Vintage Fender Vibrolux question - brown vs blackface

[dgstandard]

Thanks to Feynman, I have old Fender amp GAS.

Two came up locally, is there a preference? Price is fairly close with the blackface asking for more money.

Brown 6G11A-1: player, scumnico speaker, new tubes

Blackface AA864: all original except one speaker; original owner; very good condition

[crunchee]

From what I can remember, the Blackface Vibrolux Reverb has a extra gain stage, due to the reverb. Also, it's tremolo is the opto-isolator type that most big Blackface Fender amps used. Has 2 10" speakers, amp carries a 4 Ohm load.

The Brownface Vibrolux doesn't have reverb, so no gain stage there. Also, the tremolo is tube driven, though which type of tremolo circuit I can't remember...but no opto-isolator for sure. I think that the Brownface Vibrolux is nearly identical circuit-wise to the Brownface Tremolux, except perhaps for the power transformers (the Brownface Vibrolux is 8 Ohm, the later Brownface Tremoluxes are 4 Ohm, though early ones were 8 Ohm). The Brownface Vibrolux carries a 8 Ohm load into a 1x12" speaker.

Basically, they're two different animals! You can Google around for details, but the best test is gonna be with your ears.

You can start comparing the models here, too:

http://ampwares.com/...ender+amp+guide

http://www.thevintagesound.com/ffg/

[dgstandard]

Thanks Crunchee - wow!! I have so much to learn

[crunchee]

I forgot to mention, YouTube has a good number of demo videos for both amps...it'll give you an idea of what they sound like. The price on the ones you have access too is 'fairly close'...how close? The Blackface Vibrolux Reverb is the one collectors really like (and therefore pricier in value), but I think it'll probably be a cleaner, harder sounding amp than the Brown Vibrolux. I had a Silverface Vibrolux Reverb once, it was good but I didn't keep it for more than a year; it also comes down to your taste in amps. The Vibrolux Reverb has reverb, which some people can't live without. But I sure wouldn't turn my nose up at a Brownface Vibrolux (ask Feynman about his Brown Deluxe!), I'd think it's sound would be a bit warmer. Distortion-wise, neither the Blackface or the Brownface are going to get you into Marshall territory for distortion, but from what I've heard both amps like pedals. Decisions, decisions...good luck, tell us which one you end up with...if not both!

[gtone]

Go for the BF so I can buy the Brownie!

[Feynman]

WhaddidIdo?

GAS is a bitch.

P.S. I don't have a lot of experience with brown amps (just my Deluxe and a Concert), but I never feel like this thing needs reverb - it's quite alive without it. It's a hard sound to describe, but it's a really good one.

[hardheartedbill]

Brown is nastier in a good way. Play dry for a week through a solid wood combo amp and verb is weak lol

[dgstandard]

Thanks guys. I will know more next week.

Brown: $1,962

Black: $3k

[murkat]

I never feel like this thing needs reverb - it's quite alive without it. It's a hard sound to describe, but it's a really good one.

Brown is nastier in a good way.

^ this.

Black face, all know the blackface

Brown, those who know.... pure sex baby

[Ned B]

You can't go wrong with a BFVR. They are iconic, but you have to be into 10s. I find the 1X12 type to be ideal for me personally. The cool thing about the Vibrolux is that it's a 1X12 with 6L6s rather than 6V6s. I say go for the brown.

[crunchee]

Murkat's right, guitarists know about the Blackface Vibrolux Reverb, or have heard about it's reputation. Actually, I think everybody HAS heard a Brown Vibrolux though, according to this article:

http://www.mk-guitar...ender-vibrolux/

I think that the pricing that's mentioned on either one is pretty steep, I think you can find both cheaper if you look around. Sleepers in Fender Brownface amps IMHO are the Brownface/Blonde Bandmaster, or the Brownface Concert. Both are from Fender's 'Professional' line of the time (the others were the Vibrasonic, Super and Pro) but are generally cheaper than the others, including the Vibrolux, if you don't mind the extra weight of the Concert, or that you need a speaker cab for the Bandmaster. They also have the 'Harmonic Vibrato' circuit, which is AMAZING to hear...it has a 3D quality to the effect, almost like a Leslie rotating speaker. Just don't get them confused with the Blackface ones! I have a Brownface Concert, and I won't part with it if I can ever help it. If you're interested in who might have used these particular model amps, they were the house amps for the Star-Club in Hamburg in 1962, along with a Brownface Showman:

http://www.beatlesgear.com/index2.html

Click on John or George, then click on Fender under amps.

[Ned B]

I agree on the Concert assessment. I have the oxblood era one and it kills. It has the same output transformer as the 5F6A Bassman. Huge tone with a hit of crunch.

[dgstandard]

NAD! I traded for the BF today. A good deal for both of us. Very happy Thank you all for your thoughts and experiences.

[Feynman]

Congrats!

[crunchee]

Congrats here too! So, does that mean that there's a brown Vibrolux still available?

[dgstandard]

Thanks guys.

Yes, there is.

There's a nice one on ebay as well out of Alaska that has not been modified as much as the one is here locally.