Fender Blackface Vibrolux
Model/Circuit Number: AA763
Years of Production: 1963 – 1964
Era: Blackface
Configuration: Combo
Controls: Black forward facing w/ white labels
Knobs: Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 – 10
Schematics
Faceplate
- Front: Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass – Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass, Speed, Intensity – Pilot Lamp
- Rear:
Cabinet
- Dimensions: 18 x 23 x 9
- Hardware: Medium Chassis Straps 4 5/8”
- Handle: Black Strap Handle
- Feet: Glides
- Corners:
Covering Material
- Tolex/Tweed: Black Tolex
- Grill Cloth: Silver sparkle grill cloth
Logo: None (some of the last Vibrolux Amps had the BF era logo)
Weight:
Speaker
- Size: 1 x 12
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Model: Oxford 12M6(For more info, check out the Jensen Replacement Speakers)
Effects: Tremolo
~Watts:
Tubes
- Pre amp: 7025
- Power: 2 x 6L6GC
Bias: Fixed Bias with bias adjustment pot.
Rectifier: GZ34
Comments: The black face vibrolux has a typo on the control panel where both channels are labeled “Normal” instead of the second channel being labeled “Vibrato” like other amps of the time. The Vibrolux was retired at the end of 1964.
The rare 1964 Vibrolux sounds just as nice as the brown version if set up right. They came with the Oxford alnico but sound much better with a modern speaker.I use an Eminence Red Fang Alnico with 102db rating and the amp sounds twice as loud.Only a few had the Normal/Normal typo on the faceplate.Mine is Normal/Vibrato. These have a few more watts than the brown Vibroluxes because mainly of the upgraded power transformer,the Schumacher 125P26A also used in the 64 Tremolux. This gave a little more voltage to the plates than the previous Triad 125P6A.The tremelo is the only drawback. The brown amps had the best tremelo. This uses the photoresister which is weak compared to the brown ones. If you don’t use the tremelo(vibrato) which I don’t you can disconnect the yellow wire to the intensity pot and get more gain and tone.I also change the new 12AT7 phase inverter tube back to the 12AX7 used in the brown ones which also gives more gain.You can use an RCA 5751 also.They work great. The cab is a little larger than the brown ones also.Fender should have kept making these amps and added reverb to this instead of going to the 2-12 Pro Reverb in 1965.What an amp that would have been. 30+ watts through a 12″ speaker such as the C12N Jensen.!!
A number of years ago, I found a 1966 Blackface Vibrolux Reverb that someone before me had replaced the two 10’s with an EV 12L Pro Line. The amp weighs a tone, is loud as all get up, but sounds fantastic. Cool thing, I only paid $270.00 for it. Although it’s not vintage, it’s great to hear that very set-up you’re mentioning above. It is very versitale and takes pedals well.
While the circuit design was drawn up in 1963 AA/AB763, the actual release date was March of 1964 as per the final three letter code on the schematic; C FD. These were made for maybe 7-8 months as the AA964, 2×10 Vibrolux Reverb was in the works and released in October of 1964. The blackface 1×12 Vibrolux doesn’t have much gain on tap and a switch pot to remove the tremolo from the circuit works very well with this and other non reverb models. Mine seems to be on the bright side so I use original Tung Sol 5881’s and a 70’s Celestion black back G12M-55hz in it. I agree with M Karlson; this amp should have evolved into a single 12″ with reverb. It may have been the best amp Fender never built!
While the circuit design was drawn up in 1963 AA/AB763, the actual release date was March of 1964 as per the final three letter code on the schematic; C FD. These were made for maybe 7-8 months as the AA964, 2×10 Vibrolux Reverb was in the works and released in October of 1964. Mine also has “Normal” and “Vibrato” inputs. The blackface 1×12 Vibrolux doesn’t have much gain on tap and a switch pot to remove the tremolo from the circuit works very well with this and other non reverb models. Mine seems to be on the bright side so I use original Tung Sol 5881’s and a 70’s Celestion black back G12M-55hz in it. I agree with M Karlson; this amp should have evolved into a single 12″ with reverb. It may have been the best amp Fender never built!
Is there a layout for this amp? Does it have the long tail phase invertor? or the Princeton , brown Vibrolux style?