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Post subject: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one?
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:05 pm
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This may be the amp I want for my ES-335. I read reviews that rave over it, but I don't trust the integrity of online statements. If you have one, or have played through one (preferably with humbuckers) let me know what you think.

I currently have a DRRI, a Jazzmaster Ultralight, a Band-master VM with a Weber Ceramic California 15, and a Blues Jr NOS. Anyone who can provide comparisons will earn my gratitude. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:07 pm
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If you're talking about the Vibrolux Custom, I didn't like it. I found the hiss pretty annoying. I had an original 65 Blackface Vibrolux Reverb and loved the amp. Some scumbag stole it way back from my apartment. I really miss that amp. IMO, the Custom really doesn't capture the magic of the original at all. You would need to try one out yourself and not rely on mine or anyone else's opinion of the amp.

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:51 pm
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It'll be worth the drive to Amarillo/GC to play one yourself.Then there are no disappointments...Good luck................. 8) Mike

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:26 pm
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cherokee747 wrote:
It'll be worth the drive to Amarillo/GC to play one yourself.Then there are no disappointments...Good luck................. 8) Mike


Perhaps not. My mileage chart says Amarillo is 515 miles NW from here.

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:33 pm
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I loathe the import Jensen re-issues in this amp -- they lack soul and sound raspy, even after several weeks' break-in. Those I know who have kept these amps after buying them say they are an "acquired taste" and are very tempermental with regards to stompboxes and pedals. I don't own one and surely never will but I have played them and IMO they sound nothing like the original '66 I once had.

Try before you buy......that's about the best advice I can offer.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:02 am
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Yep, I never understood why FMIC always needs to fix, modify, modernize, digitize and molest amp designs that were never broken to begin with. The whole VM series saddens me. They took the Champs, Bandmaster and deluxe amps and cheapened them with digital effects and polluted the pure tube signal chain. If they made a reissue of these amps without the DSP or modified circuits, I'd jump all over them and start a new collection. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:57 am
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63supro wrote:
If they made a reissue of these amps without the DSP or modified circuits, I'd jump all over them and start a new collection. :wink:


+1!

If FMIC offered a re-issue Vibrolux Reverb in silverface drip-edge cosmetics I'd be on it quicker than Bill Clinton at a Girl Scout jamboree!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 11:07 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
63supro wrote:
If they made a reissue of these amps without the DSP or modified circuits, I'd jump all over them and start a new collection. :wink:


+1!

If FMIC offered a re-issue Vibrolux Reverb in silverface drip-edge cosmetics I'd be on it quicker than Bill Clinton at a Girl Scout jamboree!

:mrgreen:

Arjay


LMAO :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:26 pm
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Thanks to all. I'll wait until I have a chance to try one. It doesn't sound like the Vibrolux has anything one of the Fenders I already own lacks. I'm still tempted to put my DRRI head in a 15" combo box....

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:38 pm
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The Vibrolux Reverb is currently one of the amps people love to hate. I don't know if that's because it isn't a true reissue, or because it breaks up sooner and with more authority than a DRRI, but a lot of guys (who don't have one) don't like the CVR. The first time I played mine, I knew I had to have it. I have never played another amp that affected me in the same way. The early break-up, while maintaining definition, was something I'd only dreamed about. I play single-coils (Strats and p-90's) as well as humbuckers through the amp, and it responds well to everything.
I'll tell you what I don't like about the CVR, too. It's too loud for any kind of apartment situation. The reverb is pretty weak, when compared to the classic blackface standard. The hiss you may have heard about is definitely there, and it's definitely annoying, but you can't hear it at playing volume, trust me.
All that being said, I would highly recommend that you try one. It's an amp that not a lot of guys are playing through, so it can help you stand out from the crowd. But the bottom line for me was the tone. Just remember this, even though it has blackface cosmetics, the tone of the CVR has very little in common with those legendary amps. It's somewhere between tweed and brown/blonde, but with the tight bottom end of the blackfaces.
In short, if you're a tweed guy, you may end up loving the CVR, but if you're one of the hardcore blackface guys, you should definitely pass. The CVR has a greasy snarl that that may scare you, lol.

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:01 am
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I like my vibrolux. I was concern about the hiss/noise, but don't hear it while playing. Best to check one out yourself, good luck.

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:01 pm
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The Custom Vibrolux Reverb (CVR) is a decent amp let down by Fender's "one size must fit all" marketing/design approach. The majority of Fender amps are bought and used by non-pros for home use only. Therefore most of the amps are designed to sound OK at room sound levels, have a low volume sweet spot and break up too early. The CVR complies with this, plus it has audible hiss, weak reverb and reverb on BOTH channels, unlike the earlier, 'Lux, 'Verb amps, which had verb on one channel only, all of which are well discussed on the web. The CVR design is attributable (IMHO) to Fender's "one size must fit all" policy. I own a CVR and have found the hiss annoying, and the early breakup at gig volumes, lack of clean headroom and weak reverb intolerable.

But I like the amp for many reasons, it looks cool, 2 x 10s better that 1 x12 (the Jensen re-issues can be improved) AND, most importantly the amp can be modded cheaply with proprietary part kits (eg: Fromel Supreme kit) and hey presto, your lacklustre CVR will be transformed into a beautiful sounding amp - with NO hiss, a good non-verb Channel 1, and a fabulous sounding Channel 2 with clean, clean CLEAN headroom and glorious classic Fender reverb. Why the hell Fender doesn't issue the amp in this format, beats me, but then again - it doesn't! Buy a CVR, but get it modded, you will smile every time you plug in.


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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:53 pm
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I wish FMIC would reintroduce the blonde/wheatstraw cosmetics!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:45 pm
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shadowgrass3 wrote:
The Vibrolux Reverb is currently one of the amps people love to hate. I don't know if that's because it isn't a true reissue, or because it breaks up sooner and with more authority than a DRRI, but a lot of guys (who don't have one) don't like the CVR. The first time I played mine, I knew I had to have it. I have never played another amp that affected me in the same way. The early break-up, while maintaining definition, was something I'd only dreamed about. I play single-coils (Strats and p-90's) as well as humbuckers through the amp, and it responds well to everything.
I'll tell you what I don't like about the CVR, too. It's too loud for any kind of apartment situation. The reverb is pretty weak, when compared to the classic blackface standard. The hiss you may have heard about is definitely there, and it's definitely annoying, but you can't hear it at playing volume, trust me.
All that being said, I would highly recommend that you try one. It's an amp that not a lot of guys are playing through, so it can help you stand out from the crowd. But the bottom line for me was the tone. Just remember this, even though it has blackface cosmetics, the tone of the CVR has very little in common with those legendary amps. It's somewhere between tweed and brown/blonde, but with the tight bottom end of the blackfaces.
In short, if you're a tweed guy, you may end up loving the CVR, but if you're one of the hardcore blackface guys, you should definitely pass. The CVR has a greasy snarl that that may scare you, lol.


Couldn't have said it better myself.

Ok, I've had a Custom Vibrolux Reverb for oh, about two weeks now. I also own an SRRI and a 73 Champ. As Shadowgrass has already mentioned, the CVR is NOT a reissue, nor is it a Blackface amp (nor is it trying to be). It has very little clean headroom, and sure, the reverb is not nearly as splashy as my SRRI, but it's there, and I find Fender's BF reverb can be overwhelming on high settings anyway. The CVR is a different animal, and is incredibly versatile in the sounds you can get.
I did an A/B against a DRRI in the store, and they sound nothing alike. DRRI was clean, chimey and sparkly. The CVR has a punchy low end and gets growly really quick. Yes, it has some background hiss, but I think guys online blow it WAY out of proportion. It's like a bit of white noise type hiss - not overpowering. I only really notice it when I'm a) not playing, and b) standing 2 feet in front of the amp. There are a few key differences with the CVR:
1. No negative feedback loop. This is why it a) hisses, and b) breaks up early. Fender designed it this way on purpose so it sounds like it does.
2. Reverb and Tremolo on both channels. I'm not an electronics person, but I've read this connection is how both amp channels are IN phase and therefore you can jumper the inputs. It does lead to the weaker reverb sound, but unless you're in a Dick Dale cover band, I can't see the issue.

Anyway, the thing to keep in mind (that a lot of guys online seem to forget) is that the CVR is NOT a reissue, and it is not a Blackface amp. You either like it for what it is, or you don't. Some are expecting it to sound like a 65 Vibrolux - and those are the guys who immediately set out to do the mods that undo the "Custom" part of the amp's circuit.

Personally, I love it. I would not however recommend anyone buy this amp sight unseen (or unheard) from an online music retailer. You need to hear this one for yourself to know whether it's your bag or not. To me, I don't want a bunch of the same amp in varying sizes, so I've got my SRRI for BF clean/reverb, my Champ for recording, and my CVR for other dirty awesome tones.

As much griping as you read about these amps online, Fender must be selling a bunch because they've been in the line up in this configuration for over 15 years now.

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Last edited by Powdered Toast Man on Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Vibrolux - anyone care to talk me into/out of buying one
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:47 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
I wish FMIC would reintroduce the blonde/wheatstraw cosmetics!

Arjay


I 100% agree. Or at least some other combination of cosmetics that set it apart more than just cream knobs. I think what started the confusion and the negative reaction to the CVR is that it looks like a BF reissue and a lot of guys are expecting a 65 Vibrolux when they get it. It sounds more like a cross between a Tweed and a Brown so dress it in the appropriate clothing.

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