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Post subject: My ''new'' vibrolux reverb silverface
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:03 pm
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Hi!

I just bought the old amp of my uncle this week. It is a Fender Vibrolux Reverb silverface 1973. I do not have it yet (I'll be the proud owner of this amp on november 26th).

It is modified to ''sound like'' a blackface, the original speakers have been rebuilt, the power light is missing and the tremolo channel seems to be dead (I was told it was a bad solder and something easy to fix for an expert). Otherwise, this amp is in good shape!

I paid it 350$. Very good deal? Good deal? Bad deal? I can't wait to have it!

As soon as I a have it, I'll post some pics so you'll be able to tell me your opinion.


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Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:23 pm
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Great deal, Tomyyy!

Find a qualified tech and turn him loose on it.

The VR is one of the finest club amps ever made.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: My ''new'' vibrolux reverb silverface
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:21 am
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Tomyyy wrote:
Hi!

I just bought the old amp of my uncle this week. It is a Fender Vibrolux Reverb silverface 1973. I do not have it yet (I'll be the proud owner of this amp on november 26th).

It is modified to ''sound like'' a blackface, the original speakers have been rebuilt, the power light is missing and the tremolo channel seems to be dead (I was told it was a bad solder and something easy to fix for an expert). Otherwise, this amp is in good shape!

I paid it 350$. Very good deal? Good deal? Bad deal? I can't wait to have it!

As soon as I a have it, I'll post some pics so you'll be able to tell me your opinion.


GREAT Deal!!! Small problems for a good tech and a GREAT amp!

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Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:33 am
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great deal,and like Arjay and Mike said,let a good tech fix it and you will have a great club amp,.......I've always liked the Vibrolux amp.


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Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:38 am
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Pics laddie, or it didn't happen!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:49 pm
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As I said

Quote:
I'll be the proud owner of this amp on november 26th


I'll post pics this week end.


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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:14 pm
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Ok, here are the pics of my amp!

Here are the modifications (no good mods to me...)

-There's no reverb tank
-Three holes in the back (I took off the pots and the 3pdt switch cuz the wires inside were already cut!)
-Two holes in the front (?!?!?!)
-The ON/OFF and Standby switches are not there anymore... but there's a ON/OFF switch on the front ( :x )
-The wires of the reverb input have been cut

Please note that the clean is awesome! I do not have the footswitch but I think that the vibrato is working.

I want to know:

-How can I ''repair'' the reverb fonction? Wich reverb tank do I have to buy?
-I want to put back the ON/OFF and Standby switches. Wiring diagram?

Image

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Image

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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 7:01 pm
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I hope whomever performed the mods on that amp now works for Hormel......

......BECAUSE HE IS ONE HELLUVA BUTCHER!

:evil: :evil: :evil:

I guessing it's a late 70's model by 40-watt output, removable grill frame, and the cloth color. Ampwares should have the schem for that amp on file (if the site is up and running again) but owing to the amount of damage done I think you'll be better served by finding a qualified amp tech and letting him straighten the mess out. You're stuck with the unauthorized holes in the rear of the chassis but it might be possible to find a replacement silverface front panel and thus conceal the vandalism there. A blackface panel might be easier to locate though. Accutronics makes the correct six-spring tank to restore the reverb. You'll also need the bag for the tank too (I've seen them both available on Ebay).

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:44 pm
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I found a great schematic. I think it would be easy to repair the damages (not myself... but for a tech).

About the reverb, do I need something else than the reverb tank, wires and the foot switch to make it works?

Here is the schematic. Everything is the same, except for the black wire wich goes to the fuse. Mine is yellow... There's 10 wires from the transfo, just like on my amp. All colors are the same but this yellow one.

Image


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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:09 am
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Tomyyy wrote:
About the reverb, do I need something else than the reverb tank, wires and the foot switch to make it works?


Barring any further as-yet-undiscovered blasphemy, that should do it. You don't actually need the footswitch to engage the reverb circuit (a switch or a shorting plug is required to fire the tremelo however).

That schem is not precisely the one used for your amp but in most respects it should allow a competent tech to proceed. There may be minor variations in the bias balance circuit and a few additional isolation caps in the output stage.

Best of luck, HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:20 am
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I have a 1977 Vibrolux Reverb and I do some Blackface mods, maybe I can help you ?
Image
Image


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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:05 am
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Quote:
I have a 1977 Vibrolux Reverb and I do some Blackface mods, maybe I can help you ?


Well I just want it to be back to a ''normal'' silverface for the moment, but thanks.

Quote:
That schem is not precisely the one used for your amp but in most respects it should allow a competent tech to proceed


You're right Arjay, thank you!

I'll give some news as soon as I can!


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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:49 pm
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Hi Tom, looks like your amp has some real scars. It can be brought up to a good level, but labor(tech) will be crucial. A reverb tank(4AB3CB1B), new faceplate, replacing the two switches and plugging the holes on the rear of the chassis is all easily done. But undoing the mods and returning the circuits to SF or even BF specs will be labor intensive. My guess is that someone used the reverb circuit as a high gain stage. Hopefully the reverb trans was left untouched. Anyway, get that amp into a tech. My main concern is a red wire running off the pilot bulb socket. That wire must be removed or at least tapped off, if one end is flying free ! Art

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