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Post subject: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 2:45 pm
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Any opinions on the 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb? I'm tempted but if anyone has one, or has played one, I'd value their view. I play in a 5 piece funk and soul band with quite a lively drummer so 35W seems about right for gigging. I currently use a Blues Deluxe Reissue (40W) and that's easily loud enough.

Anyway, let me know what you think - good or bad!


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 3:25 pm
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For funk and soul I'd think that the amp you already own is the better choice.

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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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2019 4:44 pm
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Thanks Arjay!


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:05 pm
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I've had the '68CVR for 3 years now, and I'm quite pleased with it. I got it for a good price as an open box amp, but received a sealed box amp, brand new. It is a very clean amp, and the bassman stack channel is very good with pedals. This amp is never going to break up at non-deafening volume levels, but I get very nice driven tones from Soul Food, Analog Man Silver Mod Tube Screamer, and OCD overdrive pedals. The reverb is very nice and I like that it's on both channels, unlike other Fender amps. The speakers get panned by everybody, but I just replaced them with a pair of new Warehouse G10C's. The stock speakers got real muddy with a driven multi-note chord, but the new speakers are much cleaner - you can hear the individual notes even with a gain pedal. But being more efficient, the amp is louder. I've been wondering if the level of background white noise (with no input) is optimal. It's not bad - I play at volume level 2 in my house - but I can tell the amp is turned on. On the other hand, every tube amp is going to have some background white noise, however minimal. At any rate, I decided to replace V1 through V4 with higher quality tubes from KCA NOS Tubes. I replaced the 12AX7's in V1 and V2 with the JAN GE 5751. That tube has less gain and is said to not be quite as harsh as the 12AX7, and I thought they might reduce the amp's gain a bit (it is pretty loud as would be any 35-watt tube amp in the bedroom). Then I replaced the 12AT7 in V3 with a Mullard CV4024, and the 12AX7 in V4 with a high-end JAN GE 12AX7WA. These tubes did not reduce the gain, but they did reduce the background white noise slightly. So I'm happy. I had put the 68CVR out on Reverb to sell and was going to buy a hand-wired boutique amp, but then I decided I probably couldn't do any better than the CVR without spending a LOT more money, so I cancelled the ad and replaced the tubes and speakers. Bottom line: I think it's a hard amp to beat. For the money I've got in it, I could probably buy a used higher-end boutique amp, but I don't think that would give me any better sound than I've got now.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:14 pm
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If you've got that amp dialed in as far as overall tone and S/N ratio, I think it doesn't get any better than that. Keep it and play the hell out of it.

Rawk on!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2019 4:33 pm
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I own this amp and also a Hotrod. I like the amp even with the stock speakers. I am just a hobbyist though. Volume wise it will be similar to what you have already. Dual tens is a pretty cool concept. A mini twin. Tight bass. Ultra portable but loud as _hit. You won’t need to mike it ha ha.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 3:39 am
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Thanks, Tone Chaser. I'm still interested, so I'll need to find a local music shop that has one in stock that I can try out.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Dec 25, 2019 1:23 pm
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If you follow Steve In Concord's lead, you might end up with a pretty fine piece of gear.

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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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2020 7:04 pm
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I'm interested in the clean no breakup headroom of the 68 cvr as well. I had a bf cvr ri and it broke up pretty early. I have a 68 Cdr ri now and it does very good I've just always had a thing for the 10's.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:24 pm
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So here's my take. I have owned the 68 custom vibrolux for about a year and a half. I have recorded with it, played a bunch of shows in all sorts of spaces etc. I play surf rock. Before the vibrolux I was played a vintage 1968 deluxe reverb. I loved it. the tone was amazing, but at times it just wasn't loud enough. So looking into amps that break up I figured the Vibrolux was the next step up that would solve all my problems.

I picked up a custom Vibrolux at a good price. I hooked it up and began to play at practice. It sounded decent. Definitely different than my DR, but not terrible. After a little while I started to get used to it. I didn't think it was that bad. Until I went back and played my DR again. I thought oh my god the highs are so clean and chimey. The reverb is so drippy. The break up sounds so amazing.

So I decided to get an actual vintage Vibrolux. I hooked up recently with a 67 Vibrolux blackface. I did a side by side amp to amp test. I set the settings exactly the same. Here were the differences I noticed:

The 68 custom was a lot lower volume wise than the 67.
The clean tone sounded very flat and processed compared to the glory of the 67.
The reverb on the 68 custom sounds good, but it sounds more wide and stereo if that makes sense. It lacks that drippy reverb though found in the 67.
There was a lot of hiss that I never noticed coming from the 68 custom that wasn't there in the 67 if you can believe it.
The breakup in the 68 custom seems to have some compression on it or something. The 67 seems unchained where there is no cap on how raunchy it can get.

So for me, as everyone always says, there is no substitute for the earlier vintage models. If you are particular about tone like me I wouldn't recommend it. The only way you will know for sure is to play one and see for yourself.

I know some of this isn't what you were asking but I figured some of my info could be helpful.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:30 pm
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The hiss and the "processed" clean tone are part and parcel of the '68 CVR due to the altered negative feedback loop and changes from the traditional Fender tone stack. Some folks can live with it, others (like you and I) won't. I have a '66 VR and it arrived with its original pair of Fender-marked Jensen C10NS speakers. The tone is absolutely stunning, clean or when pedal-enhanced. For pure sparkle or absolute grunt, it's hard to beat. But as Steve In Concord can attest, with some creative tube rolling and different speakers the CVR can produce some nice tones.

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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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 9:08 am
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That's good to hear with the Jensens. Mine has the old Oxfords in it. They sound awesome. I was thinking of getting new speakers for the 68 custom but decided to hold out for a vintage VR. The 68 custom will be my solid back up now in the event the 67 has problems.


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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:35 am
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If you're a working pro (as I was), having a backup amp is prudent. I'm so glad I wised up and switched from JBL-equipped Twin Reverbs to lighter platforms. The heaviest rig I'm comfortable toting around now is my '64 Vibroverb.

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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Post subject: Re: 68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2020 12:26 pm
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I'm coming from the metal/prog scene where I was lugging around a mesa triple rectifier head and 4 x 12 cab. I started playing surf rock and I was trying to do it on the same amp. I never liked the sound of that amp anyways even for metal, and I thought man I need to get a different amp.

That's when my dad said hey you can have my old 68 deluxe reverb. That will sound good for surf! And here we are. It is great not lugging around a half stack anymore.


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