Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb

Not officially defined as a "reissue". Best characterized by calling it "vintage inspired". This is a 40 watt, all tube (Groove Tubes), 2x10 (Fender Eminence replicas of Jenson P-10s) combo. Two non-footswitchable channels (Normal and Bright), each with Volume, Bass, and Treble controls (yes, that's all of them! No Gain). Each channel has 2 inputs ? Input 1 provides 6dB more gain than Input 2). Traditional Fender spring reverb (with a single control knob) and a 60's inspired Vibrato (2 control knobs ? Speed and Intensity). A practical, modern day design tweak allows use of Reverb and/or Vibrato on both channels (a great idea). A two-button footswitch also provides on/off control of these two features. Power/Standby switches are found on the rear panel, as well as an external speaker jack. No effects loop. Overall, a very classy looking amp ? Blackface styling, black tolex, white knobs, tilt back legs (very cool!). At 46 pounds it should be a bit easier to haul around compared to my heavier more awkward 4x10 Blues DeVille (now relegated to backup duty).
In a word, very BASIC features. But as in many things of a musical nature ? LESS IS OFTEN MORE! For this Strat Plus (with Gold/Silver/Blue Lace Sensors) and Tele blues/classic rock player, it's got everything I need.

This amp and I are still on our honeymoon but I think that I'm in love and will remain so. I'm so happy to have something that makes my Lace Sensors sound reasonable. This amp actually gives them some character. I find myself plugging into the Bright channel more than the Normal side of the house. 40 of the loudest watts I've ever heard ? more than enough to gig with in most medium clubs/bars. This is not a good bedroom amp. Although I also play a Les Paul Standard, this amp was made for Fender single coil axes ? no doubt about it. This is the tone that's been rattling around in my head since I was a kid back in the mid-Sixties ? and I'm thrilled to have found it again. If I had to describe this amp's tone with a single word, I would say that it "sparkles". The only things I put between my guitars and this amp are a Tubescreamer and Vox Wah. And with the way this amp readily produces warm overdriven tones, the Tubescreamer may not be in the starting line-up for much longer. I've also noticed that this amp is very responsive to pick attack ? digging in just a little produces a dramatic transition to a slightly more dirtied-up tone. Likewise, backing off on the pick or transitioning to finger style brings you right back into the clean zone.
Which brings me to one of my few negative comments ? this amp breaks up a little too early for my tastes ? starting at about 3.5 on both channels. I think the "real McCoy" mid-late 60s versions of these amps wait until 5 or above. I would like to have a little more clean headroom to work with. My proposed workaround is to crank the volume control to about 7 to 7.5 and use my guitar volume to control tone. We'll see. I may also consider Celestion Vintage 10s and NOS Sylvania 6L6 power tubes at some time in the future. But like I said, we're still on our honeymoon right now -- it's too early for that type of thing. My only other minor complaint is that this amp tends to be "hissy" and pops audibly (though not too terribly loudly) when footswitching. I can live with it though. However, I'm considering Texas Specials to replace the Lace Sensors ? so this might become more of an issue then.
I would not describe this reverb as being typically "Fender lush" ? it is more of a subtle type of reverb effect. Being used to my Blues DeVille where I typically set the reverb control at 3 to 3.5, I find myself dialing the Vibrolux control up to 5 to 5.5. Again, this is OK since I don't see myself doing a whole lot of Ventures / Dick Dale covers. I do like this reverb better than that of the DeVille.
To be honest, I can't make a valid assessment of the Vibrato feature ? because I'm struggling with how best to use it and integrate it into my musical genre. Never used it before in all my years of playing. But...I think that once I have more experience with it I'll learn to appreciate it more.
In a word, considering my blues/blues-rock orientation, I am initially very pleased with the sound qualities of this amp. And considering how anal I tend to be over tone, that single statement speaks volumes in favor of this piece of gear.

As a member of the Professional Tube series of the Fender product line as well as supposedly sharing some of the production features used in true "Custom Shop" products, I expect great things from this amp in terms of reliability. Considering the fact that the Owner's Manual is a whopping 7 pages long (including the covers..you gotta love it!) there aren't a whole lot of bells and whistles to cause problems. I like what I see so far. It appears to be a quality product. My hope is that I will never have to know anything more about the 5-year warranty other than the fact that I have one! Could you use this amp on a gig without a backup? Probably. Would I? No. But this has nothing to do with the amp -- it's my own personal preference. If it can break...it will. Count on it. Much too early to make an informed comment on reliability -- time will tell.

I paid a slightly higher price by buying this amp from a local dealer ? as opposed to going the catalog route. That gives me a name and a face that I can easily access any time I want should a problem develop. Another plus is that we have a pretty competent authorized repair center right here in the local area. As I would with any large, bureaucratic company, I intend to steer well clear of Fender customer support if at all possible.

I've been playing off and on for the past 30 years -- as I mentioned above I own a Strat Plus (my primary axe), a Tele Special, and a Les Paul Standard. This amp is taking the place of my 4x10 Blues DeVille as my "number one". I have yet to meet anything in life that is absolutely perfect. However, at this point I'm pretty happy with my purchase decision. My "great amp hunt" / decision process took me a full 6-7 months ? running the gamut from Line 6 to Mesa to Fender and everything in between. Damn near drove my friends and family nuts!! What I REALLY REALLY wanted (still do) was a 66 Super Reverb...but after not being able to find one at an affordable price (note that I didn't use the word reasonable) I stumbled onto the Vibrolux Reverb. The only other amp to make it into the "finals" was the Prosonic (didn't like or need the gain feature). Considering the "semi-reasonable" price and the tonal qualities (if you close your eyes you can feel and hear a touch of Blackface Super Reverb in it), this is a pretty good compromise. If I can sort out my concern over early breakup, I may well have purchased my last amp. Wouldn't that be something? Absolutely would buy it again!

This is your basic Fender combo with reverb. Classic Fender sound. The only deveation is that reverb is available in both channels. the amp also has Vibrato 2X10 40 watts

I use a Hamer Custom ArchTop and a Ibanez SM series(mini 335) with is amp. I also use a Dunlop WHA and a Danelectro Daddy-O pedeal. I play mostly Blues and Rock.

Well heres the RUB! I bought this amp used. I started gigging with it on regualar basis. About the third gig it stated dying. I thought it was overheating so I dug around till I found a Thermister on the AC so I bypassed it. NO HELP. Next I put a fan on it. No HELP! So I ripped the chassis out hooked my CD player to it got out the hairdryer and freon. I got the chassis so hot you could not touch it. It finally died. Turns out it was a speaker that was getting hot and shorting. So I have replaced the Speakers with WeberVST P10Q. I now believe this chassis is just about bullet proof.

Fender customer support is WORTHLESS!!! I have sent them E-mail called that stupid number and never! got a response. I have since found two other guys who have this or other fender amps with the Blue frame 10's and have had problems with them.

Its now a great amp. I would buy it again. I dont think its worth the $1200 bucks retail. But who pays that. Its a 500-600 $ amp

This amp is not intended to be versatile. It is just designed to do one thing - give you a bit of the old Fender experience....tone. It has two channels, but they cannot be footswitched. the reverb does work in both, so you can use an AB box to switch between channels, or do my favorite trick and bridge the channels (plug the guitar into #1 on the Normal channel, then put a patch cord between #2 Normal and #1 of the Bright channel. Then you can adjust each volume and tone to suit.) The amp is deceptively loud for 40 watts, and easily has more than enough volume to gig with. Past three on the volume knob, however, the amp breaks up - either a plus or a minus depending on what you want the amp to do.

The amp sounds great, but my complaint with this amp is the same as with the Vibro-King and the Bassman - the speakers absolutely SUCK. There, I've said it and 'Im not taking it back. I know others will disagree, but that is why this is a great country. The speakers crap out VERY early. Here's a mystery - why build a $2,500 amp (Vibro-King) and put $20 radio speakers in it?? I know, I know......alnico is king. Not these alnicos.
With different speakers (try Eminence of Celestion Vintage 10's), however, the amp picks up and sounds great. It is dark sounding, not jangly like blackface amps, and the preamp is set hot from the factory, so it does break up quickly. But for blues, it is very good, and stomp boxes work very well with it.

No problem, but soes have a bit of phantom popping and hiss.

No problems yet

Overall, a good choice if you like a warm, clean tone that distorts when drive hard. I have owned three, and once I caught on to how much the factory speakers kill the tone, I replaced them and like the amp a lot. I would look for one used, as the list price of $1.199 seems a bit steep compared to what else is in that price range.

Two channels (normal and bright) Tube reverb and vibrato (actually tremolo) Footswitch (reverb/vibrato) Volume, bass, and treble (no mids) Two 10" speakers External speaker jack No effects loop No heavy distortion
The lack of mid knobs is somewhat annoying, as is the lack of very much distortion. When you do want distortion, you have to turn the volume up pretty high. However, I think that a distortion box could solve some of these problems.

When you buy buy this amp, you are paying for the incredible tube sounds and vintage warmth it provides. The normal channel is smooth, while the bright channel is perfect for my folk-rock, R.E.M.-type music. The reverb is nice and the vibrato incredible. The only thing that keeps this amp from being a 10 is the annoying hissing that never stops.

N/A--Just bought it yesterday.

N/A--Just bought it yesterday.

At the price I bought it for, I would buy it again. It is truly a classic among amplifiers with its warm tones and simplicity if design. Thankfully, Fender didn't try to modernize it too much by adding tons of distortion or an effects loop. No matter what style of music you play, this amp will suit your needs, for great sound knows not the boundaries of genres.

40 watt (all-tube), 2 channels (non-switchable), reverb, vibrato, no effects loop, blonde tolex, tan grill cloth, tilt-back legs, not big on features but anybody buying this wouldn't care, it's still a classic!

As I play 50's/60's based material, the amp's sound is perfect, not overly noisy (with a Charvel Surfcaster, anyway) very clean but warm tone. At home I play mostly blues-based material, and the amp also has a great blues tone, although I have to admit, to make it really smooth, with the volume on about 5, it was blowing me out of the room.

As I took it on loan from my local dealer, I can only say I used it for 2 shows in 3 days, transported it about 750 miles, and it gave me no problems at all!

I loved the amp but, as I mic the amp and use the monitor system, I found the 40 watts to be too much for me. I realize this wouldn't be the case for most musicians, but in my situation I could only turn the amp up to about 2 before the soumd was "bleeding" off stage. Because of this, I chose to buy a '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, as the tone was equally nice, and the cut in power allows me to let the amp "work" a little more. I'll send in a review on this amp after I have used it more.