Vibroverb vs. Deluxe Reverb?

[Dacious]

a deluxe (low 20s watt wise) is not much louder than a princeton reverb (around 18 watts). all that really equates to with the PI type and beefier iron is a minor increase in headroom. especially with the 12" and the cab it's mostly a timbral thing at that point. to me it's subtle enough that it doesn't make much sense to own both, just the one you like better (i prefer the PI type on the princeton, but to run it through a 12).

if you really do need more power, look at a vibrolux or a pro. basically the same as the DR preamp but with 6L6s and different iron for more power. the vibrolux is 2x10, the pro comes in both 1x15 and 2x12. the iron/voltages are different between them, and some people make a big stink about this, but in practical application it's probably not going to make as much of a difference to you as the speaker config and cab voicing.

keep in mind though those are LOUD. unless you have the opportunity to play loud unmic'ed stuff (like punk, DIY gigs), you're never going to be able to turn them up to grind. so if your PR is already doing it for you, i would suggest maybe getting a head cabinet for it, keeping the original combo cab as one speaker cab, and then getting another speaker cab (1x12, 2x12, 1x15, etc), maybe with higher efficiency/multiple speakers, to change things up.

A DR is 18 watts on a good day if it's healthy, but it's much louder than any Princeton which is 12 on a good day through a 10" speaker. Aside from the bigger transformers and much more clean power the cathodyne phase inverter of the PR has lower gain than the dual triode inverter of the DR.

I'd say a DR is also louder than the 63 Vibroverb through its original 'Oxford' speakers which aren't efficient. If you fit louder speakers like Emi Legends to this VV it can live with a stock DR easily but they can be muddy and middy IMO. They make a great jazz amp..

The 64 Vibroverb is a handwired single 15"which would kick the others to the kerb. I think the stock speaker on these was an Emi similar to a Legend, which is Emi's take on a EV. Massive transformers compared to the DR and 63 VV.

 

[gridlock]

A Deluxe Reverb is 22 watts, 1x12, 6V6 powered and is tube rectified.

A ‘63 Vibroverb RI is 35 watts, 2x10, 6L6 powered, and is not tube rectified.

Both are great sounding amps, the Vibroverb is a little warmer sounding than the Deluxe Reverb.

 

[Durvoid]

I owned a DRRI for 10+ years and now own a 63 VV reproduction.

You can get a VV reproduction hand-wired for much less than the HW DR.
The DRRI sounded thin below 2.5 on the vol, and did not take drive pedals well at that volume. On stage, I couldn't get up past 3 without the other guitarist (playing a Mig50) yelling at me. The VV sounds full at any volume, but it is really loud. Mine is about the same weight as my DRRI.
The reverb and tremolo on the VV are much better sounding (to me) than on the DRRI. The VV has mid tones, the DRRI is about as scooped as you can get.

I had to get a tweed and Brownface amp to make me realize that I am a Brown/Tweed guy and not really that into the blackface sound. I always wanted an OD engaged for some sparkle and grit with my DRRI base tone; the VV base tone is full sounding with much more harmonic content, and I love playing straight in. I found the best tone was between 6-7 on the VV, but my guitar volume is at a very low level. If I still had my DRRI, I would playing that way instead of diming the guitar volume at 2.5 amp volume.

I love my VV (obviously), but if you like Blackface sounds better, go DRRI; if you like Brownface sounds go VV. If you have not spent time with a big bottle Brownface, you really need to try one to make an informed decision.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

a deluxe (low 20s watt wise) is not much louder than a princeton reverb (around 18 watts)...

The OP was talking about a non-reverb Princeton.
A Princeton Reverb will be a lot louder/more prominent than that - and a Deluxe Reverb will, again, be louder/tighter with better/stronger overdrive than a PR.

cheers - 68.

 

[tele_pathic]

Have you thought about or looked at the '68 Pro Reverb RI? It's the complete package!

 

[archetype]

Although not a Vibro-VERB, there's also a white knob Vibro-LUX from the mid '90s to early 2010s. I had one and they sound really good. They're 40 watts with 2x10" speakers, a swampy tremelo and lush spring reverb. These seem to fly under the radar and you can usually find them for good prices. I coulda, shoulda, wouda never sold it, but live and learn I guess.

View attachment 1068536

Fender "Custom" Vibrolux Reverb 40-Watt 2x10" Guitar Combo 1995 - 2013 | Reverb

Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb for sale on Reverb.

reverb.com

Right. That's what @David Barnett was talking about, above. Despite the name, it's not a Vibrolux and is a '63 Vibroverb RI with different cosmetics and speakers. Apparently, Fender thought we'd prefer a noisier, trashier VVRI, so it doesn't have global NFB. It has different values for a few small components and is easy to mod to a VVRI.

 

[loopfinding]

Hi!

The OP was talking about a non-reverb Princeton.
A Princeton Reverb will be a lot louder/more prominent than that - and a Deluxe Reverb will, again, be louder/tighter with better/stronger overdrive than a PR.

cheers - 68.

oh my bad, i thought he was just talking shorthand about a PR.

still, it's the power amp that dictates power, the extra preamp gain in the PR is just going to hit a ceiling at a certain point with the PI anyway. going from either princeton to a DR is more of a response/tone thing and the headroom increase would be minimal (less dB than just getting a more efficient speaker).

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Which Vibroverb are we talking about?

1964 Reissue?

Or 1963 Reissue?

I have a friend ( more a collector now than player)
that has BOTH Vibroverb RI's!
He has a fantastic Fender (and other) amp assortment, but most in storage.
The '63 Vibroverb RI gets used at his home BBQ jams

 

[David Barnett]

A DR is 18 watts on a good day if it's healthy, but it's much louder than any Princeton which is 12 on a good day through a 10" speaker. Aside from the bigger transformers and much more clean power the cathodyne phase inverter of the PR has lower gain than the dual triode inverter of the DR.

When you close the feedback loop the Princeton's power amp has more gain than the Deluxe. Look at the feedback loop values - 2700/47 for the Princeton Reverb, and 820/47 for the Deluxe Reverb. The Deluxe has more feedback.

Either phase inverter design can swing enough volts to clip a p-p pair of 6V6s.