Whats the story behind this monstrosity??

GuitarJonz · November 15th, 2005, 08:08 AM

Solid State Vibrolux Reverb?? Somehow I don't think this was the one that Roy Buchanan was using

Can't say that I've ever seen one of these (not that I've been looking :D )

Whats the deal with these, what other classic Fender amps did they try this with, and when??

Click for Auction

*

Paul G. · November 15th, 2005, 08:56 AM

Same names, same features and power as "real" Fenders--Twin Reverb, Bassman, Deluxe Reverb, etc.

They are, from all accounts, huge ugly cowpies.

P.

Martinp · November 15th, 2005, 11:12 AM

I had a sold state Bassman in the late 70's.
it sounded so bad I could hardly believe it.
too crappy for a punk band even...

one of them here

stantheman · November 15th, 2005, 11:31 AM

It'd make a great clock....

Alas, it had to start somewhere.
But in just 35 years - actually less - the concept has evolved into some really good offerings like the Tech 21
products.

Tim Armstrong · November 15th, 2005, 11:52 AM

Apparently, Fender jumped into the solid-state amp thing without doing enough research into how to implement the right manufacturing techniques. Remember, the amps they were already making were hand-wired tube amps. Anyway, they apparently had huge, huge quality control problems, and those solid-state amps frequently didn't survive the warranty period!

Fortunately for Fender, they were also ugly as sin, so they didn't sell all that well...

Cheers, Tim

Oster · November 15th, 2005, 12:25 PM

Just for the comedic value: I'd like to attach one of those black vinyl wristbands on the side and stick an antenna out the back for total transisitor effect! :D

trdlasvegas · November 15th, 2005, 12:58 PM

A good tech friend of mine here in Vegas has the largest collection of these Solid State Fender amps you'll ever see. I think he has one or two of all the models.

-Tony

Oster · November 15th, 2005, 01:49 PM

One Fender Transistor Dinosaur I'd like to get is a Libra. Harmony would be in the stars! Nice balanced tone, etc.

Actually, I'm a little surprised at how little the subject of this post ended up going for. They may not have been good guitar amps but as a piece of music history (or maybe even as a bass amp for practice) you could surely do much worse for the price.

David Barnett · November 15th, 2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oster

One Fender Transistor Dinosaur I'd like to get is a Libra. Harmony would be in the stars! Nice balanced tone, etc.

The Zodiac amps came later, that was Fender's second attempt at solid state.

The first series came around 1967 or so. They had solid state versions of the Deluxe Reverb, Vibrolux Reverb, Super Reverb, Twin Reverb, and Bassman, along with a solid state PA system. I think the PAs actually sold in pretty decent numbers, compared to the guitar amps.

I remember Moses Music in my town had one of each of the SS guitar amps, and they sat on the floor for several years without selling.

moparmutt · November 15th, 2005, 04:58 PM

A guy I met over here in HI. has one of those, a twin. First one I ever saw.

Dacious · November 15th, 2005, 07:22 PM

Not only the amps - a guy over here was trying to sell a Fender Solid State outboard Reverb!

It had the same cosmetics as these, dials etc.

I understood these things were made in Asia, and many may have been brought back the the 'States by servicemen from the Philipines.

Tim Armstrong · November 15th, 2005, 08:09 PM

The Philipines ones have the Fender Solid-State cosmetics, but are tube amps. So they're sleepers, I reckon!

Cheers, Tim

jjmantele · November 15th, 2005, 10:43 PM

I think those old Asian ones with the tubes in the SS type boxes were counterfeits from what I read.

I have a family movie of my uncle playing solo at my grandparents 25th anniversary. Probably around '75 or so. He is using a Fender SS Reverb unit. I've asked him about it and he doesn't remember it. He had given me the guitar he was using then ('63 Epi Crestwood) so I figured I'd go for the reverb too when I noticed it in the film, but it's long gone. Could have used it with one of my non-reverb amps for fun. Too bad he gave the Twin to my cousin (who performed unspeakable sacrilegious acts on it.)

He had a SS Super Reverb until a few years ago too. I had no desire to have that ugly tall box.

3StringGuitar · November 15th, 2005, 11:20 PM

What were the wattages on the SS versions compared to the tube versions? Maybe I'll look into getting one, I love strange oddities. :)

November 15th, 2005, 08:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 2,862 7 Photos	Whats the story behind this monstrosity?? Solid State Vibrolux Reverb?? Somehow I don't think this was the one that Roy Buchanan was using Can't say that I've ever seen one of these (not that I've been looking :D ) Whats the deal with these, what other classic Fender amps did they try this with, and when?? Click for Auction *

November 15th, 2005, 08:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Paul G. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 885	Unfortunately, they did this with the full line Same names, same features and power as "real" Fenders--Twin Reverb, Bassman, Deluxe Reverb, etc. They are, from all accounts, huge ugly cowpies. P. __________________ Listen to your mother

November 15th, 2005, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Martinp Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Westbury, N.Y. Posts: 326	Bassman I had a sold state Bassman in the late 70's. it sounded so bad I could hardly believe it. too crappy for a punk band even... one of them here __________________ mp Westbury, New York

November 15th, 2005, 11:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,071	IF....You've got the space It'd make a great clock.... Alas, it had to start somewhere. But in just 35 years - actually less - the concept has evolved into some really good offerings like the Tech 21 products. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

November 15th, 2005, 11:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,243	Apparently, Fender jumped into the solid-state amp thing without doing enough research into how to implement the right manufacturing techniques. Remember, the amps they were already making were hand-wired tube amps. Anyway, they apparently had huge, huge quality control problems, and those solid-state amps frequently didn't survive the warranty period! Fortunately for Fender, they were also ugly as sin, so they didn't sell all that well... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

November 15th, 2005, 12:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 39 Posts: 2,759	I Love Those Things! Just for the comedic value: I'd like to attach one of those black vinyl wristbands on the side and stick an antenna out the back for total transisitor effect! :D __________________ Regular Tele Use

November 15th, 2005, 12:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
trdlasvegas Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lost Wages, Nevada Posts: 205	A good tech friend of mine here in Vegas has the largest collection of these Solid State Fender amps you'll ever see. I think he has one or two of all the models. -Tony __________________ www.trdpartsonline.com www.thermalrelief.com

November 15th, 2005, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 39 Posts: 2,759	Zodiacs One Fender Transistor Dinosaur I'd like to get is a Libra. Harmony would be in the stars! Nice balanced tone, etc. Actually, I'm a little surprised at how little the subject of this post ended up going for. They may not have been good guitar amps but as a piece of music history (or maybe even as a bass amp for practice) you could surely do much worse for the price. __________________ Regular Tele Use

November 15th, 2005, 04:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
moparmutt Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: honolulu Posts: 592	A guy I met over here in HI. has one of those, a twin. First one I ever saw.

November 15th, 2005, 07:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,622 35 Photos	Not only the amps - a guy over here was trying to sell a Fender Solid State outboard Reverb! It had the same cosmetics as these, dials etc. I understood these things were made in Asia, and many may have been brought back the the 'States by servicemen from the Philipines. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

November 15th, 2005, 08:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,243	The Philipines ones have the Fender Solid-State cosmetics, but are tube amps. So they're sleepers, I reckon! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

November 15th, 2005, 10:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
jjmantele Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 851	SS I think those old Asian ones with the tubes in the SS type boxes were counterfeits from what I read. I have a family movie of my uncle playing solo at my grandparents 25th anniversary. Probably around '75 or so. He is using a Fender SS Reverb unit. I've asked him about it and he doesn't remember it. He had given me the guitar he was using then ('63 Epi Crestwood) so I figured I'd go for the reverb too when I noticed it in the film, but it's long gone. Could have used it with one of my non-reverb amps for fun. Too bad he gave the Twin to my cousin (who performed unspeakable sacrilegious acts on it.) He had a SS Super Reverb until a few years ago too. I had no desire to have that ugly tall box. __________________ JJman If it says "Vintage" on it -it isn't.

November 15th, 2005, 11:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	What were the wattages on the SS versions compared to the tube versions? Maybe I'll look into getting one, I love strange oddities. :)