Fender '63 Vibroverb Reissue

Early 90s US made re-issue of the '63 Vibroverb. 40w valve 2 x 10 with vibrato and deep luscious Fender spring reverb.

Not the most versatile amp in the world, but it's not supposed to be. Just plug into the bright channel and go. It's a shame that the reverb doesn't work on the normal channel, & I might get it modified to make that possible. The reverb is almost perfect, deep and gorgeous when turned up to 3 or 4.

One feature that I like is that the volume control is far more gradual than on many other Fender amps. On a Blues Deluxe (or Hot Rod, same amp, basically), the volume increases drastically between 1 and 2, which can be a pain for playing quietly at home. The VV gets louder more slowly as you turn the knob up, till you get to about 6 or 7 - after that it starts to overload gradually, as you would expect.

This is now my main gigging amp. I have had a Fender Blues Deluxe since 1993, & it's great, but I got the VV last year, & it's so much better, so the BD is now my spare.

Love the sound! Clean, it sounds great - we all know the sound of a clean Fender valve amp, right?. Turned up to 10, it really sings, & becomes something very special. And because it's 40w, playing in larger venues, you can turn it up without deafening people.

We sometimes play in an old church converted into a bar, & with all that space, I can run it on 9 or 10. Using a Strat or a Tele, there's just enough clean headroom for my taste if I back the volume off a touch on the guitar, but when I turn the guitar up, the tone fattens up and becomes so responsive for solos.

The band I'm in plays soul(Stax/Motown), blues & a bit of rock. It's probably not an obvious choice of amp for heavy rock styles, but it should cope with most other stuff just fine. I take a Strat & a Tele to every gig, anything from a couple of 1980s Tokais to a Custom Shop Strat or Tele.

I read the comments from earlier reviewers, & I have to agree with the majority view - nice amp, shame about the speakers. The original Oxfords just don't do the amp justice, so I wasn't heartbroken when I managed to blow both speakers - well the cones tore.

I got a pair of Jensen C10Q speakers (ceramic), & they are a big improvement. Possibly a little less efficient, the amp doesn't sound quite as loud now, but maybe that's because the top end is smoother. Anyway the tone is much better, & now when I run the amp on 9 or 10 I'm hearing valve distortion, not the speaker cones flapping around.

It's 15 years out of warranty, so I doubt if I'll be contacting Fender now....

I've been playing for 25 years, & the only reason I didn't buy one of these new in the early 90s was that I couldn't afford one then. So I bought the Blues Deluxe, which was a bit cheaper, & nearly as good. Now, the VV is number one, & I would only change it if I needed something louder. Even then, I doubt if I'd let this one go.

If it was stolen, I would begin the impatient wait for another one to appear for sale on eBay.

Final point, if you like retro gear, it's a really cool amp too. And it's as light as any 40w valve amp is ever going to get, probably a few pounds lighter than the Blues Deluxe, even though that's a 1 x 12.

I don't know when the amp was made, probably 90's. I came from an 83' JCM 800 50 watt head/half stack, and I needed new inspiration from somewhere. Initially, I thought the amp was only good for clean tones and maybe a little break up if you tried real hard around 5 or 6. I didn't really know it "went to 10" until this evening...when I put it on 10. The only outboard effect I will ever plug into this unit is maybe a powerbreak.

Vibrato is awesome, but I think my tube crapped out. It makes terrible noises and/or does not affect the sound in any way above 3 or 4. Reverb is pretty nice. I'll probably replace the tubes and the speakers soon.7 for that:

What a difference.

I will now always have this plugged into the bright channel on 10. My controls on my guitar suddenly come to life, and a whole pallet of sonic bliss is at my fingertips. It sounds amazing. Here's my chain -->

Stock Les Paul Junior Special Plus + cable + Vibroverb on 10.

My only "issue" is that it sounds best to me when bass is at zero and treble is at 10. It's very transparent, and it let's you play the guitar, not the amp. Again, the tubes are really bad, and probably stock and 15 years old.

Tubes suck, so I'll have to get back on this.

It's old, who cares.

Ten for the 10. Sonic Bliss.

Does anyone know if tubes are the strange issue, or is it something else. I get a rattling sound sometimes too. Not a mechanical rattle, more like a dirty pot scratching when turned.

bought and made in 92.bass and treble pots. could use middle, for thats where you need adjustment in different circumstances.2 channels .reverb only on bright channel.would like to have it on both (like the vibrato).someone told me you can fix the reverb issue. i use it for small gigs where nothing is miked

the amp works well on volume 4 to 5. get a nice tube overdrive.just the sound you need.reverb and vibrato (tremelo, really)excellent.
replaced original speakers (eminence,too harsh and brittle)with 2 blue alnicos.
They can handle less power but give the amp the necessary character it deserves.Don't put this next to a full rock drummers kit. i would recommend a twin or a vox ac30 for that.However, to get more out of your amp you can hook up a jbl k120 or e120 as an extra speaker to get more sustainable low and high end headroom. also replaced tubes.

bought it in 92. still works well in 07.no major repairs needed.take care of it, it will take care of you.

no contact with fender, but there are lots of mechanics out there who know their stuff. and the vibroverb is easy to fix

i've been playing for 30 years. i play roots music.the vibroverb won't do the trick on every stage, but it's light and has warmth and character, the best reverb and tremolo. the extra 12 inch jbl speaker comes in handy for bigger gigs.just rock up to the gig and see what you need.The best setup combination would be:fender twin(with jbl speakers)for the clean tube sound and the vibroverb for the effects and overdrive

this is the first year it was re issued(1990?).
2X10 combo, with a pair of 6L6's tremolo and reverb.
two channels normal and bright.

having heard an original back in the day, i was very excited
to get this amp when it was re issued.
lets call it an impulse buy.
at first the excitement carried thru after i purchased it.
i wasn't using my ears i was using my wallet to hear.
eventually reality set in.
this is one cold stiff sterile bright harsh bitch.
no tube rectifier for one.
no choke, crap speakers and cheap tubes.
but the bottomline really is it just doesn't sound very good.
its not for the serious user.

well it is dependable.
it doesn't really breakdown but on the other hand who cares.
sounds like ass.

unconscionable for putting this into production.

been playing over 30 yrs got a guitarsenal of amps and guitars.
trust me on this one don't waste your time
learn from my mistakes.
i have since gutted it and made a point to pointamp using the chassis.

I think mine was a 92.
It has all the features I need for my stuff: Blues (Ronnie Earl!) and some Hendrix.
Having just TREBLE and BASS makes it easy and fast to get the tone I like.
35W are ok for everything. Just played in a Club testerday, un-miked, and averyone could hear me.

The sound it delivers is what i've been searching for for many years!
It's classic fender tube sound with these "no-mids" kinda feel, and it's not plastic-feeling like other reissues (have a Deluxe Reverb that i'll sell asap!!!!!!!).
It breaks up at 4/5 depending on pickups and playing style.
I use a 1961 Febder Stratocaster with Voodoo ST'60 pickups and on my pedalboard i have: '67 Arbiter FuzzFace->'69 Vox Wah-> VDL L'OVERDRIVE -> 82(?) Tubescreamer TS 808-> Ibanez Rotary Chorus RC99

P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

made in 1999, (has 2x10 Celestion's instead of Fender stock speakers) and let me start by saying I'M IN LOVE. ; )

This amp may be only the second amp I've ever owned that I really loved everything about right from the start.

2 channels, reverb and tremolo, bass and treble (no mids but trust me - on this amp it doesn't matter)

plenty of head room, but what's really great is it breaks up at a reasonable volume, (around 4 it starts to break up, but at 6, it sounds amazing) - also, a really SMOOTH overdriven sound, - not trebly or piercing, and not grungy - IDEAL for blues, country pickin', rockabilly, and all kinds of rock, pop you name it - wouldn't use as a jazz set up though

1952 tele reissue, and a squier reissue with fat fifties custom pick ups.

sounds UNBELIEVABLE with both guitars - use a TS9 or T-Rex with it and get that sort of Doyle Bramhall II, or SRV kind of sound? IDEAL.

also, playing it clean it has a wonderful balanced sound - if you want to play Robert Cray or Mark Knopfler sort of clean melodic sounds, it works wonderfully as a plug in and play.

don't know - just bought it = )

again, just bought it

overall i have to say, it is the best amp i've owned in many years of playing - now i hope i haven't jumped the gun and discover any reliability issues, but for sound and versatility of sound, this thing is it.

Normal and Bright channels, reverb only on the bright channel. 35 or 40 watts, depending on who you ask. Two 10 inch alnico speakers. It's a really simple amp, limited features to get in the way of your tone. Reverb is huge, with a classic kind of sound -- I generally don't go past 2 or 3 because it starts to get excessive by about 5, unless you're playing surf. The vibrato is way better than any pedal I've ever used and adds a great vibe. I followed someone else's suggestion and set it at 1.5 for both speed/intensity. It's really subtle and compliments the reverb beautifully. This amp works really well when I accompany an acoustic guitar, my Hot Rod could overwhelm very easily.

Also, the volume knobs do what you'd expect. 1 is very low, 2 is a bit louder, then 3 is a bit louder, etc. etc. This is how it should be, but on my Hot Rod, you get a huge volume increase between 1 and 2, so it's hard to dial in volumes between quiet and really loud.

I use a 1995 AmStd Stratocaster, with a bunch of distortion/fuzz/od pedals, as well as phaser and delay. I play garage rock, some classic rock (Velvets, Stooges, Stones, Who), and a whole lotta alt.country.

Prior to the Vibroverb, I had a Hot Rod Deluxe and liked it, but felt that my strat didn't sound as "stratocastery" as it did on various records by my favorite artists. To make a long story short, the Vibroverb brings out the true stratocaster sound in a way that I've never heard before. A friend has a Tele and the same thing applies. This thing kicks a** in the clean tone department!!!

Next, I was shocked to find that it also kills my Hot Rod Deluxe in the distortion/overdrive department as well. If you turn the amp up to about 4, which is nowhere near as loud as 4 on the Hot Rod, it starts to break up in a great way. With a Boss DS1 or a TS9, it has the best distortion/overdrive I've ever heard. Add in a touch of reverb and it's unbelievable.

No issues and I've had it for about 6 months.

Bought it used, this doesn't apply

When I bought the amp it came with the original speakers and the original tubes. I've read every review on this website for this amp and can tell you that most of what people say has proven to be true. They almost all got new tubes and speakers. I did too and can report that it made a difference, but wasn't absolutely critical like some people make it seem.

The tubes actually did more than the speakers, in my case. The new tubes really brought out the warmth and sparkle, the power tubes and reverb driver were the key tubes to spend money on.

The original speakers are fine for low volume but get "farty" when you turn it up past 3 or use a lot of distortion. So, the reviewers that say the original speakers are fine most likely don't play the amp all that loud or use a lot of distortion.

When I called Weber Speakers to see about replacing my speakers, they recommended the Alnico Signature model. This speaker sounds similar to the original at low volume, but has a bit more bass and just sounds awesome when you crank it, no fartiness. I've thought about getting a speaker with a 1.25 or 1.5 inch voice coil to get more bass, but I haven't because it wouldn't break up as quickly either. So, I've traded some bass for crunch at lower volume.

In summary, I would recommend this amp to anyone who plays a Fender Strat, Tele or Jaguar/jazzmaster. It's an excellent upgrade from the Hot Rod series that improves your tone, but also gives you an amp that works at low volumes. It's also a huge bonus that it breaks up at a reasonable volume. My Hot Rod would make your ears bleed before it got that nice tube overdrive (even with the gain channel).

Made in the early to mid 1990's. This amp is very versatile for the music I currently play which is 50's - 70's music. Two channels nice when you want to plug in a mike and have your voice in reverb or add an echo for a solo gig. I wish it had distortion so you don't have to fool with a pedal. Great vibrato for the slow golden oldies.

I use a Fender Telecaster. No noise, just clean sound on no more than volume 5.

I do not have a backup but do carry spare fuses. The tubes have been upgraded and are new. I've been using this amp for several years.

Never needed to deal with Fender. It's used so if I need repair I can certainly arrange that with my local music store.

I read that the ground switch on these amps are there but don't work -just there for exact reissue purposes. I found that to be very interesting.After 45 years of playing it gets easier! I'd have to look for another one if it was stolen - call the insurance company! I love the cabinet because it's narrow and not wide like the new Fenders - they are wide and clunky to carry.

classic fender combo style. non master vol, 2 channel, 4 input, with 2 jensen 'legends' 10" speakers, footswitch for 'verb and trem. i bought this primarily because it was non-master volume and had valve driven reverb and vibrato (and because it's a wierd weetabix colour which piques peoples interest). the relative lack of weight and portability of this amp was a bonus compared to the hassle of lugging around my previous 7o's marshall superlead and 4x12 cab (never again). It's pity the reverb is only on the bright channel, but for the one song that i need alot of reverb on i can just pull the jack lead out and stick it in the bright channel between songs no problem. according to the QA sticker i worked out from the internet that mine was built in january 1995.

Great basic tube tone for the strange rock style of the current band i'm in. And i NEED that vibrato in my life because it really adds magic to the intro on beard money. It could do with some more clean headroom because at gigs i usually have it cranked up to "8" - but at the same time i like the mild natural overdrive so i can't have the penny and the bun! keeps up fine with our other guitarists' marshall tsl 60 head on a 2x12...the onstage volume of this amp is tremendous because it really cuts through the band mix - which i find slightly disconcerting because i wonder if it's as overpowering out front of house, which makes me feel a bit shy.
lack of middle tone knob was a shame a first, but then again i always did leave it at about halfway on other amps so it's not missed anymore. i'm currently using it with my current main geetar - washburn n2 and with a knackered visual sound route 66 and george dennis volume peds. it's also very quiet - not much hiss at all, even when cranked (until i stomp on the overdrive pedal of course)

only crapped out on me once at home, which was circuit board related - i can't remember exactly what but it's written down on the jobsheet somewhere. other than that no problems. i carry a couple spare fuses in my guitar case but not spare valves because i like to travel light.

never used them so don't know, probably rubbish since fender are a big corporation who swallow up all the competition (r.i.p the quality marques of old:- guild, charvel/jackson, gretsch...) when it died at home i just took it to a local expert who had it fixed within a few days - i wouldn't even consider doing any different with any of my gear.

expensive for what it is, but you're always going to pay over the odds for a good used fender amp in a retail store.
upsides: non master volume fender tube sound (works well with stompboxes), electronically quiet even when cranked up, portability, tremolo and reverb, wierd colour of it stands out on stage. i've had it since may '99 and i can't see myself getting rid of it.
downsides: sometimes i yearn for a classic hard rock/metal sound to play with aswell, so i may have get a laney or something and a/b between them. been playing for 14 years since early teens (where has the time gone?)

My amp was made back in 1995, and I've had it for about 6 months. The amp is versatile enough for me, and I've been playing for over 30 years semi-professionally. I essentially go for a big clean tone from my amp and various boutique & homemade pedals take that tone further. It has just basic features; two channels, a great sounding reverb- very 'Dick Dale' or 'Wicked Game' depending how you play, and a really superb sounding vibrato- very 'swampy' and warm- instant Ry Cooder! I've come to realise when it comes to good guitar tone (in my humble opinion) then 'less is definately more'. Having had every guitar rig going- rack stuff, stereo amps, multi-effects, midi, blah, blah,blah- I've found that keeping it simple improved my tone- and my Vibroverb re-issue does exactly that. A good strong warm clean tone that loves effects.

I use a '57 re-issue Strat,'52 Tele re-issue, Gibson Les Paul & '71 SG and it copes with most of the styles I play- it gets a little too warm sounding with humbuckers at times- but I prefer that anyday to those nasty 'ice-pick in your ear' treble frequencies you seem to get out of most amps these days. The Vibroverb doesn't distort that much- just in a gentle and musical way. It has great headroom- something again most modern amps seem to lack- big dynamics.

Haven't had any problems so far, I've heard the speakers are a un-reliable and indeed they are probably the 'achilles heel' of this amp-they tend to crap out rather easily at times- so I'm considering up-grading to jensens or possibly Celestion vintage 10's in the near future.

Don't have a problem with tech support as I do all my technical repairs myself, or if it's too tough I have a good friend who is a total whizz with tube/valve amps!

I would really hate it if my Vibroverb went 'breasts skywards' as I really like its combination of portability and powerful tones. I also am lucky enough to own a vintage 1968 Marshall plexi with matching 4X12- but I got tired of carrying it about (hey- we all get old eventually!) and believe it or not the Vibroverb is similar in some ways to my old Marshall- loads of power- and a big warm tone without those nasty treble frequencies I really hate!

If you find one going cheap- buy it- if your a fan of 'good old fashioned tone' you won't regret it- in fact I want another one so I can go stereo- anyone in the UK got one spare??? ;-)

I bought the amp new in late 1992. I play harp/guitar/slide guitar in a Texas Roadhouse band (combining Blues/Rock/Outlaw Country-think about the Fabulous Thunderbirds and ZZ Top opening for Waylon Jennings) called the SCREAMIN' ARMADILLOS. My Vibroverb is the most versatile amp I've ever owned. I've sat in with various bands and no matter what the personal style or type of guitar the other guitarists use, all of them are impressed by the tone/punch and how the amp responds to their playing. Love the tremolo/vibrato; rarely use the reverb, but it is extremely toneful. Two channels-both useful. Loudest 40-watt amp ever made (I keep up with the other guitarist's Roland JC120 easily) with great Vintage Fender tone. Also responds to stompboxes very well (specifically MXR Phase 90, Ibanez TS9, Crybaby, Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Classic Fuzz, and Danelectro Daddy-O). I wouldn't mind if it had two more 10" speakers.

I use four main guitars: Fender Esquire maple fretboard w/vintage-style single coil in bridge; '62RI Fender Stratocaster rosewood fretboard w/three single coils; Danelectro DC3 rosewood fretboard w/three lipstick single coils; G&L F-100 rosewood fretboard w/two phase- and coil-tapped humbuckers. Also use a vintage (1940's) Astatic microphone & Lee Oskar harmonicas for harp. Very suitable for the Texas Roadhouse music that I play. Great vintage Fender Tube tone. Overdrives-doesn't really distort-at volume settings above "7" but I rarely have to push it that high. Only noisy when I turn on too many overdrive pedals at once.

Very dependable--never left me stranded. I carry a Line 6 Pod for backup but never had to use it in emergency (the other guitarist has used my Pod when his Roland died painfully during a set). I blew the original Oxford-style speakers after seven years of semi-regular use and abuse--replaced them with Eminence 50W/10 inch.

I've been playing for 15 years and have owned several other Fender tube amps (silver-faced Twin Reverb, Champ, and Bassman Ten) but this is the best amp I've ever owned or played through for my style. If I were to have to replace it, I would definitely try to find another just like it. The only other amp I've found as versatile and responsive to my style is the Fender Super Reverb. The only thing I wouldn't mind having added to my Vibroverb is two more 10 inch speakers (an extension cabinet is in the works) for the extra punch.

Believe it's a '93 mfg. Features etc., listed in most of the other reviews. Although rated at 40watts, I have to tell you this is the loudest 40watt amp I've ever come across. I play all types of venues and volume has never been a problem, other than my previous bass player telling me to turn down! Hell, I only once turned it up past 5 1/2. Like many others I upgraded the tube, GTs, and the speakers, Weber 10A125-O. The Webers in particular are fantastic. I would strongly recommend these above all other brands. They turned a really good amp into a really seriously Great amp. I give it an 8 for verstility in that it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but then if that's what you want buy a Line 6.

I play strictly rhythm. I use a '62 RI Tele Custom with a Kinman Avn '62 in the bridge and a Duncan Antiquity in the neck. I play original roots rock running the gamut from blues to country but with a definete rock edge. This amp is perfect for me. The Webers give it loads of very solid smooth bottom end and just wonderful shimmering highs. The only effect I use is a guitar cable. The "vibrato" is wonderful as only tube driven can be. The reverb is okay but tends to be over the top unless you want Dick Dale sounds in which event it's nearly perfect. I rarely set the reverb over 1. I'll replace with a three spring tank at some point. A relatively cheap upgrade.

I used to use a '78 Tele Custom until the weight became a problem. The Seth Lover humbucker's stronger output created very nice crunch when required. With single coils it stays fairly clean unless you really whack it up. Eventually I'll replace the Duncan with an original Fender humbucker.

My lead guitarist, a truely legendary Texas guitar slinger, used my Vibroverb at a rehearsal and was knocked out. We are now in the process of selling off his Devilles and a Marshall to swap for a "63 RI Vibroverb with Webers.

This is a killer harp amp, BTW.

This is actually my second Vibroverb. The first I bought new in 1991 when I lived in the UK. I toured Europe with it for 12 years before I moved back to Austin. It literally fell out the back of a truck! An hour later it fired up and performed flawlessly. Never a problem.

I also play a Takamine acoustic through an AER Compact 60/II. The Fender is not likely to breakdown but on the odd occasion that I pop a guitar string I just swap to the acoustic till it's sorted.

Never used them.

Playing for 38 years. I also have an AER Compact 60/II and a Takamine jumbo. In addition I play harp through the #2 input of the normal channel using an original '60s Shure "Green Bullet". This is a fantastic harp amp!

Best value for money amp on the planet! I'd definetely get another and another and another.. In fact, I came to buy the RI Vibroverb when my '65 BF Vibrolux-Reverb was stolen.

Built in '91. Nice and basic--normal and bright channel. Reverb and vibrato. Same basic circuit as the original except on a printed circuit board instead of point-to-point. Solid state rectifier, which varies from original '63. Speakers have been upgraded, just like every other one out there. I gave features a 9 because it's almost perfect for what it is. You would hate it, of course, if you were shopping for something fancy. The features it has are flawless. I like the 2x10 setup. During the 60's Fender opted for a single 15" speaker after '63, but the 2x10 seems to sound a little sharper to me.

Teles and Strat only. One Tele with Texas specials. Good for blues and general duty where guitar sound is important. I doubt you'll see Linkin Park using one of these. Amp seems like a perfect match. The amp generally stays pretty clean, then gets tubey up loud. Very strong. There's debate about the benefits of point-to-point wiring over PCB amps. I don't think I play well enough for that to really matter much in this case. If I did, it probably still wouldn't matter. Either way, everyone ought to be listening to the music, not the amp, anyway. An the music sure sounds good through this amp.

Belt and suspenders man--it's always easier to switch to a backup than to stand there wondering why your perfectly reliable rig isn't working. This amp could probably fall off the truck and still work, so I'm confident. I feel the same about the backup.

The folks at Fender are decent, but they are totally unequipped to deal with consumers, even for most warranty matters. They keep service as easy as 123--1. take to where you bought it, 2. take it to an authorized service center, or 3. take it to a tech you trust. For this amp, forget it. Cust. service is irrelevant. Choose option three.

I play a couple of Teles, Strat, couple of acoustics. Not much of a pedal fanatic. If this were lost or stolen, I'd definitely want another one. The only alternative I'd consider would be a Super Reverb. This is a great little amp--compact, pretty light, sounds way bigger than it looks. I've been a Fender fan since the 60's, and they've never really disappointed me. They generally always sound like Fenders and are usually bulletproof. It would change anything on the Vibroverb. It's the ultimate utility amp.

Not sure of the year the amp was made. I bought it used off eBay. The features have all been covered. Two channels, Normal and Bright. Two inputs for each channel. I play classic rock, jazz and country. This amp is well suited for all my playing styles. I'm currently not playing in a band. I'm was in high school when the original Vibroverb was produced by Fender and that's why I bought the reissue. I always liked the no nonsense function and sound of 60's Fender amps.

I am playing an 87 Fender Strat Plus, a 96 Fender Strat Plus, a 99 Fender American Series Tele and a 2003 Gibson SG Special. When I first got this amp used the reverb wasn't working. The tubes were original and the amp didn't have much punch. I retubed it with new Sovetek's all around and dropped in a new Accutronics reverb tank with 3 springs instead of the original 2 springs. That solved the problem. Now the amp has a very deep and lush reverb with very long dwell time. The amp is dead quiet which is unusual for a tube amp. The amp sound is clean, clean, clean. You can push the tubes to a nice break up but you have to have the volume up pretty loud. If you want distortion at a lower volume level get a pedal. The amp gives me all the variety I need. The Tremelo is fantastic. Brings back a lot of memories. I used to have a 1965 Super Reverb my senior year in high school and this amp sounds very similiar.

Can't say yet, but if it's like my previous Fender tube amp experience it can fall off a truck and be run over and still be playable. As with any tube amp, regular servicing is required. I would gig with the amp without a backup.

I have not dealt with Fender with this amp other than downloading an owner's manual. If Fender is like they used to be, they are difficult to deal with. A good local music store that is a Fender Authorized Dealer will make life easier.

I have been playing for over 40 years. I own a 1987 Fender red knob Champ 12 tube amp and a Crate Blue Voodoo BV60 in addition to this amp. Now that I have the Vibroverb the Blue Voodoo is going. I don't need it as this amp has enough power for my needs. If this amp were lost or stolen I would definitly try to replace it.

This amp is true to the original in cosmetics. It has two distinct channels. One Normal and Vibrato and one Bright with Reverb and Vibrato. There is no effects loop or channel switching. In that respect it is like the original. It has two Oxford reissue 10" speakers. It is 40 watts I believe. It has two 6L6GC's, four 12AX7's and one 12AT7 for the inverter. The rectifier is solid state. The amp meets my expectations for strictly a vintage Fender sound. There is no master volume on this amp. The reverb is weak, but I have ordered a new reverb tank that has 3 springs.

I'm using a 1987 Fender Strat Plus, a 1996 Fender Strat Plus, a 1999 Tele American Series and a 2003 Gibson SG Special. This amp is quiet since being retubed. The sound of the amp is strictly 50's and 60's vintage Fender. The tubes can be drivin at a high volume so if you want low volume distortion you will need a pedal.

I haven't had the amp long enough to know how reliable it will be. I did install new Sovetek's all around and the amp sounds 100% better than when I first got it used. My only concern is the weak sounding reverb. Hopefully a new tank will help.

Don't know. Haven't used them with this amp. If previous experience is any indication support will be spotty.

I bought this amp with the hope of bringing back memories. I have been playing for over 40 years. I think it will live up to my expectations.

I guess I dont have to repeat everyting one more time.

I love this amp, but you need to do some mods. I changed the cap on the bright channet from the original 0.047 pf to a 0.120 pf. That really opened up the high end of the amp. I also repaced the stock speakers (crap IMO) to a pair of Celestion Vintage 10s. That gave the amp much better bass response and it also increased the clean headroom. With the stock speakers this amp couldnt handle any external od/dist/fuzz pedals but now I can trow almost anything att it and it just sonds super. Enough volume to do unmiked gigs in small/medium venues. Wonderfull sound with my Tele or Strat. I'll give it a 8 cous it is not the Holy Grail of guitar amps, but it is a very good amp for anyone seeking a portable (and good lookin!!!)tube amp with a superb clean/slightly dirty Fender sound. But you need to mod it to get there IMHO.

No problems so far.

Bought it second hand. No warranty, never delt with Fender.

Been playing for 25 years, now mostly using a 72'Tele and a 65'Strat into a Fulltone modded Cry Baby, a T-Rex ComNova compressor, a Line 6 Modulation Modeller, a HBE Power Screamer, a BJF Dyna Red Dist, a BJF Pink Purple Fuzz and a Ernie Ball Volume Pedal into the Vibroverb amp. I play almost everything from jazz to heavy metal and this amp does it all, with a little help from my pedal board. And I dont break my back carrying it to and from gigs. I've heard that the Vibroverb ri is almost identical to the current Custom Vibrolux Reverb amp that Fender sells this day. Dot now about that but I do like this amp (but you need to mod it!).

This amp was made in 1994. The reverb is awesome. This amp does not have a dial for the midrange, it is auto-set at 4 i believe. Bass can get really tight with it down to 1.5. That's awesome. Does my blues just fine.

This amp rocks, but there are two things that many people complain about. The tube and speakers break up way too early. This is not a very clean amp with the stock parts. I just installed some ruby tubes in this mother, and that makes a big difference right there. The amp is not as loud, and is actually has a clear bright sound. Next I am going to install some ElectroVoice speakers, those speakers will not break up one bit.

With those two changes, this amp owns.

Reliable as Fender always is

Never had to deal with them, that's a good sign of reliability.

Of course, I would like a Dumble amp or a '64 vibroverb...but those are extreemely expensive. Plus, I'm not a pro player. This amp has that clear tone, add a tube screamer, and you have a great sounding amp for blues.

Everyone has listed the features... It's a one trick pony, but it's a helluva trick!
One thing I hate is that the reverb/tremolo pedal cord is only about 6 feet long. I went out and got some stereo cable and made my own - now it's 25 feet long! Little things like that bug me, cheap ways to cut prices and annoy consumers.

I play straight ahead rock in the Replacements, Tom Petty tradition using Rickenbacker (6 & 12's with toaster tops!), Custom made Telecasters with mini-humbuckers in the neck and an ES-135 with mini-humbuckers. This amp stays clean when I want it to and breaks up when I want it to. I could drive the amp hard and get it's own distortion but we don't play that loud, so I use a DOD pre-amp 250 pedal. I think the only decent pedal DOD ever made! Also a MXR micro-amp, Tube Screamer and volume pedal.
The speakers and tubes sucked in this thing when I got it so I put in Svetlana 6L6's and Naylor Special Drive 1040 speakers. Then this thing came to life!
Currently I'm running this along side a Vox AC-30 and am attaining a huge sound without getting obnoxious. It's a good sound I have, I like it, I'm sticking with it for a while.

So far so good, but this one always scares me to rate...

N/A

Been playing 16 years and have played through most popular brands of amps, and owned quite a few as well. I was looking for a Super Reverb when I found this one and fell in love with it.
Of course there are things I wish it had but most of my demands are unnessasary.

I got one of the earliest production models--traded a '67 twin reverb even for it. std. features for what it is.

blues. the original oxfords sounded really good but didn't break up enough for me at the time--needed volume at 6 or 7 and that was LOUD.

i parked this amp and started using a Deville 212. Later I used it with a keyboard synth, and when I tried it with guitar again I found the speaker cones were ripped. I pulled them out and repaired them, then ordered two 50 watt Eminence speakers from Parts Express. The amp got a bit louder and broke up a little sooner. Then I put in Svetlana tubes. Much smoother. Then I ordered 2 of the Jensen Blue Alnicos. Lost a lot of volume and breaks up really early. The best tone comes from the origianl Oxfords with Svetlana outputs and other high quality 12AX or AT7's. If you want SUPER full SUPER REVERB sound from this amp, add a 2-10 cabinet to the extrension output.

Best tremolo anywhere. Reverb is super thick past "2".

I recommend also adding a bias adjust circuit, and , if you really want to get closer to the original Verb's sound, mod it for a tube rectifier.

Own 8 guitars and also a '65 RI Super Reverb and a Deville 212.

Playing blues 14 years. None of these amps does everything perfectly.

This is a March, 1992 amp (according to Greg Gagliano's explanation of Fender amp production codes). Others have discussed the features, so I won't repeat them here. Although the amp is traditional in its layout and features, it has all that I need -- two channels and reverb, alomg with the best sounding tremelo circuit available on a production amp. For blues, R & B and Americana, that's all you need.

At first I was disappointed in this amp. It lacked the high-end air and shimmer of the Fender BF amps that I had played, and I began to regret selling my old 1966 Pro Reverb (until I recalled how heavy it was to cart around). Several others have remarked on this site how this amp is "dark," and I would place the treble on 10 to begin to get enough air or presence. I use a variety of guitars through this amp -- Strats, Teles, a Les Paul Special with P-90s and some humbucker-equipped guitars -- and found the same problem with each. Also, it seemed to break up early(on 4), and I was looking for a lot of clean headroom. Over the past year and a half, I have: (1) replaced the stock Oxfords with Jensen C120Q reissue speakers; (2) replaced the stock Chinese tubes with Svetlana 6L6 power tubes and Electro Harmonix (12 AX7-EH) and Phillips (12 AT7) tubes; (3) replaced the 47 pf bright switch cap (C11) with a 120 pf cap (the same value used on the BF bright switch); and (4) replaced the 1.1 K ohm bias resistor (R58) with a 3.9 K ohm bias resistor (as Fender Technical Notes recommend for VVs built before summer 1992). With these changes, the bright channel sounds more like a BF Vibrolux Reverb, I only have to turn the treble to 6 or 7, the headroom is much greater (with breakup at 6 rather than 4), and the normal channel has a very usable (though non-reverb) brownface tone. Now I'm happy, and so is my back.

So far, I've had no problems. I know there's a debate between PTP and PCB wiring in terms of tone, serviceability and durability, but I was able to make the modifications I needed to get the right tone, and so far, the amp is both quiet and dependable.

I have dealt with Fender before, though not with this amp. They were somewhat bureaucratic and difficult to deal with. This amp is long off-warranty (and my mods would have voided it anyway).

I've been playing for over 35 years. With the above described modifications, this amp is fine and should last me for a long time. In a perfect world, I'd own a 1965 -1967 BF Vibrolux Reverb, but this will do (and is substantially less expensive). The reverb is good (and almost too much -- I can't really set it over 2), the tone now is airy enough for the twang and snap of a Tele and for the quack of a Strat, and it gives me all the volume I need in a reasonably portable package. It works well with pedals, such as a TS-9, for those times when I need to get a thicker tone at a lower volume. (Also, I purchased this from the Twelfth Fret in Toronto -- they were great to deal with, and made buying internationally an easy transaction -- not a shill, just want to recognize good service.)

I bought this amp second hand from my local music shop for $700.00 cdn
the 2 10 inch oxford speakers had been replaced with a single 4 ohm 12 inch Fender speaker. As has already been noted in the other reviews, this is a 40 watt all tube re-issue of a '63 Vibroverb. This seems to be fairly accurate as far as re-issues go. The tolex is brown with a brown faceplate, brown knobs, tilt back legs and even a ground switch. These amps were made from @1990 til @1995. The tube driven tremelo is from an early Fender design as is the 3 spring long pan reverb. These amps seem very well put together. I have no problem with printed circuit boards. Unless you have a boutique amp, or an old amp you have printed circuit boards

When I first got this amplifier, I noticed it had the original duff oriental tubes. A quick trip to the old radio repair shop for some tasty n.o.s. stuff. R.C.A.'s and Philips. That helped some but still no real warmth and some shrillness at the top. Next came the Weber VST C12n 4 ohm. After a few weeks break-in.........tone to the bone!
It occurs to me that the easiest place for the manufacturers to make cost cuts is with tubes and speakers, so it makes sense to upgrade these components first. I had a Custom Vibrolux Reverb with Fender blue alnico speakers and chinese tubes and performed the same upgrades to great effect, that is i changed the speakers to Webers and re-tubed it.
Although i like the sonic spread of 2 10's I must admit that the 12 does have a lovely bottom end. Think of this amp as a Fender Deluxe on steroids. This amp is as quiet as a mouse. I put the volume on @4 or 5 the bass on @4 and the treble on @8. Reverb on 1.5 to 2 and just a little tremolo......2 and 2 sounds great. You can surf all day with this reverb and the tremolo drips.......this is very nice. I play mostly 50's and 60's rock and roll, and these are the sounds i remember. This amp will break up nicely above 5 on the volume, but as wwith much tube gear, this is a loud 40 watts. Telecasters and Stats sound great through this amp.

The construction quality is very good here. Plywood cabinet, nice tolex job, everything screwed together well. As stated before, change the tubes and carry spares, that just makes sense. Remember that this is not very expensive gear in the grand scheme of things....try buying
a Victoria, Bogner or Mesa for $700.00 C.D.N.

I have found over the years that your best bet in dealing with Fender of Gibson is to deal with a reputable retailer who will go to bat for you. If you regularly deal with a good shop they will support you just like you support them.

At our house we have Fenders, Gibsons, Marshalls but this is my amp of choice. I traded my Custom Vibrolux Reverb to my buddy for this one. He liked mine and i liked his so we swapped. I may one day return it to 2 -10's but for now I like the sound just the way it is.
To my ears this is a much better sounding amp than the '65 deluxe re-issue and only costs a little more. I would buy another in a heart beat.

The features of this amp are the specified in other submits. This one is an early 90's made amp bought new in 1995. I currently use the bright channel with reverb and sometimes tremelo. In my oppinion, both of them sounds extraordinary. The amp power is enought to play in small-medium sized locals. The amp is not too heavy (about 24 kg.).
This is not a very versatile and modern amp with a lor of features but sounds great the more classic styles (jazz, R&R, R&B, pop,....). Because its simplicity its very easy to use.

I play Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster and Takamine. All of them sounds well. My amp had 2 10'Oxfords. They sound very good at low level (down to 4) but if you turned the volume up the speakers got a horrible saturation. Moreover, I felt that the voice of the speakers had decrease along the years. The past year I changed them by Weber's. Now I feel happy with the great sound of the sepeakers. Now, if you put the volume at 10 the amp dont distorts. It acquires a lot of bright and sparkle sound.

The amp is very strong. I've never had problems with it. Like I've written before perhaps the speakers were not the more adequate for this amp.

Fender has not regular service in Spain. Fenders dealer in Spain gives you 6 months warranty (excluding tubes).

I've playing guitar about 20 years and I've owned and played a lot of other amps. Probably this is one of the more complete of them considering all of it's characteristics (sound, price, use easiness, strength, weight, look,..). If it were stolen or lost I'll try to find another one. I love it.

This is a pretty good repo of the original 63 Vibroverb. This is the basic Fender 2 Channel with Reverb and Vibrato on one channel. No bells or whistles here (Rating 5). I bought this from an individual who had just got an orginal Vibroverb and I had a chance to actually compare the two side by side. It doesn't break up like the original and maybe not as much nice mid range as the real thing. The first thing I did was change all the tubes. I'm running Sovtek 12AX7's and a couple of JAN Phillips 12AT7's. I put Svetlana 6L6G's in the finals. Man what a difference over the Chinese tubes that were in it! I felt it was still lacking and I got a couple of the new Jensen reissure C10Q with the 1.5 inch voice coil. After a fairly short break in this thing really rocks.

I have used this with a single coil RIC, Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul and a Epi 56 Goldtop Replica, and all with and without effect pedal. I'm using a Digtech RP 200 pedal and you can get whatever sound you want. No noise at all. Like I said above it just does'nt want to break up but the pedal makes up for it. This does have a solid state rectifier which just won't sag either. This thing sings clean though without any effect. I can't believe the bass response with the Jensen speakers. The individual guitars still sound like themselves.

I have had no problems at all with it and don't expect any. This was in near mint condition, and I do baby my stuff.

I do all my own amp repairs, This is out of warranty.

I have been playing since late 60's, mostly a bass player but love rhythm guitar and very minor leads. I have a strat, MIM tele, two gibson les pauls, one with 496 in both positions and one with PAF's, and an Epi LP Goldtop with P90's. I'm old enough to remember how these are supposed to sound. I'd rate higher but the stock speakers are not too hot and the original tubes are awful.

you know the features. a vintage-style amp with no bells and whistles and i got no problem with that.

please read this review with a grain of salt handy, because after owning this amp for several years and being happy with the sound i was getting out of it in my basement, it let me down big time at a gig last night. so some bad sounds are ringing in my ears right now. i like vintage and reissue type gear, and play the usual fenders and gibsons and, when my back feels strong, a travis bean. like everybody else, i'm always chasing the perfect tone. my style is blues-based, and i love all the '60's guitar gods. at home, at relatively low volumes and when matched with a chandler rack mount tube driver, this amp suited my style. on stage is another matter, as i'll explain more fully below.

reliability has not been a problem.

i've been playing a long time and have been thru more gear than i care to remember. for the past few years, however, i've tried to stick with the same stuff. for other amps i've got a mesa blue angel and various small blackface fenders. i had been using the mesa thru a 2x12 cab loaded with celestions with the band (a rootsy outfit playing blues and classic rock) but got tired of schlepping and decided to bring the vibroverb for a gig at a biker bar last night. the other guitarist (he tends to play rhythm more) uses a marshall 20 watt PA head into a single twelve - and he was smoking me big time! this amp is supposedly 40 watts, but sounds more like 15. funny, fender's pro junior is 15 and sounds like 40. i was playing a reissue strat, and the sound was terrible. while i like blues, i tend to go for a greasier, more distorted tone than the average tube screamer guy. the more i turned it up to cut thru, the worse the sound got. 40 watts on 8 should do the trick for the kind of band i'm in, but i was not cutting it at all. and i just couldn't get any sustain. you know that feeling when the sound is just fighting you and everything becomes an effort such that you have to play really safe so you don't sound like an idiot? it was humiliating. this amp does not really distort as you turn it up - it just goes BLAT! again, i think it's OK for clean sounds, and the reverb is good. the speakers suck, but i knew that before last night. i've read other posts where people have extensively modded these, but experience has taught me that you shouldn't beat a dead horse. i'll keep the amp and use it at home as clean amp, but i'm not risking bringing this to a gig again.

y'all know the features

play blues and drunk-a-billy with a strat and tele. when I first heard this amp I thought it was the best sounding amp I had heard. It sounds great at low volumes. When played with a band it is a little weak. I found it very tight and lacked depth. I experimented with different pre and power tubes. this helped but not enough. when played at 5 or 6 the amp broke up moderately but was very harsh. I use a TS9 tubescreamer and this enhanced the overdrive. I later ran a '59 bassman reissue with it and this improved the fullness a lot. I really thought this was the sound that i had been looking for. I then found a '73 super reverb in a basement for $65 bucks. Until then i really did not know what a good amp sounded like. This amp had warm fat overdrive and depth. the reverb and trem were lush but not as creamy as the super.

I never had any problems with it

I have been playing for 15 years. I will only get vintage amps now, no more reissues. I have since bought a '67 blackface supeer that i run with the 73 super. with that being said the vibroverb and the bassman sound better than any new amp around, including the fender blues deville. these amps sound old but they do not have the same cream and warmth of vintage fenders.