Oh man, I heard a TONE last night...

Ben Harmless · May 6th, 2005, 02:33 PM

This guy shows up last night to the club where I work. His band that does mostly classic rock stuff, and I'm not blown away by the cheapo vocal mics they wanted to use instead of my ugly '58s, but man did this guy have tone...

He was using a '70s SG and a Strat into a newer Brown "Custom Series" Vibroverb with 2x10s. Now, I've been looking at finding a good Fender for awhile now, but why did it have to be one of the uber-expensive ones?

The thing just sounded sweet! It broke up sooooo smoothly, and at a very reasonable volume too. I could've sworn the guy must have been using a pedal to get that tone at that volume, but I asked him about it, and he said "nah, I'm an guitar-to-amp kinda guy." I love it.

It didn't hurt that he was a killer player too. The band encored with House of the Rising Sun, which I've heard way to much to be enjoyable anymore, but somehow they still managed to pull it off to my great satisfaction.

All in all, a good night, but that may have just been because it was at the end of 18 hours of work yesterday...

Mik · May 6th, 2005, 07:01 PM

Ben,

Maybe, not "uberexpensive"...did it look like this?

but in blond tolex/wheat grille

or like this

I've read that one of these, the "Custom" VR I think, breaks up earlier than the original circuit.

Neither were made in the Fender Custom Shop, they're PCB, and have solid state rectifiers (Fender Amp Field Guide, where I also ripped the pics). Both discontinued.

I guess they're around $600-$800 on ebay and other sources.

I hope I don't see a brown Vibroverb 63RI for sale, cuz I'd buy it on looks alone.

Mik

gls500 · May 6th, 2005, 07:40 PM

I had one a long time ago and hated it. It had no balls whatsoever. I've heard new speakers help, but it's an amp that sounds absolutely lovely at low volumes in your house, but then crank it up loud and it can't cut at all.

Probably a fantastic recording amp. It must have had some modifications if it sounded that great live.

1612112 · May 6th, 2005, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

This guy shows up last night to the club where I work. His band that does mostly classic rock stuff, and I'm not blown away by the cheapo vocal mics they wanted to use instead of my ugly '58s, but man did this guy have tone...

He was using a '70s SG and a Strat into a newer Brown "Custom Series" Vibroverb with 2x10s. Now, I've been looking at finding a good Fender for awhile now, but why did it have to be one of the uber-expensive ones?

The thing just sounded sweet! It broke up sooooo smoothly, and at a very reasonable volume too. I could've sworn the guy must have been using a pedal to get that tone at that volume, but I asked him about it, and he said "nah, I'm an guitar-to-amp kinda guy." I love it.

It didn't hurt that he was a killer player too. The band encored with House of the Rising Sun, which I've heard way to much to be enjoyable anymore, but somehow they still managed to pull it off to my great satisfaction.

All in all, a good night, but that may have just been because it was at the end of 18 hours of work yesterday...

Ben... I've been singing the praises of the new Custom Shop 1x15 for a while. Try the 1x15 before you do anything... you can thank me later. Then you can buy one of mine!

David Barnett · May 6th, 2005, 10:24 PM

Your 58s are ugly? How often to you replace the windscreens? I don't let ours go longer than a few months without a new ball, they're too cheap to quibble about.

Ben Harmless · May 7th, 2005, 02:57 AM

It was the brown version, and the guy said he picked it up for $2800, so there must be some serious depriciation if you can get one used for $800! This one was definantly a 2x10.

In terms of balls, it had 'em tonally, but the amp wasn't being used for very hard rock - more bluesy stuff. It did occur to me that if it broke up at the volume that he was using, and still got drowned out a bit by the HRD on stage, it must not have an amazing surplus of volume in the long run. So, if by "balls" you mean volume, then maaaaaybe it lacked some balls. Still, more than servicable as a club amp, especially if you can mic it - which I did with a e609.

That is a little disappointing that it wasn't a custom shop job. PCB at that price point is a little nuts. I really don't see how it's that functionally different enough from say, a '65 Deluxe RI to justify that sort of markup.

Oh, and they weren't my '58s in that they belonged to me, they were the club's '58s. The club doesn't replace the windscreens, and I wouldn't bring my mics to this particular club. To many misbehaving musicians...

Tim Swartz · May 7th, 2005, 09:38 AM

If it was $2800 it must be from the custom shop. They reissued them in the early-mid '90s and they sell for about $600. I was not aware of the CS model, but I'm not to up on new stuff. The reissues sound pretty good when you put good tubes and speakers in them...The stock speakes are the worst I've ever seen in any Fender amp.

David Barnett · May 7th, 2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

Oh, and they weren't my '58s in that they belonged to me, they were the club's '58s. The club doesn't replace the windscreens, and I wouldn't bring my mics to this particular club. To many misbehaving musicians...

$9/ball, I spend the club's money on this stuff. There's no excuse for dented, stinky 58s.

David Barnett · May 7th, 2005, 03:29 PM

I don't remember ever seeing the word "Custom" on a Vibroverb Reissue. There was the Vibrolux Custom, but it was black, not brown. Neither of these were $2800 amps.

Richard Thompson plays a brown Vibroverb reissue, so they can't be that bad...

fenderfan · May 7th, 2005, 09:50 PM

I'm wondering if it's an original 2x10 Vibroverb, if he paid $2800 for it. There has only been one brown 2x10 Vibroverb reissue and it definitely goes for around $600 used. (I have owned two of them, and they both were very disappointing when turned up in a band situation).

Ben Harmless · May 8th, 2005, 02:07 AM

It's possible that it was original. He seemed very proud of it, but it was in great shape, so I just assumed it was new.

fenderfan · May 8th, 2005, 01:01 PM

..because an original 2x10 Vibroverb can sure sound like God's amp.

Tim Bowen · May 8th, 2005, 09:10 PM

Wow, I've never even seen an original brown Vibroverb... I think they only made about 500 of them back in 1963. I have two of the reissue Vibros. I think they sound pretty nice with tube and speaker upgrades (in my case, JJ's and Reverend Alltones).

I bought one of the reissues when they were first released. It's never given me the slightest problem, and has been gigged and recorded more than any amp I own. At the time of purchase, I was working with a couple of projects - a Cajun/Zydeco/Funk dual guitar outfit, and the Vibro came up a bit short there; as well as a mainstream jazz quartet, where the Vibro was spot-on perfect.

For current needs, I find the Vibro to be like several of my amps - it best does its thing as paired with another small-medium amp (I don't gig AC15, Pro Jr., or Deluxes on their own either). I most often mate the Vibro with an AC15, but have also paired it with an old brown Deluxe, as well as a '65 reissue Deluxe. For large venues and big outdoor shows, I've used it in tandem with AC30 and Dr. Z Maz 38. One of the things I love most about the Vibro is the way it promotes a subtle, singing note bloom when hit with a good dirt box; I always miss that aspect of its character when I work without it.

I call on the Vibro quite a bit for recording. I used it at a session last week to cut a Dano Baritone guitar, and a Strat/Ebow track. As usual, it didn't let me down.

Tremo · May 9th, 2005, 12:05 AM

several years back, I saw a guy gigging with one of the brown reissue Vibroverbs at a club. Man what a POS. It was weak. WAY weak. You could not hear the guy at the back of the room. The next band that played, the guitarist used a BFSR, you could hear him clearly.

Whatever floats yer boat guy, if you like 'em, more power to ya. I wouldn't use one.

Tim Bowen · May 9th, 2005, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremo

several years back, I saw a guy gigging with one of the brown reissue Vibroverbs at a club. Man what a POS. It was weak. WAY weak. You could not hear the guy at the back of the room. The next band that played, the guitarist used a BFSR, you could hear him clearly.

Whatever floats yer boat guy, if you like 'em, more power to ya. I wouldn't use one.

Yep, Deluxes of every persuasion, Princetons, AC15, Vibroverbs, Marshall 18 watt, and such, all sound WEAK to me "on their own" as compared to a BFSR. On a side note, I had dialed in the most beautiful baritone tones that I'd ever heard on a recently re-capped and professionally serviced "blackfaced" 70's Super over the past weekend.... unfortunately it crapped out and died right before the red light went on, and thus, the trusty weak reissue was once again called upon.

I pretty much don't base my gear choices on who else would use what; I merely relate my own experiences. That said, I find the Super to be a bit of a bear for live use. If I wanted an amp to border on being that clean and unforgiving, I'd certainly choose a Twin. I like a bit more sag, so for a loud amp, I'd choose an AC30.

It's all about checks and balances, my friend. If I had a nickel for every time someone hurt my ears with a BF Super or Twin, or with a brass slide on a Tele bridge p'up, or was lost with a Trace Elliot Vellocette or a Vibroverb in a small club, I'd be a rich man. If you heard a Vibro that was weak as compared to a Super, well, that would make perfect sense - if the wrong tool was chosen for the job, or if, perhaps, maybe a microphone should have been used (or not, for the Super). People should learn to understand wattage, compression, sag, choosing the right tool(s) for the job, the right pedals, and while it's not my bag, I guess maybe some folks require attenuators.

Listen, I've got access to several drool-worthy amps, including the recently (temporarily) deceased Super, for what it's worth. As soon as that is the right screwdriver for the job, that's the screwdriver I'll choose.

1612112 · May 10th, 2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Barnett

I don't remember ever seeing the word "Custom" on a Vibroverb Reissue. There was the Vibrolux Custom, but it was black, not brown. Neither of these were $2800 amps.

Richard Thompson plays a brown Vibroverb reissue, so they can't be that bad...

The Custom Shop amps do not sport the word "Custom". They look for all the world just like a Vibroverb RI. But they are "custom" in that they are hand wired on eyelets and have switchable mods like the Diodes/5AR4 choice and the Cesar Diaz function... whereas the RIs are PCB versions of the original.
161

logman · May 10th, 2005, 04:55 PM

the original 1963 Vibroverb was brown tolex with 2-10" speakers. This was the 1st combo with reverb.

In late 1963 fender switched to black tolex and the Vibroverb changed to 1-15", I know, I have a November, 1963 Blackface Vibroverb with 1-15" speaker.

The Brown Vibrolux's from '63 were 1-12".

after '64 the 1-15" vibroverb was was dropped and the 2-10" became the vibrolux reverb which was basicly the '63 vibroverb except with a blackface circuit.

in the '90s fender reissued the '63 Vibroverb with 2-10" speakers and brown tolex. these were PCB amps.

They were then discontinued and the Blackface (and some white) Custom Vibrolux's were issued. They were PCB, not Custom Shop and were called Custom because they weren't a reissue of the Vibrolux reverb but a modern amp with an old name.

Last year The Custom Shop came out with '64 vibroverb Custom which is a hand wired PTP amp with a pricetag to match. It is a reissue of the '64 1-15" Blackface Vibroverb with Cesar Diaz's custom mods.

If your buddy had a brown tolex vibroverb with 2-10"s and paid $2800 it was probably original and that price would have been a steal because as was said above very few were ever made.

logman

5965 · May 10th, 2005, 06:30 PM

My guess would be it didn't have the original speakers. That seems to make a big difference in the price of that particular amp, but it's still a good price for a pretty remarkable and rare amp.

I'm not sure any vintage 2X10, 2-6L6 would work well in a band with a loud drummer and larger amps, they just can't move enough air. In a blues or jazz band, they do fine. That said, an extension cab might make a big difference. BFSR's do well, and some of that is the extra 2X10's.

Ben Harmless · May 10th, 2005, 06:48 PM

Well, hey, it wasn't a guy I know really at all, just some guy in a band. All I know was this:

-It said "Vibroverb"
-It was brown, with 2 10s
-It sounded great

For all I know, I could have misheard him, and it cost him $800, but I don't think so. I also know that, while tone is subjective, I've mic'd and mixed hundreds of amps, and this one had tones, both dirty and clean, that were a whole lot more pleasing and fitting to the songs being played than 90% of the other amps I've heard - which include some of the more expensive "botique" and rare amps around.

I heard a good tone through a brown Vibroverb. That's all. I'm sorry you guys weren't there to witness it.

5965 · May 10th, 2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

Well, hey, it wasn't a guy I know really at all, just some guy in a band. All I know was this:

-It said "Vibroverb"
-It was brown, with 2 10s
-It sounded great

For all I know, I could have misheard him, and it cost him $800, but I don't think so.
I heard a good tone through a brown Vibroverb. That's all. I'm sorry you guys weren't there to witness it.

I'm sure you heard the price correctly, and I would have liked to have been there. There are a number of originals that are still being gigged with, and for good reason. Thanks for the post.

fenderfan · May 11th, 2005, 11:18 PM

..to pick up some speakers, I was amazed to see an original brown 2x10 Vibroverb sitting in the middle of the floor. The tech could see how dazzled I was, and said he had just done some work on it for the owner of the amp, who lived in Wyoming. He said the owner had been offered up to $3500 for it and had refused to sell. Bottom line is that your ears absolutely were telling you the truth - the original Vibroverbs make beautiful tones!

May 6th, 2005, 02:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,374 12 Photos	Oh man, I heard a TONE last night... This guy shows up last night to the club where I work. His band that does mostly classic rock stuff, and I'm not blown away by the cheapo vocal mics they wanted to use instead of my ugly '58s, but man did this guy have tone... He was using a '70s SG and a Strat into a newer Brown "Custom Series" Vibroverb with 2x10s. Now, I've been looking at finding a good Fender for awhile now, but why did it have to be one of the uber-expensive ones? The thing just sounded sweet! It broke up sooooo smoothly, and at a very reasonable volume too. I could've sworn the guy must have been using a pedal to get that tone at that volume, but I asked him about it, and he said "nah, I'm an guitar-to-amp kinda guy." I love it. It didn't hurt that he was a killer player too. The band encored with House of the Rising Sun, which I've heard way to much to be enjoyable anymore, but somehow they still managed to pull it off to my great satisfaction. All in all, a good night, but that may have just been because it was at the end of 18 hours of work yesterday... __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 6th, 2005, 07:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	Ben, Maybe, not "uberexpensive"...did it look like this? but in blond tolex/wheat grille or like this I've read that one of these, the "Custom" VR I think, breaks up earlier than the original circuit. Neither were made in the Fender Custom Shop, they're PCB, and have solid state rectifiers (Fender Amp Field Guide, where I also ripped the pics). Both discontinued. I guess they're around $600-$800 on ebay and other sources. I hope I don't see a brown Vibroverb 63RI for sale, cuz I'd buy it on looks alone. Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

May 7th, 2005, 02:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,374 12 Photos	It was the brown version, and the guy said he picked it up for $2800, so there must be some serious depriciation if you can get one used for $800! This one was definantly a 2x10. In terms of balls, it had 'em tonally, but the amp wasn't being used for very hard rock - more bluesy stuff. It did occur to me that if it broke up at the volume that he was using, and still got drowned out a bit by the HRD on stage, it must not have an amazing surplus of volume in the long run. So, if by "balls" you mean volume, then maaaaaybe it lacked some balls. Still, more than servicable as a club amp, especially if you can mic it - which I did with a e609. That is a little disappointing that it wasn't a custom shop job. PCB at that price point is a little nuts. I really don't see how it's that functionally different enough from say, a '65 Deluxe RI to justify that sort of markup. Oh, and they weren't my '58s in that they belonged to me, they were the club's '58s. The club doesn't replace the windscreens, and I wouldn't bring my mics to this particular club. To many misbehaving musicians... __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 7th, 2005, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,904	If it was $2800 it must be from the custom shop. They reissued them in the early-mid '90s and they sell for about $600. I was not aware of the CS model, but I'm not to up on new stuff. The reissues sound pretty good when you put good tubes and speakers in them...The stock speakes are the worst I've ever seen in any Fender amp. __________________

May 7th, 2005, 09:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 523	Maybe it's an original? I'm wondering if it's an original 2x10 Vibroverb, if he paid $2800 for it. There has only been one brown 2x10 Vibroverb reissue and it definitely goes for around $600 used. (I have owned two of them, and they both were very disappointing when turned up in a band situation).

May 6th, 2005, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
gls500 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 894	I had one a long time ago and hated it. It had no balls whatsoever. I've heard new speakers help, but it's an amp that sounds absolutely lovely at low volumes in your house, but then crank it up loud and it can't cut at all. Probably a fantastic recording amp. It must have had some modifications if it sounded that great live.

May 6th, 2005, 10:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,491	Your 58s are ugly? How often to you replace the windscreens? I don't let ours go longer than a few months without a new ball, they're too cheap to quibble about.

May 7th, 2005, 03:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
David Barnett Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: LIttle Rock, AR Age: 52 Posts: 5,491	I don't remember ever seeing the word "Custom" on a Vibroverb Reissue. There was the Vibrolux Custom, but it was black, not brown. Neither of these were $2800 amps. Richard Thompson plays a brown Vibroverb reissue, so they can't be that bad...

May 8th, 2005, 02:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,374 12 Photos	It's possible that it was original. He seemed very proud of it, but it was in great shape, so I just assumed it was new. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 8th, 2005, 01:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 523	I bet that was it... ..because an original 2x10 Vibroverb can sure sound like God's amp.

May 8th, 2005, 09:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,389	Wow, I've never even seen an original brown Vibroverb... I think they only made about 500 of them back in 1963. I have two of the reissue Vibros. I think they sound pretty nice with tube and speaker upgrades (in my case, JJ's and Reverend Alltones). I bought one of the reissues when they were first released. It's never given me the slightest problem, and has been gigged and recorded more than any amp I own. At the time of purchase, I was working with a couple of projects - a Cajun/Zydeco/Funk dual guitar outfit, and the Vibro came up a bit short there; as well as a mainstream jazz quartet, where the Vibro was spot-on perfect. For current needs, I find the Vibro to be like several of my amps - it best does its thing as paired with another small-medium amp (I don't gig AC15, Pro Jr., or Deluxes on their own either). I most often mate the Vibro with an AC15, but have also paired it with an old brown Deluxe, as well as a '65 reissue Deluxe. For large venues and big outdoor shows, I've used it in tandem with AC30 and Dr. Z Maz 38. One of the things I love most about the Vibro is the way it promotes a subtle, singing note bloom when hit with a good dirt box; I always miss that aspect of its character when I work without it. I call on the Vibro quite a bit for recording. I used it at a session last week to cut a Dano Baritone guitar, and a Strat/Ebow track. As usual, it didn't let me down. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

May 9th, 2005, 12:05 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	several years back, I saw a guy gigging with one of the brown reissue Vibroverbs at a club. Man what a POS. It was weak. WAY weak. You could not hear the guy at the back of the room. The next band that played, the guitarist used a BFSR, you could hear him clearly. Whatever floats yer boat guy, if you like 'em, more power to ya. I wouldn't use one.

May 10th, 2005, 04:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
logman Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 172	the original 1963 Vibroverb was brown tolex with 2-10" speakers. This was the 1st combo with reverb. In late 1963 fender switched to black tolex and the Vibroverb changed to 1-15", I know, I have a November, 1963 Blackface Vibroverb with 1-15" speaker. The Brown Vibrolux's from '63 were 1-12". after '64 the 1-15" vibroverb was was dropped and the 2-10" became the vibrolux reverb which was basicly the '63 vibroverb except with a blackface circuit. in the '90s fender reissued the '63 Vibroverb with 2-10" speakers and brown tolex. these were PCB amps. They were then discontinued and the Blackface (and some white) Custom Vibrolux's were issued. They were PCB, not Custom Shop and were called Custom because they weren't a reissue of the Vibrolux reverb but a modern amp with an old name. Last year The Custom Shop came out with '64 vibroverb Custom which is a hand wired PTP amp with a pricetag to match. It is a reissue of the '64 1-15" Blackface Vibroverb with Cesar Diaz's custom mods. If your buddy had a brown tolex vibroverb with 2-10"s and paid $2800 it was probably original and that price would have been a steal because as was said above very few were ever made. logman

May 10th, 2005, 06:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
5965 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 738	My guess would be it didn't have the original speakers. That seems to make a big difference in the price of that particular amp, but it's still a good price for a pretty remarkable and rare amp. I'm not sure any vintage 2X10, 2-6L6 would work well in a band with a loud drummer and larger amps, they just can't move enough air. In a blues or jazz band, they do fine. That said, an extension cab might make a big difference. BFSR's do well, and some of that is the extra 2X10's.

May 10th, 2005, 06:48 PM	#19 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,374 12 Photos	Well, hey, it wasn't a guy I know really at all, just some guy in a band. All I know was this: -It said "Vibroverb" -It was brown, with 2 10s -It sounded great For all I know, I could have misheard him, and it cost him $800, but I don't think so. I also know that, while tone is subjective, I've mic'd and mixed hundreds of amps, and this one had tones, both dirty and clean, that were a whole lot more pleasing and fitting to the songs being played than 90% of the other amps I've heard - which include some of the more expensive "botique" and rare amps around. I heard a good tone through a brown Vibroverb. That's all. I'm sorry you guys weren't there to witness it. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 11th, 2005, 11:18 PM	#21 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 523	When visiting an amp tech's shop ..to pick up some speakers, I was amazed to see an original brown 2x10 Vibroverb sitting in the middle of the floor. The tech could see how dazzled I was, and said he had just done some work on it for the owner of the amp, who lived in Wyoming. He said the owner had been offered up to $3500 for it and had refused to sell. Bottom line is that your ears absolutely were telling you the truth - the original Vibroverbs make beautiful tones!