Blackface Vibrolux Reverb parts sourcing

[cacibi]

Yesterday I had the chance to play a real deal, Blackface Vibrolux Reverb.

By far - the best Fender amp I have ever played. And the reverb was sooooo good.

At any rate - I'm going to find out from a buddy exactly which year/circuit this one is and I want to start sourcing parts. I've seen boards, cabinets.....etc, I'm sure it's not a problem to get my hands on everything needed - but which chassis am I going to need? I don't see Vibrolux Reverb chassis being specifically advertised on some of the parts sits - so I'm assuming it's the same size and layout as a similar era amp? Super Reverb?

[bo 402]

It wouldn't be exactly the same chassis. That era BF Super had a middle control in the vibrato channel.

[ripper]

http://store.marshamps.com/product_i...roducts_id=479

Marsh Amplification makes a great chassis and proper face plates.

[BarryW]

I built one based on the Marsh chassis, its a great piece. I strongly suggest Dave Allens trannies.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by bo 402

It wouldn't be exactly the same chassis. That era BF Super had a middle control in the vibrato channel.

+1

Many Fenders were identical circuits simply with different speaker configurations.

I'd start with a BF Super kit. The speakers and the OT will probably need to be changed, but you'll be in the same ballpark - if not closer.

From there, only a few resistors and/or capacitors might need to be swapped (most probably the NF loop and other places).

[laird]

As far as blackface chassis go, the Deluxe Reverb is about 1/2" narrower and the Super Reverb is about 1/2" wider than the Vibrolux Reverb. Good things to know when looking for a chassis and cabinet.

Circuit-wise there are only two real differences between the Vibrolux and Super... the midrange pot on the vibrato channel and the much higher B+ in the preamp for more headroom. The Super has a slightly bigger power transformer and of course the bigger output transformer with a different impedance. Change out the two voltage-dropping resistors and turn the midrange pot to 6.8 and you have yourself a Vibrolux Reverb with nicer iron.

If I were building from scratch I'd do the Super Reverb chassis in a head cabinet, a PT with 125v inputs to keep the B+ reasonable and a multi-tap OT. I'd be tempted to make a high/low switch for the preamp voltage, switching between the 1k and 10k right after the choke. Then you got Super-like clarity or Vibrolux-like drive at the flip of a switch, able to plug into any speaker selection you like.

-Laird

[MeanGreenBlues]

Originally Posted by BarryW

I built one based on the Marsh chassis, its a great piece. I strongly suggest Dave Allens trannies.

The Allen/Heyboers are my favorites. Did my Vibroverb clone with a set.

[FiddlinJim]

cacibi,
I second getting a chassis with front/back plates plus fiberboard from Mike Marsh as a good place to start. If you've played both Vibrolux and Super and decided you really connected with the V'lux, then maybe you really don't want the additional PT and OT iron that the Super Reverb has. Just sayin' (man I hate it when people say "just sayin'").

I knew you were going to get to building amps at some point...

If you need anybody local to talk to about it, give me a ring.

Jim

[fstempleton]

For amp parts, including diagrams, try Mojo Musical Supply - www.mojotone.com. You might also want to check with Allen Amps, as he may have the chassis as well.
Good luck and happy holidays!
ST

[Bob Arbogast]

I built one recently. Chassis and faceplates from Marsh. Cabinet and many parts from Mojo. Transformers and many parts from David Allen. Beware: the Marsh chassis has a cutout for an AC receptacle: that receptacle alone will run you $20-25!

Here's mine.

Bob Arbogast

[FiddlinJim]

Bob, your wiring is, as always, a work of art. Fantasmic!

[chabby]

I love the VR too and it's always been my fav Fender. Portable and loud enough to play almost anywhere. Crystalline cleans and with the right speakers will OD nicely at low enough volume to enjoy its own organic fur. I used to run a pair of them off a Morley AB/Y box with just a cs9 compressor and a MXR Distortion+.

I had to sell them due to unenjoyment. Now I build and service them for others.
Have a blackface here as we speak and just finsihed a 63 brown Super...that may be now in a tie for my fav Fender. I replaced the speakers with Weber 10A125's and completely overhauled the amp and OMG!!!!! Fender heaven.

Good luck building yours and fee free to PM me if you have any questions I might help you with.

[Bob Arbogast]

Originally Posted by FiddlinJim

Bob, your wiring is, as always, a work of art. Fantasmic!

Jim:

Thanks for your kind comments.

It is such a great amp, too. Especially now with one Legend 1058 and one new C10Q.

Bob

[jdm61]

If you played a blackface Vibrolux and thought it was the best sounding Fender amp you had ever heard, I can guess that you plugged in a Tele. I used to have one and it loved my Nocaster and '52 RI but not much else, especially my Les Pauls when compare to my '57 Twin RI. Someone who knew a lot more about such things than I described the Vibrolux as the "ultimate Tele amp". As for the circuit, IIRC all blackface reverb amps from Deluxe on up are the AB763 circuit. The difference is power tubes, transformers (and their output impedance) and speakers.

[DavidP]

Beautiful build! I'm in the process of rebuilding a SFVR and have disconnected the old stock AC receptacle as it is not grounded even though there is a dummy ground socket hole. Can you completely ground the socket in yours??