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Topic: Fender Vibrolux re-issue |
KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 5 Mar 2007 5:14 pm |
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| Anyone own one of these? It's the one with white knobs,and 2 10" speakers.Reverb,and Tremelo work on both channels. Does this amp work well with a "clean" lead guitar without breaking up quickly?I've read some comments both pros,and cons on some of the newer Fender tube amps. |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 5 Mar 2007 5:22 pm
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| I don't have a problem with the fender RI, I want to get a twin reverb myself. You are going to use this for steel right? I would wonder if a 10" speaker is enough to give you a good low end that steel demands. I would compare it to others before I would make a choice. |
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KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 5 Mar 2007 6:21 pm
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A.J. I'm not going to use it for steel. I was thinking of a Deluxe Reverb,or a Vibrolux for lead guitar.If I get a Deluxe,it'll be a 70"s silverface.  |
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2007 4:53 am
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I have a Vibrolux . two tens. gorgeous sound.
the amp is responsive top pick attack. you can play soft and the amps whispers your note. add a bit of oomph and the note expands.
I dont get any break up until five and six on the volume knob. by then the amp is too loud for home but terrifc for gigs.
I played some psg thru it and the sound was true. the ShoBud I had was able to show its voice. it was all there. I feel the two tens did fine.
the reverb is wonderful and classic.
not tto heavy and hush quiet.
my lap steel works good too.
I love this amp and would miss it if it were gone. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2007 5:58 am
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The Vibrolux isn't a "reissue" - it's a different circuit than the original. Fender even says as such on their website. It's a much more modern sounding amp than the old Vibrolux Reverb - both have early breakup, but the new one is a higher-gain amp with a different sound. I've played through a bunch, and honestly I thought they we're pretty cold sounding amps - maybe OK for modern rock, but not much of a traditional Fender tone.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Bill Yoder
From:
Orrville, Ohio, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2007 5:29 pm vibrolux reverb
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When i play lead,i play thru a "72"vibrolux reverb.i use a boss comp and a delay and its a great lead guitar amp,i mic it up when were in a larger hall,doea an excellent job.not enough low end for the steel though.
_________________
Bill
kline sd10,nashville tel,fender strat."57"p bass.nv400,72 twin,70 vibrolux rev,p.v.tnt100,tubefex,all kinds of stomp gadgets,etc. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 13 Mar 2007 7:20 pm
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| The lead player in my blues band has a '70s silver-face Vibrolux. His tele sounds great through it - like Robert Cray. He leaves it in my practice room a lot, and I have tried it for pedal steel. I find the 10s to be too chimey and piercing for steel. But I have unplugged the 10s and played the amp through JBL 15s in separate cabs. It sounds just like my SF Dual Showman Reverb head through those same 15s, just not as loud. Surprisingly, I didn't miss the mid control, and was able to easily dial in great tone. I think a Vibrolux in a custom cab with a single 4 ohm 12 or 15 would be a great practice and small volume amp for steel. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 13 Mar 2007 8:35 pm
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As Jim says, this is not a true reissue of the old Vibrolux Reverb, but a modern, channel-switching interpretation. If you can find one, I highly recommend an old Vibrolux Reverb for guitar, especially Tele. They are getting pretty expensive, even for the silverface versions, and the blackfaces are around $2500 for a nice one now - I've seen really clean ones go for over $3000, no joke. I generally expect to pay a grand or more for a good silverface VR. But I think the MAP (min advertised price) for the new version is a grand also. I'll take the old one any day of the week.
To me, there is nothing like an old Vibrolux Reverb for a Tele. I've played several of the new versions - not a bad amp, but not the same as the real deal at all, to me. More brittle-sounding to my tastes, but also more versatile if you want more modern high-gain sounds. But of course, this is all a matter of personal taste - I think it's worth the effort to check them both out if you think that's the type of amp you want. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 13 Mar 2007 9:47 pm
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| To me, there is nothing like an old Vibrolux Reverb for a Tele. |
I agree! I play about 5 guitar gigs a month: 1967 Vibrolux Reverb w/Weber speakers, and a '90s American Tele. Tone to die for! There's nothing like it IMHO.
As great as this amp is for guitar however, it's terrible for pedal steel IMHO. I just can't get a good steel tone from it (using my '74 Emmons p/p). I guess it's just not the steel tone I'm looking for. I've been spoiled by the Steel King 
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Bill Terry
From:
Bastrop, TX
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Posted 14 Mar 2007 6:58 am
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I've owned several SF Vibrolux Reverbs and I'd agree they are one of the best amps going for a Tele.
The one I own now is a bit different. It's a 1970 by dates codes, and I bought it about two years ago for $150 in a semi-working condition. The friend I bought it from (I told him it was worth more, but he didn't care, he just wanted it out of his garage  ) had used it for fiddle before replacing it with something newer. The 210 baffle was long gone when I got it, and he had put in a single 12" Black Widow 4 ohm. It was probably fine for fiddle, but not so hot for guitar.
When I got it, I knocked out all the dirt dobber nests (a wasp-like critter we have in Texas that builds these little mud houses inside stuff and especially likes garages for some reason), removed a former residence of some animal from the rodent family, fixed a broken reverb wire, did a cap job and tubes. Since the BW wasn't working for me, I replaced it with a stock 12" Jensen 4 ohm.
So what I ended up with was like a Deluxe Reverb on steroids or something. I actually think I like the 12 better than the 2-10 versions I've owned previously, even though I like those too. It's plenty loud and will still stay in that 'semi-clean' mode at relatively high stage volume, where a Vibrolux sounds best to me. Since I sold the BW for a few $$, I think the total investment in that amp is around $250... Definitely a keeper. |
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Dave Zielinski
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2007 8:28 am
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I think Kenny said he'd get a "70s silverface deluxe" ...
Which personally to me- I'd take that over a reissue vibrolux or an original vibrolux. but that depends on the tone you are looking for.
the vibrolux is nice and clean for guitar- the "right" tens in it woudl be dynamic as heck.
For my needs, a lower wattage amp w/6V6s and a single ribbed come 12" (weber 12s0 is pretty tough to beat. tele, LP junior, etc... but of course, I like to turn an amp up and get the dirt out of it.
Both are good amps... as someone already said... if they were a grand a piece, go for the original one. It will be more reliable night after night if you gig with it.
Have a fine day! |
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KENNY KRUPNICK
From:
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 14 Mar 2007 6:21 pm
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| Yes Dave. I'm hoping to get a 70's silver face Deluxe Reverb. I know where I can get one.I have noticed,the newer amps are incorporated with all the"gain" features for rock,and heavy metal which doesn't intrest me. |
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