Fender Vibrolux

**Bach5G** · 12-04-2023, 05:15 PM

I played trombone with a big band on the weekend. I was seated in front of the rhythm section, right in front of the bass, with the guitarist to my right.

The guitarist was playing a Squier thinline 335ish guitar through a Fender Vibrolux, which was sitting on the floor to his right.

I could hear him very well and he sounded great. Played excellent swing style when called for, together with some very tasteful comping behind the solos. No guitar solos, unfortunately.

Of course, 90% was this fellow’s chops, but the amp certainly caught my attention. I could hear it very well, not too loud, not too soft.

2x10’s. 40 watts. Heavy as hell, I expect. But it sounded great in that setting.

**rpjazzguitar** · 12-04-2023, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Bach5G

I played trombone with a big band on the weekend. I was seated in front of the rhythm section, right in front of the bass, with the guitarist to my right.

The guitarist was playing a Squier thinline 335ish guitar through a Fender Vibrolux, which was sitting on the floor to his right.

I could hear him very well and he sounded great. Played excellent swing style when called for, together with some very tasteful comping behind the solos. No guitar solos, unfortunately.

Of course, 90% was this fellow’s chops, but the amp certainly caught my attention. I could hear it very well, not too loud, not too soft.

2x10’s. 40 watts. Heavy as hell, I expect. But it sounded great in that setting.

One well known pro of my acquaintance says the Vibrolux is his favorite of all the Fenders.

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 12-04-2023, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

One well known pro of my acquaintance says the Vibrolux is his favorite of all the Fenders.

I agree with that. One of the absolute best sounding amps I've ever played through was a BF Vibrolux with a solid pine cabinet from the good old days. It belonged to a friend who had dozens of amps - but he would not sell this one to me. I had an original first year SF for many years that was also fantastic (although not quite up to the original BF). And I have a SF Vibrolux reissue in the backline at the club in which I play regularly that's also great. But the original BF pine cab amps were something very special.

**ThatRhythmMan** · 12-04-2023, 07:18 PM

This 1959 Tweed Vibrolux is one of my favorite amps of all time.

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**omphalopsychos** · 12-04-2023, 08:12 PM

OP Sounds like you're talking about the Black panel vibrolux right? That's my favorite amp right there.

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**andrew** · 12-05-2023, 01:05 AM

Definitely one of those "magic" amplifiers. Only the slightest bit larger/heavier than a Deluxe Reverb but with more headroom. And I've really come around to 10" speakers with archtops. If I could only have one amplifier, the Vibrolux Reverb is a very strong contender. The only knocks against it in my book are the unnecessary normal channel and the fact that I don't like its opto tremolo as much as the other flavors of Fender tremolo.

**wintermoon** · 12-05-2023, 01:24 AM

Posted this before but I'm recently back to using my '66 VR after many years of my '67 Twin.
Both amps have those magical brown/gold label Jensens Leo Fender was installing in those particular yrs., 10s in the VR and 12s in the Twin of course. 10s give a tighter more focused sound to my ears.
VR's have always been my favorite amp but I needed the juice of a Twin, especially unmiced for organ trio gigs which have been my main settings for nearly 30 yrs now. But I've been micing the VR and enjoy the hair you can get when you turn them up a bit.
It's funny, they're very popular now (and the high prices on the vintage market reflect that) but I remember a time when they were considered the black sheep (blackface?) amp in the Fender combo amp line, you couldn't give them away.
Now it seems that distinction goes to Pro Reverbs which were very popular back in the day, today not so much.

**omphalopsychos** · 12-05-2023, 10:39 AM

Mine came with some 70s oxfords (and a good number of spider eggs). I replaced them with some Jupiter speakers, one ceramic and one alnico. Perfect speakers for this amp. I also tried a combo of celestion gold and jbl. That pair sounded absolutely massive, definitely too much for the amp IMO.

**Woody Sound** · 12-05-2023, 12:23 PM

I had to borrow a Vibrolux BF for a big band concert one time. It was awesome, perfect. But yes, a little heavy for its size. I asked the guy if he would be willing to sell it. "Never."

**Woody Sound** · 12-05-2023, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan

This 1959 Tweed Vibrolux is one of my favorite amps of all time.

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Are those (1)x10"? Yes, no? I don't know what year they switched over to (2)x10"

**ThatRhythmMan** · 12-05-2023, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

Are those (1)x10"? Yes, no? I don't know what year they switched over to (2)x10"

Yes, these are 1x10 amps. They are much more portable than the blackface amp with the same name.

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**wintermoon** · 12-05-2023, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

Are those (1)x10"? Yes, no? I don't know what year they switched over to (2)x10"

The short lived '63 2X10 brown Vibroverb was the predecessor to the BFVR which was introduced in late '63 though production started in '64.

**andrew** · 12-05-2023, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Now it seems that distinction goes to Pro Reverbs which were very popular back in the day, today not so much.

Of the black panel amps with reverb, I'd agree with you, but there are several reverb-less options out there that are less desirable today.

Originally Posted by wintermoon

The short lived '63 2X10 brown Vibroverb was the predecessor to the BFVR which was introduced in late '63 though production started in '64.

Between the two of those was the 1x12 BF Vibrolux (non-reverb), which only ran from late 63 until late 64, when they added reverb and changed back to the 2x10 configuration.

**D'Aquisto Fan** · 12-05-2023, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by andrew

Of the black panel amps with reverb, I'd agree with you, but there are several reverb-less options out there that are less desirable today.

Between the two of those was the 1x12 BF Vibrolux (non-reverb), which only ran from late 63 until late 64, when they added reverb and changed back to the 2x10 configuration.

I've always felt if they had added reverb to the 1x12 BF Vibrolux with 6L6s, that could've been one of Fender's most popular and useful amps.

**andrew** · 12-05-2023, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by D'Aquisto Fan

I've always felt if they had added reverb to the 1x12 BF Vibrolux with 6L6s, that could've been one of Fender's most popular and useful amps.

I 100% agree with you. Furthermore, it would probably make the "ideal" jazz amp (provided you're into the BF Fender sound).

I'm into building my own amps and I just helped a friend of mine build something very similar to this concept. It was a Princeton Reverb cabinet & chassis, typical AB763 "vibrato" channel circuit, no tremolo, added dwell control and midrange controls, and bigger transformers. He put 5881s in it, but it could accept 6L6s also. The cabinet was cut for a 12" speaker, but after some experimentation he settled on a 10" cannabis rex instead.

**Alter** · 12-05-2023, 03:08 PM

My favorite ever sound has been a Fender Super Reverb, but, if one is young and can carry stuff

, i think the best gigging contenders for Fender are Vibrolux and Deluxe Reverb depending on whether you prefer 10s or 12s. Both sound fabulous, can do any type of gig, and for archtops 10s are great for gigging. Ultimately for me single coils = Deluxe Reverb, humbuckers = Vibrolux.