Vintage Fender Vibrolux 5F11 Narrow Panel Tweed Combo - USA 1959

This is a genuine vintage Fender Vibrolux 5F11 narrow panel tweed combo from 1959, built in Fullerton at the absolute peak of Fender’s tweed era. Sitting neatly between the smaller Princeton and the more muscular Deluxe, the 5F11 Vibrolux occupies a sweet and often overlooked spot in the tweed lineup, offering touch sensitivity, harmonic richness and usable volume without excess.

The 5F11 circuit is significant for introducing Fender’s bias-modulated vibrato, one of the most organic and musical tremolo designs ever put into production. Unlike later opto-based systems, this vibrato interacts directly with the power section, resulting in a deep, pulsing movement that feels alive and three-dimensional rather than purely effect-driven. It’s hypnotic, expressive and unmistakably tweed-era Fender.

Internally, this amp presents extremely well. The photographed chassis shows period-correct layout and components consistent with late-1959 production. The potentiometers date to 1959, reading 916, which strongly supports originality in the core electronics. Lead dress, component style and overall construction align with an authentic 5F11 circuit rather than a later rework or clone. The power transformer and output transformer appear correct for the period, and the amp retains the honest, lightly aged look you expect from a properly preserved example rather than an over-restored one.

The original speaker has been replaced with a Weber Alnico 10", a very sympathetic and popular choice for this circuit. It delivers the chime, compression and early breakup characteristics that suit the Vibrolux perfectly, while offering reliability for modern use. Tonally, the amp has that unmistakable tweed voice - warm lows, woody mids and a singing top end that blooms as the volume comes up. Clean tones are rich and detailed, while pushed sounds transition smoothly into complex, harmonically dense overdrive that feels effortless and responsive to picking dynamics.

Cosmetically, the tweed and grille cloth are in good condition, with no major tears or structural issues. There is honest wear consistent with age, but nothing that detracts from its visual appeal or integrity. It presents as a well-cared-for vintage amplifier that has lived a real life, not a museum piece stripped of character.

In the broader Fender tweed lineup, the 5F11 Vibrolux is often considered one of the most musically balanced designs. It offers more depth and movement than a Princeton, more nuance and portability than a Deluxe, and a vibrato circuit that many players prefer over later designs. For recording, small venues or players chasing true late-’50s Fender tone at sane volumes, it’s a standout.

A highly desirable and increasingly scarce example of a classic Fender circuit, this 1959 Vibrolux delivers authenticity, tone and history in equal measure.

Features:

Model: Fender Vibrolux

Circuit: 5F11

Year: 1959

Country of Manufacture: USA

Cabinet: Narrow panel tweed combo

Weight: 11.5 kg

Power Output: 10 watts

Power Tubes: 2 x 6V6

Preamp Tubes: 12AX7, 12AX7

Rectifier: 5Y3

Speaker: Weber Alnico 10" (replacement)

Vibrato: Bias-modulated tremolo

Controls: Volume, tone, speed, depth

Pots: 1959 dated (code 916)