Converting a Fender Custom Vibrolux to a Black face Vibrolux

[Metalman]

This is probably a question for a Fender amp forum, but I don't know if one exists, so I will start here.

The "custom" Vibrolux amp (by Fender) is available on the market, well priced, looks good, sounds okay, and I am thinking about buying one.
I realize it is not a hand-wired amp, but like most production models, is circuit board. There is a big difference in sound and price for a hand wired amp, either a new boutique model, or an old black face Fender amp.

My question is, is it possible, through modifications, to make a new, or used Fender Vibrolux reverb amp sound anything like the old, black face amp of the mid-60s?

I'm just throwing this out there, see if there is any chance. I am not a technical person, I leave a lot of that to my amp tech. Hey, maybe I should just ask him.

Anybody have any say on this? Is it possible?

Here is a sample of what I am interested in:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Pro-Tube-Cus ... dZViewItem



Dennis

 

[Default]

Heya Dennis!
D/Led the schematic for the custom and have the BF schematic. Will take a look tomorrow at them.
comparison.

http://reviews.modernguitarist.com/review.php?revid=7

 

[Walter Broes]

Seems like a very complicated and possibly expensive adventure - you'd have to start almost from scratch, and rebuild a whole amp.

I'd look for a silverface vibrolux, and have a hip tech take out the less desirable "silverface aspects" (not that many , actually), and you'll end up with a better sounding amp with better components than anything new, non-custom shop Fender offers these days.

Another silverface "bargain" that except for it having a middle control is almost the same as a vibrolux reverb, is a pre-master volume Bandmaster reverb head. These even have the exact same (small-ish) 4 ohm output transformer as a vibrolux reverb.
All you'd have to do is get a custom cab to transform it into a 2X10 combo, put the bandmaster reverb chassis and two speakers in it, and you'll have a great amp for a pretty good price.

Fender's current amps really aren't that great A/B'd with pre-1980 Fenders, sound-, construction - and parts-quality-wise.

 

[Default]

Here's my '66 Vibrolux. I bought it as a head in a home made cab. We might end up in a new house pretty soon with room enough for a dedicated music space.*











*with a door.

 

[Walter Broes]

sweet! Does it still have the original O.T.? I must have blown at least three of those transformers. (two bandmasters and a tremolux.. )

 

[capnjuan]

Seems like a very complicated and possibly expensive adventure - you'd have to start almost from scratch, and rebuild a whole amp ... I'd look for a silverface vibrolux, and have a hip tech take out the less desirable "silverface aspects" (not that many , actually), and you'll end up with a better sounding amp with better components than anything new, non-custom shop Fender offers these days.

Hi Dennis; read and heed ... Silverface on eBay about $1,100 and For A (Clint Eastwood) Few Dollars more ... '67 Blackface $1,700/MIN Good luck! CJ

 

[Metalman]

Seems like a very complicated and possibly expensive adventure - you'd have to start almost from scratch, and rebuild a whole amp ... I'd look for a silverface vibrolux, and have a hip tech take out the less desirable "silverface aspects" (not that many , actually), and you'll end up with a better sounding amp with better components than anything new, non-custom shop Fender offers these days.

Hi Dennis; read and heed ... Silverface on eBay about $1,100 and For A (Clint Eastwood) Few Dollars more ... '67 Blackface $1,700/MIN Good luck! CJ

CJ, Walter,

Thanks for the info. It is tempting, with the "Custom Vibrolux" amp, because of it self-description, and it looks so darn cool.
BUT, you're right, it is better to get a '70s Vibrolux Reverb and have it gone over to convert it to a warmer sounding amp. I have an excellet amp tech here in Staten Island, and I remember him telling me something similar to that effect.

Dennis

 

[jp]

+1 Absolutely in agreement with everyone above.

Another thing you may also consider is a Vibrolux clone built by a boutique company. Compared to refitting a vintage amp, it may cost the same price range to get a great sounding, hand-wired, point-to-point amp. You can probably choose cabinet style and finish as well. Silver face Fenders are pretty pricey nowadays too, especially the ones easily blackfaced.

Or you may want to simply keep an eye out on eBay for a SF that has already been BFed, or a Vibrolux clone. Fender clones are becoming relatively common, and you may come a cross a really good deal.

 

[Metalman]

+1 Absolutely in agreement with everyone above.

Another thing you may also consider is a Vibrolux clone built by a boutique company. Compared to refitting a vintage amp, it may cost the same price range to get a great sounding, hand-wired, point-to-point amp. You can probably choose cabinet style and finish as well. Silver face Fenders are pretty pricey nowadays too, especially the ones easily blackfaced.

Or you may want to simply keep an eye out on eBay for a SF that has already been BFed, or a Vibrolux clone. Fender clones are becoming relatively common, and you may come a cross a really good deal.

JP,

Thanks. Lots of options to choose from. When this economic storm settles, I will start shopping.
I have a guy in New Jersey who does just that - builds custom amps based on Fender designs. Haven't seen his shop yet, or his amps, but what I hear they are pretty good.

Presently, I am playing through a nicely redone Fender Prosonic. Love that amp - at loud volumes. Hardly can use that sound anymore. Need something softer. That is why the search.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Dennis: I don't know how much weight you put on them but here are some Harmony Central Vibrolux Custom Re-Issue Reviews. There are lots of references to hiss, crummy tubes, and no likey the speakers; that is, nearly everything brought up in the review/tirade that default linked above is mentioned on multiple occasions in the HC reviews.

 

[Metalman]

Hi Dennis: I don't know how much weight you put on them but here are some Harmony Central Vibrolux Custom Re-Issue Reviews. There are lots of references to hiss, crummy tubes, and no likey the speakers; that is, nearly everything brought up in the review/tirade that default linked above is mentioned on multiple occasions in the HC reviews.

Cap,

Yes, I do go to Harmony Central for reviews, to see what other people think and have experienced. I am not surprised at what was said about the custom reissue Vibrolux. I actually played one in Manny's some years back. It's one of those things, where it looks so cool, you want to MAKE it work for you. Alas, it didn't have that sound, kinda bright, nasily.

The Prosonic is a real nice amp, and believe it or not, the ads for it, when it was being produced back in the late 90's, described it quite well.

" . . . a normal channel that starts with a swirling jangle and moves on up to a swampy snarl as you crank up the volume . . ."

It sounds hokey, very hype - ish, but it is true . . . It really does sound like that when you "crank up the volume".

Everybody I have talked to that owns one, or owned one, never used the distortion channel. It is too over the top, and changes the sound of the guitar too much. No, they bought it because the amp by itself had so much character, sound and tone. They, as I do, just plugged staight in and used whatever pedals they had. I use a Maxon OD808. Sounds fine.
I will keep this baby until I get the cash together to get a custom something like a Vibrolux.

 

[capnjuan]

Okay ... and considering the wide variety in pedals and effects out there, they ought to be able to supply some tone variety until you're ready to make a move. J

 

[Walter Broes]

the review/tirade that default linked above

John - I didn't realise that was a link to a review until you posted that - (thought it was a link to the schematic!) - pretty funny/sad! :lol:

 

[capnjuan]

the review/tirade that default linked above

John - I didn't realise that was a link to a review until you posted that - (thought it was a link to the schematic!) - pretty funny/sad! :lol:

Hi W: I read it and thought it was mostly somebody just angry ... until I read the HC Reviews ... that all said what he said! He had four strikes against him when he took it home:

1. He bought an amp that didn't review very well
2. He bought an amp that didn't review very well ... used
3. He bought an amp that didn't review very well ... used ... at Guitar Center
4. He bought an amp that didn't review very well ... used ... at Guitar Center ... in Miami

I think he made every mistake possible ... :lol:

 

[Default]

sweet! Does it still have the original O.T.? I must have blown at least three of those transformers. (two bandmasters and a tremolux.. )

Yes, it does. It's date-stamped 1966 inside the chassis, which is supposed to be sign of a warranty issue. It's been living over at my buddy's house for a while, so I can't remember the actual date. When I go over there in Feb, I'll switch amps with him. It's developed a random crunching noise that is infrequent and happens without any pattern, so I have to poke it with a sharp stick.

Yeah, it's a spindly looking tranny, isn't it?

 

[Walter Broes]

Yeah, it's a spindly looking tranny, isn't it?

They're really too small for a twin 6L6 amp, but they're part of what make those mid sized Fenders so sweet and usable, you can turn them almost all the way up without ear damage, but then it's not like those little transformers like that a whole lot.. :?
The tremolux actually smoked! :lol:

John - LOL!

 

[Default]

It seems kind of loud to me, but maybe if I had a bigger living room....

 

[Walter Broes]

:lol: They obviously not living room amps..

But they really seem louder than they really are - don't really get any louder above "3" on the volume dial, just more compressed and nastier - a lot more bearable than the bigger O.T. twin 6L6 beasts like Super Reverbs, Concerts, Bassman amps,...turned up to "fun!".

 

[Default]

What's kind of fun is to turn the amp up to 10 and play gently - just barely touching the strings. You can get a nice singing tone at low volume but you can't dig in at all.