Fender Vibro-King ? W.T.H.??

[Wardpike]

Havethe folks at Fender lost their minds? The new Vibro-King, normally found on eBay for about $1350 to $1500 used is listed here at...

[size=4]MSRP of $4999.99[/size]

That's $5000. Maybe $3500 would be a sale price somewhere. :o

[Wally]

The literature there stipulates 'all handwired'. IF so, that would be a change from Vibro KIngs of yesteryear. They were wave-soldered as opposed to handwired. Still, $5K is getting proud.

[stantheman]

Sounds to me like "Vintage Sound" is about to have a breakout year in 2010!!! LOL!!!
Also sounds like Fender is putting The Viking on his funeral ship.

I've been saying this for at least the last two years - move the handwiring operations to Ensenada - and let the cousins of the people who did the originals to begin with wire 'em.

[Wally]

Did a quick inflation search. A 1964 Twin REverb which was $469 in '64 would sell at close to $3300 in today's dollar. WE have gotten spoiled by PCB construction and off-shore labor. This amp's $5K price tag is admittedly too high compared to that '64 TR price. Fender is nuts on this on, imo. They should be able to build a truly hand-wired amp for less than this.

[Milone]

One more reason to buy a clone...I just got a 5E3 clone and couldn't be happier...all high quality components and it only cost me $600 (built) I love Fender but wasnt going to spend $1300 for the same amp with a Fender badge on it...

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Milone

One more reason to buy a clone...I just got a 5E3 clone and couldn't be happier...all high quality components and it only cost me $600 (built) I love Fender but wasnt going to spend $1300 for the same amp with a Fender badge on it...

Self-built? IF not, someone is working for fun. There's nothing wrong with that, but it won't keep a person alive.... in Canada or the U.S., right?

[ac15]

And I thought the "Anniversary" edition of the Gretsch Variety was expensive (it is, but lists at a couple hundred dollars less than the Vibro King). However, the Vibro King doesn't sparkle. Gotta get one to go with my White Falcon (if I hit the lottery).

http://www.bananasmusic.com/productd...nniversary-Amp

[polymolly]

Apparently Shakira uses one. That's got to have plenty "appeal"...

[Wardpike]

Yes, there is the Shakira factor!

[Wally]

Shake-ira....lot of motion going on there. Have to keep the reverb drive down low, right? Yowsir!

[eggman]

Howdy,

I'll second the idea of looking for a clone, or better still- a used clone! I've become a Dr.Z lover after getting my Carmen Ghia. His amps are p-t-p handwired and are more affordable than the aforementioned Fenders.

Eggman

[polymolly]

Originally Posted by Wally

Shake-ira....lot of motion going on there. Have to keep the reverb drive down low, right? Yowsir!

Yeah, just to mention the other post: That reverb, definitely has lots of boing goin on!

[sjhusting]

Originally Posted by polymolly

Yeah, just to mention the other post: That reverb, definitely has lots of boing goin on!

That's not normal Fender amp reverb in the VK. It's an "internal" external Reverb unit, with a 6V6 driving it.

steven

[polymolly]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

That's not normal Fender amp reverb in the VK. It's an "internal" external Reverb unit, with a 6V6 driving it.

steven

Well, I wasn't mentioning the "boing" from the reverb, I was talking about the "boing" from the Shakira unit...

[Wally]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

That's not normal Fender amp reverb in the VK. It's an "internal" external Reverb unit, with a 6V6 driving it.

steven

True, the reverb in that amp is like the 6G15 units in that there is a control to the drive and tone in addition to the return. The return control is what the reverb pot does on 'normal' FEnder reverb amps.

[Geoff738]

For those who haven't played one, they're GREAT amps.

I don't know what relation the list price will be to what dealers will let them go for.

Honestly, if they street for mid - threes, I don't think that's crazily out of line with other boo-teak amp makers for what it delivers.

I dunno, I like 'em.

YMMV.

cheers,
geoff

[Wardpike]

But any Dr.Z boutique amp, including the EZG50 streets for 1/2 that... and they are 100% handmade in Ohio, and 100% guaranteed without question. Honestly, I know that everyone has preferences and reasons to like what they like... but I just love the amps. They're bullet-proof and tone monsters.

So I think Fender is pricing themselves out of the market like this. I could see $2999 list and streeting for $2500. That would be more reasonable, and I would want one then.

YMMV

Ward

[sjhusting]

Originally Posted by polymolly

Well, I wasn't mentioning the "boing" from the reverb, I was talking about the "boing" from the Shakira unit...

I know, but at my age, it's better not to think about Shakira. My daughter has posters of her on her wall, and that's bad enough. I get hurt just walking in her room.

steven

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by sjhusting

I know, but at my age, it's better not to think about Shakira. My daughter has posters of her on her wall, and that's bad enough. I get hurt just walking in her room.

steven

I get hurt listening to her sing.

Maybe it's better in Spanish?

Geoff

[polymolly]

sjhusting: guess that's not reverb, it's echo. The word "Shakira" echoing on your mind and causing you nightmares!

Geoff738: Better in spanish? I believe that you are assuming that she is singing in some form of language already? Shakira his in her own league... Really! It's a world all of her own!

[Milone]

Originally Posted by Wally

Self-built? IF not, someone is working for fun. There's nothing wrong with that, but it won't keep a person alive.... in Canada or the U.S., right?

I hear you brother...it was bought used from the original builder..he is a hobbiest and has built several guitar and amp clones...very high quality does great work and was only one province over from where I live...:-)

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Milone

I hear you brother...it was bought used from the original builder..he is a hobbiest and has built several guitar and amp clones...very high quality does great work and was only one province over from where I live...:-)

Then you got a great deal...congrats.

[Milone]

Thanks...I really think so too....still kinda pinching myself every time I play it and realize how cool an amp I own....kudos to the builder he was maticuluos with his work...even better it inspired me to try a build next..

[stantheman]

Fender sees Dumble and puts the Viking King beside the Overdrive Special and VOILA!!!! A five thousand dollar amp that should street out at 2300 is born.

Personally - I think all the signs in the road are pointing towards VOX AMPLIFICATION.
I've played that AC-30CC (The Chinese Model) and I like it a lot.

Now You can spend 5k for The King or one fifth of that with The Wharfdales.

Gee, what am I gonna do?

[Wally]

The Vox AC30-CC is what it is, and that is nothing that is simular to the VibroKing either in circuit design or construction methods.....apples and oranges, imho. Play what you like, but the VK will be here long after that inexpensive Chinese PCB board has gone away. Do I think that VK is worth $5K....I have already said I don't feel that it is.
Would I give retail price for a new AC30CC? No way, even though I thought what I have heard from them is usable.
Back to the VK. THe best sounding VK that I have heard belongs to a certain TExas LEgend picker. HE had it outfitted with a 4X10 baffleboard. AFter a minor grounding problem was cured with a frayed reverb cable, the amp was magnificent sounding.
I have heard early VK's that I wouldn't have played through for any amount of time.
The early ones were wave soldered and there can be some endemic problems associated with that process if things aren't perfect during the process. I have heard stories of a well-known tech having to strip the tagboard and resolder everything by hand in order to get good sound out of one. IF this $5K amp is truly hand-wired, that would move it closer to being worth the big bucks. IS Victoria building this amp now as well as that GRetsch amp for FEnder???
LEt's face it. The only niche for U.S. amp manufacturers is going to be the top dollar amps that are built by hand with top quality parts. U.S. labor cost...or even Mexican labor costs....can't compete with China or Vietnam. There is a trade off when one chooses to buy these lightweight PCB amps that are built with automated processes such as wave soldering.....with the new solder formulas that don't stand up as well as the old leaded formulas. That tradeoff will make itself known perhaps not in the early part of its life but for sure on down the road.

[tazzboy]

Yeah that's for the New Vibro King http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...LAID=372069919

The old blonde one's go for a lot less.

[jwayne]

Holy sweet jesus that is expensive. I was gonna just by a clone but since I saw a picture of Shakira next to one I will go take out a 2nd on my house! - LOL

Seriously though...with all the clones available I still wonder why folks purchase OEM equipment from the big dealers. I mean why buy a DRRI for 1000 bucks when you can spend 1100 and get a clone that is built better and sounds so much better?