Fender Silverface Vibrosonic Reverb
Model/Circuit Number:
Years of Production: 1972 – 1981
Era: Silverface
Configuration: Combo
Controls: Silver, forward facing w/ blue labels
Knobs: Black skirted w/ chrome center, numbered 1 – 10
Faceplate
- Front: Normal: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Mid, Bass – Vibrato: In, In, Bright Sw, Vol, Treb, Bass, Rev, Speed, Intensity – Master Vol – Pilot Lamp
- Rear: AC Outlet, Ground Sw, Fuse (2½A), Power Sw, Standby Sw, Speaker Jack, Ex. Speaker Jack, Vibrato Jack, Reverb Jack, Reverb Out, Reverb In
Cabinet
- Dimensions: 20 x 26 3/4 x 10 5/8
- Hardware: Large Chassis Straps 5 5/8′‘, 16” Tilt-Back Legs
- Handle: Black Strap Handle
- Feet: Casters
- Corners: Corner Protectors
Covering Material
- Tolex/Tweed: Black Tolex
- Grill Cloth: Blue sparkle grill cloth withaluminum frame (68-69), without aluminum frame (70-81)
Logo: Grill mounted, raised, chrome & black script
Weight: 85 lbs.
Speaker
- Size: 1 x 15
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Model: Fender PS-15 (72-74), JBL D-130F (74-79), Electro Voice (79-81) or Gauss 15(For more info, check out the Jensen Replacement Speakers)
Effects: Reverb, Tremolo
Watts: 100 or 135 watts
Tubes
- Pre amp: 2 x 12AT7, 1 x 12AX7A, 3 x 7025
- Power: 4 x 6L6GC
Bias: Fixed with Bias Pot.
Rectifier: Solid State
Comments: Fender switched back to the blackface era cosmetics some time in 1980. Vibrosonic Reverbs produced between late 1980 and 1981 have a black control panel and silver sparkle grille cloth. A Line Out jack, hum balance pot, and a pull boost sw. were added near the end of the models run.
This amp does NOT have a bias pot but instead subbed in a output tube matching pot. This allows you to use slightly unmatched pairs in the amp but does not serve as a bias control leaving no way to accurately bias the amp without modification.
An amp with an output tube matching pot vs. a bias pot can easily be biased by changing the value of the resistor that is soldered to the tube matching pot. An increase in the value of this resistor will decrease the current in the tubes … a decrease in resistance in the value of this resistor will increase the current flow in the tubes. By installing a trim pot in place of this resistor, the bias can be varied even easier.
Looking to sell one. Any info about outlets would be helpful.
I just bought a 1974 “according the first owner” Fender Vibrosonic Reverb with SN#A825522. You’ll need to produce quite some noise for a few secs before it sounds great/clean. I discovered one of the high voltage elco’s (220MFD) is leaking witch explains a lot. Also I notices the coupling capacitor between pre-amp and pahse inverter of the power amp is burned a bit and has blisters.
I’m looking for the wiring diagram. I have the schematics. I’d appreciate any help. Cheers Chris
I got rid of one of these like a fool in about 1982. I would love to have it back. It sounded better with my Gibson ES335 than any amp I’ve had since then.
I am putting one up for sale today $650.00 firm you pay shipping
Hi John, I;m looking to buy! Where are you located?
Do you still have the Fender Vibrosonic reverb amp for sale? Does it have one 15 inch JBL D130F speaker in it? I am looking to buy one of these amps. Let me know, thanks
I have one with the jbl 15” speaker grill has been sprayed black back in the day but no damaged I’m not quiet sure of the year I believe a 78 or 79 played with it for a few years then was put away till now in a closet the speaker was re-cone cause of a small tare in the speaker from the open back side but speaker has been re-cone and worked fine until I put it in a closet since 1983 till now still there lol I live in Canada
I have one of the last 1981 silverface versions with a 15″ JBL, and it always pleases me to play and hear it. Quiet, big, and clean. It is like a Twin Reverb with a 15″. NOT FOR SALE.
For years I have this amp,nice sound for my steelguitars.I just changed all of the tubes becouse of a ticking and burbeling sound.You can still hear it when you on te amp.maybe the high voltage elco’s are leaking too.
Dificult to find out without tools.
I am trying to date my Fender Vibrosonic Reverb Amp Ser #A739383
Also wish to identify the speakers.
This amp has 2 X 12″ speakers, # 5379 (Not a single 15″)
All the charts I’ve looked at have A + 5 digits, so this confuses me a bit.
Also, I see only Vibrosonic Reverbs with single 15″ speakers.
Can anybody help me with this? Thanks
mine also has two `12’s. Traded for it in 1977. Had altec lansing speakers, I replaced w/JBL’s. Wish I knew more about it…
I have the same Fender Vibrosonic Reverb 1979 silver face 135 Watts and a 15″ JBL just amazing amp all Tubes Clean and very smooth weights 95 pounds but has casters lol and kick back bars support… Played with a band ,we were booked for14 years 3 too 4 nights a week never missed a week, played with them every week for practice also this amp never ever let me down it was as smooth as silk or raunchy as hell. I still have the amp and was offered 3500$ for it I still have it the sound is out of this world thanks for hearing me out lol…
found one from 76 for $350