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Topic: Fender Vibrasonic or Twin Reverb? |
Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 29 Sep 2010 4:16 pm |
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Both amps are a 74 model silverface. The Twin has 2 Jensen speakers and the Vibrasonic has 1 15' JBL. If you had to pick one, which would you pick for a steel? What are the pros and cons of both amps?
Austin Tripp
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"Hotrod"
Steel guitarist for Cody Jinks
Member CMA |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 30 Sep 2010 3:22 am
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JBL trumps Jensen and makes for a very heavy amp with the E-130. ... Very Heavy!
The amps are the same.
Me I would hold out for a non master twin like the one I tried to sell a while back on the forum for $850 and still have. 
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Sep 2010 5:56 am
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The differences. The '74 Twin and the '74 Vibrosonic are both 100 watt amps.(in '77 they came out with the 135 watt ultralinear twins and vibros)
The Vibrosonic was the ONLY early amp that Fender made that was dedicated to steel guitar. It came out in '72 as a Silverface Master volume/8 ohm transformer to handle ONE 8 ohm single 15" JBL--D130F speaker that was "to die for" tone. JBL was the most common speaker in the Vibrosonic, and sometimes a Gaus speaker was used, sometimes an EV.
The 74 twin is a master volume model that has a 4 ohm transformer, to handle TWO 8 ohm 12" speakers. Either amp will make a wonderful steel amp. Example: Lloyd Green played a Twin with a pair of JBL D120F's on the Panther Hall album. The Shobud Fingertip sounded wonderful and with the Twin, made a legendary tone "to die for".
The twin with a pair of JBL D120F's or the Vibrosonic with a single JBL D130F. Or if you can find a pair of K120's or a K130(the K series can handle more power with out tone loss) The Jensens might sound great to you, but may break up earlier than JBL's for the six string guitar players who want more crunch out of their twin.
Master volume vs. non master? If you leave your master volume all the way open on "10" and ignore it, it's like having a non master v. amp. It's not worth the effort to even remove the master volume part of the circuitry to make a mastervolume into a non master. Besides, no one has ever seen a non master Vibrosonic, because they were never made. Mastervolume came out in '72. So did the Vibrosonic.
I have a '71 non-master twin and a '75 Vibrosonic. Both are in head cabinets to cut the weight, and both power a pair of 8 ohm JBL K130's. The vibrosonic is my favorite, by a hair. They are both wonderful amps for steel. The 15" speaker is a little smoother than a 12 " speaker, but the 12 " speaker delivers a tad more punch. Two 12's move a little more air than one 15" speaker.
But remember, a tube amp as old as what you are looking at should be serviced--new caps. So that is the opportunity to "voice" which ever amp you decide on, more specifically for steel, with the newer better modern capaciters that are available today--thus making a great steel amp better yet. See Ken Fox for upgrading your caps. Ken can make the reverb in your amp very "lush" and wonderful and also add reverb to your normal channel. You will likely ditch your effects pedals and use only the amp's reverb, when Ken gets done doing his mojo.
This is now a good time also, to blackface the normal channel for early breakup(great 6 string tone), while keeping the vibrato channel clean all the way to the top. The blackface channel might give you more of the early '60's sound with your steel, too. Doing each channel different is like have 2 amps in one, great for double duty players.
_________________
"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net
Last edited by James Morehead on 30 Sep 2010 6:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Robert Mayo
From:
Georgia, USA
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 30 Sep 2010 6:36 am Vibro for me, by a hair
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I'd pick the Vibro. 'cuz I like the 15" and the baffle board is all set up and ready to go. If it were mine, I'd send it to Ken Fox for a check-out/tune up and put a SICA in it to reduce weight. I just like Vibros more, because you don't see them everyday.
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Johnny Thomasson
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2010 11:38 am Re: Fender Vibrasonic or Twin Reverb?
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| Austin Tripp wrote: |
Both amps are a 74 model silverface. The Twin has 2 Jensen speakers and the Vibrasonic has 1 15' JBL. If you had to pick one, which would you pick for a steel? What are the pros and cons of both amps?
Austin Tripp |
The Vibrosonic with the JBL hands down. I switched out the 2x12 Jensens in my Twin to a 15" JBL, and the improvement in tone and responsiveness was just incredible. You won't regret going with the Vibrosonic.
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Johnny Thomasson |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 1 Oct 2010 12:17 pm
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Is there any way you can get them both?
I would think of it more in terms of a 4-ohm Twin Reverb style head vs an 8-ohm Twin Reverb style head, and base that on the speakers/cabs I was planning to use.
It's handy to have both a 4-ohm and 8-ohm Twin Reverb style head around.
I have an 8-ohm '76 Vibrosonic amp (I removed the speaker and put it in a separate cab, 'wish it were a Head only), and a 4-ohm '70 Dual Showman Reverb head (obviously also used with a separate cab).
They both have a Pre-Amp-tap output for use with a separate power amp... You could run your Twin Reverb style preamp signal to the Power-Amp-In of say a 200-300W Peavey Steel amp... now you're talkin'! |
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Gary Chiappetta
From:
San Bruno, California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 7:53 am
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| The Vibrasonic with the 15" JBL is the amplifier for pedal steel guitar. There is no difference in the amplifier electronics - they are the same. the only difference is the loudspeakers. |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 8:07 am
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| Gary Chiappetta wrote: |
| The Vibrasonic with the 15" JBL is the amplifier for pedal steel guitar. There is no difference in the amplifier electronics - they are the same. the only difference is the loudspeakers. |
Actually, the Vibrosonic is an 8 ohm output transformer, and the Twin is a 4 ohm transformer. Other than that, they are the same electronics.
_________________
"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 9:43 am
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all of the above is true true true
but I will add one more part to the equation... each of us as players, musicians etc.. have one major thing in common
we buy gear then one day sell it for more gear or other gear, that's what we do..
so, that being said.. Both amps are not equal . The Twin with 2x12's will always attract a larger re-sale audience. If that's important then it should be a consideration...
t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 11:06 am
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Well, maybe. There are a heck of a lot of twins out there, and not a lot of vib's, and most pedal steel players and a lot of jazz guys prefer the 15". Resale doesn't seem to be to big a deciding factor.
KP |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 11:31 am
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only regarding resale...if that's important...You put a Twin with 2x12's on the market next to a 1x15 version, you will get the most calls on the 2x12 combo...from guitar players, every age, every style, that's all I am saying. The Twin Reverb 2x12 is I think the most popular and most recognized combo amp on the planet ! I happen to think the best as well...but that's just me...I love them both, make that all...
t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 1:44 pm
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| I agree with James on all points except one. As I'm always doing double duty, with 6-string Teles and Baritones, I MUST have "Vibrate Oh!" for guitar, and would never use it for steel. So,,, reverb to both channels, Steel through the Normal channel, and 6-strings through the" Vibrate Oh!" channel, which has been modded to run at slower speeds. Mine is a split Twin with a 15", R. Johnson cabs. |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 3:16 pm
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Hey John, I use Vibrato on some slow ballads with steel--sounds killer. But yes, tweek one channel for tele, the other for steel--that's what I'm talkin' about!! James
_________________
"Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgement"~old cowboy proverb.
shobud@windstream.net |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2010 3:24 pm
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| Well James,,, I might have to try that! |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 6 Oct 2010 3:57 am
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| basilh wrote: |
So, what is a pristine '72 Vibrosonic worth ?
(original 15"JBL) |
It's got to be £800 - £900 all day long Basil.
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Marty Holmes
From:
Magnolia ,TX USA
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 8:36 pm
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| Wait a minute guy's the Fender "VibrAsonic",and "vibrOsonic" are two different amps.The VibrAsonic has the steel and guitar channel it was made in the custom shop in what?95'or 96' and is a black face amp.The brown face VibrAsonic has not been made since the early sixties if i'm correct,and sell for a sh** load of money on ebay say $5000 to $6000.Wish i could afford one. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 8 Oct 2010 10:16 pm
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Both of the amps you are describing are fairly uncommon, especially the brown one. The commonest one is a '70's, silverface, master volume job (with an O). Which is just a heck of a steel amp, and comparatively cheap like borscht.
KP |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 9 Oct 2010 1:15 pm
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Is this one ?
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Austin Tripp
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 9 Oct 2010 3:28 pm
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Well after a week of deciding, I've went with the Vibrosonic. I bought it last night and it will be here Thursday. Thanks Ken for the help finding one.
Austin Tripp
_________________
"Hotrod"
Steel guitarist for Cody Jinks
Member CMA |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 9 Oct 2010 7:08 pm
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| How much did you give for it, Austin? I have a Vibrosonic that doesn't get much use, just wondering what it's worth. You can PM me if you like... |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2010 8:00 am
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No prob Austin.. enjoy.
I am getting ready to try a silverface deluxe and mic.
but I've using those two twins for my Tele.
and am spoiled by it.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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