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Post subject: 1965 Vibroberb Help!
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:05 am
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I inherited this amp from my dad. I don't know if it's '64 or '65. Dad bought it new then. Yes it works. I'd really like to know more about it. Can someone help with some info? I really would appreciate it. I also have his Model 6189, 16" electric cutaway, 2pu, Gretsch guitar, YES bought at the Gretsch guitar company in Brooklyn in the 50's when he lived there. The bridge has a small crack in it and would like to get it fixed but could not give this task to just ANYBODY. Any suggestions?? Thanks


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Post subject: Re: 1965 Vibroberb Help!
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:00 pm
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gotdads65amp wrote:
I inherited this amp from my dad. I don't know if it's '64 or '65. Dad bought it new then. Yes it works. I'd really like to know more about it. Can someone help with some info? I really would appreciate it. I also have his Model 6189, 16" electric cutaway, 2pu, Gretsch guitar, YES bought at the Gretsch guitar company in Brooklyn in the 50's when he lived there. The bridge has a small crack in it and would like to get it fixed but could not give this task to just ANYBODY. Any suggestions?? Thanks


Fender introduced the blackface Vibroverb amp in the same 1964-1965 catalog that presented the Super Reverb. The Vibroverb was closely related to the Super Reverb, containing the same electronics (wattage, controls, fifteen tube performance) and cosmetics, differing primarily in the use of a single 15-inch speaker instead of four 10s. Stevie Ray Vaughan alternated between blackface Vibroverbs and Super Reverbs throughout his career.

The Viking was second only to the White Falcon in the 1964 Gretsch lineup. Fittings and finish on the 17-inch guitars were the best Gretsch could offer, and it came complete with a full complement of the unusual Gretsch offerings of the day, such as the "Floating Sound" unit and "T-zone tempered treble" upper frets.

Vikings were offered in 6187 (sunburst), 6188 (natural) and 6189 (Cadillac Green) variants, with the 6187 being the most common, and the 6189 being the rarest.

SuperTron pickups were also standard on all Vikings. It was the first guitar to feature them.

With gadgets being the Vikings main claim to fame, of course Balwin began dropping them. By the early 70s, there was little to distinguish the Viking from a Country Club. For 1973, the Viking was re-designated 7585 (sunburst) and 7586 (natural), and then it was unceremoniously dropped from the lineup for 1974.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:39 am
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Cool!! I got a '64 Vibroverb for $50 recently from someone who gave up playing--they're selling from $2-6000 these days. Great sounding 35-watt amp with a lot of tonal variety. The two-pronged plug that looks at home on an old Hoover vacuum cleaner is original. Speaker may be Jensen, JBL or CTS. Some people swap the transformer out for one found in Bandmasters (SRV did this) but I would keep it original.


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Post subject: Thanks for writing back!!!!
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:22 am
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You REALLY got a deal buying that for $50 bucks. I know what they're worth now. I hear you about the plug...I thought my dad did replace it with a vacuum plug since that's what it looks like. He passed a few years ago and the amp was working. About a year ago I replaced all the tubes (no small or cheap feat) for that matter. Found most of the tubes at a local Guitar Center but did have to send away for a couple. The speaker is sounding kind of "twangy" now so I'm wondering if it needs to be replaced. I'd like to keep as "original" as possible so I guess that would mean another big speaker. I need to look into replacing it as well. I cleaned it all up and it looks really good. Any ideas for the speaker?? Look forward to hearing from you...


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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:58 pm
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Have the original re-coned, even if you chose to relplace it. For me, I'd re-cone. My 2 cents :!:

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Post subject: Thanks!
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:42 am
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Thanks Cherokee747 for the advice. I will look into having it reconed. I do appreciate your "2 cents".


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