Fender Vibrolux Reverb Reissue

Made in 2003, with the '64 transition look: black face with cream knobs, looks cool. Two independent channel amp with reverb and tremolo in both channels, a great feature. Also the one thing that I really like about this amp is the fact that there are only bass and treble controls for the tone. These days it seems that there has to be a whole lotta knobs to dial in a tone, and with this amp it is not required. Tone set up is very easy and effective with the basic controls. I have two older Deluxe's, and have owned other vintage fender gear and always noticed that there was only treble and bass, with possibly mid-range, and you can always get "your" sound out of those amps. With the Vibrolux it's the same situation which is ideal for me. And this is what I was looking for in an amp: pure and simple tube tone with real power tube overdrive. The reverb is very usable on this amp, not too strong, but does get up there at about 7 or so, and I use it around 3-4. (not a huge reverb fan) The trem is fantastic, strong and very smooth. Probably the best trem that I have ever used. I use this amp for gigging with a three piece blues/classic rock/ hillbilly type band and it works great. We play small to medium clubs and it's great in the medium sized rooms, and I don't mike the amp. Crank it up to about 6 and let 'er go. The only thing that I would like to have on this amp is a tube rectifier, but the way that it is means that I don't have to carry a spare rectifier with me to gigs. Also love the portability of the amp and the power that is has. Weighs 4 lbs hevier than my deluxe and more than twice the output.

I currently use an American Hot Rodded Tele (DH-1 neck, single coil bridge, 5 way switching) and a Mexican Fat Strat for slide. I set up my tuner pedal (Boss TU-2) in the loop for the strat into the normal channel, and run the Tele straight into the bright channel. With this set-up I get the sound that I need and want. We play stuff from Hank to Hendrix and I can get pretty well every sound that I need. The clean sound is great and the break up is amazing. I was using a Hot Rod Deluxe while I waited for the Vibrolux to arrive and what a difference. (day and night!) One of the reasons that I went for this amp is to have the two channels so I could dial in each guitar. Is it noisy YES; however I knew this already and talked to a couple of players who are using this amp and asked them about their concerns and here is the information that I received: this is not a practice in the living room amp, nor would I use it for recording. Too much hiss. But when you put it into the enviornment that it was designed for it's great. So I tried the amp at home for a while and it was unbearable to my ears, but when I got it on a stage I didn't notice the noise at all and it did not take away from the sound in any way. These amps are designed to be used live, cranked up, and let them do their thing, which they do exceptionally well. Some have said that this amp is a "one trick pony" and I don't know how to respond to that statement. A guitar amp is designed to amplify your guitar and break up when pushed. If you have reverb and trem then that's a big bonus. To me after that anything else takes away from sound of your rig. I don't use any pedals and the "sound" has to come from my hands and my ability. and some players may not want to have that, but for me I like to plug straight in and go, and if I can't get the sounds I want from that set up, then years of experience have shown me that it's me, not the rig. But that is just me and the way that I do things. The over drive is great on this amp and I just love it. This amp is very dynamic and musical, and by using my volume and tone controls on my guitar I can get whatever I want out of this thing. And I have found that you can dial in the amount of overdrive that you want by adjusting the volume on the amp. I usually run it between 5-6 1/2, and it does it's great "fendery" thing. I will say that you do need a fair sized room for this amp because it is VERY loud, and can get a way on you if you're not careful.

I have to rely on this amp every weekend and I don't gig without a back up. I don't want to have to carry around anything extra at all for various reasons. I know that I push my gear hard and DEMAND reliability from any gear that I use, so anything that doesn't comply is turfed immediately. And when something is brand new there should be a period of at least a year with no worries. Not quite there yet but getting close. I have not had a single proble with this product yet. Plug it in, turn it on, and give 'er. I know that tubes will have to be replaced, but I should not have any worries with an amp that carries the price tag that it does. I think that if Fender put this amp into the "Pro tube" line, that means that it's a Pro quality amp. Just my take on that, not referring to Fender's quality here.

Have never had to deal with Fender directly at all. Always go through the dealer who had always taken care of me since I been dealing there for over ten years.

Been playing for 30 years on and off, and played for a living for 10. Been with the latest band for 3 years playing pretty much every weekend. If it were lost or stolen would find a way to get another. There is no way to find a "real" vibrolux where I live, and can't afford the large price tags on them anyway. I have been through most of the stuff that Fender offers these days and this is the best amp that I could afford. Yes the "custom shop" stuff is better, but I am not that rich. What do I love about it? Simple: the size, the weight, the power, and the sound. I don't know if I "hate" the hiss, but I was hoping that an amp in this category would be dead silent, but for where I use it I can live with it. Why did I choose this amp? Two reasons; 1) It is the biggest 'little' amp that I can move around quite easily. I was using a '73 Fender Pro Reverb Amp which I loved, but I just couldn't carry it anymore. When it pulled my back out after hauling it into a gig I knew it was time for a change. 2)As I mentioned, I've tried most of the new Fender amps and this one does it for me. Another thing that I like is having the two 10's in an amp. There is a clarity and definition that you get that you just can't get with 12's. The Jensen's that come with the amp seem to match up very well with the amp, and do sound very "airy". Plus when I saw someone using the amp live for the first time it just caught my attention.

This is the 40 watt, 2x10" version with the cream knobs. Must say it's one of the sexiest looking fenders i've seen. I wanted more breakup than the twin i'd been using, so it looked good to me. 2 channels with the independent eq is always great for me since i play guitar on one and harmonica thru the other.

I play a coil-tapped les paul, so i have humbuckers and single coils both at the flip of a switch. I was really happy at low volume, just at the edge of breakup. Beautiful round tone. But any louder than 2 and a half meant more distortion without more volume. Ugh. The distortion itself was gorgeous, reminiscent of the lower wattage early blackface fenders, but i needed more volume. The single coils were definitely better, more defined, but the 'buckers were just mush any volume above 2. The "bright" channel was too bright, so I used the normal channel. One thing's for sure, the vibrato (actually misnomer for tremolo) is beautiful...like the smooth pre-CBS fenders. Bravo. However, the amp just has NO headroom.

Don't know 'cuz I took it back after 3 gigs. Another proud sponsor of the Guitar Center "rental" policy!

This would be a great recording amp, or amp for harp players, but on stage it just doesn't have the headroom I need. I ended up (on the advice of my local guru) taking out 2 power tubes from my twin (the outer OR inner ones only!) and putting 25watt greenback celestions in it. Perfect solution; should've done it years ago.

Been rehashed dozens of times over other reviews. It's a non-master volume Fender tube amp. It does anything you need it to do. Need high gain? Get a stomp box and you're set.

The Vibro King is my favorite amp, but it's too damn big for somebody like me who isn't even in a band situation right now. The Vibrolux doesn't quite have the punch of the King, but it's so damn QUICK. Almost instantaneous response. Great tone, too.

Only problem for me is that it doesn't have nearly enough reverb. If you ever try to emulate Dick Dale with this thing, no dice. Fortunately, I read up on it and found that rewiring the reverb to Vibroverb specs is relatively easy and cheap. I like Fenders that get TOO MUCH reverb if you top them out.

Stock tubes suck, period. In the first month (just playing at home at low volumes, mind you) the shop I bought the amp from ended up replacing all but one of the preamp tubes. The amp itself isn't a problem at all, but the tubes have to go.

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Been playing about 15 years. I play only Telecasters. Dunno why, just haven't found any other guitar that suits my playing style. This amp, for me, is the second-best Fender made, the first being the Vibro King. It's also lightweight and relatively small. Coming from a Mesa Tremoverb Combo (almost 100 pounds), it's a godsend. Sounds great, too.

Probably a 2002. Suits me fine for blues, country, or rock. It's a Fender tube amp with 6L6 power tubes--what more do you need? I play the guitar, not the amp, so it has all the features I need. I occasionally use a chorus and a TS-9, only when I need extreme distortion at lower volumes. Tone comes mainly from your fingers anyway. Reverb is great--classic Fender. Trem is okay.

I play blues and '60-70's rock, and country when I have to. I tried my 335 through a Deluxe RI and this Vibrolux before I bought, and the Vibrolux sounded significantly better--tighter, brighter and ballsier.My '60 Strat Relic sounded great through it, too. I've owned a Victorilux, a Vibro-King, and a Super Reverb RI and must say I'm happiest with this Vibrolux. It has the tone of the Super Reverb without the "woofiness", is a lot lighter than the VK, and brighter and punchier than the Victorilux. Wish I'd bought it first. If I ever need to move more air, I'll tote a 2X12 extension cab along. It's no noisier than most tube amps. "What kind of sounds can the amp make? How much variety?"--"How brutal is the distortion?" Say what?? Who the heck wrote these idiotic questions, anyway? As with most Fender RI's, you've got to back off on the bass controls to at least 3 or 4 to get rid of "woof".

Who knows?

Fender HAS customer support?????

I've played for 36 years. I also use a '62 Bassman head and Dr. Z 2X12 cab (only use with Fender guitars) for larger rooms, a Victoria "Champ" for practice, and a Blues Junior "Woodie" for recording. I play various reissue Les Pauls and Fenders. Tried PRS's--pretty but no tone and no character. I bought the Vibro from Guitar Center and received the usual poor service and ignorant answers to questions. Guitar Center managed to lose the manual, tags, and the foot switch.

One of the first ones i think?early 90s.Great fat tone but very gutless.I changed the speakers right away.I still liked the sound of it but could not play over a hammond with a 60 watt leslie. .

Tried a 65 Tele and PRS and a new Strat Deluxe.All sounded fine.Don't use Chineese or Sovtek tubes.USA are much better tighter and louder..Still I wish it had more headroom...Maybe in a small club it would be ok but not against a 4 piece band with a Hammond and a sax on a packed weekend.My Rivera 30 killed it.Its a wonderful Jazz amp though,I play a Tal Farlow through it.I put 2 Line 6 eminence speakers in it.The originals where brutal and cheap....

Very reliable like most Fenders after my amp guy tweaks them.Factory tubes used to suck from that era but I hear Groove tubes are in all the new ones now.

forget fender support...Depends on your local dealer.

I have owned all the tweeds and blackfaces and like the tone of this thing.Very close.My only complaintthere is not enough gas to play in a louder situation.Playing over 30 years now in studio and bands.Full time musician since 1972.Kids starting out will love this thing.Good all round Stevie Ray Wannabe tone.

Mine's a '96, and this little makeover of a '65 Vibrolux is disquised as an innocent little combo, clothed in her sultry 2x10, 40 watts of 60's sparkle up to 5, and slap-in-the-face steam over 7, yet pair her with a smattering of single coil, a pinch of Tube Scream,....and presto...she becomes the Delta Dominatrix, and leaves a trail of crushed clubs behind, come Monday morning. Metalheads need not apply, this is pure tube blues, rock & R&B, eh Billy Gibbons?

Yup, Jim, I'm a one-trick pony...but look here, I can leave the house with a '56 strat, and my Vibrolux, and bite through the din of all those digital crunch channels, and string of stomp boxes, any time. I'm a bluesman mister, and if you know what you're doing on the fretboard, this is THE sound. OK Mr. Jazz purist, the Twin reissue is better for you cause she won't start sqwauking at you over 5. But for my taste, blues, rock, & r&b, mind you, this little swampdog reaches through it's silver grill, out into the crowd, grabs hold of both ears on those gyrating club-hoppers, and commands, "Hey...Pay Attention!". Say, look here neighbor, did I mention, for an aging blues fanatic...this is THE sound.

A tad microphonics at low volumes, a few recalcitrant crackles in the basement, but I never once heard a complaint from the stage.

Leo, you defined this industry...never had to deal with your company though...local dealers have been very supportive.

Look, don't look for extra jacks, nozzles, channels, here friend. This is pure valve crystal Jack. OK, I traded my Vibro (and others) for a '62 reissue strat, and though I love the guitar, I've become tone-depressed, moody and well, unpredictable. After a series of unsuccessful medication regiments my therapist finally quipped, "Look, you could end up in a pine box before you get your grubby hands on a REAL '65 blackface, so carry your sorry butt down the street and pick up another Vibrolux Custom!". Honey...is there gas in the car?...

'99 Fender Vibrolux "Custom" - (bought it w less than 20hrs use), 40watts, two channels (bright, normal), low/hi gain inputs, vibrato, reverb effects on both channels, 10" blue alnico speakers, ext. speaker out. Black tolex, drop back legs. Well constructed, simple, clean. Nothing more expected....its a Vibrolux. Replaced blue alnico speakers with Weber P10Qs a year ago.

Fender '58 relic Strat (maple neck)w Fralin-Vintage Hots, early '70 LP Custom w Fralin-Humbuckers, '52 Tele reissue, stock PUs. Play blues, rock, jazz with very few effects. Clean, spanking Fender tone at low & mid volumes (never cranked it over 6...thats what PA's are for)! Great bottom-end, breaks-up nicely, stock blue speakers were a bit shrill...and LOUD! REALLY LOUD! Rating with the stock blue speakers. Put Weber P10Q's in it a year ago....Ohhhhhh man! Its LOUDER, & sounds incredible, its definately a 10! Putting it into overdrive with a Menatone Blue Collar & it sounds like a Plexi! The Vibrolux cuts thru the muddiest mix & comes out sparkling clean. Rehearsal hall vol 2-3, stage volume 4-5 (mic'd) on a large theater stage.

Owned it since '99, gigged half of its life. No problems.

5-year warrantee, but nothings gone wrong with it. Never had to call Fender. Will take it in for a 3-1/2 year check-up/preventive maintenance.

Have been playing over 35 years through a variety of combo's & half-stacks. I want clean Fender tone & this Vibrolux does it very well. Its a "one-trick" amp, but it does the "trick" so well. Have thought about picking up a second one for backup & a stereo setup in larger halls.

Mine is a '99 model. It's not very versitile; I've had to learn to turn the "tone knobs DOWN", and the "Volume" knob "UP" (5, or 6: I play Blues); 2 channels: The "Bright", which I have NEVER LIKED, ON ANY FENDER AMP..is "almost usable in this amp", except you have the problem of it having way too much treble to "begin with"! It being a "Fender" (they ALWAYS work thru the "Treble circuitry alone"; and it having 2-"10" speakers!! I wish it had a "Master Volume" and "Push-button Drive", like my sweet, little "Blues Junior"(the "BEST" amp I've ever owed, bar none!) I use my Lux mostly at a small bar, with an even smaller, seperate room! So, I can't really play it past "2 & 3/4's", and MUST use a "Tube Screamer", or my "Blues Driver" (Preferabley the "T.S", as it's more "distorted" form jump-street!) It has waaay too much "power" for "me"; I'd like it to be more like "33 watts", like a 1960 Vibrolux my friend has...or, "30Ws" would be fine, too...In a BIG CLUB, I had problems playing with my "Johnny Winter-esq Buddy", who ALWAYS plays too loud, and uses so much treble, it'll "hurt" cha! I was on "9", with the Treb. on 7, and bass on 1 (This amp can't handle "Bass", at all, due to the cheep, or "weak", "speakers"-), and I was just some "external, NOISE, in the BACKGROUND, as far as that gig went...So, it's not for a BIG club. "Without" , my "buddy", recently I played a same-sized club, and at 4, I was "a bit too loud", and of course, "too trebley"...although, I've installed a "Carven, 65W, Vintage Series" speaker (just "one", and left the "Alnico?"-"Jensen" on the other-side...My tone sucked. Too much "treble", AND "too much Bass"!

I use an American Strat, with a set of Texas Specials, and the "Delta-tone" system (to control "Tone" on the rear pick-up)-It's a '95.
I also use a "P-90'ed", Ferandez axe;an Epi "62 SG-reissue"; and a "Standard Strat" I've up-graded by putting all "Alnico", stagered pole, pick-ups in (Don't know "what kind", ANY of them are-Ha! Except, "one" is a "Fender" (probably a "Fat 50's", I'm pretty sure...) The Strats sound the best to "me", cuz I like Strats...but the P-90's are cool, too, cuz I kind of go for a "jazzier" Blues tone...In other words: I don't LIKE a lot of "treble", which I "know", is the "secret to making Fender products sound their so-called, BEST", but I still don't like all that "Treble"...on "ANY" thing! I "need" my "ears"!
It DOES get the best, CREAMY, sound, when really "over-driven", and I have "fun" with that in my studio, but don't "play Jimi Hendrix" material...So.
"My" style, is ala "early" Jimmie Vaughn (T-Birds), and I go for that "Anson Funderburg" tone, or (I'm "dreaming", but...) I'd LOVE it , if I could get "Robert CRAY'S" tone, or even "Ronnie EARL", with my set-ups, but...no such luck. I CAN, however, NAIL the "T-Birds" stuff, and even "SRV" (who I "don't" care for, cuz he's a "Rocker", not a "Blues" player; I don't care what ANYONE SAYS!
I like playing this amp, WITHOUT "pedals", at about, "less than 3"! But, it's "risky", in that you HEAR all the clinkers! But it IS a great sounding Clean amp...and gets "natural" distortion, better than any amp I've ever owed, except my beloved, too SMALL, "Blues Junior" (I wish they'd make "that" amp, 30watts!!!!!!!)
It can't handle "Bass"...I turn it "off" COMPLETLY sometimes!
The "Highs" are too high...Seems to be NO "Mid-range", if you ask ME!?
I'm either too TREBLEY, or too BASSY!
But...there are no good amps out there today, in my opinion, except the "Super-reverbs" (too "large", and clumsy, for me to carry around), and the Blues Junior, which isn't loud enough to use as your main gigging amp...
So, the "Custom" Vibrolux-reverb, gets MY vote, but almost by default, more than anything. They should've put the Maste Vol. and push button Drive options on this amp, just like the Blues Junior.

I question the stock "tubes" in it, but I imagine it'll last about "half" as long, as the "Original" Fender amps (about 15 yrs. max)...Just a "guess"-?
No, it hasn't broken-down, but like I say, I'm MOSTLY, UNABLE TO "USE" IT ANYWHWERE: It's either "too loud", or not loud enough-?
I've had it for 3 years, and only used it about...oh, 7 times, max-?
I use the "Blues Junior", most places, and crank it up to "6, & 6" (Mast Vol, and "Vol."), and use regular Tone control setting; i.e; 8-Treble; 4-Mid; and 2-Bass.

I've been playing "guitar" (I started as a "drummer") since 1979.
The other gear I owe, is the "Junior"; SG; Ferandez-P-90'ed, axe; an Amer. Strat, w/ Tex. Spcls; a Standard Strat w/ "Vintage, Alnico pick-ups"; a Boss Blues Driver; a Dynacomp; a TS-"10" Tube Screamer; a Boss Delay/Reverb; and a "Carven-equiped", 2-10 ext. cab, with 2, "Vintage Series" 10's in it ("THAT" makes the Vibrolux sound BEST, when I UNPLUG, the crappy so-called, "Jensens"!!!!)

Basic retro amp. Two channels, bright or normal. Vibe effect and reverb. 40 watts into two 10" speakers. Mine is brown tolex with cream dials. Perfect size and power for my use. (recording and small/medium gigs)

I use vintage Humbuckers and single coils. Good with both...but needs adjustment to the tone controls for different guitars....pretty normal. Not much variety of tone but blimey what a tone. Goes from smooth and clean to overdriven and warm depending solely on the volume knob. The secreat of this amp Ive discovered after many sessions and gigs is to wind up the volume to 8 or 10 using the low power input.....but leave the bass and treble set all the way down at 2 or even less (yes 2 dammit!). The volume is perfect for onstage without killing the rest of the band...the sound you will make is phenominal....no other amp Ive tried behaves so responsively to every thing you inflict on your guitar. Its a pure rocknroll sound but very musical. Not metal in the slightest.....far too dirty for a lot of things too. But if its retro garage rocknroll boogie trash your after...then this is the way to set this amp up. If you wind up the tone controls at this setting you will encounter some serious brain damage noise however....so best not hey?

Change the power tubes if it still has groove tubes or sovteks. Anything but chinease valves will be a huge improvement.Its built solid except for a flimsy back panel. Still it looks like new after 30 or so gigs. No breakdowns yet.

no contact

Also have two Vox AC30s from different eras which both sound different to each other....and this Vibrolux as my 'modern ' amp. Once I changed the valves in the fender its as good as either vox in its own way. I try to avoid effect pedals and get the best sounds from amps and guitars. The Fender Vibrolux is perfect for this. Oh yeh and the vibe effect is very nice and highly useable. The reverb is a bit spacey and not so useful....but depends on what you want...its more of a wailing lead type reverb than a twangy tight reverb if you know wot I mean. This amp sounds great with either a ES335 or Rickenbacker 330 which are my guitars. Its also good with a Telecaster and any Gibsons (especially the single coils). Never tried a strat.

I bought it new at this oen has the the Jensen speakers...I play country and blues so this one is ideal for me.

I bought one new at Guitar Center. took it hoem and plugged it in and it had a nasty hiss. I took it back and got another one that was still in the box. it's MUCH more subtle but there is still a slight hiss which would affect recording but not a live performance. This kind of bugs me, you shell out $800 on a sweet amp that has a hiss. from the comments of others hear it sounds like this might be crappy tubes. well, you shell out $800 for an amp and the damn tubes should sing! I plan to take this up with the Guitar Center manager this week. Other than that, I love it! I use both a Gretsch 6112 and a Fender Tele and you can imagine switching back and forth is a real hassle since all the setting for one guitar will not sound good on the other. With the true two channel set up on this amp I can get them both dialed in without having to chaneg any settings. I use the normal channel for the Tele and the bright one for the Gretsch. I'm going to get a A/B box so I don't have to manually switch the cable when I switch guitars. The temolo and reverb are sweet! Playing the fat strings on the Gretsch with the tremolo on sounds very cool. We're talking honky tonk hell here!

Also, I used to use a Fender Blues Deluxe which I never got the sound I wanted, especially at low volume. I think that's due to the Blues Deluxe has less tube circuitry and only a 12" speaker. There is no comparison. And the Vibrolux sounds sweet at low volumes as well. I really like this amp, I'm glad I bought it. Now if I can just get rid of the slight hiss...The hiss keeps me from giving it a 10 rating.

I just bought it so I can't say anything about the reliability yet...the hiss give this a 6 rating!

I haven;t dealt with Fender before and I haven't had it worked on...yet...so no opinion.

I have been playing 30 years and this is the coolest amp I have ever owned and may very likely be the last amp I ever buy. If mine fell off a cliff and I had to get a new amp would I buy this one again? Yes, without question but I would listen for a hiss before I took it home and have them fix it on the spot!