fender Champ then the Delta King 8 will take you closer to that range. The Delta King 12 gives you the additional middle EQ knob if you really like to tweak the mids.
It also depends on what type of guitar(s) you will use with the amp, single-coil vs humbucker, etc.
If you live next to a big music store, you might have the opportunity to play through all three amps. If not, the are plenty of YouTube videos, like the one in my article, that will give you a basic idea of what might be best for you.
I hope this information helps! If you have more questions, add another comment to this article, and I will be happy to reply back.
Please come back and revisit my site.
Keep on playing & Happy Holidays!
Frank
I recently purchased the Delta king 10 and I am extremely happy. I’ve spent years spending money on solid state amps and never got the sound I wanted. This little guy changed everything. I agree with everything you have written. Another awesome feature is that in addition to the line level out, if you take off the back panel there is a 1/4inch jack so that you can power another speaker or cabinet without having to do any wiring. It’s incredible all the genres and styles of music you can cover with this thing. It can go from pure clean classical to extremely hard rock. I havent been able to pull the heavier side of metal out of it yet but I don’t think it was designed with that intent and I also haven’t tried very hard. I tried the 10 and the 12 at the guitar shop and I believe the 10 is the better option unless your gigging and don’t want to mic. I am interested on your thoughts on this; I am tempted to purchase a celestion speaker(I would probably go with something like a greenback) but the combo already sounds so good I’m scared it may be a waste of money. What do you think?… Anyway I went on a bit of a rant but I wanted to thank you for putting this article out because this amp has brought me so much happiness and you are helping spread that joy
Hi, Rob
Thank You for your thoughtful comments and question!
Congrats on your purchase! It is quite an awesome amp, and I typically favor Class A design for its touch sensitivity, etc. I’m with you. I love the power”sag” and natural breakup of tube amps. I will admit that there are some great tube modelers out there, but not entirely as organic sounding and the guitar “feels” different to my touch.
The closest solid-state analog amp I have that comes close to tube-driven is my Tech 21 Trademark 60. Still, I can’t stack it against my all-tube Marshalls, Fenders, Vox, Orange, etc.!
I love the sound of Supro amps, period, and I’m very fond of the Delta King 10. You can definitely get some metal sounds out of it with a bit of stompbox assistance. Try driving it with something like the Wampler Sovereign (check out my review for more info), and you definitely won’t be disappointed!
I would not change out the speaker with a greenback or anything else. The DK10 is perfectly paired with the amp to get you that vintage Supro sound!
Keep on playing and enjoy your Delta King 10 to the max!
Frank ?
Hi Frank,
I was just looking at this amp in my local music store. It was highly recommended.
I guess my question is: this amp with a Schechter Damian 6 platinum plus a Boss HM-2 pedal…..a winning combination?
It was a good review and I’m sold on it.
Thanks
Hi, Norman
Thank You for your comment, and I’m thrilled you liked the review!
Nice guitar!! Those active EMGs should make the amp come alive, and that pedal will really push it to the limit! I’m sure you know that the Delta King is not made for metal, but it’s a highly versatile amp.
Bring your guitar and that pedal to the music store and give it a go, then come back and let me know what you think. I’ll be surprised if you’re not delighted.
Happy Easter & Keep On Rockin ?
Frank
Thanks for this informative review – I’m a harp player, and had a ’55 ‘Bowling Bag’ amp w/an 8″ speaker that I LOVED, stolen off a train in Italy. It was in a small suitcase – they didn’t know what they were stealing! Anyway, I was thinking I might get a Delta King 8 for my next tour over there this summer, but I’m concerned about it not keeping up stage volume-wise. My little ’55 was actually not bad, even on bigger stages, but I like to play with feedback, and get “inside” the speaker a bit….it wasn’t so good for that. Might the DK 10 be a better choice vs the DK 8? I play large outdoor stages but also some smaller gigs…the master volume helps. I don’t see any comments by harp players!
Hi, Kellie
Thank you for your comments and question!
Wow, a harp player – so cool! I must admit I don’t know much about harps, but I can advise you about the amp.
I would go with the Delta King 10 since it is rated at 5 Watts of RMS audio output power, and the DK 8 is only rated at 1 Watt. Also, the DK 10 (and DK 12) have a Boost AND Drive function, whereas the DK 8 only has the Boost. The Drive will help you get that feedback you like. All three Delta King amps have the Master Volume control.
Of course, if you need even more power, the DK 12 gives you 15 Watts, and it’s not that much bigger and only 5 lbs heavier. You can also mic your amp through the house PA system.
Do you know the RMS output power on the 55′ Supro Bowling Ball Bag Combination Amplifier? Such a great amp but hard to find. They sometimes turn up on eBay or other online auctions.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. Best of luck in your search for a new amp, and I’m sorry your 55′ got stolen.
Take Care & Keep On Playing,
Frank ?
Thanks, Frank! I was originally going for a Fender Pro Jr., as these have worked well in the past. Amp of choice has been a Super Reverb, w/ a master, but these are tricky to travel with.Yes, after mulling it over a bit, I also figure the DK 10 is a better option. Having a master volume is key! I don’t know anything about the Bowling Bag amp I had, other than it was stock, had a small tear in the speaker, and sounded freaking awesome. I’m on tour in Europe, so actually trying to find one there. Supro rocks, worldwide! 🙂
Hi, Kelly
I think you will be very happy with the DK 10, which will give your more power and headroom than the DK 8. Fender Pro Jr’s and Super Reverbs are also great amps! It’s tough to travel with big amps if you don’t have a roadie crew. I also like master volume controls, especially on high-powered amps (50-100 Watts).
hi! Nice review. I have the Supro Delta King 12. Question… would you know of a way to control the volume of the pigtronix drive? (and even the boost, but mostly the drive). The volume jump is pretty significant. I don’t think there’s a way, but just curious. Great amp. Tnx!
Hi, Doug
Thank You for your comments!
Using a volume pedal in your signal chain is the best way to control the drive and boost volume. If you want to control the amount of gain, you can do that with your guitar’s volume knob or at the amp by adjusting the Volume and Master controls.
Also, the signal cleans up really nicely at your guitar, and you can always kick in extra volume with the pedal.
I hope this helps! Enjoy your amp; the Delta King 12 is an awesome choice!
Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Keep On Rockin’! ?
Frank ?