Fender '63 Vibroverb Reissue

Brown early 60's transisition era cosmetics with tilt back legs. 40 Watt with a pair of 6L6 and 6 12AX7 tubes and 2X10 (mine has Celestion G-10's). 2 independent Channels; one labled "Normal" with controls for Volume, Treble and Bass. The "bright" channel has seperate controls for volume, treble, bass, and reverb. The 2 channels are not internally footswitchable. To the right of the faceplate are the 2 controls for the Vibrato (speed and intensity). The reverb and Vibrato are footswitchable. Not too versatle (on its own) but it has it where it counts...read on.

Here is where this amp shines. Picture the perfect Fender clean tone in your head....you know the one that DRIPS with wet reverb, has that liquid glass harmonically rich sustain, and has the dynamic response that follows your playing. Well this amp IS that tone. Turned up above "6" to "10", the Vibroverb gets that SRV type of ballsy blues tone with lots of "smoky" flavor; natural overdrive Fender style. The reverb is certainly a great example of the classy early 60's Fender reverb sound....almost too "wet" at higher settings but very organic nonetheless. The Vibrato circuit sounds cool too! Since this amp has such a good clean sound, it makes a stellar platform to build on with overdrive boxes. I use stuff like the Visual Sounds Jekyll & Hyde, and Maxon TS-808's and they really sound super through this amp. The 40 Watts are enough for most applications. This amp esentially creates 2 tones on its own...the glassy clean sound and a smoky blues sound but these are 2 killer sounds and nobody has created a better clean sound then these Fender amps. Plus a reverb second to none. Truly deserving of the "10" rating.

Looks like it'll last.

Playing guitar for 14 years (27 years old). Other amps inlude 100 Watt Marshall Plexi, Fender Bassman, Peavey 5150, Laney AOR100. Guitars include sunburst '92 PRS custom 24 w/ birds, 3-tone 1960 Strat Customshop, '57 US Strat RI, Gibson Les Paul DC, Gibson Les Paul Classic, 2 Peavey Wolfgangs, 52 RI Telecaster and a Seagull Artist acoustic and tons of EFX. I have a pretty good reference for tone and I have enough good quality gear to give a reliable review for the more discriminating player. If one of these pop up, grab one. Fender is releasing the '65 Super reverb in January, 2000 and that is essentially the same amp as the Vibroverb with 2 extra 10" speakers and blackface era cosmetics so I am sure it will kick ass.

i bought this amp new in 99 (nos)it was made in 95.it doesnt have many features which i love just plug in and play.2 channels,normal&bright reverb and tremolo.40 watts 2 10's

i am using a tele plus with lace sensors,i play blues and old country (lots of chicken picken).this amp has a great clean sound that really suits me,deep reverb and great tremolo

have been using it for a year now and no problems whatsoever

came with a 3 year warranty that i hope i never have to use,the fender folks seem real friendly.

i have been playing for 16 years and have had many pieces of junk(peavey,crate)i compared this to a hot rod deluxe & a pro series concert,and the vibroverb won hands down,it was a ittle pricy but it was new and had a warranty.also new custom vibroluxes are about the same price as this.and this looks better and stays cleaner.

2 Channels, (normal & bright), 2x10, 40W Combo, w/ Reverb & Vibrato. Speaker out jack. Solid State Rectifier, & tube the rest of the way. Tilt back legs are a great addition! I will rate the features on the quality not quantity with what is a vintage "less is more" approach. I play guitars, not amps. I would rate this a 10 but, the stock tubes were chinese & the speakers were a bad excuse for reissue oxfords. Get some Sovtek's & Jensen Reissue C10Q's for under $100 total. -1 for the tubes, -1 for the speakers!!

This is where this amp truly shines & I beleive anyone that does not agree got a bad example, or are totally tone deaf & clueless. I was looking for a Marshall stack & had absolutley no intention of buying anything but that. I sat down to play a JCM 800 stack, & after a few minutes I noticed this classic brownface peeking at me from under a pile of mediocre modern Marshall heads. It was well hidden & collecting dust. I dragged it out & was surprised to see "Vibroverb" proudly displayed, I was aware it was an reissue but I had never played one. I fired it up & let the tubes warm up in stand-by for a while. I returned a few minutes later (w/ no expectations) & adjusted the settings to my normal Fender likings. I struck one E Chord.....& felt my mouth start to water. I was absolutley "FLOORED", & had no less than 4 people (including the store owner) approach me with that amazed look in their eyes. (apparently the owner never even plugged it in....it was on consignment.) After about 30 seconds I carried it to the storefront & gladly handed over $600 with a giant !@#% eating grin on my face. "BOTH" channels are "EXCELLENT" & they allow for "ANY" playing style , w/ the right combination of channel choice & effects. The normal channel is extremely responsive to pedals, including a Boss Metal Zone that rips the heart out of my other guitar players Marshall JCM 900 100W Combo.(set-up the Metal Zone w/ the highs & mids really low then wait for the Police to arrive) I'm not kidding!!! The Bright Channel is the epitome of Vintage Fender clean, & the reverb is as good as "ANY", I have ever heard (incl. pre-cbs, verbs, vibroluxes & twins). The Vibrato is incredibly versatile & I have actually "knocked stuff off my studio walls" when I have the speed & intensity knobs cranked. The Vibrato gets so powerful it can actually make you sick to your stomach. Try a Fulltone Deja Vibe in the bright channel, & keep some clean underwear on hand! Strap on a Vintage Tele (Nocaster in my case) & meet me in Amp Heaven. My lifelong search is over, I have found, IMHO, the perfect sounding amp! WOW!!!

I bought this amp used & it was about 8 years old @ the time. It was in "dead mint" & new cosmetic condition, in & out. I have to beleive it sat unused for the majority of it's life. I had it on my friends backseat when he decided to slam on his brakes to take a corner & it slammed, upside down onto the floor of his car & it broke off a stem of one of the power tubes. My fault!! The original speakers, (sucked) cracked & were useless after 3 months of light use. Fender's fault -1. I would never gig w/o a backup, but I am more comfortable w/ this amp then any other I have ever owned. Incidentally, the amp is still in perfect condition after heavy travel & studio use & also doubling as a giant coaster, ashtray holder & seat. The tolex job is top notch, unlike the new Fender's available today. -1 again for the speakers

I have dealt w/ Fender Customer Support on many occassions and have always received helpful, informative assistance. -1 for limited access to Fender Custom Shop & Fender Authorized repair centers.

I have been through many Vintage & Modern amps in my years of playing. This is the w/o a doubt the cream of the crop. (incl. the pre-cbs amps I spoke about in the sound section) It quite simply offers the widest range of useable tones I have ever heard. I shopped for months with $2500 in my pocket. I also own a Marshall Master Vol. JCM 800 combo, which is considered by many to be one of the best Marshall's ever made. It sits in my bedroom as a clothes rack! The Vibroverb is incredibly loud for 40W & I just smile when my drummer asks me to turn down. :) .. (it may be in part to the Jensen Reissue's) The Bright Channel is quintessential Vintage Fender Clean & the Normal Channel is the most versatile channel I have ever come across. If it were stolen......what a horrible thought...... I would sell whatever I had to, to get another one. Well besides my Nocaster. I swear it sounds better every time I play it, over a year so far. I have had many offers in excess of $1000 from my amp tech (who, by the way, has an original Verb & a Super) & have actually had people approach me @ club gigs & jams offering outlandish sums for it. They never even had a chance!!! Get one!!! NO B.S.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a reissue, so it's true to the original design. Early 90's.

I play Tele's and a Reverend w/P-90's. Rock, alt-country, blues. This amp is very thin sounding. When you crank it up the distortion sounds like a cheap effects pedal. The reverb is good. The tremolo is too weak. At loud volumes the tremolo is hardly noticable. For 40 watts it sure doesn't have much power. I tried different speakers with no luck.

Probably fine.

It's Fender. Who knows.

I've been playing for 26 years. I own a lot of stuff. I compared this amp to a Victoria 20-112-T and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Of course nothing compares to the Victoria. This amp basically sucked. I got rid of it 2 days later on a trade. I souldn't have bought it. Luckily I came out fine on the trade because there are other suckers out there that feel this amp is like the original. It does not sound like an original vibroverb. It merely has the same appearance. Stay clear of immitations, which this amp clearly is.

I bought this amp two months ago from a guy off Ebay. I think it is from 92. Everyone else covers the features of the amp quite well. It is a one trick pony, but everytime it does the one trick the crowd stops.

The guy who shipped it to me didn't pack it well. The speakers broke loose; took out all the tubes, power transformer, and reverb. I replaced the tubes with NOS RCA's, the 10" spkrs with Celestian Vintage 10s, and a stock Fender power transformer and reverb unit. Wow. This amp is one of the nicest sounding amps that I have heard in a real long time. It is very warm. It has the right amount of bass presence without being muddy. It has lots of punch for only being 40watts and the reverb is awesome.

Like I said the amp was packed horrible, no amp could withstand the abuse it went through. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the box it came in. But since replacing those above mentioned components, I haven't had a single problem. It has been a good little amp. I do know that the previous owner bought it new and gigged with it for close to eight years without any problems.

Never called them for anything.

If I lost this amp, I would replace it with another if I could find one. The are not easy to come by...

I bought the amp in '96 new. It's a Fender '63 Re-issue Vibroverb - a combo 40w with 2-10's, 2-6L6 power tubes, and a handful of 12AX7 pre-amp tubes.On the schematic, it says that it was created in '90, and actually plotted in '95. So, whatever you make of that. They only issued them for a year or so, I heard. It's a very simple amp (which was one of the main reasons I bought it - after checking out a Mesa Boogie Tremoverb combo, I was quite thrilled that I wouldn't have to adjust and adjust and adjust and adjust and switch and switch to get a great sound). There's no mid control, and it almost doesn't matter because it sounds great without it. It's a little too simple, though, after owning it for a few years. It's not a versatile amp in terms of features, but if you're into that signature Fender sound, it's got it. I had to change the speakers out because it came with crappy, crappy Oxford speakers. I put in some Kendricks. The amp has 2 channels: 1. Normal- Volume, treble, bass, 2 inputs. 2. Bright- same plus reverb. Both channels share a Vibrato effect which doesn't work very well at all and as far as I'm concerned, if Fender isn't going to make it right, then they shouldn't put the effect on there. The intensity of the effect diminishes as the volume gets higher. The reverb sounds good, not great. The amp doesn't have a gain stage, and no channel switching. No effects loop, no headphone jack, no nothing. Straight shooter. What you see is what you get.

I've recorded through it with a Gibson Les Paul Std., and have recorded and gigged with Fender American Std.'s - a Tele and a Strat with Van Zandt pickups. The amp suits my style nicely (Bluesy rock, alternative, swirly chorusing, clean reverb, anything but metal and country - which I'm positive this amp could sparkle on country). The amp won't sound good for metal. The sound is a brown tone that breaks up very nice and warm on the Normal channel. The clean sounds really nice too. It really starts revving after 3.5, and feels like it could jump out and bite you at any time. Being 40 watts, it feels like a great low-wattage amp. I think the thing that sold me about it is:
1. the weight, 2. the price, 3. the overdrive from bringing up the volume, 4.the characteristic Fender sound. It's not a noisy amp.It's somewhat versatile tonally. You can do surf, rock, clean, and definitely blues very well with it. I wish it had a channel switching option, and that the channels had gain stages. I've used this amp to play alternative rock (Jane's, The Cure) and rock styles (The Cult, The Black Crowes), as well as blues and even in church playing praise and worship. The amp does it all pretty nicely. Especially anywhere from 3.5 on the volume to full on. It really smacks out after 4, and up to 7. It gets really really loud despite the fact that it has 2-10's. Most occassions, I can't get the volume past 3.5. I've played many different size clubs with it, and this is what I love most about a really good Fender amp (because they make some lower lines that I wouldn't know about)- they sing under pretty much any acoustical condition. For example, I had a 70's Marshall 100w lead JMP, and it sounded incredible in some clubs and really thin in bigger venues with cement walls and floors, or not juicy enough in smaller venues and impractically big as far as size. Well the Vibroverb is great because it's about 46 pounds, never sounds thin, and you can easily back off the treble in cement places and hike up the bass. The open back makes it easy to hear on stage, and disperses the sound. I've used it to record, and it sounds really good on tape, with great tone for clean or overdriven sounds. The amp will not do metal in my opinion. It's a really cool amp with the Kendricks speakers. I also had Kendricks do some modifying, and that made a huge difference. We put in a bias adjustment on the back panel so that I can tweak the tubes easily. I wouldn't be happy with it stock, and I'm having a good time with it after replacing the tubes with Groove Tubes-Slovanian made, and the mod, along with a change of speakers. But I'm a very picky guy. I think it's a really nice combination of old tone, durability, practicality, versatility, ease of use, and ease of haul (which means a whole lot if you're always toting your amp somewhere). It sounds great for blues, surf, and Pearl Jam type rock.

I thought I could depend on it, and have never had any problems until the reverb went out on it just a couple of months ago. I've had it for 4 years, and nothing else has given me even a hint of a problem. I use it on gigs all the time without a backup, but most places, someone else has an amp somewhere, so no sweat. I can't factor in any probability of it going out on me and leaving me hanging. It's pretty solid.

The great thing about Fender is that they give you a 5 year warranty on amps and guitars. As far as amps, everything is warrantied (as far as I understand) but the tubes. As I said, my reverb went out and I took it to a Fender dealer who services (as most do) for Fender. No hassles.

Overall, I like the amp a lot for the reasons stated at the end of the Sounds section. I've been playing for most of 20 years, and have owned all kinds of amps, have played through almost everything, and have recorded with lots of great amps. I think this one is a keeper. I really need a great tone for recording, and something that will be heard and consistant playing out. This amp does those things very well. I'm a little upset that Fender uses such skimpy components in the amp's circuit (they do on their other amps, so does Marshall in this day and age and most everyone else). When we opened it up at Kendricks, it was a sad day. Just to visually see the difference between this and the 60's and early 70's Fender amps was a reason for valuum. However, since I don't use drugs anymore, I had to hop on my bike and ride out the frustration. If it were stolen or lost, I would be upset because of the cost of replacing it, but if it happened, I would go out and buy a Fender Prosonic. It's about the same set up, has switchable channels with gain stages, and everyone who knows their skunk about sound says that they are cool. I don't like the limitations of the Vibroverb, and I don't like the skimpy circuit board, and I don't like the faint Vibratto. I compared many many amps to this one, but I was really looking for something light. I had a Marshall 4x12 with Celestion vintage 30's and a bassman head. I was tired of hauling that stuff around. I also was recording quite a bit on different projects, and I needed something versatile - something that wouldn't lock me in to a certain style. I also wanted to get a good break-up (overdrive) out of the amp for recording applications, and I'm totally sold on the Fender sound to begin with. So, I think that this amp really met my needs, which were pretty specific. The biggest factor was the price. I tried out all kinds of amps - Vox, Rivera (I don't like these at all), Peavey Classic, Mesa's, Marshall's (JCM's, JMP's, reissues, etc.), Matchless, Kendricks, and Orange. Most of those have a characteristic sound (which is why I bought the 70's Marshall head), and my taste and economic situation veered me over to the Vibroverb. If you're looking at this amp and you haven't looked at the Vibrolux or the Prosonic, then look at those first. If you can get this model cheap, then get it and know that you'll probably have to trash the speakers for some real ones.

Here's an opinion on upgrades on this amp..I have bought two examples
during 1999-2000. Both were found at a local used equip.store in the
WDC metro area. The first one was traded because the previous owner said that the amp was "inconsistent". This was AFTER he had spent big
bucks on a retube and rebias and had Weber 10's installed.However,the amp looked like it had been dragged underneath a large truck. Both the
store owner and I shook our heads on that one. I bought the amp on
less than thirty seconds deliberation before the guy who sold it had left the parking lot. The second amp came through the store about six months later in bone stock 9.5 condition. Here's the point,both amps sound great,only the most anal tone freak could probably split hairs with test equipment to find some minor difference between them. Both amps are used on stage in a regional roots-rock group in conjunction with a variety of older Strats ,Teles and a '57 LP Jr.They are both brighter sounding amps than your average 30 yr old blackface Vibrolux and they retain the earlier and cooler tremolo not found with opto-isolator based circuits adopted during the blackface and silverface
eras. It has long been known that some upgrades on old Fender amps are not worth the time or trouble and in comparing these two amps I think"Mr.Inconsistent" was urinating up the proverbial "tone-rope". If you can maintain at least close to proper line voltage [yes, I know it's tough,thats why God invented the Variac] you too can enjoy all the wonders [and imperfections] of the Fender Amplifier. Also,old school owners of original Vibroverbs know that creative tone control
adjustment can result in a near perfect "flat" response. Guess what kids? the reissue has that same capability as well... One thought on factory supplied tubes...Get the best non-chineese 6L6's you can find,the O/E/M tubes were mega-poop. Then, save up for that variac.

Bought both used, learned long ago NOT to call Fender for anything.
Have repair capability and access to high quality repair shops in area ,so, don't need factory anyway except to mfg. the product.

An outwardly accurate reissue but have trouble with the concept of
PC boards used internally. Probably sounds like a new amp did in 1963. Most players are likely misinformed as to its disimilarity to 1964-1967 Vibrolux Reverbs creating some ill feelings amongst some pickier ears.Way cheaper than trying to find an original example.
Needs an old style fuse holder, who has time to use a screwdriver
to pull out a fuse? Mounting of reverb tank needs more spacing between mounting edges of tank and cabinet bottom. Fender would have
been smarter to specify the use of old style sponge rubber spacer strips on top and bottom of tank instead of a thin cardboard mount.
Outer cabinet covering is more prone to permanent staining from "bar products" than original tolex. The covering is also much thinner than original as well.

I have dated this amp to be a 1991 production model.I use the amp
mainly for jazz,country,pop,.....clean,pretty sounds
I always plug into the bright channel-vol.-4 treb.-5 bass-4
reverb-2-3
This amp is perfect for me.No frills.Classic Fender.i found it with
the original owners manual.The cosmetic condition is a 9,with the original tubes and speakers.virtually unused.

i use a Fender Strat,a Fender Tele,and an older model Epi Riviera with the amp.It fits me perfectly.Very little noise,very clean with
a nice round sound.reverb and trem are killer.
If i wanted distortion i would consider a different model amp.The only drawback is that it is a bit on the dark side[possibly due to old tubes and Oxford Speakers]

The amp has had a 100% reliability factor......and i am really tempting fate with these old tubes.
I have been told that the factory fit speakers and tubes are no good in this amp.But i am enjoying it too much right now to justify a
change......Maybe later.

I have never had a problem with Fender Musical Instruments.And this dates back to the 1960's.

i have been playing over 25 years.I would buy this amp again without hesitation.There really is not anything I hate about it.
I compared this to a Blues Junior and a Blues Deluxe,and this is a better fit for me personally.

UPDATE!!

I posted about this amp several months ago and I would like to update my opinions after using this amp almost weekly at my jams.

First off...The original Fender speakers are not the best. A good replacement of Jenson or Weber speakers will improve the tone considerably.

I was not happy by the fact that I had to set it at ear bleeding volumes to get it to overdrive the power section. I tried replacing the power tubes with several others and got little or no change. I even tried Black Jacks. I love the sound of pushed Fender tube amps.

I have been playing for many years and I recall hearing people get great distortion from the older Vibroverb and Vibrolux amps. Even at low volumes in the studio. Si I wracked my old fart brain to remember how they did that. Alas I remembered. One guy I played with often in the 70's used an Electro Harmonix LPB-2 Linear Power Booster into the front of the amp to boost the tone and a Tom Sholz Power Soak between the speakers and amp. Neither of these units have been made in over 20 years. But they are not the most coveted units today. That keeps their prices low. I found an LPB-2 at a show and a Sholz Power Soak on EBay. Low and behold, I now have the best sounding Fender tube amp around with no analog or digital effects. It puts out only the true sound of the overdriven power amp section. I can also overdrive the preamp section with the LPB-2. For those of you who want the best of both worlds: Marshall distortion and Fender clean...This is the closest you will get to it. I like it so much that I am considering getting a 4 ohm extension cabinet and loading it with either 30 watt Celestions or Webers. Now this amp is a true Back To the Future amp.
Without effects.

Serial #00376 - Vibroverbs were made from 1990-1995...mine might be a '90. This amp is the king of clean and has a very forward sound. 2x10 inch speakers...40 watts. I suppose you could use it for almost any application. I use it for rockabilly, alternative, jazz, rock, country, folk, fingerstyle...etc. The amp has two channels, bright and normal. The reverb and tremolo are luscious. I agree with most of the other postings that this amp could use a tube rectifier in place of its solid state rectifier. I'd like to get a smoother overdrive. But then again it has a very tight and percussive sound that comes in handy for fingerpicking and rhythm styles. I use this amp in a band and in the bedroom. It is a good amp to have if you can only have one. Plenty of power but not too much that it won't clip. It weighs about 46 lbs. These are features that I look for in an tube amp. Apparenly Hoffman makes a point to point board. But after cost and installation; you might as well buy a '63 Super and a Fender reverb unit.

I use a '59 Strat and a '78 Tele Custom through it right now. They both sound great; single coils and humbuckers. This amp has that Fender clean sound - bright and focused. To me, the Fender sound is a "normal" sound and it is on the basis of this that I judge all other amps. If you were to plug an old Les Paul into this amp, it would sound like an old Les Paul should. If you plug a nasty guitar into it it will sound nasty. Like I mentioned above this amp will suit many styles, just like the '65 Fender Twin. The amp is very quiet but it depends on the condition of the tubes. When you crank it you get that cool amp hiss. Just like a stereo. As far as variety of sounds...no. Just one. Good, clean Fender. It is really up to your fingers and soul. The amp will overdrive above 3 depending on the guitar and the tone settings. The treble and bass add volume. I like to plug into the second input of the bright channel, dime the amp, and turn the EQ's all the way down and play very, very softly. To me, this produces the livest sound. You get the overdriven tubes and the speaker thump and crackle. By the way, I put some Jensen Reissues in this thing. The original speakers weren't bad, just a little lack luster. I've learned that this amp is not meant to be overdriven. Yes, when you crank it and slam some chords it will overdrive. Brownface type amps aren't revered for that. Get a tweed style amp. The sound is piercing and LOUD!! Don't do that to your ears. This amp is loud like a Fender Twin only it distorts earlier so technically they have to rate this at half the wattage the never distorting twin is rated at. This thing is loud! In band situations...think between three and six(loud clip). I can't find a distortion pedal that sounds good thru this thing. Maybe I just like it clean. I've owned Jekyl and Hydes, DOD 250, Pro Co Rat. I'll try a tubescreamer sometime...I'm sure to the same result. They all sound grating and piercing to my ears. They don't sound like overdriven amps.

I bought this amp because it was sort of a compromise. It sounds great, it is lightwieght, it has great verb and trem. And it is affordable and reliable. I would depend on it as long as I know the venues I'm playing. Some places have hodge-podge wiring. This amp will achieve full power in most places though. Hasn't broken down on me yet...the reverb got weird on me once...All in all I would trust that this amp can be neglected and still work.

Fender people are nice. But if something goes wrong with the amp...don't go to Fender. What do you want them to do? Wave their wand? Take it to a good amp tech and have it fixed. These amps should outlast all of us. People give Fender customer Service a bad rap because the guy/gal on the phone can't fix their amp. Do you know how long and how much it would cost to ship your amp and wait for it to get fixed? Fender will always make parts to sell us. They are a good company.

I'm a young professional musician who has been at the guitar for over ten yeras. I'm kind of a tone head and have owned a lot of amps and guitars. At the price these things are going for...might as well get one. I couldn't think of any reason to sell this other than to get some money. If it was stolen I might get another one eventually. These amps aren't amazing...but really good. They sound good on tape too. I do wish it had a tube rectifier. I've owned tweed fenders and some newer Fenders - I just love the sound. I've played Vox ac30's, Magnatones(underrated), Marshalls, Orange, for a while. I've tried almost every amp that is out there. This nails the Fender tone. I could sell it, but what would I replace it with?