Custom Vibrolux Reverb-Amp Brigade

Not technically a re-issue because this PCB modern tube amp has more in common with other Fender models than with the original Vibrolux, this is one handsome, manageable sized but still seriously loud and gorgeous amplifier.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/Bubbanov/P5230127.jpg

Any one agree?

Please pardon that funny blue guitar in the way of the picture of the amp.

Yep. Big bang for the bucks.

Count me in

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/521/specia.jpg

Count me in man!!! This is one hell of an amp. It has somewhat of a bad rep for hiss. I say handle that and get to know the tone an know that she'll rock with the best. Out of all the amps I have this is my favorite.

By the way I don't have any pics yet, but thems some real purty geetars too. Love the blue Boris!!

I'm in by way of losing a friend and him willing it to me. It's been shipped and will arrive tomorrow.

I'll see how I like it; may end up doing the "Moyer" conversion to VibroVerb circuit...

you might try a speaker and tube change first. I did. I think it sounds quite a bit different from stock. You can hear it on Youtube. Type in Custom Vibrolux Reverb. There should be three videos done by "Lioncommandking". Two on the first page and one on the fourth page.

By the way FiddlinJim, I am truly sorry to hear about the lost of your friend.

Thanks for that bro, he was a giggin' fool, that's for sure! I'm honored that he chose me to carry on with his rig ('62 tele custom RI MIJ from '88) and this amp. I'll give it a workover and at very least install a bias pot if it doesn't have one and do some comparison of tubes.

Yes sir! That is honorable and very apparent brotherly love! That is the only changes I've made to my amp is a bias pot, speakers, and tubes. Of I've always thought the Vibrolux sounded good stock, except for the noise. But I've heard that the mods are quick and inexpensive if you know how to solder. My soldering sucks and I don't read schematics very well so I was afraid to try them and kinda like what I have now. Good luck and gig in honor of your friend!

I love it also. It's been my main giging amp for 14 years.

Question;Boris,Lotis,Purpletele, FiddlinJim and Chuck! What kind of speakers are you guys runnin' in your CVR? I feel its hard to get the amp to sound bad with almost any speaker. I was just curios about some of the sonic textures that others were coaxin out of this amp with different speakers?

Geez fellas, come back. I didn't mean to be offensive!

Those Japanese '62RI Teles are pretty good. I've really dug the ones I've tried.

Hadn't been reading this thread, sorry!

I've got the stock speakers in mine. I've only heard a few others; none that struck me as different - I just assumed they were stock.

Thanks for the reply Boris. I also have always felt that the stock speakers were pretty good. Actually I'm referring to the Jensen P10Rs. I don't know why so many people trash them. I am just one of those people that is always tone searching. But I thought those were pretty good. As for the Fender blue frames, I currently use one of those together with a Weber right now and am quite satisfied with the tone achieved.

I've got a mixed pair of Weber 10F150 and 10F150T speakers on the way for my CVR. I think Ted (RIP) was big on that combo and a good friend and amp tech friend of mine recommended that as optimal. They should arrive Wednesday. I ordered them just before Ted died.

Those Japanese '62RI Teles are pretty good. I've really dug the ones I've tried.

My buddy had been complaining that it had "lost its twang". I just thought it was his Gotoh 6-saddle heavyweight replacement bridge (which I replaced with a vintage), but the real problem was that the bridge pickup (a VanZandt) was dead. I transplanted some Duncan Five/Twos in it and it's the best playing and sounding tele I've ever had in my hands. Despite the basswood body and rw fingerboard, it's bright as all getout.

Thanks for weighing in FiddlinJim. I'm very glad you did becausing I had no idea that Ted had passed away. I had only heard he was ill.(RIP)Ted.
I was using the 10f150-10f150T combination when I opted for the 10F150- Fender blue alnico combination. The blue alnico gives a little more glassy sparkle which I like.
I had never said much about my tele because its not a freal Fender (Peavey tele), but it does sound nice.

Lioncommandking, I see you're in Marrero. How about that!?

If I had a recent Fender tube amp, and I wanted a pro to go over it in the N.O. area (not a warranty claim) is there anyone you'd recommend?

I mean, someone whose life is in order and doesn't fall out too often?


Much obliged.

NOLA Guitar&Amp Service
Kevin Specht
Specht.K@gmail.com
1-614-425-1063
M-W 9am-7pm Thurs.& Fri. 9am-5pm
There is more info on services in his ad constantly on Craigslist New Orleans, music.
And you're right, I just noticed you may be in New Orleans. Sure would be nice to hookup sometime!

Its my favorite modern Fender and the only PCB Fender I would buy new or used.
Particulary shines with Teles. And right on the edge of portability. Love em.

Ok now we're talkin' , Custom Vibrolux, great amp. I recently acquired one seriously cheap which needed some work and now it is pristine. The speakers were blown and I replaced them with Jensen MODs, 50 watters, nice traditional tone , they should do the job for quite some time..

This is the amp that finally ended my tone quest:razz: Picked it up used, and it turns out it has had the moyer mods done to it, and has got sovtek tubes installed. Nice surprise, and explains why I was perfectly blown away from the first second I plugged into it. Anything from 1 to 10 on the volume sounds outstanding. Like it around 4-5 on the vol with only slight break-up, and then add boxes for extra dirt. This amps cleans are so remakable that I have already gotten numerous applauds for it during the mere 3 gigs I have played with it. Cleans aside, it breaks up in such a musical way, and takes pedals better than anything I have ever tried; and I have tried pretty much everything you can buy from new.

Finally I have a simple setup where I can get beautiful ear-tickling cleans, blues tones, old rock tones AND anything up to 80's hard rock, and do everything with perfection. My true love, and a keeper.

Unfortunately the speakers just died, and will need to replace them. Hopefully either a pair of ragin cajuns or jensen mod 70's will sound perfect, and be able to survive in the process:razz:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2daegio.jpg

Here she is, the love of my life, along with my two favourite mistresses, my squier cv custom and my R6 VOS

demoed one at GC last Saturday that was GC beat to hell and it still sounded good...Fenders and Gibsons...

Bought one second hand at the beginning of January (same time as I bought my Tele) - sounds awesome and sounds way louder than 40 watts!

Count me in !

I just won an auction on Ebay for some stupid price, and I can't wait to receive it!
I'm already considering making it "Moyer" modded by some amp tech.
I have no clue of the tubes' shape. If ever a new tube set was needed, would you have some advices to give about tubes I should put on, providing that I love a bright an chimey tone, like a Twin Reverb for instance?

I've got a mixed pair of Weber 10F150 and 10F150T speakers on the way for my CVR. I think Ted (RIP) was big on that combo and a good friend and amp tech friend of mine recommended that as optimal.
I think it's a good choice. Mine has a pair of Weber 10F150 and I will be happy to exchange one for a 10F150T, just like you.
What do you think of it, now you are used to it ?
What power did you choose (25 or 50 W)?

Thank you for your pics, I started to do the Moyer's mod and they can help me.

I've opened a french thread here :
http://www.guitariste.com/forums/amplification,fender-custom-vibrolux-reverb-et-vibroverb-63-ri-user-club,369619.html#7608217

I've been using mine over the others mostly for over a year. The output is down as compared to the Classic 50 and 65TRRI and this has been helping with the tinnitus - not as noticeable as it was when this CVR was upstairs and out of my way, and I was blasting the Big Boys.

The Hiss is a PIA, however. I just found a minty Super Reverb from late 2007-early 2008 and I'll be playing with it for a while and seeing what the Hiss maybe was covering up.

Got mine last week, :razz:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n113/shaker_au/asat3.jpg

I love my 96 model. I've only changed the tubes and did the Moyer mod for making the reverb deeper/wetter. It took a bit of trial/error to get the tubes I liked in it. JJ's for power and various old stock for the reverb and phase inverter.

It sounds great through the 2x12 cabinet I built that has Jensen C12N's in it. The combo of 2x10 alnico with 2x12 ceramic is nice (and LOUD). Almost all of my hiss went away with the tube tweaking, so before you do a bunch of mods you might not need to, try that first.

I use my "shark tank" to get all the reverb I need anyway... :cool:

Rock on!

Count me in too ! Got one about 6 years ago after using one in a friend's recording studio for a session. I particularly love the tremolo sound. It has that swampy tone that I had been craving for years... Not crazy about the early brakeup but I use it in my house for practice so I don't crank it too loud. I love that amp !

Picked one up yesterday off an old mate. can`t wait to gig it. sounds sweet, yet hiss is a bit more than i expected. :shock:

Count me in. Picked up a nice used '98 this past May, after wanting one for a long time. Mine doesn't hiss, and sounds great with all my guitars.

I have a '98 as well. Has the older (eminence?) blue alnico's in it. Performed the Moyer Mods some time ago. Great amp! Quiet as a mouse, very 'brown' fender sound.

kM

Count me in. Love it, Fell in love the first time I plugged in

This is one I've always wanted to try... I have heard more than once tho that it does seem to have more hiss than other Fenders? (I've heard the same thing about the SuperSonic, which I owned... it might have a LITTLE more hiss than normal, but nothing to get rid of the amp over.)

What kind of trem does this one have? Opto-coupler?

What kind of trem does this one have? Opto-coupler?

Bias-vary

Bias-vary

Excellent. Anybody know if it's using the power tubes or a preamp tube for the bias vary? (both kinds exist... Vibrochamp uses preamp tube, PR uses power tubes).

Also- I thought this amp was in the Blackface camp, but with reports of such early breakup, I'm beginning to wonder??

It uses the power tubes for the tremolo. You can watch them pulsate when the Intensity is turned up. The reason for the early breakup is that there is no negative feedback loop in this amp. This is also the reason it is a bit "hissy" compared to amps that have one.

Cool thread.

Is $600 a good price for a used CVR in good shape?

I'm thinking about selling my 1980 princeton reverb in favor of the vibrolux as I need a bit more volume. Will hate to see the princeton go though.

IMO, If you want Princeton Reverb clean, but louder I would keep the Princeton and run in into a 12" speaker. The CVR is awesome, but a very different beast.

I agree with the above. You shouldn't get rid of your Princeton! If you need more volume, disconnect its speaker and run it into an 8-ohm cab!

I have both, and they are different flavors for sure. You can probably score a used CVR for around 600. I believe thats about what I paid for mine used.

Its been the best gigging amp I've ever had. But the Princeton has been the best studio and small gig amp.

Cheers,
kM

Thanks for the informed responses! Now I'm going to have to find a way to be able to afford keeping the Princeton reverb and a CVR. I've got a mid 70's vibrochamp I could always sell to offset some of it I guess....

I think $600 is a good price for the CVR. After you perform the Meyers mods and add a bias pot is sounds like a $1200 amp. Even with the stock Jensens it sounds very, very good. Occasionally, I'll put some KT66s in mine making it sound sort of like an old Bassman or Marshall. BTW, if you don't perform the mods expect alot of hiss.

Just a follow up on my previous post..

i did half the moyer mods..reverb on one channel, ground reference resistors but left the negative feedback loop out.
played it at a practice and it was damned loud! I played it with a univox hi flyer with pretty hot single coil pickups and it was clean upto 7 and then it got into serious distortion!
My freind had a 1967 vibrolux and they sound similar but not the same as everyone has noted before. His had a nicer clean sound and sounded just awesome all the way from clean to dirty but didn't get nearly as loud as the reissue. His has the original jenson ceramics and for fun we pluged his 67 into my reissue with the jenson alnicos and there wasn't too much of a difference in sound between the 2 sets of speakers.

As for the reissue jensens in the reissue; they sure can't handle bass! I had to turn the bass all the way off otherwise it sounded like i was going to blow the speakers. Still sounded good though.

Anyways, I've since changed the r23 preamp gain resistor back to the stock 47k value instead of the 82k as per moyer. I want it to break up earlier so I'll see if that works.

i did swap out some of the stock sovtek gt preamp tubes and it did sound better as well I added a bias pot. the original bias had the stock white gt 6l6's set at about 23ma. They're now at about 44ma and it does sound a little warmer however I'm wondering if i should just bite the bullet and get some jj's or tung sol 6l6's in there. Any opinions on that one?

I've decided to keep the princeton reverb becuase it just sounds so damn good and so I'll have to sell the 74 vibro-champ and a bunch of pedals..something has to give!

I'd get some Tung-Sols to try out. Or if you wanna spend the cash, try some NOS tubage!

I stopped buying JJs altogether. Almost everyone I had from about '07 was noisy in some way. I had a 5U4GB that rang like a bell, a few 12AX7s that were bad and caused lot of nasty distortion and don't even get me started on the 6V6s and 6L6s - noisy, lots of mechanical springy sounds. Sound was okay, for the most part, but I can't live with that. Especially in a new tube. This is actually why I'm nervous about even buying the Tung-Sol RIs since they're made in Russia too. Nothing against Russia, but seems the quality is slipping. I'll have to try them out before I judge though. Sometimes you just get a few bad tubes here and there.

Your stock 6L6s are probably glowing red at 44ma (too hot). I set KT66s in this amp at about 44ma. However, the stock 6L6 Groove Tubes I replaced with Winged "C"s. They're set at about 23-25ma (still glowing blue). The Winged "C"s are very load and not very noisy. You can easily 10 the amp's volume and control the breakup with your guitar's volume pot.

Oops. I actually have the Winged "C"s bias at 35ma on this amp. The stock setting was at ~25ma before I made the mods.

Howdy! I picked one of these CVRs up for 5 hundred and I think it's a nice sounding amp...however...it will NOT break up no matter how loud you crank it. I asked him if it had been modded and he said it had better tubes and some other minor mod. I've read about all the moyer mods and I can attest that this amp does not display the improved verb (weak) and the vibe is very noisy (whoosh-whoosh) so I'm thinking it ain't the moyer deal. Anybody have one that WON'T break up? It is louder than hell and pedals might work OK but I really don't like pedals and was kind of looking forward to that early break up that these are supposed to be noted for. Thanks for the help!

Howdy! I picked one of these CVRs up for 5 hundred and I think it's a nice sounding amp...however...it will NOT break up no matter how loud you crank it. I asked him if it had been modded and he said it had better tubes and some other minor mod. I've read about all the moyer mods and I can attest that this amp does not display the improved verb (weak) and the vibe is very noisy (whoosh-whoosh) so I'm thinking it ain't the moyer deal. Anybody have one that WON'T break up? It is louder than hell and pedals might work OK but I really don't like pedals and was kind of looking forward to that early break up that these are supposed to be noted for. Thanks for the help!

That doesn't sound quite right to me. Where are you on the vol. dial?

Pre-moyer mods, mine broke up at 5-6. Which was still ridiculously loud for me in certain situations, but I could def. get some break up. Post-moyer mods it stay a little cleaner, but still breaks up.

If its had the full moyer mods, it should be quieter, a little more hi-fi sounding and have pretty wet sounding BF reverb. As you've probably read, the mods basically turn the CVR into a the Vibroverb RI amp.

kM

Thanks for the reply KM. I've tried volume all the way up on the amp and slowly bringing guitar volume up. I have actually gotten both full up and still had no real break up. I had read that break up could happen as early as 3-4 on a stock amp and that would be just great. If I had an ounce of electronics experience I might consider opening it up and just comparing a stock schematic to what I see...but with my lack of knowlage I'd be wise to take it into an amp guy.

This amp does have some hiss to it but really nothing I haven't heard before on most all amps I've played. I just went to check the tubes and the 6L6's are Svetlana. The fella I bought this from did say that the tube change really did have a good effect on making the amp quieter. I like the tone but I'm certainly thinking of doing all the moyer mods. Sure would be nice to hear some before and after clips on these CVR's!

Thanks for your input KM!

Bill Miller...KC MO

Bill,
You said someone performed some kind of 'mods'?

Can't quite say what might be going on without knowing what was done to it. Remember: SAFETY FIRST!!! Amps contain lethal voltages! I would not go poking around in your amp if you don't know what you're doing.

ok - now that the legal boiler plate is out of the way. ;) It might be in your best interest to take it in to a good tech for a check up and get back to stock if it is not. At the price you got it for, i could easily see dropping a hundred in having it all checked out. Could be why you got it for only 5 bills perhaps. I have a gut feeling someone modded it for more clean headroom and went too far. Not sure what would have been done to get that.

What kind of speakers are in there?

Any way to get us some sound clips?

here's mine..... along side my '72 SF Vibrolux Reverb

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/71084/dualVibroluxes56Tele.JPG

I'm in... just got this guy about a month ago. Bought it from Fantasy Studios in Berkeley CA. Clean as a whistle.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3779/cimg0545sg.jpg

hangin' with it's siblings...

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/4730/cimg0544h.jpg

Nice looking family you've got there!

I am about to purchase a CVR in excellent condition from a friend. Played it a a jam last night and liked the sound and touch sensitivity. Didn't notice hiss or something – in that situation. Switched it on in the apaprtment this morning and noticed the hiss. Annoying. Do you use your CVRs in the studio and how do you handle noise? or is it strictly a "gigging-amp"?
I had a Pro jr, a couple of years ago and had a technician perform some mods to get rid of the noise. He succeded, but this thing never sounded as good as it did before. Maybe the hiss is what you have to stand when you want that kind of open sound and sensitivity?

nosuch,

I usually suggest searching for "Moyer Mods". These steps are all over tdpri or other sites. It basically turns the CVR to a '63 Vibroverb RI and eliminates the hiss.

I've done this with great result - No Hiss. But it also changes the amp enough, I'm now thinking about a turning back some of the steps.

I would try swapping tubes first. Next I would try removing reverb on both channels. I think thats where most of the hiss problems comes in. Most two-channel fenders leave the normal channel without reverb. I added a negative feedback loop per the mod and thought it made the amp sound sterile, so I recently installed a pot in back to control a range of NFB.


I mainly use this amp for larger gigging situations.


kM

Thanks, you can count me in now, I bought the amp. It has just been serviced and got some new tubes. I've been told the touch sensitivity is due to the lack of the negative feedback loop and it was the reason why I prefered it over the deluxe reverb. Maybe I try to eliminate the reverb from the normal channel later (that wouldn't change the sound, right?) but for now I think I will just play it on gigs and enjoy myself.

Its all about what sounds good to you.

Removing reverb from the normal won't change the tone. It will also get rid of a lot of hiss. I added a pot for variable NFB dial it out if need be. I really like that about the stock CVR.

Yeah maybe I try that sometimes ... for now I think I leave it alone and just play it loud and proud.

btw. my eastman archtop sounds posh with the amp ... Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!

Count me as an "I".
I have thought of the partial Moyer mod, or the Frommel (which I think is basically a Moyer). I do like having both channels wet. It leaves you with basically two channels.

I did change the speakers. They just had no bass, too much highs. I replaced them with Eminence Rajin Cajun. HOLY CR@! It is a TOTALLY different amp now. Trying to refigure everything now. I can turn up the treble, turn down the bass, and turn up the volume to 4-5 and still be fairly clean. Just a touch of edge.

The first one I heard and played was at GC used with the blue frame eminence speakers. It was so so so so sweet. I hesitated on buying it. Finally decided to, and it was gone. It took me two years to find another one.

I think my Jensen P10R's where blown. They would break up at like 1 1/2-2. 3-4 was just full speaker distortion, 7 a mix. So I replaced them with the Rajin Cajuns.

I think my Jensen P10R's where blown. They would break up at like 1 1/2-2. 3-4 was just full speaker distortion, 7 a mix. So I replaced them with the Rajin Cajuns.

How do you like the Rajin Cajuns so far? How do they compare to the Jensens in your opinion?

I got mine several months ago. A 90s blonde/brown face version in excellent condition. It came with JJ tubes. I just put in an Eminence Ragin Cajun and Copperhead speakers and it sounds fabulous!

I was thinking of doing the Moyer mods, but I don't hear the hiss or hum many have complained about. The reverb does sound terrible though so I might do the mods related to the reverb and the bias pot.

How do you like the Rajin Cajuns so far? How do they compare to the Jensens in your opinion?

The mix of the Ragin Cajun and Copperhead speakers adds dimension/3-D to the sound. It is a very good combo. I have some Fender blue alnico speakers I'm going to try next.

I bought mine two years ago used for almost nothing. When I brought it home late at night and turned it on I woke up the whole neighborhood with the HISSSSS. So I started reading and did the Moyers mod and I have hardly turned it off since. I love it.

Hi i just got the Custom Vibrolux Reverb Reissue. Its a nice looking amp but my problem is the hiss and the reverb it dont have that surf wet sound can anything be done about it.

Yeah, there are some common mods known as the moyer mods which basically turn the amp into something close to a blackface vibrolux reverb.

Here is all the helpful info I've found on the Moyer Mods.

CVR SCHEMATIC
http://support.fender.com/schematics/guitar_amplifiers/Custom_Vibrolux_Reverb_schematic.pdf

MOYER MODS POST WITH SHOPPING LIST
See Attached PDF

DOCUMENTED MOYER MODS WITH PHOTOS
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/shock-brothers-diy-amps/191388-custom-vibrolux-reverb-mod.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

POST FROM SOMEONE WHO DID MODS BUT STILL HAD HUM
http://www.bossarea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5153

POST FROM SOMEONE WHO BASED SOME MODS ON THE POST BY MARK MOYER
http://archive.ampage.org/threads/1/open/003260/Custom_Vibrolux_Reverb_Mods-1.html

ANOTHER TAKE ON MOYER MODS
http://gretschpages.com/forum/other-amps/fender-custom-vibrolux-reverb-mark-moyer-mods/9699/page1/

CVR MODS THAT INCLUDE MOYER MODS
http://www.texasbluesroadhouse.com/group/gear_central/forum/topics/michaels-custom-vibrolux

Yeah, there are some common mods known as the moyer mods which basically turn the amp into something close to a blackface vibrolux reverb.

Actually the Moyer Mods turns the CVR into the '63 Vibroverb Reissue.

Actually the Moyer Mods turns the CVR into the '63 Vibroverb Reissue.

I'll buy another one when Fender gets it's act together and re-issues it as a real Vibrolux Reverb re-issue. One of the crappiest POS I've owned. They should be ashamed of themselves to use the Vibrolux name.

Hi does any one know were you can buy the parts for the moyer mods for my CVR

I would recommend Angela Instruments (angela.com).

You can probably get everything at Mouser.com too, but it's a lot to wade through.

Good luck!

Hi does any one know were you can buy the parts for the moyer mods for my CVR

Tube Depot has always been good to me as well. Pretty easy to find what you need.

I'd also recommend Tube Depot. I've bought something from everyone at one time or another! : )

Hi does any one know were you can buy the parts for the moyer mods for my CVR

I've been getting my stuff from Antique Electronic Supply (tubesandmore.com). I live in a neighboring state so shipping is fast.

OK I've tried many speakers in my CVR and I have finally found the speakers that fit this amp. This is the forth set of speakers I've tried in this amp. The best sounding so far out of Jensen P10Qs (in the amp when I got it), Eminence Ragin Cajun/Copperhead, and the original alinco's were the alnicos. The P10Qs come in second. The RC/CH sounded way too loud and the RC just seem to overpower the CH. I had an RC in a Pro Jr and that sounded good, but in every other amp I haven't liked them. I have high hopes for the WGS Veteran

I LOVE the WGS Veteran (http://wgs4.com/content/vet10)'s in the CVR. It has the sweetness/warmth of the original alnicos with more clarity and bass. Though I liked the original alnicos the best of the three sets of speakers I tried previously, the alnicos seemed a little muddy or muffled. The WGS Veteran's are perfect. I got them during the Cyber Monday sale at WGS and I am very pleased!!

p.s.
As I was writing this little review, my partner weighed in and said she liked the CVR the best [of all of my amps] because of those speakers. She is a photographer. :wink:

Here are several videos comparing different 10s in the CVR

Part 1 - Jensen Alnico vs Eminence Alnico
t8LxNw1l7UM

Part 2 - Jensen Alnico vs WGS Veteran
GnwrV4TKXdw

Part 3 - Jensen Alnico vs Vintage CTS Alnico
OFNWfBoKlHo

Let me breathe some life into this thread: count me in as well. Unfortunately no pics at hand but we know how it looks, right? :wink: Bought mine second hand about 5 months ago in 'as new' condition. Was slightly modded by a renowned Dutch amp tech. Not quite the Moyer mods (still has reverb on both channels, which I dig) but sort of analogous. Don't know if the Feedback mod was performed, still have to check that out, but it's nice and quiet. Mine has the stock alnico's and goes pretty loud!

Cleans are great: full and round with nice dynamics. Nicely balanced lows as well and enough mids to cut trhough the mix. The reverb sounds very sweet too. However, I don't really fancy the break-up. It's a bit of a dry raspy kind of drive, not the sweet overdrive I've heard some people pull out of this. It sort of stops singing once it has reached a certain threshold (and this is around 8-9 on the volume, so pretty d*mn loud!).

Any suggestions as to what might cause that? Would paring one alnico and one ceramic help? Still have to get a new set of power tubes, I think these might be the ones that came with it from the factory, so that very well might have something to do with it.

Welcome!

Although I'm not sure how your CVR was modded, I would wager to say the raspy break up at 8-10 on any amp is probably expected to some degree.

IMO, the smooth, sweet breakup occurs at a certain "sweet spot" - maybe closer to 5-7 on the dial, and then gets raspier. Not really much louder, but hairy-er, more aggressive and often raspier. Tweed deluxes are perfect at illustarting this point I think....

Anyone wanna wager in on this? My experience is limited as I've only had my CVR completely cranked a handful of times...its too loud to do that regularly. :)

Cheers,
kM

Thanks! :smile:

Well, in general I think you're right, however, mine is pretty much all clean until around 8 on the volume (from 7 to 8 I get some compression but hardly any breakup) and above that, or when I hit it pretty hard, it instantly goes from compressed clean to that raspy, harsh break up. That's also why I was thinking about the speakers: maybe it's speaker breakup of an almost clean signal, what I'm hearing, which usually doesn't sound so nice.

What are your thoughts on this?

Sounds odd. I would check your tubes first. A lot of times a bad tube will act like this. I don't think it the speakers. This behavior could also be a result of the mods done to this amp.

Could you let us know what work was performed on your amp?

Mine breaks up around 3.5-4. Sounds beautiful at that point and gets really distorted/compressed from that point.

I need some help. 2000 cvr that has sounded fabulous for 13 years. Bought it off a close friend who bought it new. Tubes started failing and the reverb now has a slight hiss when maxed. Nothing awful but new to me. When volume matches reverb the hiss goes away. Replaced all tubes and the amp sounds fantastic............just now with a slight hiss when reverb is cranked. I am content with simply letting it make noise but can I cause my amp harm?

The slight hiss won't hurt your amp any. I think it is pretty common for a little hiss when you really crank the reverb all the way up. The hiss on my reverb comes on much past half way. You don't really hear it when you are playing though, so no big deal. I wouldn't worry about it and just play it. If you have any spare preamp tubes, you can try swapping them into the reverb driver tube slot and see if it tames your hiss, but you'll probably always have a little when you've got it turned up real high.

Thank you. I certainly don't mind the hiss, it hasn't slowed or stopped me from playing the amp. It's just a new sound. I love this amp. I tweak and turn all sorts of knobs on my blues jr trying to find a good sound...or I just plug into the vibrolux. To my ear this amp does it all. And the used market on these are pretty reasonable. I don't know why these don't have a bigger following. Mine even has the blue speakers, not the jensens. Anyway love the amp.

Anyone have any experience with any overdrive pedals? Thinking about a paisley drive as that's more my alley. Played the pedal through a deluxe at the store but never through my amp.

The Blues Driver (BD-2) sounds good through my CVR and the Timmy is also very nice at pushing it into it's natural breakup even easier.

I've been using a lovepedal tchula lately - fat, transparent and dynamic sound.

Thank you for the replies. I'm looking to practice more at home with the cvr as I love the tone but volume is an issue. I love the breakup naturally with the amp. An attenuater maybe?

Count me in. I've had mine since around '05 or so (it's a '95 I think - black tolex)... I replaced the original blue frames with Weber Signature 10 Alnico's - tighter bass nice overall sound/breakup. While mine does have some hiss, it's not enough to bother me - especially in live situations. The main reason I don't get to use it all that much is that it's LOUD! That being said, in the right environment (where you can push it into "the zone"), it sounds fantastic.

Anybody has an idea if I can use this attentuator with the vibrolux? http://www.drzamps.com/products/brake_lite.html

it says it can be used with "any tube amp up to 45 watts and can be used with 4, 8, or 16, ohm loads."

Don't know what load the CVR has, I can read that I can use a minimum of 2 ohm speakers. anyway mine is all stock.

Count me in here!

I replaced the stock Jensen RI speakers with a pair of Webers. One 10A125 and one 10F150. This amp has such incredible tone. I wish I could play it in the breakup zone all the time, however it's WAY to darn loud! When I'm with the band I keep it around 1 on the dial and use pedals for my drive.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aAWZ0l5uK-Y/USgOZ5Wpi8I/AAAAAAAABJ4/pL5J5EPgFlc/s640/IMG_0905.JPG

This from an earlier post in this thread:

"and for fun we pluged his 67 into my reissue with the jenson alnicos and there wasn't too much of a difference in sound between the 2 sets of speakers...As for the reissue jensens in the reissue;..."

The CVR is not a re-issue! I'm sure it's been mentioned somewhere in this thread, but maybe it should be moved to the top or even the title!:smile:

Nosuch, I am also looking at the swart night light attenuator. I might have an opportunity to try it out beginning of next month. There is a very good YouTube video on the swart.