Original Vibrolux, not reissue

[louthunder]

Hey Lew, and anyone else for that matter, What experience do you guys have with a blackface Vibrolux? I have heard some great things about them. Great cleans, great reverb etc, I heard they are loud but can get a very bluesy snarl to them. Are they a worthy amp?

 

[ES350]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Back in the 80's, I traded a '57 Bassman for 2 BF Vibroluxes. They sounded great; one was enough for most club gigs and I used two for bigger gigs. With the two tens (and lower plate voltages, smaller PT I IIRC), they tend to break up easier than comparable '35 watt' amps like the Pro Reverb, Bandmaster, etc. They can be a little too bright with Teles and Strats, but plug in a 335 and you are in Freddie King heaven.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

There is no reissue Vibrolux, there is a "Custom" Vibrolux which is actually based on the reissue (and not completely correct) 1963 Vibroverb reissue...FWIW, the only ting it really has in common with a BF/SF Vibrolux is the 2x10 combo platform.

Now that thats cleared up we'll move on to a BF/SF Vibrolux...great amps! They're about 35-40 watts so they will give you some breakup before they get ear splitting loud and they're a nice size package (they are just a tad larger than a Deluxe Reverb!).

Now, all that said IMO they are VERY overpriced at this time, more so the BF models but even 70's SF Vibroluxes cost more than they are worth IMO...

Look hard and get a deal!!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Hey Lew, and anyone else for that matter, What experience do you guys have with a blackface Vibrolux? I have heard some great things about them. Great cleans, great reverb etc, I heard they are loud but can get a very bluesy snarl to them. Are they a worthy amp?

I have an original blackface Vibrolux Reverb. Bought it in pretty rough condition but Bruce restored it for me.

I like Vibrolux Reverbs a lot and to me they are like a 2 x 10 version of the 2 x 12 Pro Reverb...another favorite amp of mine.

The Vibrolux is a classic amp for Telecaster players. Both Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan used one. Probably because it breaks up just a little sooner than a Pro Reverb and alot sooner than a Super Reverb.

I like them best with original Jensen C10N speakers.

Lew

 

[B Bent]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Look hard and get a deal!!!

Or have Christian go out and find you one. :beerchug: I am still in debt for him finding mine.

Anyways I echo Lew in saying that the Lux is a Tele players dream. I have to disagree with ES350 too because I have never thought my Lux was too bright. With the bright switch on and tone on the guitar wide open maybe, but who plays em' like that anyways?

If you cant afford a real Blackface one buy SF all day long. Mine isn't a collectors piece, but it the dream gigging amp. It really covers alot of ground, but mainly love mine for that good ol' clean Fender twang and reverb!!!


BTW.... I want to see pictures of your Lux Lew!!!!

 

[Dave]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

QUOTE]

6% Tax????

Really great deal. I'm shopping for a princeton rev, and wonder if these prices will ever cool off!

 

[mad dog]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Great amps, my favorite of the later fenders. I've played a few great blackfaces, but the best were a couple of blackfaced silverfaces. With the right tubes and speakers, this is one versatile amp.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Listen to some Roy Buchanan, and you'll have your answer as to whether or not a BF Vibrolux is a nice amp.

- Keith

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Listen to some Roy Buchanan, and you'll have your answer as to whether or not a BF Vibrolux is a nice amp.

- Keith

Roy didn't play a BF!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Roy didn't play a BF!

You sure about that?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

You sure about that?

Yes.

Im not gonna go as far as to say that Roy only owned one amp, or even that he only owned one Vibrolux but I will say that I've never seen Roy with a BF Vibrolux but I have seen him with a SF...in fact it wasn't even a "good" SF...it ws a mid 70's model and by all counts was dead stock.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Yes.

Im not gonna go as far as to say that Roy only owned one amp, or even that he only owned one Vibrolux but I will say that I've never seen Roy with a BF Vibrolux but I have seen him with a SF...in fact it wasn't even a "good" SF...it ws a mid 70's model and by all counts was dead stock.

No kidding. I always heard it was a BF. I believe he played through other amps, but that his main one was a Vibrolux. Anyone got any good pics of Roy with a Vibrolux...black, silver, turquoise, whatever?

- Keith

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

No kidding. I always heard it was a BF. I believe he played through other amps, but that his main one was a Vibrolux. Anyone got any good pics of Roy with a Vibrolux...black, silver, turquoise, whatever?

- Keith

No kidding...I think I do have some pics somewhere, in fact you can tell by the pics in question that his Lux is indeed a SF and doesn't have the tail under the Fender logo making it a middle 70's or later!

 

[Dave]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Wow-I assumed he was using a BF, too. Sort of my default thinking that all of that great "fender sound" comes from 50/60's tweeds and 60's BFs.
Thanks for the insight, just don't tell me Gatton played a JTM!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Wow-I assumed he was using a BF, too. Sort of my default thinking that all of that great "fender sound" comes from 50/60's tweeds and 60's BFs.
Thanks for the insight, just don't tell me Gatton played a JTM!

No, Danny ws a gear hound and knew whtt he wanted...BF Fenders, and Tweed Fenders were what he wanted...

 

[Dave]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

No, Danny ws a gear hound and knew whtt he wanted...BF Fenders, and Tweed Fenders were what he wanted...

I don't have an impeccable ear for amps and recordings, but on Notcho Blues-maybe even sleepwalk, I hear a super reverb...am I close? maybe a vibrolux??

BTW-where do you find this info? I like to try and piece guitar and amp combos when I listen to music.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

I don't have an impeccable ear for amps and recordings, but on Notcho Blues-maybe even sleepwalk, I hear a super reverb...am I close? maybe a vibrolux??

BTW-where do you find this info? I like to try and piece guitar and amp combos when I listen to music.

I have seen clips of Danny with a BF Vibrolux Reverb, a BF Deluxe Reverb, a late 50's 4x10 Bassman, a narrow panel (high power) tweed Twin and a Roland Jazz Chorus...im not saying thats all but thats all I've sver seen him play through that I can think of right now...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Hmmm....the 1971 Roy Buchanan PBS TV special was the first time I ever saw Roy perform. I don't think he even had his Polydor Record contract yet. I could swear he was playing through a blackface Vibrolux-Reverb on that show because it was that show that made me want to acquire my first Tele and a Vibrolux Reverb. I did find a nice Tele: a '51 no less for about $180.! Boy...those were the days. Had to wait a while to find a nice Vibrolux Reverb though.

I have a copy of that show somewhere on VHS. I'll have to dig it out and give it a watch and see what kind of amp Roy is using.

Might be hard to tell if it's a silverface or blackface though: Roy often performed with the amp facing backwards so he could crank it up to "10" and not be quite as loud as if the speakers were facing the audience.

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

Hmmm....the 1971 Roy Buchanan PBS TV special was the first time I ever saw Roy perform. I don't think he even had his Polydor Record contract yet. I could swear he was playing through a blackface Vibrolux-Reverb on that show because it was that show that made me want to acquire my first Tele and a Vibrolux Reverb. I did find a nice Tele: a '51 no less for about $180.! Boy...those were the days. Had to wait a while to find a nice Vibrolux Reverb though.
I have a copy of that show somewhere on VHS. I'll have to dig it out and give it a watch and see what kind of amp Roy is using.
Might be hard to tell if it's a silverface or blackface though: Roy often performed with the amp facing backwards so he could crank it up to "10" and not be quite as loud as if the speakers were facing the audience.
Lew

I belive you completely but I know I have some pics of Roy with a SF Vibrolux...I'll see if I can dig up some pics!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Original Vibrolux, not reissue

I belive you completely but I know I have some pics of Roy with a SF Vibrolux...I'll see if I can dig up some pics!

Well...that's just what I remember. I'll see if I can find the video of that show and see if I remember correctly.