Production years:

• 1964 -1967 “blackface” circuits AA964, AA864, AB568
• 1967 -1978 “silverface” circuits AB568, AA270
• 1978 - 1982″silverface” circuits with push/pull volume boost

Tube layout

Blackface model tube layout (Seen from behind, V1 is to the right side)

• V1 12ax7 = Preamp normal channel
• V2 12ax7 = Preamp vibrato channel
• V3 12at7 = Reverb send
• V4 12ax7 = 1/2 Reverb recovery and 1/2 gain stage for vibrato channel
• V5 12ax7 = Vibrato
• V6 12at7 = Phase inverter
• V7 6L6 = Power tube #1
• V8 6L6 = Power tube #2
• V9 GZ34 = Rectifier tube

Summary

The 35w blackface Vibrolux Reverb (VR) is the smallest member of the blackface/silverface 6L6 Fender amp family. Its strength lies in the sweetness and early breakup caused by the smaller transformers than the Super Reverb, Vibroverb and Pro Reverb. The Vibrolux is quite similar to the Pro Reverb 2×12″ except for the smaller speakers and a smaller power transformer delivering less 6L6 plate voltage. Hence, less clean headroom. 10″s provide a more scooped, responsive, punchy and sparkling sound than 12 inch speakers. The 12″s are fuller, warmer, has more mids and a more three-dimensional tonal spread. Like all silverface amps, the Vibrolux Reverb was modified in the CBS periods to increase the clean headroom.

The Vibrolux Reverb has become a very popular amp since The ToneQuest Report published the article “Under 40 Watt of Whoop Ass“, awarding the VR as the most preferred low wattage Fender amp. A stock VR offers a wide range of tonal possibilities and can be both big and small with just a few minor tricks. Out of the box the silverfaces and blackfaces will fit many occasions and are therefore not widely discussed in terms of serious mods like, for instance, the Princeton Reverb. Still, they are vintage amps requiring service and maintenance. Speakers, tubes and caps needs to be replaced and these will affect the tone a lot. In addition to that we’ll present some other tricks how to make it smaller, bigger, cleaner, darker, brighter, firmer or looser.

We would like to talk about one very cool BF Vibrolux we came over in 2010. It was loaded with one Weber 10A150 and one Jensen C10q delivering together a decent, loud clean sound and with firm lows. You can hear the sparkling tones coming from the Jensen C10q supported by the strong lower mids from the Weber. There was plenty of clean headroom with the stock “AB763″ tube configuration (12AT7 phase inverter and GZ34 rectifier) for funky chords and stingin’ clean notes at volume between 3 and 4. If we wanted to get more breakup from the amp for some raw blues tones and keep he same volume, we did the following:

1. Disengage the Jensen speaker and use only the weber 10A150. Running the amp at 8 ohms in stead of 4 pushes the power tubes harder and lowers the clean headroom. Since one speaker offers less volume than two speakers we need to turn the volume knob up to stay equally loud as before. We have pushed the amp beyond its sweet spot. We must also increase the treble due to the Weber’s dark tone. This speaker just loves fat, distorted tones.
2. Replace the GZ34 with a 5U4GB to lower the amp’s headroom even more and get more sag and compression. We don’t adjust bias if it is only a temporary switch of rectifier tube. If we had 35-37mA bias current with the GZ34, we would probably get around 30mA with a 5U4GB, which is a bit low but fair enough.
3. Pull the V1 12AX7 tube to get more preamp gain and a thicker sound. We always use the vibrato channel.
4. Use the 12AX7 from V1 as phase inverter tube V6. This reduces the clean headroom significantly.

Playing the amp around volume 5 and 6 gives a raw, unfiltered texas blues tone out of the single 10″ Weber 10A150, which will hold up against most 12″ speakers in terms of punch and volume. It is amazing what tones this specific amp delivers at a really low volume, lower than a 12W Princeton Reverb. Listen here:

Here is a video that gradually demonstrates the effects of some of the mods and tricks described here. To see embedded text comments, go to video on Youtube.

You’ll need schematics to implement some of these mods. http://www.ampwares.com/fender.asp. We usually start with explaining a mod from a functional perspective where we relate to components in the logical schematics diagram. Finally we point out location of components in the physical layout diagram.

Speakers The blackface and silverface Vibrolux came with several different production speakers; Blackface amps had Jensen C10q or Oxford 10L5 while the silverfaces could have Oxford 10L5 or CTS. Having played all of these speakers our favorites are, not surprisingly, the Jensen C10q and CTS. A blackface Vibrolux with a pair of gold and red labeled Jensen C10q is just a fantastic amp. The Jensen serial number starts with 220 followed by production year X(X) and week nr YY. We have had a silverface Vibrolux in our gear basement with a set of blue labeled “Fender” CTS speakers (serial number 137-XXYY). This amp performed extremly well too, with lots of punch and sparkle. From a player’s perspective, you’ll get more value for the buck with a CTS silverface amp than with a blackface. Swapping speakers is the easiest and most effectful change you possibly can do to your amp. The 2×10″ speaker configuration with open back cabinet is convenient, efficient and powerful “enough” for us. Sonically, it offers everything we look for in a Fender amp; A dynamic and sensitive touch, brightness, volume, ambience, spread and a decent weight. The amp is not very heavy compared to the 2×12″ or 4×10″ amps. We are therefore not that afraid of installing heavy speakers in the VR if we want big magnets with lots of power.

See page How to select speakers for general speaker recommendations. See also the Super Reverb page for combinations of different speakers.

Custom baffle with 10″ + 12″ speakers.

If you want to get a bigger and warmer tone from your Vibrolux you may replace the original baffle with one that fits a 12″ and 10″ speaker. The 12″ speaker goes to the right side, amp seen from behind, opposite of the power transformer which blocks the opportunity of a 12″ speaker on the left side. We once acquired one rough looking 66 Vibrolux Reverb with an unoriginal baffle with unoriginal 10″ speakers. We cut a new baffle and mounted 2×4 speaker screws for the 12″ and 10″ speakers. The speakers we chose were Weber 12F150 12″ and a Jensen Jet series Tornado 10″. This particular Jensen speaker with a NeoDymium magnet will hold up against almost any 12″ speaker and is very efficient, responsive, punchy and and can take a lot of beating without farting out or breaking up. Where the Jensen NEO-100 can be a bit dull and muddy, the Jet series Tornado excels with quacky and bell-like sparkling blackface tones. The Weber is a bit darker and is responsible for the mids and lows. If you have a rough player’s amp where you don’t care about originality, this is a highly recommended mod.

Our Vibrolux can be heard here together with a 1×15″ Eminence Legend 1518 extension cabinet. This tone comes from 10″, 12″ and a 15″ speaker working together. The amp has a diode rectifier, brand new tubes, tremolo disconnect and pull v1 mod.

12AY7 or 12AT7 as preamp tubes – Less preamp gain.

If you want cleaner and spankier preamp distortion charcteristics, you may replace the V1 or V2 12AX7 preamp tube with 12AT7 and 12AY7. These tubes have different frequency responses than 12AX7, particurlarly when distorting. People describe these tubes to have less harsh and buzzy distortion. This mod does not alter the tone significantly when amp is played clean or when only the power amp section distorts. You’ll have to increase the volume setting to achieve a similar volume as before. The reason is that 12AX7 tube has a voltage gain factor = 100, while 12AT7 = 60 and 12AY7 = 45.

Pull out the V1 normal channel preamp tube – More preamp gain in vibrato channel

We’ll start with saying that this is a must have mod. It is so easy to enable and disable that it can hardly be called a mod. If you are like most players and only use the Vibrato channel (reverb, tremolo, the brigth cap and the extra gain stage), you should pull out the V1 tube. This is the preamp tube for the normal channel which you are not using. Vice versa; If you’re using the Normal channel, you can pull out the V2 tube. The AB763-similar circuits (Deluxe Reverb, Super Reverb, Pro Reverb, Twin Reverb, Vibroverb, Vibrolux) are designed so that signal is leaking between the two channels. The amp will play louder at the same volume knob setting when pulling the V1/V2 tube that you’re not using. The stronger signal will push the second gain stage (V4 tube) harder and give you increased sustain, compression and harmomics. This mod does not change the amp’s clean headroom. This mod is one of Cesar Diaz’ tricks in the Fender Custom Shop Vibroverb 64 which he always did to Stevie’s amps.

Replace the 12AT7 PI tube with a 12AX7 or 12AU7 – Less clean headroom.

Very practical mod at practice and low volume environments. This mod reduces the amp’s clean headroom and you’ll achieve sweet spot at a lower volume. You’ll notice that the amp gets looser and with less attack. Tips: If you pulled the V1 12AX7 tube you may use it as V6 phase inverter.

12AX7 as phase inverer tube will give the most effect out of this mod. 12AU7 will be in between 12AT7 and 12AU7.

Replace the 12AT7 reverb driver with 12AU7 – Better reverb control.

Reverb is an important character with vintage amps, yet so individual and mysterious. We all know that speakers change their tonal character during age. So does the reverb. The reverb function sounds and behaves differently between “identical” vintage amps. Some amps have long, lush and soft reverb while others are mushy and overwhelming. We often find the reverb sweet spot around 2.5 on the reverb pot, varying from 2 to 4. Some amps are sensitive and difficult to control the reverb on. The whole dynamic area can be within a narrow interval, i.e. 2 and 2.5. These amps require a careful touch when dialling in the reverb, which irritates us.

The reverb circuitry consists of two tube sections (reverb driver V3 and reverb recovery V4) and the physical reverb tank. All these components will drift during age and minor differences in component values are noticeable to man’s ear.

If you replace the V3 12AT7 reverb driver with a 12AU7, you will reduce the effect of the reverb and it will be much easier to control with the reverb knob. So simple as that.

Use normal channel for reverb control – Adjust EQ and depth of reverb.

This mod is relevant only for two-channel amps with normal and vibrato channel. This trick is great for the reverb enthusiasts among us, and who is not? Plug your guitar into the vibrato channel, then unplug the reverb return cable on the back of the amp (the one that comes from the reverb tank output) and plug it into the normal channel input. You will need a converter to go from male phono/RCA jack to a 1/4″ male jack. You may now use the normal channel as a reverb control where you can adjust the depth and tone using the volume, bright switch, treble and bass knobs (and mid if you have a Twin Reverb). The reverb knob on the vibrato channel will have no effect any longer.

This mod is not applicable together with the Pull V1 mod, as you need the normal channel preamp tube.

Diode rectifier – More clean headroom.

This mod is for those who need more power, clean headroom and attack. It is very practical to carry with you those small Sovtek plastic adapters that quickly and easily replaces the rectifier tube. You’ll increase the power of the amp with a few watts. The diode rectifier will feed your amp’s filter caps with a higher and ”faster” DC voltage compared to a tube rectifier. The fact that it delivers a slightly higher DC voltage to your power tubes (via the filter caps) means an increase of the tube voltage gain factor. When you hit a hard chord the preamp and power tubes will require energy and current is flowing from the DC filter caps which are charged up by the rectifier. If the recitifer can deliver more energy more quickly, you’ll have more power and attack. Check also out Ted Weber’s “Copper Cap Rectifiers” that emulates the sag of a tube rectifier.

 

Tremolo disconnect mod - More preamp gain in vibrato channel.

The effect of this mod is similar to pulling the V1 normal channel preamp tube when playing the vibrato channel. This is also a very popular mod in AB763-similar circuits (Super, Twin, Virboverb, Pro Reverb, Deluxe, Vibrolux).

By original design the tremolo circuit will absorbe current/signal even when one turns the tremolo off with the footswitch. This mod suggests to entirly disconnect the tremolo circuit from the signal path by replacing the tremolo intensity pot with a switchabe pot (spst). One side effect with this mod is a noticable click and a volume difference between tremolo on and off using the new spst pot. If one uses the tremolo regularly one should still use the tremolo pedal to enable/disable the tremolo and leave the intensity spst pot at your desired level. The spst pot is not good for enabling and disabling the tremolo very often (because of the click and the volume difference) but is a nice when you play without tremolo. A good thing with this mod is that you have both the tremolo pedal and spst pot to use.

With a new switchable/spst pot set at intensity=0 the mod will kick in and raise the signal level in the preamp section, right before the phase inverter. Once you’re turning up the tremolo the circuit is connected again and the tone will remain original. This mod does not increase the amp’s clean headroom. We would describe the effect as making the tone richer, fuller and more powerful with stronger mids that pushes the power amp section harder (phase inverter + power tubes). We like this mod a lot for stratocasters wi the Fender AB763-similar circuits since they boost a relatively scooped and thin sounding guitar and amp. In addition to pulling the V1 tube, this mod is one of those must have mods which we never undo once having implemented it.

This mod is one of Cesar Diaz’ tricks in the Fender Custom Shop Vibroverb 64 which he always did to Stevie’s amps. This mod can be implemented in two ways, either by unsoldering the tremolo circuit or replacing the tremolo intensity pot with a swicthable pot, so-called SPST pot. The switch is enabled when you turn down intensity to zero. There are also switchable push/pull pots where you pull the knob to enable the switch.

• Order a 50k SPST from one of our recommended amp part dealers.
• Remove the original 50k trem intensity potmeter by unsoldering the wires to the potmeter lugs and unount the pot from the chassis. The black plastic wheel is to be used for the new pot.
• Install the new 50k SPST pot to the chassis. This is a switchable pot offering a mid positioned switch in addition to the variable resistanse 0-50KOhm between the lugs. At level=0 you’ll completly disconnect the tremolo circuit.
• See the wiring diagram below.
• You’ll have to solder the yellow wire to one side of the mid positioned switch in stead of to the right pot lug as before.
• Then solder a new (red) wire between the other side of switch to the right lug.

If you’re permanemtly disconnecting the tremolo circuit you can just clip of the brown and yellow wires and insulate the ends with tape. Note that the figure below shows the Super Reverb. The Vibrolux Reverb would be the same.

(One may also use the tremolo pedal, in stead of the spst switch/pot, to entirly disconnect the tremolo. You will not need to replace the intensity pot with a spst, but let the yellow wire to the tremolo pot go through the tremolo pedal. In our opinion this is not a good idea since one loses the possibility to use both the spst switch and tremolo pedal. Using the pedal will now involve a significant click sound and volume increase.)

 

Blackfacing

The blackface circuits AA864 or AA964 are often targets when blackfacing silverface VRs. We’ll describe the changes that followed after AA964.

AB568 vs AA964

• The GZ34 rectifier tube was replaced with 5U4GB meaning more sag and less attack. You can select which one that matches your tone and style.
• Bias electrolytic cap was changed from 25?F/50V to 50?F/70V in AB568. Tone not affected.
• Voltage divider resistor in filter cap circuitry was changed from 10KOhm to 4.7KOhm.
• 10KOhm resistors in bias circuitry were introduced, as well as 100KOhm resistors to the 6L6 grids before the 1.5Kohm grid resistors. In AA964 there was just one common DC feed wire to the 6L6 grid resistors.
• 2000pF caps were introduced on 6L6 grids to filter out high frequencies, resulting in a cleaner sound.
• 150 ohm cathode resistors were introduced for robustness and safety and a 5/25V cathode capacitor was introduced to clean up distortion.

The red circles indicate the changes in figures below.

Logical schematics:

Layout:

Click images for full size versions.

Increase/remove/switchable NFB resistor

This mod is applicable in all Fender amps with a negative feedback (NBF) loop. The purpose of the NBF loop is to clean up and cancel out high frequencies and upper harmonics (distortion). Without the NBF loop the volume knob gets more sensitive and aggressive. You’ll find the amp’s sweet spot at a lower volume knob setting. If you remove the feedback loop entirely you’ll achieve maximum effect of this mod. You do not get more or less clean headroom in the amp. You get a rougher and rawer tone with more of the higher frequencies, aka hizz. If you think your guitar and speaker is bright enough you probably do not want any more treble. This mod is for those who want even more of the razor edge sharp tone. Many players find the vibrato channel in AB763-similar circuits bright enough. If you do this mod, we recommend the switchable mod.

You may choose to implement the mod in several ways:

1. Simply disconnect the feedback loop (a wire). The 820Ohm resistor can easily be removed with a soldering iron. See the red circled resistor in figures below.
2. Increase the feedback loop resistance value. This reduces the effect of the feedback loop, making the amp break up more.
3. One of the two alternatives above in combination with making the NBF switchable. You can solder out and remove existing wires to the ground switch if you plan not to use it (if you’re wondering what it does, you don’t need it). Then wire the ground switch in series with the 820Ohm NBF reistor. This will make the NFB mod switchable, which is very practical.

Logical schematics

 

Layout

 

Click images for full size versions.

Questions and comments are welcome at the bottom of this page.

Mulitiple and flexible speaker output impedances (built-in attenuator)

This mod requires the knowledge of how to replace a transformer in your amp. The mod will give you mulitiple and flexible speaker output impedances where the external speaker output jack serves as a secondary independently speaker output. This flexibility is desirable for both 1×12″ or 2×10″ speaker configurations together with extension cabinets.

The original OT in the VR is sized for a 4 Ohm speaker impedance. It will make sure the power tubes “see” the correct impedance and can operate at optimal conditions in terms of clean headroom potential and frequency response. If you were to replace the original OT with a 2 ohm OT, the tubes will be pushed harder since they see a bigger load than expected (the tubes see the speakers through the OT). Both the volume and clean headroom will be reduced, yet the tone stays fairly the same (some clarity may be lost). This effect is similar to an attenuator, which is very nice when you want to achieve the amp’s sweet spot at a lower volume.

• In a 2×10″ @ 8 ohm speaker configuration, we recommend 4 ohm + 2 ohm output impedances.
• In a 1×12″ 2 8 ohm speaker configuration, we recommend 8 ohm + 2 ohm output impedances.

• Go to Mercury Magnetics web site. Order the VibroluxReverb multi-tap OT with 2, 4 and 8 ohm taps.
• Remove the original OT carefully and store it away. Install the Mercury Magnetics OT.
• Wire the OT’s primary circuit just as before. Clip the cables nicely and twist them as Leo Fender’s gently old ladies did. Insulate the unused ones with tape.
• The OT’s secondary circuit will be wired differently. Wire the 4 ohm tap to the main speaker jack. Then wire the 2 ohm tap to the ext speaker jack. You must first remove all existing wiring on the external speaker jack so that it is totally separated from the main speaker jack.
• Now you have two speaker outputs; 4 ohm + 2 ohm. You may use them independently and the ext speaker jack does not require the main speaker jack to be plugged.

We like this mod a lot. Especially since we’re using the original jack outputs. Choosing the 2 ohm output impedance with will attenuate the volume and is very useful at practise or gigs.

Middle pot

The VR did unfortunatley come without a mid pot. Many players are happy with the default 6.8K mid resistor in the EQ circuitry, but some want what the bigger amps have; a potmeter mounted in series with the 6.8 Kohm resistor (or 4KOhm for a even more scooped tone). In this way you can increase mid make your amp growl with heavy mids and a British Vox’ish tone (especially together with a Celestion speaker). We find it practically to install the middle pot at the left most side of back of the amp where the additional power supply is located. We never use this anyway and have replaced it with 10KOhm mid pots in all amps that come without one.

Logical schematics (Princeton Reverb, but equally for VR)

Layout

Questions and comments are welcome at the bottom of this page.

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