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Post subject: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux???
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:39 pm
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hey everybody, i just bought a brand new fender vibrolux... and i really love it. I am a professional working musician. so i really take a lot pride in my gear and my tone. anyway i decided to go with the vibrolux because a loved the way it sounded especially when its clean!! but in some of my recent gigs i have been having to play bigger rooms and in result been having to play at loader volumes. So my amp has been forced to break up when i don't want it to. I cant afford to buy a mic for it right now but i can afford to buy some tubes for it. I know there are some other threads out there on this same topic but my i didnt get some of my questions answered. I need to know what tubes to put in the vibrolux to get more clean headroom. I don't know a lot about this kind of stuff so some guidance would be much appreciated. I also cant afford to get any mods done or buy new speakers. I have heard that the Groove Tube 12AT7 work but i wanted some other opinions. I dont like a super bright sound. I like a warm creamy smooth sound. I play a strat if that helos any... anyway i am new to this forum so thought this might be a good way to say hello.
thanks a lot.


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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:43 pm
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You'll get a more dramatic increase in cleans from the amp by reconfiguring the NFB loop than by rolling any tubes.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:49 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You'll get a more dramatic increase in cleans from the amp by reconfiguring the NFB loop than by rolling any tubes.

Arjay


But then you run the risk of it not sounding like a CVR, no? Lack of NFB is what makes amps like the CVR and VK sound they way they do...


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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:52 pm
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I risk nothing.

The OP indicated that he needed more cleans. I merely provided the info required to accomplish that. What it sounds like is of no import to me.

If I want more cleans I'll break out my Dual Showman or a Twin Reverb.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:56 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You'll get a more dramatic increase in cleans from the amp by reconfiguring the NFB loop than by rolling any tubes.

Arjay


how do you do that... and i don't want to loose the vibrolux tone


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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:52 pm
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I've owned one and IMO the CVR is not really the right amp for playing "loud and clean" at larger venues, it's supposed to have a bit of "fur" around the notes even at somewhat lower volumes, that's what that amp does. Changing tubes will get you next to nothing in terms of making it cleaner and louder, I think your best bet would be to leave the amp as is, which you said you like and put the money you are thinking of spending on tubes toward a mic, in the meantime, beg or borrow a mic until you can save up and buy an SM57(+/- $100) or other mic. Set the amp at a cleaner/lower level and let the PA do the work.

Snowy


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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:24 pm
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No457 Snowy wrote:
I've owned one and IMO the CVR is not really the right amp for playing "loud and clean" at larger venues, it's supposed to have a bit of "fur" around the notes even at somewhat lower volumes, that's what that amp does. Changing tubes will get you next to nothing in terms of making it cleaner and louder, I think your best bet would be to leave the amp as is, which you said you like and put the money you are thinking of spending on tubes toward a mic, in the meantime, beg or borrow a mic until you can save up and buy an SM57(+/- $100) or other mic. Set the amp at a cleaner/lower level and let the PA do the work.


+1

You'll spend $150, mebbe $200 trying to make a silk purse out of that amp. A decent instrument mic runs around ninety bucks or so.

Do the math.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:16 am
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I agree. It is what it is. I'd just mic it or trade it in on a Twin. I had a 1966 Vibrolux Reverb that was outstanding. Clean to a point then seriously nice breakup with a nice tight bottom end and biting highs. I used to run it around 7 or 8 on the volume knob and control it with my guitar. I loved that amp, and if it wasn't stolen, I'd still have it. The CVR isn't really anywhere near what the Vibrolux Reverb was. When they "Customized" it they robbed it of all its glory. But as long as you like it, it's all that counts. I wouldn't start modding it, the SM57 is a fine mic and the standard of the industry. You'll be able to keep the amp stock and not chase something you'll never find.

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:55 pm
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63supro wrote:
I loved that amp, and if it wasn't stolen, I'd still have it.


A pox on that soulless, thieving bastard!

:evil:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:59 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
63supro wrote:
I loved that amp, and if it wasn't stolen, I'd still have it.


A pox on that soulless, thieving bastard!

:evil:

Arjay



I hope that POS gets electrocuted by it. It didn't have a three prong plug on it. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 5:00 pm
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I had a SilverFace Vibrolux Reverb for about 10 years. I swapped the rectifier tube and got a little more clean headroom. Forget what I used. Bought it on the advise of my amp tech. The tube went with the amp when I sold it so I won't be able to positively identify which one it was. 5U4 to 5AR4, maybe? Can't remember. I realize the re-issue has a solid state rectifier but would it not be possible to desolder it and swap in something stiffer? Forgive me if that's not feasible as I have never heard of such a mod myself but it seemed to work for me in the tube universe and this question has me wondering if it could be done in the solid state world. Did we discuss this once before?

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:34 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I had a SilverFace Vibrolux Reverb for about 10 years. I swapped the rectifier tube and got a little more clean headroom. Forget what I used. Bought it on the advise of my amp tech. The tube went with the amp when I sold it so I won't be able to positively identify which one it was. 5U4 to 5AR4, maybe? Can't remember. I realize the re-issue has a solid state rectifier but would it not be possible to desolder it and swap in something stiffer? Forgive me if that's not feasible as I have never heard of such a mod myself but it seemed to work for me in the tube universe and this question has me wondering if it could be done in the solid state world. Did we discuss this once before?


The problem here lies deeper in that the "Custom" Vibrolux is not a reissue of anything, it has had it's circuitry "fiddled with" with in a manner that changes it's characteristic tone rather dramatically from a trad Vibrolux. Fender was quite up-front about it not being a reissue, even though it's cosmetically dressed as a Blackface amp, it isn't one, no more than the NOS Tweed Blues Junior is a "Tweed" amp or "NOS".


Snowy


Last edited by No457 Snowy on Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:47 pm
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Right. I knew that. Still, could a rectifier be swapped for something stiffer?

Would that work the same way as a tube rectifier?

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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:06 am
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" I realize the re-issue has a solid state rectifier but would it not be possible to desolder it and swap in something stiffer? "

Yes, if the amp has 1N4007 diodes as a rectifier --- you can go to UF5408's & get stiffer tone, if the PT can handle extra current demands. Just like different tube rectifiers, you need to rebias the output tubes. Taking into account different B+.

Of course you may need a bigger PT to get the full potential of the bigger diodes. At that point you might as well 1.) get a another amp that meets your tonal needs. 2.) build a DIY to your specs.


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Post subject: Re: how to get more clean headroom on fender custom vibrolux
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:16 am
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What?

How much difference do you think that you'll get with different diodes? A couple of volts?

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