Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Pastortom on July 29, 2011, 08:59:02 am
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I have a new model "Custom Vibrolux Reverb" by Fender in the studio, and it had what I thought was a weak sounding reverb. I checked all the pre-amp tubes, and they're 75% and higher, no shorts.
It also seems a bit noisy, as in normal white noise that you'd hear when you crank it up with no signal, BUT it's there all the time, and noticeable enough that it's annoying..........You can tell somethin' ain't quite right.
Do you guys know which tube is the reverb driver in this amp? .........and any opinions on what could be causing an inordinate amount of white noise at idle? (it increases slightly when you crank the reverb).
The reverb has been rested with 3 different tanks now...... they all act the same, and perform outstandingly in the other amps. The Vibrolux sounds like the reverb is set at 3 or 4 when it's on 10.
It isn't the tank. Same with or without the footswitch. Same after cleaning the jacks and checking the cords. HOWEVER, it's using the new style plastic cords.......don't know if they can develop a signal loss.......??
Any takers on these 2 problems?
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Pastor Tom,Pastor Tom,Pastor Tom. Google "Moyer Mods for the Custom Vibrolux".They have a weak reverb right from the factory because they have it feed both channels and the circuit is silly the ways it's layed out.You can't get it any better unless the amp is modded.
The mods take care of the hiss noises as well.I had one of those amps and it comes from the factory the way you describe it.Fender boo-boo.Rather easily fixed.
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Thanks........ I ran a search and found your thread on those mods.......Sounds do-able.......I don't know why they do such things......They need some of the Mods here to go to work as consultants for their new stuff.
To take such a clean classic design and "hiss it up" is electronically criminal........especially to those who pay the big bucks for the stuff right out of the box.......
...and ESPECIALLY when they stamp it as coming from the "Fender Custom Shop". Pretty lame. :BangHead: :cussing: :help:
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I'm a bit puzzled why you think new Fender stuff would be so good or have high expectations for it in the first place? No need to respond as I understand it as Fender has one of the highest standards for the best names in music over a long period. But, their amps aren't what they used to be and lag far behind their guitars. Also you seem to be hooked-on or concentrated to reverb lately? You must use it a lot? Why not build a reverb unit that Doug has here on his site? You wouldn't need to fuss about reverb on another amp ever. Just a thought.
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Stuff that has the FENDER CUSTOM SHOP label should be better sounding.?The public should demand it.That being said,the Custom Vibrolux did what they wanted it to do.Break up earlier and have reverb in both channels.Stock it has it's place.It's not meant to be a Reissue of the original Vibrolux.They SHOULD have done it that way but they didn't because someone at Fender decided differently.Is it a bad amp?No.Just not what a lot of people want.
Some people really don't like the over-the-top reverb from Fender amps so the Custom Vibrolux makes them happy.Making everyone happy is a daunting task these days.
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I can understand the reverb, but not the stinking hiss.
It's outrageous, considering their name and the money unsuspecting buyers are shelling out. I buy this stuff in need of restoration, or at rock bottom prices for TLC and resale if I decide not to use it myself. Doesn't hurt me so much. BUT, again, it doesn't matter if it IS "new stuff" from Fender, and not as good as the old.......
It should run QUIET when it retails for $1400. I don't think that's too much to ask from Fender. Likewise, the Princeton Recording I have here is another "fluke" in the line........Probably why it was discontinued.......Funny though, it runs quiet as a mouse now that I've swapped out the tank......You'd think they could have corrected the Vibro before they marketed it.
Someone mentioned my many problems with reverb lately..........Again, when I take in an amp that I may want to resell, I want it at 100% when it goes out the door......I'm also partial to Fender because they were the amps of my youth. (Awwwwwww....)...............I couldn't afford this stuff when I was a kid, even when I was a working musician in the 70's. We played the best affordable rat money could buy, and it ran until it croaked.......when it croaked, we just swapped it out for another beat up amp.
Nowadays, I like clean and pristeen Fenders.....and I've been trying a LOT of them, and keep my ears tuned for that special one that ends up in my own collection........and even THEN I roll them over........I'm a hopeless romantic I guess.......Live and learn.......If I have to stop learning, I might as well croak myself. :think1:
Relative to the mod mentioned in this thread, can anyone comment on the "Fromel" mod kit? Is this basically the same as the Moyer?
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Local Music camp gathers amps from all manner of high schools and little music stores in the area.
They had an absolutely pristine 1967 Princeton Reverb blackface AA764 I was just drooling over. Immaculate. From a high school. Conceptually, there is no way whatsoever that amp could have come from a school, particularly a ghetto school (like this one did) even though the school name was paint-sticked on. Geez, that amp (other than the painted on school name) was in absolute showroom new time capsule condition. Drool. I am tempted to go to a Guitar Center and buy them a brand new one and swap it out. I guess the tube chart wouldn't say "PQ" on it any more. Maybe I should go buy two cheaper amps and offer to swap them out. Maybe I could figure out a way to break it and buy it on a distressed basis. The mind wanders on this, it is in such pristine condition.
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'67 and Blackface don't seem to go together or add up.
I would be excited too if there was a chance I could score it in some way. Good luck!