Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb

A simple straight forward rig. Classic Fender tone. Awesome Vibro and reverb! As little or as much as you could need. The Classic reissue Jensens were a must for it's sound.

Again the Classic Fender sound. I am a professional blues musician I am a harp player. I must have plugged into 10 different amps (Fenders..the only amp of serious blues men) and for me the Vibrolux had incredible cut, yet the warmth of vintage sound. The Devilles can't touch it! The Prosonic was too warm with no cut for harp..fantastic sound for guitars however. Harp on this amp reaches out and slaps you in the cheek and caresses your soul at the same time. The vibro is killer

Can tell yet I' had it only a short time.

From previous oppinions I'm glad I have'nt had to experience this area yet.

I've been blowin' harp for 27 years. Have had countless amps from A-Z. Vintage rigs to modern rigs. This amp has that same vintage sound most of us stive for...but in modern rig. I would replace it overnight if anything happened to it. I can find no flaw in this amp for what I like. I had gadgets and gizmos that are designed to compensate for a lack of skill. I am not a purist, but have no use for effects with my style of playing and music. This is a no BS amp for no BS players..It is not a Marshall, it is not a Mesa Boogie......Thank God!!! I think it will be classic highly sought after amp in the future!

This amp was manufactured in June 2000. I bought it new from a local store in my area. I basically bought it because I needed something bigger than my Blues Jr. Looking at the features in the catalogue, I thought that this amp should not sound bad... It's an all-tube fender amplifier, which has a beautiful vibrato. The reverb sounds quite weak, but when you turn your amp up it becomes more and more present. No effects loop, not DI inputs, not headphones, no nothing. Onlt two channels that can't be switched. The two channels are very uselful because I don't need to carry another amp for the lapsteel. It's the basic fender amp. I give it a 10 because despite the seeming lack of feature, this amps does everything I want. Although this amps seems to be a "plug and play" kind of amp, it is not at all the case. Let me explain further...

I'm using an American Vintage '62 Stratocaster made in 98. I still have the original pickups, I don't need anything else. The effects I use with it are a Fulltone Fulldrive2 FM (older version) and a RMC1 wha-wha.
It is very easy to say : what's that amp? It is quite difficult to get the right sound with it. All the knobs interact with the others. It means that when you turn the volume up or down, you've got to re-think your equalization. Tiresome? Maybe, but once you've broken in this steer, you've opened the gates of tone heaven. A signal doesn't come fully equalized from the guitar into your amp. This difference is proportionally emphasized when the signal is amplified. This amp is extremely sensitive. It reproduces exactly what to feed it with. be careful what you plug in it. Beware of the way you're playing too! You have to fight with it for some time. The first times I gigged with it I sounded like crap, too bright, to dark, too loud, gosh! I can understand that some people get fed up with it and say it is a piece of junk. But then, little by little, I learnt to use it, and I can telle you now that no one around got THAT fender tone but me. Give it an other chance before selling it.
However, I changed some tubes, I put sveltanas 6L6GC and JAN 12AT7 for reverb and PI (instead of the 12AX7) and get a sweeter tone. A tesla ecc83 makes the tremolo quiet.
It is an old-style amp : turn the volume up, it overdrives, you can control it with your guitar volume. However I find that it breaks up a little too soon. I like it though, but you have to re-think the equalization if you plan to play above 3 or 4.
Roll off the bass or you'll get the dreaded farty sound.You can sound louder by adding a bit of treble, depending on your guitar.
This is the amp you'd better know before you buy it. There's one which is still waiting for a home in another music shop in my city. I you buy it at random, you might love it or completely hate it.
Hiss is not a problem on stage. Sometimes the amps makes some strange noises but when you play, it cannot be heard. The amp's tone is so warm, chimy, crunchy, with my strat it is such a pleasure. As far as the cosmetics are concerned, I love the white knobs. I wish I had bought a blond model, but I wanted the jensen speakers and didn't want to spend more money on other speakers.
I wish it had more reverb, so I give it a 9.

I've gigged countless times with it an never had a problem.

Never dealt with Fender France. They wouldn't help me because I bought the amp from an unauthorized seller.

It is all the same a bit expensive. But I do think that this amp is a good amp, which does its job extremely well if you remain in its domain (that's too say, old rock 'n'roll, rockabily, country music, etc.)You've got to learn to know it.
To make a long story short, you've got to play for years to enjoy it fully. It is not a Hot Rod Deluxe. It is not an amp to play in your bedroom. It is an amp to play on stage. That's all.
When my father hears me play (I'm 21 and playing for 8 years), he says that it reminds of his youth in the 60s, that the music he used to listen had the same guitar sounds. And I exactly feel the same when I listen to his old records.

Bought new in Switzerland. Manufactured summer 2000. Well known Fender design, 2 channels with reverb and tremolo, 40 Watts power, 2x6L6 Groove (Sovtec) power tubes, 5x12AX7 Groove (Sovtec) preamp tubes, tremolo and PI, 1x12AT7 reverb driver. 2xJensen 10" blue alnico reissue speakers. Common Fender style control panel. PCB board design. Diode rectifier.

The original factory configuration:
Sounds brittle and cold as ice. Hiss like a waterfall. Farty low end.
The reverb is weak and useless. The amp's original factory configuration is useless and my rating is 1-2.
My modifications:
Changed ALL the tubes and replaced with NOS. Replaced the PI tube with NOS 5751. Replaced the reverb output capacitor with the original BF Vibrolux Reverb value. Changed the values of the power tubes bias resistors and increased the idle power of the power tubes. Installed a negativ feedback loop. Removed the 47pf treble bypass cap.
The modification improves the sound+reverb dramatically. The sound is clean but not brittle. It "signs" with volume setting 5-6. Some hiss is still audible, but the amp is more quietly then before.

It works. Never broked down.

I don't even think to contact Fender Support again.

The modified amp is now O.K. but that's all. I've been playing since 1962 (Rock'n'Roll and R&B) and never played anything else on stage then Strats and Fender amps. For recording sessions my '66 BF Deluxe Reverb and for gigs my '67 BF Vibrolux Reverb. And I tell you: no other new Fender amp compares to the sound of the vintage BF Vibrolux Reverb! The (new) Custom Vibrolux Reverb and one '63 Vibroverb Reissue are my emergency-backup amps.

This is bascally a 40-watt, all tube, 2x10, non-channel switching amp with tube reverb and tube tremelo. Yes...tubes, tubes and more tubes. A bunch of (5) 12AX7s, a 12AT7 and a couple of 6L6 power tubes. There are two input channels with their own volume, bass and treble controls, but there is no channel switching...you could however a/b from one to the other if you want. Channel 1 is standard, channel 2 is bright. Each channel has two inputs, one standard and one that is attenuated (-6db I think). There are master controls for Reverb and Tremelo, each accessible via the included 2-button fottswitch. There's an extra speaker jack on the back, but that's about it. This is a very simple combo, so it isn't supposed to have a lot of features. I think its everything it needs to be, which is basically a single channel amp that breaks up much earlier than other Fender amps. The preamp on this amp is designed to break up early - you can overdrive the amp at much lower volume levels. If you want clean headroom, get a Twin or something else. Note that there is no mid tone control, but I find that it is not needed and I do not miss it. Speakers are 2x10 Jensen P10Rs w/Alnico Mags.

Let me preface this section by reminding you that I have never been a Fender guy. Some people think Fender can do no wrong, but when I was looking to make a change in amp, I was skeptical about Fender as an option. As a matter of fact, I don't like the rest of the pro tube series nor do I like the hot rod series. However, when I plugged into this amp, I couldn't believe my ears.

I cannot tell you how full this little amp sounds. Never did I think a 40 watt 2x10 would keep up with an 8 piece rock/funk band, but I find I can't take her much above #2 on the volume before I'm overpowering the rest of the band. I'm used to solid state and some other tube amps that you have to crank just to be heard, but the sound coming out of this little jem is so complex and multi-dimensional that it can be heard within the mix of a band without having to be loud. Its very strange...especially considering its relatively low power and smallish speakers. I run my guitars throught the bright channel, where I get this very open, transparent, chimy clean tone that is absolutely wonderful...even with the stock groove tubes. I bought some Sovtek preamp tubes and Svetlana power tubes and I can't imagine how it will sound after I get those in there. Again, this amp is clean up till about 3 where it starts to break up very nicely at around 3-4. Even at 3 or 4 the amp is louder than is usable in my situation. I mainly use what I call a Les Paul/Strat hybrid. Its a Washburn Custom Shop NX6 in Padouk (relatively bright tonewood) with a Duncan 59 in the neck and a Custom 5 in the bridge. I have the ability to split both pickups for a ton of tone variations. I also use a Washburn HB30 (335 clone) with a Jazz in the neck and JB in the Bridge. This amp with these guitars and a couple of choice pedals in front give me just about any tone I need. I go from either guitar to a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah, a Carl Martin compressor, Tech 21 NYC Double Drive, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Guyatone MD3 delay into the amp. I used to use the compressor all the time on my other solid state amps (Tech 21 Trademark 120), but I neve use it here...there's enough natural compression in the amp. The Double Drive gives this rig a rich yet natural sustaining distortion and a ton of gain when I want it. The Sparkle Drive lets the clean shine through with just a bit of hair around the edges. The amp's tube reverb is very natural and warm. Its very different from the outboard reverbs I used in the past, but it is so musical that I use it most of the time and do not miss the outboard units. The tremelo has limited uses, but it is stunning when you do kick it in. I deducted a point for the the stock power tubes, which aren't up to the mark with some other offerings...even changin the last 12AX7 from a GT to a Sovtek made an audible (and favorable) difference in sound (smoother).

I deducted points mainly because Tube Circuitry is inherently less reliabe than solid state. Also, when I brought the amp home, I noticed the last preamp tube was microphonic. The store replaced it free with a Sovtek, and the sound was even better.

Never had to deal with Fender, but I have complete faith in my dealer Parkway Music in Clifton Park, NY.

AN absolutely fabulous amplifier. Its tone inspires me to play more and to play better. For what it is I love everything about it. Its even smaller and lighter than its larger competitors. No mid tone control? No problem...this amp doesn't need it...nor does it need a a lot of tone tweaking at all. Just turn it on, plug in and enjoy.

Amp is a late 90s. Amp is good for Blues and Blues Rock. I don't play much of anything else with it. 2 channels, normal and vibrato. No FX Loop, No frills. Wish it had a lusher reverb like a Twin. I never use the Tremelo effect. 40 tube watts, plenty loud for all my gigs, mostly too loud. I rate it a 2 in this catagory because it's a one trick pony, but it is a really good trick.

I use a strat with noiseless pickups and it sounds excellent.
It suits my style awesome (SRV Hendrix Trower) It's a little noisy with my OD pedal and there is a little hiss, but not that noticable.
Amp has a good clean with that slight break up, that gets better the louder it gets. Very nice! If you turn this bad boy up to like 7, you get a fantastic blues tone, but it's too loud for most clubs, so I use a TS9 to push it at low volume. The distortion is not brutal at all, more like singing overdrive. This is not a rock amp by any means.

I've gigged it hard for about 6 months now. Never had a problem yet.
It's never broken down. It does tend to change it's sound a lot. But it's the rooms. Some rooms it sings in, others it sounds dead and I have to mic it a little. I am going to have it serviced soon just to be safe. I always carry a 1x12 Peavey Bandit for Backup no matter what.

Never had to call Fender and I've had tons of their products. Like any piece of gear, if you take good care of it, it will work right for you.

I've been playing for 24 years. wow I'm getting old!
I have a strat and a bunch of pedals and also a Hot Rod Deluxe.
I love the simple approach to this amp, and it always sounds good. I like to just plug in and set my sound and go. I hate tweak boxes. I bought a Line 6 Flextone and returned it after 2 days. I can't stand having to keep playing with settings during a gig. With this amp, the only thing I ever have to adjust is the volume.
If it were stolen, That would be a lucky theif. he would get a tone monster and I'd be a little upset. Hopefully my home owners insurance would cover another one.

Amp is first year of production(1995 I believe) beautiful Blonde Tolex!I also play a Mesa Boogie Mk IIb,Fender Hot Rod Deluxe,Fender Super Champ(1984),and a Fender Blues Jr.This amp has very basic yet utlitarian feature,2 non switchable channels,Fender reverb,beautiful vibrato, 2 ten inch speakers, and tilt back legs.

I play blues,R&B and covers with a 7 piece horn band using mainly Strats and Teles with occasional P-90 equipped PRS McCarty and a Les Paul Standard.When I first bought this amp, I was soon disappointed in its low headroom(starts breaking up at about 4)because I had been used to channel switching amps with definite clean and overdrive channels.However, this amp has broken my habit of playing with the guitar volume knob dimed and I realize how dynamic this amp is. Roll guitar knob down, cleans up nice; take it to ten and be rewarded with GREAT bluesy drive. The sweet spot on the amp for me is;Input 1 on normal channel, Volume at 4-5,Bass 6,Treble 8-9,reverb 4-5, and vibrato to taste. My amp does hiss some, but in live situations, it isn't is not a problem. I use a pedal board with Boss CS2 compressor,OD2 Super Overdrive, CE2 Chorus,TR3 Tremelo,and DD2 Digital Delay; all of which work well with the amp(however can increase hiss depending on settings).

Had one of the speakers putz on me within 2 years but had it quickly replaced at a Authorized Fender Warranty repair shop with no problem at all.

See Above!

I have been playing 29 years semi pro(weekends) in clubs,corporate events, weddings,opening for nat'l acts,recording, just about any kind of musical situation you can imagine and own numerous tube amps and guitars. If this amp were lost or stolen I probaly would try something else I have never owned(perhaps a Class A amp like Vox,Matchless, Gibson GoldTone)While I do really enjoy my "Custom" Vibrolux Reverb, it is not the "end all,be all" amp for me. In fact it only sees about 20-30% of my gig time because I pick and choose various amps for different gigs!

Alright class, does anyone know what mass-market schlock is? Yes, Johnny...Well, sir, mass-market schlock is ordinary, overpriced junk that looks good to a large cross-section of uneducated consumers. That's right Johnny! Can anyone give me some examples of mass-market schlock. Well sir, how about Bayliner Yachts, Carnival Cruises, General Motors and Fender Musical Instruments. Yessirree solid garbage for those with time on their hands and little disposable income.

That describes me and my 1995 blonde tolex Custom Vibrolux Reverb Amp. It's a pure modernday knockoff of a 1960s Leo Fender amp, nothing more and nothing less. Everything about this amp and everything else produced for mass consumption is all about subjectivity.

Sounds...simple...brittle treble and bass that can only be used at low volume. Hisses like a rattlesnake. Produces limited volume when called upon. Too loud for home use and not loud enough for stage use. Virtually no headroom; starts to breakup with volume set at 3. Don't use humbuckers unless you want drive at lower volume than 3. Dealer spent a few hours retubing with American N.O.S. tubes and accomplished nothing, in fact, the amp broke-up sooner. This is a little boy's rock amp at a young man's price point. It's pretty though (see how we masses are reeled in).

Bought new in August 1995 and hasn't failed yet!

Been playing since the late 1950s. Are you impressed? I must be good. For all you know I haven't learned anything new since 1961 so let's cut the vanity crap, we're all big stars.

Note the overall rating; pure mass-market schlock. Did I mention how pretty the amp is? Would you like to buy it?

This is a very basic amp. It has that famous Fender clean "chime" and a nice overdrive when cranked 5+.

The amp is not a Carr Rambler, but it's not $2000 either! I was looking for something with good clean with would overdrive nicely when pushed and this amp fit the bill. Definitely an amp with Mojo!

No problems so far - but I've only had it a couple of weeks.

Fender seems to respond to emails.

This is a basic amp with tons of tone, incredible dynamics, pick response, enough power for small clubs, and fairly low weight. I'd buy this amp again if it were stolen (or I'd save my pennies for a Carr Rambler).

2002 with Groove Tubes and Jensons.

Pure Tube Tone Great Reverb and I Love the trem wich is very unusual for me because I normally hate trems, the Jensons are perfect.

Right out of the box the damm light doesn't work and the footswitch is garbage, other than than that, I have finally found the amp for me.

I will be calling them soon for the light issue I will comment later.

I just purchased this amp, however my Tele is a Tele now, and my Strat is a Strat now meaning so far Perfect. this amp is beyond my expectations so far.

Purchased about 1 year ago almost new but second hand nonetheless, 2001 model, black tolex. Features-wise, it's somewhat loaded for a Fender amp, with both Tremolo and reverb on each channel(normal, bright). Compared to my other amps though, it's quite a let-down. No effects loop, channel switching anything, etc. Lots of Fender clean, but the kind that somehow magnifies any mistakes, rather than smooth clean like an old blackface. More knife in the ear clean. Tons of that "honk" with a strat though, if that's your gig... Powerwise it also doesn't have the clean headroom one might expect from 40 watts, and get's lost in the mix if you need to crank it. Better to pick it up and throw it at the drummer. Nice pulsing Tremolo, though I don't use it much. At stage volumes the hiss isn't an issue.

I just can't see how the sound category is rated this highly! Used with both strats (w/wo humbuckers), LPs. First off, it has a ton of hiss at idle. Even more if you put Trem on. Even more if you connect a foot pedal. Now I know, people say oh, you need to change the tubes. Point is, I have several buddies playing these damn things, and many have changed the tubes and they still hiss. Take a look over at the Fender Forum website and you'll see the stories. Also, there is a guy below that talks about "too much bass" and putting the bass control on 1. In my experience, he is exactly correct. Anything over 1 or 2 on the knob and you get the ugliest, flubby base wet-fart noise outta the 2 tens I've ever heard. Total shit-box kinda noise. When it's not farting-out, it's pretty much a one-trick pony. No real distortion a higher volumes, just gets kinda creamy distortion with moderate volume.

I had no mechanical trouble with this amp, other than the aforementioned hiss which is a feature of these. There was a curious hump of adhesive the size aof a silver dollar (4-5 cm) on the top under the tolex--no doubt a sign of quality control. Plugging in the footpedal amplifies the hiss, so don't do that.

bwahaha! 5 year warranty. In all fairness, it didn't hiccup while in my stay so I can't really dog them on this amp. Generally, I've had little/no success with Fender warranties in the past, however.

Been playing long enough to be particular about my tone. Compared this side by side to a Mesa Rectoverb combo I also own--no comparison in my book. In summary, the is the amp version of those shitty coffee beans that were in a commercial a few years back. You know, where the guy is sitting on these crappy coffee beans, and he says he sold them, and then the guy he sold them to sold them to someone else.